Instagram Reels – Where to begin….
Instagram felt the weight of TikTok bearing down on them, so in true IG fashion, they took what they knew was working and figure out how to make it their own. IG Reels is basically the instagram branded version of TikTok videos. If you’re not sure what a TikTok is [we have tried SUUUUUPER hard not to have to know what a TikTok is, but alas, we now know that TikTok is an app where users create video content using snippets of videos/songs/etc. Does this sound familiar to you? Perhaps because a number of years ago a different company started the trend… see Vine.]
“Reels invites you to create fun videos to share with your friends or anyone on Instagram. Record and edit 15-second multi-clip videos with audio, effects, and new creative tools. You can share reels with your followers on Feed, and, if you have a public account, make them available to the wider Instagram community through a new space in Explore. Reels in Explore offers anyone the chance to become a creator on Instagram and reach new audiences on a global stage.” – Instagram
“Similar to the popular app TikTok, Reels allows you to create short, engaging videos for your feed. As of now, you can only upload up to 15 seconds worth of content per video. Reels can be recorded in a series of clips, all at once, or using video uploads from your gallery. Users have the choice of a variety of editing tools within the app, including audio, effects, timer, and speed.” – Backstage
So let’s get down to business – What could Instagram Reels do to help your business? The short answer is – a ton. There are a million reasons why you could pursue a different platform or a different way of marketing your business, and that’s no different here. Now, we’re not screaming Reels praises from the rooftop just yet, we’ve only begun experimenting ourselves but here are 3 of the absolute best reasons to test IG Reels for your business [in our humble opinion] –
- Instant Exposure – Because Instagram Reels are a new feature within the platform, Instagram is featuring them more in each individuals’ discover page, meaning you’ll reach a wider audience without trying too hard. Now you might wonder, “Why are they [Instagram] doing this?” Because they don’t want you to leave the app to head to their competitor, TikTok. The idea is to keep you scrolling on their platform for as long as possible.
- Easy To Create – Instagram Reels are super easy to create, and I know you’re probably thinking “but what do I even post?” Well since this is a test, I’d say post a wide range of things. Start with something small, or get some inspiration from checking out your competitors and what [if anything] that they are posting.
- No New Platform To Join – For us, this one was key. Growing a social following takes hard work and constant attention, growing another channel is a task in itself. By adding Reels to Instagram, they’ve effectively given you the opportunity to speak directly to the audience that already loves you on that platform without having to rebuild yourself back from the beginning. [Like you would if you were to move to TikTok…. sneaky sneaky]
As you can see – it can’t hurt to try! So whip out your phone or forward this onto your social media marketing manager and have them take a whack at it. What’s the worst that could happen?
Get creating!
Stuck at where to start? Shoot us a message and we’ll point you in the right direction.