Instagram Reels are short video clips which can be up to 60 seconds long and are usually combined with some viral song or sound which makes it catchy and fun to watch.
Although at first it seemed like it was made just for the younger people and their silly dances, in the last period we witnessed some serious brands making a presence and promoting their products using this feature.
So, does that mean that every brand should jump on a trend and start making silly videos on Instagram? Well, we would say yes and no at the same time. And let us explain why.
Who should make Reels?
Since video format material has become significantly popular on Social media in the last few years, it is unavoidable that every brand present should make some video format material and post it on their platforms. With that said, we do recommend that everyone present on Instagram use Reels as a form of communication, but those videos don’t have to be silly if your brand doesn’t comply with it. Communication on Reels can vary and be stylish, serious, cool, entertaining, educational and much more, so it matches the vision and “feeling” the brand wants to promote.
Using popular sounds, videos (or pictures) and a few transitions (if needed) you can make a Reel which is completely in synergy with your brand and does not violate its integrity.
Is it worth your time?
Let’s face it - Reel can take some time to be made. Needed time varies depending on the type of Reel that you want to make. If you are planning to use one or a few videos (or pictures) for a Reel, the only other thing you need to do is to find some sound that goes with it and maybe put some simple text if needed. This can take, let’s say, from 10 minutes to 1 hour of your time.
On the other hand, if you are planning to make something more complex - with more videos and pictures, a bit of offbeat transitions or even some script (yes, some creators even make the whole script for these short videos), then be prepared to spend even more of your time (more than 1 hour).
What you will choose depends on your creativity and capability to perform, but what is important is that duration and complexity of the Reel does not affect its reach and growth among the Instagram population. What brings attention to these videos are viral sounds, eye-catching videos or pictures and most importantly - content which is interesting for people to watch and can hold their attention. No matter the theme, it has to be put in a context which makes people want to watch till the end or even watch repeatedly.
So now that you know that you have to invest some time in creating Reels, the main question is: Is it worth it? We would say that it definitely is. Reels are trending right now and based on its success so far, it can only become a bigger and stronger communication channel in the future. People enjoy scrolling through Reels feed and watching those videos so it is a perfect time to hop on a trend and show your brand from a new and interesting perspective.
You can make your product/service even more attractive to your current followers and reach out for the new ones since Reels generate greater organic reach than other Instagram formats. That organic reach is the reason why so many influencers and brands started using it as a part of their communication on Instagram.
So, what are we suggesting?
If you have an Instagram page and are trying to find a way to improve your performance, Reels is a way to go. The good thing is that you can start doing it right now - take your phone and go! Real-life material is what makes the Reel different and interesting for the audience to watch, which means that you don’t need any special equipment and don’t have to make professional videos and photos. You just need to be creative enough to hold people’s attention by presenting your brand in an engaging way.
Try combining Reels with other post formats for maximum effect of your brand/product promotion. Reach an even greater audience combining paid ads for feed and story posts and organic reach from Reels and increase your chances for maximizing your conversions and sales.