If you are using Instagram and you wonder what to do to increase the number of your followers, use Instagram Reels! Why and how to do it to attract new clients? Read our guide!
Instagram’s strategy for 2022
Before we discuss Instagram Reels, it’s worth saying a few words about Instagram itself. It is currently one of the most popular social media channels, used by almost 1.4 billion people in the world. Its direct competitor is the Chinese TikTok, which is mainly about short films. Both channels are now fighting for users, promoting those whose publications match their current strategy.
So, what is Instagram’s strategy? To get rid of TikTok. How? By publishing more films! If Instagram users see that they can publish exactly the same things there as on TikTok, they will most likely stick to Instagram. It’s really as simple as that!
This is why in 2022 Instagram promotes videos – posts containing them will be shared and shown more often than those that not, and they will be promoted by the Instagram algorithm. The conclusion? If you want to make it big on Instagram, start publishing videos!
What are Instagram Reels?
Let’s dive into details. Instagram Reels are short videos (lasting up to 60 seconds), exactly the same ones as you can do on TikTok. To make them more attractive, you can edit them easily by increasing or slowing down the recording speed, adding music and special effects.
Why is it worth using Instagram Reels?
Here the answer is extremely simple: because Instagram promotes them, meaning it distributes them more willingly than other content. If you publish Reels, chances are they will be viewed by more people than your photos on the same topic.
Statistics show that Reels posted by an average influencer are displayed as much as 62% more often than regular videos, and the level of viewer engagement is on average 0.5% higher.
Reels get displayed in a separate tab, so they are shown not only to people who are already following you, but also to those you were not in touch with yet. It means they work as a kind of free advertising, allowing you to reach thousands of new people whose interests coincide with your profile.
How to make use of Instagram Reels in photography?
When you are a photographer, your business revolves around images. The visual aspect is crucial here, so your Instagram profile should focus on your photos. And this is exactly what you can do using IG Reels – the tool allows you to display photos one by one at a fast pace. This way you can tell a good story or show results of a successful session within 15 seconds!
Additionally, IG Reels are great at building relationships, which you achieve mainly by showing a bit of your private life – films about how you work, what you do in your free time, what inspires you.
What kind of IG Reels will attract most users?
To create IG Reels that will attract new viewers, follow those simple rules:
1. Shorter means better
Instagram wants the Reels to be viewed from start to finish. If a user stops viewing a video after a few seconds, Instagram understands it as a negative rating and will not show it to more people. That is why it is so important to show as much interesting content as possible in a short time and keep users’ interest until the last second.
2. Keep your Reels dynamic
If your films are to attract the attention of new followers, they need to be engaging. And what makes films engaging? Dynamic action and surprising shots. Long, boring scenes don’t stand a chance. Go for speed and great impressions!!!
3. Interesting content
Things that you share are as important as the way you show them. Start a surprising conversation, talk about things that are currently very trendy. Tell something interesting, reveal an unexpected fact about your work or give unusual advice. Thanks to this, your content will be useful, and users will be more willing to share it with others.
There are three types of Instagram content:
– educational, where you show others how to do something new, how to achieve a given effect, or what equipment to use for a given photo,
– inspirational, where you establish a deeper connection with your viewers, share your true story with them, talk about your problems and how you come out of them,
– entertaining, which makes them laugh a bit: you can talk about difficult customers or a hard day you’ve had. Just don’t forget to make funny faces when speaking of it!
The key to good content on IG Reels is the efficient handling of each of these types of posts so as not to be easily pigeonholed into only one of them!
4. Don’t forget about the sound!
Trending music is what people want to hear. Check out what’s popular right now and use this soundtrack in your IG Reels. You will increase the chances that someone who likes the song will want to listen to it to the end, and at the same time will learn about yourself. Who knows, maybe thanks to well-chosen music, your Reels will become viral and attract crowds of followers?
How to create your first IG Reels?
Creating Reels is really simple – if you have an idea and know how to present it, it only takes a few moments. How to go about it?
Select Reels from the menu at the bottom of the screen (the film icon), and then click the camera icon. You will now see various options for editing Reels, such as searching for the right sound from the media library or speeding up the recording. To make the film, you can use the application directly, or you can select a file that you already have on your phone.
If this is the first time you do Reels, check out all the options and see what works best. Try using a sequence of photos or film yourself when lip syncing. Add trending music and some text, and you’re done. Now you just need to share it!
For more tips on how to use Instagram to your advantage, check out our blog!