Reels just got REAL!
Think you can avoid using Reels for your business marketing? Mark Zuckerberg made it clear: if you want engaged followers on Instagram, Facebook (which is going Meta!), TikTok, and even now on LinkedIn, you need reels!
After Zuck painted a futuristic vision for Facebook during the earnings call at the end of October, it’s time to rethink our social media marketing strategy. If Facebook’s CEO is talking about reels, we should all be taking notes.
Video Gets More Exposure and Engagement
Here’s what we already know: video, by far, gets more exposure and engagement across all platforms. This means users love video, so all video content typically performs best with most algorithms – after all, it captures a viewer’s attention for longer, which keeps people on the platform longer.
So let’s focus in on Instagram’s Reels…
Did you know posting four to seven Reels a week is crucial for receiving Instagram’s attention? By posting Reels consistently, Instagram’s algorithm will prioritize ALL of your content, which will increase your account’s visibility and lead to more engagement.
Producing quality video content may be more time-consuming than taking a photograph, but the results can’t be understated. Even LinkedIn has joined the business of short-form video content creation. According to LinkedIn, 20 times more individuals share a video on the site than any other post type. As a result, response rates for LinkedIn’s video advertising services have been increasing.
Here are 7 tips to get you started making Reels and other short form videos:
- Tap (+) at the top or swipe right anywhere in Feed.
- Scroll to Reels at the bottom.
- Tap and hold to record a clip, or tap to start recording and tap again to end the clip. You can also tap your camera roll in the bottom left to add a pre-recorded video from your camera roll.
- Tap to watch, trim or delete the previous clip you recorded. Tap “Done” in the bottom right.
- Tap (Android) or Preview (iPhone) to add stickers, drawings, and text to your reel or download it to your device. Use the slider at the bottom to edit when you want the text to appear.
- Tap “Share To” and then tap “Cover” to change your cover photo and write a caption. Tap “Stories” at the top if you want to share your reel to your story instead of to “Explore”.
- Tap “Next”, then tap “Share”.
Keep in mind that each social media platform has slightly different guidelines for video length and how to edit things like music and emojis (if you are editing within the platform). These tips are specific to Instagram and are subject to change – if we know social media, we know things are always on the move! If you’re interested in learning tips about how to create the best short form videos on other platforms, let us know and we’ll blog more!
Have fun and REEL on!
Julie Holton is the Founder and Principal Strategist of mConnexions, a full-service marketing and communications agency. Prior to launching her agency, Julie spent more than ten years working in top television newsrooms across the country, as an Emmy award-winning writer, producer, and executive producer. Julie coached reporters, producers, writers, and videographers. She also worked with her news teams to develop digital and social media strategies. Julie currently hosts two podcasts and is a featured author in numerous blogs and publications. Follow her directly on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
