Instagram is celebrating the first anniversary of the launch of Reels. One year on, this feature has dramatically changed the marketing landscape on the platform, so we thought we’d give you the lowdown on how to use this feature to grow your following!
Now used by 60% of businesses in 2021 as a marketing tool*, Reels quickly became a popular way to hone digital marketing efforts.
What Are Instagram Reels?
Reels allow you to create and upload short and engaging video clips with filters, text and music. Originally 15-30 seconds long, Instagram has now doubled the length to 60 seconds!
Instagram users are able to post these on to their feed, Reels tab and story highlights. You can also access other user’s Reels by simply clicking on the Reels icon on the navigation bar.
Key Benefits of Instagram Reels
1. Spreads Brand Awareness
One of the great things about Instagram is that it can display information in bite sizes. As the average attention span of a human is roughly only 8 seconds long, Reel content is the perfect way to keep the attention of target audiences!
2. Better Explore Page Presence and Exposure
If you have an open Instagram account (as opposed to private), you get a promising opportunity to get featured on the Explore page. If you gain enough interaction – comments, likes, shares – Instagram will push you to the Explore tab where followers and other users have the potential to see your content. This enables brand awareness, as what you chose to feature in the video is gaining more exposure. If done correctly, this could easily convert into leads, from more users visiting your Page to make a purchase, sign up or undertake any other desired call to action for your business.
3. Boosts Engagement
As Reels are new, Instagram will do all that it can to promote it’s new feature among its users. By uploading a Reel to your account, it will most likely be pushed to the explore page, which will increase your engagement as it reaches more audiences than a stagnant image post on the feed would.
4. Easy to Create and Saves Time
Reels entails fewer steps to posting on the feed than a graphic. Unless you’re posting a selfie or photograph, you have to design a graphic, then transfer the file to relevant folders or to Instagram directly to upload it. When utilising Reels, the video is made on the platform, making them easy to create and saving time.
However, it is still important to make time to plan out your Reel content as you would with other social media posts!
5. Showcases Brand Personality
When creating Reels, your face and/or body is probably going to be in it. This enables you to showcase brand personality and connect with users in a more humanised way. Nowadays, consumers want a more personable experience, so businesses must work on creating relationships with consumers digitally in order to meet this demand… and Reels are a great way to do this.
6. Allows for Multi-Purpose Content
The good thing about Reels is that they are the same as any other content you create for Instagram, meaning you can repurpose it. Not only can you re-share it to your story at any time, or share it via direct message, you can save the video and post it on your TikTok account or stories across other platforms like Facebook. You can even add reels to your website or include them in a portfolio!
How AIS Marketing Can Help
Here at AIS Marketing, we can support you in learning, creating and posting Instagram Reel Content to your chosen social media platforms. If you would like to enquire about our services, please contact us here: https://ais-marketing.co.uk/connect/
*https://biteable.com/blog/video-marketing-statistics/