Instagram Reels has been around for some time now! Originally launched to compete with the phenomenon that was TikTok, the multi-clip videos packed with audio and effects have now become Instagram’s fastest-growing feature worldwide. What’s more, Reels are currently favoured by the algorithm, meaning your content will not only be seen by more people, but by more people who don’t follow you than when posting an image or video alone.
And with further reach comes increased engagement, so you can expect to see more likes rolling in, more comments to interact with and even more shares too! In fact, the most-viewed Instagram Reel of all time, posted by social media personality, Khaby Lame, currently has over 289 million views, more than 12.1 million likes and upwards of 87 thousand comments! Though you may not be aiming for those dizzying heights, isn’t it about time you harnessed the power of Reels?
First things first, let’s cover off the basics of what exactly a Reel is. Just like its fierce rival TikTok, Instagram’s Reels are full-screen videos with an aspect ratio of 9:16 and dimensions of 1080 pixels x 1920 pixels. Originally capped at just 15 seconds long, you can now create posts of up to 90 seconds, using a variety of video clips, photos, text, captions, camera effects, interactive backgrounds, stickers, and more! Whatever effects you use and whether you’re choosing existing assets or capturing brand new clips, ensure your content is portrait to meet those important dimension requirements.
Now you’re all clued up on the basics, you’re probably looking for a bit of insight into how and why to get started – and, you’re in luck! From her experience of working closely with customers day in, day out, Orlo’s Customer Success Manager, Rosie Watts, brings you three thoughts when it comes to embracing Instagram Reels. Ready, steady go…
1. Tick all the boxes ✅
As we now all know, the Instagram algorithm absolutely loves Reels. But what it loves even more are those Reels that take advantage of the creative tools available directly through the Instagram app! So, whether you’re layering text or captions on top of your clips, using filters to enhance aesthetics or utilising those ever-popular camera effects, be sure to make the most of the tools at your disposal.
Adding audio is a no-brainer too, with a whole host of variations available from Instagram’s music library, never-ending options for original audio and countless trending sounds to jump on. With so many audio and visual delights, you’ve got the perfect recipe to capture the attention of both your audience and the algorithm!
2. Going the distance 🌍
Though there are similarities between the two, don’t get Reels mixed up with Stories. Reels can be posted to your main profile and do not expire after 24 hours – in fact, they tend to continue to gain attention for days, if not weeks after posting. And it’s not just Stories that they beat when it comes to longevity, Reels far surpass the 1-2 day shelf life of single image or carousel posts.
With that in mind, it’s clear to see that Reels aren’t just great for joining in with trends, but also for getting some evergreen content out there. Whether you’re posting to showcase your latest product, a great story from someone using your service or some helpful advice to signpost your audience, a Reel could be the perfect medium to help new and existing audiences learn all about and engage with your brand or organisation!
3. Metrics that matter 📈
It’s all well and good knowing the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ behind Reels, but what does that look like in terms of tangible results? Well, if you want to know how engaging your Reels really are, you need to keep an eye on those all-important metrics! We’ve integrated Reels analytics into our Performance Analytics suite, so you can view stats such as reach and shares alongside all the data from your other social accounts!
With a complete 360-degree view of your social presence, you’ll easily be able to understand which Reels are smashing it or which may need a rethink, and compare them to the performance of your other posts and channels. Plus, with all your comments on Instagram pulled into Orlo’s Unified Inbox, regardless of whether on a Reel, Story or single image post, you can be sure you’re making the most of audience engagement by getting involved in the conversation, all in real-time – simple!
Fancy finding out more about how you can use the Orlo Platform to execute on your social strategy, including Instagram? You can request a demo by clicking here! Or, if you’re not quite ready for a demo, but do have a question to ask, you can! Just click here to let us know – we’re all ears.
