Instagram Reels Archives - Broad World Business

Articles Tagged with: Instagram Reels

Instagram best practices in 2021

Instagram’s best practices are always changing and it can be overwhelming to keep up. We’ve got you covered. This is a topic Stef has touched on before, but we’ve got a few new strategies and tips you can use to get the Instagram algorithm on your side.

*Not up for a full read? Watch the video below!*

Let’s recap

In our last IG 101 video, Stef shared her tips for you to work with the algorithm and boost your content. Here’s a recap of what we covered:

Follow relevant accounts
Vary your feed posts to include still photos, videos, and carousels
The first hour after posting is the most important — engage, engage, engage!
Share your feed post to your Instagram story to let your followers know about fresh content
Add Alt Text to your feed posts to help with indexing
Like the comments on your previous post
Use both relevant and niche hashtags
Use all of Instagram’s features

We highly recommend watching that video to get caught up or to refresh your memory on the above. Let’s dive into updated Instagram best practices and tips for business!

Stories

Did you know 79% of users open stories before they scroll? That’s a massive number, and it means you have the chance to capture eyes as soon as they get into the app. So how do we do that?

Get in the habit of posting

Try to post at least one story per day. I know, it can be awkward or we can feel like we don’t have anything exciting to show off — but it’s all about getting in the groove. Think of posting stories like a muscle. A muscle can’t grow if you don’t exercise it.

The algorithm favors posting 3-5 stories per day. That might seem like a LOT in the beginning, but the more you post, the easier it gets to spot those “postable” moments.

Make the most of Story features

As you’re posting, remember to use all of Instagram’s Story features like music, polls, questions, gifs, and any stickers that can apply to your business. Not only will the app boost your stories, but it’ll help keep your content varied and increase your engagement with your audience.

Reels

Reels are still new(ish). Let’s de-mystify them. If you’re wondering what they are and why the heck they’re important you can watch my initial video on Reels here.

How often should you post reels?

Instagram recommends posting 4-7 Reels a week. Yes, that’s a LOT. As for most things when it comes to social media, I say stick to quality over quantity. Sure, you could pump out 5 Reels per week, but are they valuable to your audience? If the answer is no, decrease the quantity and up the quality.

Reels are not TikToks

Reels and TikToks are similar, but their intended audiences are different and at the end of the day, the companies are competitors. So keep them separate. Remember: you wouldn’t eat a Big Mac in a Burger King — so I don’t recommend duplicating your TikToks onto Instagram. But if you’re going to cross-post, be sure to remove the watermarks to avoid having your engagement dinged.

While TikTok gives you up to a minute for videos, keep Instagram Reels to 30 seconds max.

Check for final touches

Be sure to keep all the text within the feed frame and choose a thumbnail that will still fit your on-feed aesthetic.

NOTE: Reels are a great way to increase your following and get your content in front of new, applicable audiences. Just like TikTok’s For You Page, users can continuously scroll through Reels that the algorithm deems relevant to them.

Direct Messages

Your DMs are another tool you can use to build real relationships with your followers. When it comes to messages, authentic engagement is key! Lucky for us, Instagram has a ton of features to help us connect with our followers.

Slide into those DMs

Don’t be afraid to slide into someone’s DMs! This is especially easy when someone has already opened a channel for communication by reacting or replying to your stories or commenting on your feed posts.

Use DM features

Stef always says that Instagram is a SOCIAL media app, and your messages are one of the best ways to get social. You can even switch things up by using voice notes. Not only will Instagram reward you for maximizing their features, but it’s a highly personal way of connecting with someone on the platform. On that note, you can do the same by sending direct pictures, videos, or links in the chat. Your DMs are also great way to also send your engaged followers to your website, a landing page, or even a purchase link!

At the end of the day, it’s about making an authentic connection and building your network!

Have you tried these Instagram tips for your business? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments.

Get the full scoop on Instagram Reels

Just when you think you’re getting a grasp on your Instagram content, they throw another feature at us: Reels. Reels are 15 second video clips shared to your feed and new Reels page, offering up new brand-building initiatives.

How is it different from Stories, IGTV, or umm, TikTok? That’s what we’ll run through today.

*Scroll to the bottom of this page to watch the video*

What is Reels?

Instagram Reels are <15 second videos that will be housed in a new icon on your profile page between your Feed and IGTV. These 15 second videos can be created and shared in real-time a la Stories, but can also be created by uploading a video or multiple videos. Reels offers features like music, filters, and stickers to bring your storytelling to life.

Unlike Stories, Reels won’t disappear from your account in 24 hours, and will stay on your Reels feed. Reels aren’t meant to be super polished, but rather a glimpse at your brand’s personality with quick-to-social creative.

So yes, Instagram Reels is Facebook’s clap back to TikTok. But it’s way more than that, too.

Why did Instagram add Reels?

From January through March of 2020, TikTok had more app-installs than any company had ever seen in a single quarter. Proving further what we already knew to be true: video content is queen! Video engages followers — which builds trust, brand loyalty and community.

While Gen Z were undoubtedly the early adopters of TikTok, millennials now account for the highest population of TikTok users. Not because Gen Z has fallen off, but because their slightly older cohorts have also taken on the quirky, roughly-edited way video content is being brought to them. Instagram’s win here is that they have a whopping 1 million users, so this new feature will bring the people what they want, in a place they already are.

Editorial staff have known for a long time that written content is mostly consumed in snack-sized pieces or long form. This is proving true in the world of video as well. Instagram took a page out of Vine’s book with Stories, it’s coming for YouTube with IGTV, and here we see them again using their mammoth user base to maintain their market share over TikTok.

How do you use Reels?

For a straight-up tutorial on Reels, I recommend checking out Later’s post. I want to dive into the strategic side.

Reels are your opportunity to show the human side of you and your business. If you take nothing else away from this post, let it be that. We connect with humans and the human experience. Maybe your brand is funny, or relaxing, or motivating, it doesn’t matter. So how you use Reels should be raw and authentic to that story.

Here are some ideas that would make engaging, storytelling videos:

(Important: keep in mind we aren’t after perfection)

BTS of a photoshoot, great way to tease products or launches
Meet the team or in-office happenings, to promote talent acquisition
Tutorial videos to elevate your expertise, this could be styling, stretching, skin care, changing a faucet!
Before and after ideas, everyone loves a transformation
New arrivals or products
Routines, recipes, funny animals, chubby babies, jokes… honestly, you name it!

As I said above, Reels will be its own tab on your profile but I’d like to add that sharing a new Reel to your Stories and previewing it on your feed is the best way to get the most views.

What are the benefits of Reels?

I’ve heard from clients that the addition of Reels feels like another task in their already hectic lives. And I get it. But, this is a great time to take stock of what marketing efforts you’re putting in and which have room for improvement. Reels is still in its infancy, and is already offering up a lot of value:

1 billion Instagram users: while they don’t all follow you, this app has the most eyeballs
Reels has (proportionately) very little content on Instagram so far, this is a great time to capture a new audience
You don’t need high-quality video budgets: they truly don’t need to be perfect, just engaging
It’s simple video content! (See above)
All editing can be done right in your

More than anything, for me, this is an opportunity for you to build a loyal following and client-base. I’ve said this before and I will again, and again — you are your biggest superpower. You don’t have any issues when a customer walks into your shop/office/studio, but putting yourself out there online is scary! Remember, there are hundreds or thousands of competitors in your area, so breaking that third wall and letting people get to know you is critical.

If you aren’t doing it, they will. Sorry.

Should you be using and creating Reels?

Reels should sit naturally into your content calendar — remember my golden rule about not forcing content!

“Content is like a fart, if you have to force it it’s probably $#!t.”
~ Moi

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If you’re still feeling a little lost in the world of Instagram Reels, that’s OK. I suggest spending some time in Reels as a user to grasp it from the audience perspective. What do you like? What grabs your attention? What kind of content are other people creating?

Don’t forget, you can always book a free consultation with me if you have questions. Or we can go for a fancy a coffee.