Instagram Reel

An Instagram Reel is a feature that allows Instagram users to post a short video posted onto Instagram. Instagram reels range from 15 to 90 seconds long; they are looping, vertical video clips. Users can add clips, filters, effects, and music or original audio to their Instagram reels. As of the publishing of this webpage, any video posted on Instagram will automatically be published as a Reel. Updated guidelines and Instagram reel requirements can be found here.  Instagram has a dedicated feed page for reels exclusively, and when a creator posts a reel, it will be displayed on their primary Instagram grid and the account’s reel tab.

Instagram reels are a type of post that show up on a specific feed page for Instagram users. These videos are posts that allow for more detailed content and better potential to reach a broader audience as Instagram users spend most of their time on the app scrolling through reels.

Reasons to Post Instagram Reels

• Connect with audience –Instagram reels allow for users to connect across the platform with the ability to quickly share a reel on their story or within their direct messages. Creators can connect with and interact with their viewers through the comment section.
• Production Promotion –Brands and businesses utilize reels to display their products in an engaging way using reels where the advertisement can be entertaining and feel more authentic.
• Detailed Content –There is a lot of customization with Instagram reels as creators can edit and create any type of content. Being able to share videos amongst their followers, allow for creators to add more of their personality into their content and showcase their content better.
• Broaden Exposure –Instagram provides their users with a separate reel feed where users are exposed to content mainly from creators they don’t already follow. This allows for creators who post many reels to have a chance of popping up on more feeds and gaining more attention.

Since Meta owns Instagram, reels can show up on Facebook’s newsfeed. Instagram’s reels feature resembles social media platforms like Tik Tok. On Instagram, users can scroll through reels exclusively on a specific feed page.

Components of an Instagram Reel

• Caption –Creators may add a caption to their posts to provide further context for the audience. Captions can be up to 2,200 characters long, including spaces, emojis, and hashtags. However, creators should keep their captions short and straightforward so as not to overwhelm the audience.
• Audio –Instagram users may add their original audio or choose audio from Instagram’s music library
• Intro –Hook the audience within the first 15 seconds of the Instagram reel. Creators want to captivate the audience and encourage them to watch the whole video throughout to increase the watch time of their reels.
• Filters –Instagram allows creators to use filters and special effects to make their reels stand out and look more vibrant. Filters can improve the quality of the reel.
• Transitions –Seamless transitions are very common among successful Instagram reels. Satisfying and seamless transitions increase the number of views a reel receives since the audience is more likely to watch the reel more than once.
• Text overlays –Creators add closed captions to their videos to help the audience stay engaged and make their content accessible to people with hearing disabilities. The captions are usually written in bold lettering with bright colors to attract viewers' interest in the reel's content.

Instagram Reels Vs. Instagram Posts

Format

• Instagram reels are short-form videos that range from 15 to 90 seconds long.
• Instagram posts can be a single image or video (longer than 90 seconds) or a carousel, which are posts containing more than one photo/video.

Interactive Tools

• Instagram reels can be customized with sticks, user tags, message & reminder buttons
• Instagram posts can be customized with user tags, message & reminder buttons

Algorithm Factors

• Instagram reels are judged based on the viewers’ activity data and shown to them based on their known interests.
• Instagram posts are judged based on the content and the creator’s data. Instagram will categorize the posts and the creator’s interest and try to organize their content based on the topic (example: fitness, lifestyle, food blogs, etc.)

Average Reach

• Instagram reels tend to reach more users as there is a dedicated reel page where Instagram users can scroll through reels from accounts they do not follow.
• Instagram posts tend to not reach as many users compared to Instagram reels since the content is normally shown to mainly followers.

Boosting a Reel’s Performance

Sometimes, it feels like one random reel will go viral and reach millions of views, and then the next will reach 1,000 views. Instagram has an exceptionally curated algorithm that uses special AI tools to organize and deliver content that they think will suit the viewer best. It is the creators’ job to ensure that their content is probably labeled and made to reach the proper audience. There are some tactics Instagram users may utilize to allow their content to perform as best as possible.

Here are some tips users can think about before they publish their next Instagram reel:

Detailed Information –This includes a video description, captions, relevant hashtags, and audio. Instagram has an AI tool that assesses the content.

Trending Audios and Hashtags –Using popular hashtags and audio will help the content get boosted on more feeds, including the explore page. Relevant hashtags will make the reel more discoverable and targeted towards the proper audience.

Promote Interaction –Instagram promotes content that receives a lot of interaction, such as mentions, tags, likes, and comments. Creators should encourage their audience to interact with their reel to boost engagement and performance. Instagram creators are encouraged to promote interaction between their viewers as it allows them to build a better relationship and deeper connections.

Collaboration –Creators are encouraged to work with other content creators to broaden their exposure and reach new audiences. Collaborations are intended to build the audience base and benefit all content creators involved.

Analyze The Data –Creators are encouraged to monitor the analytics of their content to see what type of content resonates best with their audience.

Remain Authentic –It is essential to know what the audience enjoys and to create content that aligns with their interests. It is equally vital that creators create authentic content for themselves and something they are interested in to ensure that their content resonates well with their viewers.

Consistency –Sometimes, it may be challenging for creators to maintain consistency when sharing content with their followers due to factors such as burnout. To remain relevant, it is essential to stay up to date with trends, post regularly, and engage with the audience regularly.