Last year, Instagram released a new feature on its platform, Reels, where users get to create and upload a short video of up to 15 seconds, which changed the video marketing game. With its popularity on Instagram and over 60 percent of businesses using video marketing as a tool in 2021, Reels quickly became a significant strategy in the digital marketing efforts of businesses.
We put together a short rundown of the new feature and six benefits of using Instagram Reels.
So, what are Instagram Reels?
If you are familiar with the social media platform TikTok, then you have a good idea of what this new feature is. Reels allows you to share bite-sized, engaging information with your followers. By using this feature you can create short 3 to 15-second video clips that you can add filters and music to.
Instagram users are able to post it on their feed, Reels tab, and stories. You can also access other account’s Reels by simply clicking on the Reels icon on the navigation bar.
The six key benefits of Instagram Reels:
Spread awareness of your brand in a captivating way.
Social media has created a habit of obtaining information in bite-sizes. With the average attention span being about eight seconds long, this form of video content is perfect for keeping the attention of targeted audiences.
The added features of music and text make it even more entertaining, no matter what information you are sharing. It could be entrepreneur mindset tips, a new product you want to highlight, or even the science behind making purchasing decisions. That’s right! All the things you would normally go to a blog or YouTube video to watch are instantly accessible.
Get content on the Explore page.
Like any Instagram feed post, Reels also get pushed to the Explore page. If you get enough interaction - comments, likes, shares - Instagram will push you to the Explore tab where followers and other users can potentially see your content. This leads to more awareness of your brand and what you are featuring in the video. If done correctly, you could also push people to your link in bio to make a purchase, sign up, or other desired call to action for your business.
Increased engagement from your followers.
The Instagram algorithm is a tricky aspect of the platform to deal with, but with the new feature of Reels coming to play, Instagram will do all that it can to promote its new feature among its users. So, if you upload a Reel to your account, it will most likely be pushed to the Explore page of your followers and the Reels tab. This will increase your engagement as it reaches more audiences than a stagnant Instagram feed post would.
Save more time when creating content.
Think about it. When you create an Instagram feed post - unless it’s a selfie or photograph - you have to design a graphic, then transfer the file to Instagram and upload it. When using Reels, you make the video on the platform and add in your text. It’s fewer steps to creating content if you are used to creating graphics.
As easy as it may sound, just as you would with other social media posts, you want to make time to plan out your Reels content the same.
Showcases brand personality.
When you create Reels, nine times out of ten, you’re probably going to be showing your face or a face in it. This allows you to showcase brand personality and humanize the brand all around. In this day and age, consumers want to be treated like human beings and not another sale to add to your profit. So businesses must work on creating relationships and communities in the digital space in order to meet this demand...and Reels is your one-way ticket to success in this situation.
Pro Tip: Humor, Emotion, and Sharing Tips that position you as an expert are great topics to incorporate into your Reels to showcase your personality and business.
Multi-purpose content across other platforms.
Reels are the same as any other content you create because you can repurpose it. You can re-share it in your story any time you feel like an old reel you made is relevant or share it with someone who can relate to it at the time. You don’t even have to leave your content on Instagram, you can save the video and post it on your TikTok account or stories across other platforms. If it makes sense, add it to your website or portfolio. The best marketers are those who know how to repurpose!
If you want to grow your brand in 2021 and are looking for an easy opportunity, then Instagram Reels is going to be your new best friend. It’s also important to note that Instagram has the highest average engagement rate of all the social media platforms out there, so if you ask us, Reels is like a golden opportunity that doesn’t come by often!
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