What are the best practices for using Instagram Reels for your brand?

I cannot emphasize how important it is to show up as your true self in Reels! Talking directly to the camera is scary for some, but like all fears, it will only get worse if you keep avoiding it. Try shifting your perspective to imagine you're talking to a friend on FaceTime the next time you record a Reel. You can even take it one step further and record clip by clip in Instagram Stories. Because Stories are more casual with friend-like vibes, recording there can help take the pressure of perfection off you. Also, skip the script! Write down your main points and edit things out later. CapCut is an excellent free editing tool you can use for Reels and TikToks alike.

When it comes to creating content/ reels it is important to understand the tone you want your content to have. Think of this long-term as well. What do you want your audience to feel when they see your reel? Are you providing education or entertainment? If you get nervous about posting a reel, start small and build upon that. Maybe try to post a video without showing your face at first and dip your toes in.

Another tip I have is Content Batching: Thinking of the content for multiple videos in advance and shooting multiple videos in one go. You spend most of the time for the video shoot to feeling ready, getting into that relaxed mindset, doing your hair/makeup... Once you are "in the flow", you feel like you can go on for a long time. So it helps a lot, if you have other video content ready so you can record all of them in 1 go.

Think of each Reel as a mini-story with a beginning, middle, and end. This will help you create a narrative that captures your audience's attention and keeps them engaged. Additionally, consider using a content calendar to plan Reels in advance, so you can maintain a consistent posting schedule and take advantage of relevant trending topics or seasonal events.

Few tips for lighting: I'd suggest picking a morning or noon, as sometimes things go wrong and you need to re-record. If it gets dark outside by the time you are ready, you miss the natural daylight. Lighting in your videos makes a big difference in the experience! If you need additional light, ring lights for cellphones do great work

Shorter reels can help boost your reach especially if they appear to look like a video that is looping. Don’t underestimate trying a short (less than 10 seconds) video with text on the screen and trending audio. Use the caption to give it more context, add a CTA if relevant and hashtags to help it get discovered by your target audience. Share it to your stories to make sure your followers see it and quickly get some eyes on the content. Add the interactive stickers in your stories to increase the possibility of engagement.

Short reels always perform best. People don't have a very long attention span so you need to hook them in at first. Using trending audio will help you give a boost in the algorithm so make sure you do your homework before posting your reel. My favorite 2 video editing apps are Capcut and Inshot, these can help you add transitions or filters to your video.

The algorithm loves consistency! When creating a new format, definitely use that same format at least 3-9 times. This goes for: ? Intro, content, outro format ? Placement & timing of stickers & text ? & Any other stylization AB Testing: ? I recommend posting a format 3 times bare minimum for insights that inform each round of iteration. ? 9 Times per iteration is perfect for even more useful insights. If you go this route, you can record & post 3 in one sitting so you don’t use the max length, & because as we know, algorithm also favors concise!

The shorter the better, as our attention span is 8 seconds in 2023! Few other tips to get more engagement: 1. Use a great loop: This is a technique where you do something unexpected that makes people very curious. An example would be starting your Reel talking about "#2 tip to grow Your Sales on Social Media" instead of starting with #1. People need completion so now they will watch your entire video because they need to know what number #1 is. 2. Use a good hook: A hook is something you say or do to grab attention at the audience. The first 3 seconds of your video determine whether people watch the rest of it or not. So make sure to use a curiosity provoking hook the first few seconds so they will feel like watching the rest

Hashtags still remain helpful as more social media platforms are used as search engines. Search the hashtags before you post them in the captions. Try to avoid using hashtags that millions of people have already utilized. Keep a list of the hashtags you like to use by following them. You can select your followers and that will bring you back to the list of hashtags you follow. Also, see what hashtags your key audience/followers use. When you click on a hashtag you will be able to see other followers who also follow that hashtag. When you see a number of your followers following the same one that’s probably an indicator that the topic is relevant to your audience.

Whenever I post a reel I like to keep my caption short and sweet. I believe that reels are quick consumable content and people don't often stay on to read a long caption. Depending on the type of brand and content you are growing you should think about the hashtags you want to use. If you are a local business that has a brick and mortar then I would definitely include local geographic hashtags in the mix.

Reels have the ability to reach a new audience. Use your reels to hook in new followers. Some content ideas are: - sharing tips- educating your followers on your expertise - day-to-day life - behind the scenes of your business - talking video- inspiring or educating - funny and entertaining video Working with other content creators who align with your brand values and vision is another great way to get more views on your reel and as well grow your following.

Consider user-generated content (UGC) in your strategy. By encouraging your followers to create and share Reels featuring your products or services, you can leverage their creativity and reach a wider audience. Plus, UGC often feels more authentic and relatable to other viewers, helping build trust and credibility for your brand. Maybe launch a branded hashtag challenge or offer incentives (discounts or giveaways) to inspire your community to contribute their own Reels.

Remember that not all reels will perform. This is completely normal! Don't get discouraged and just keep going. Analyze your results and see which reels connect with your audience and ultimately give you the best results. Once you figure out which ones perform better then use your learnings and batch more content to mirror that posting style. Some things to look after are: - Am I educating or entertaining? - Am I in the video? - Do I have text on the video? - How long is the video?

Don't be disheartened if one (or even a few) of your ideas flop. Lots of content creators publish posts that don't do as well as they hope or expected, but the beauty of social media is that you haven't put all your eggs in one basket, so you can put poorly performing vids to one side and move on, trying something new. If you're still sure your Reel was a good one after a bit of reflection, post it again at a later date (as long as its still relevant) - it could end up as a success second time around!

I always recommend not using trends in all of your videos. I do think that jumping on some trends will ultimately help your video perform better and bring new people to your page. I do think that you creating most content as original content and not just trends is a much better strategy. This allows you to showcase your originality and will help your content stand out.

The more you are enjoying your content, the more that shows in what you do. People gravitate to those who are full of vitality and passion. If you are afraid of being "over the top" ask yourself if your friends or close peers watched it would they think it's "another day in the life" of you or would they be put off guard? Depending on the answer to that "gut-check", make the post!

One thing that I constantly hear is "I'm too scared to post a reel". This feeling is completely valid, it can be very overwhelming at first. The only way to improve with this is by doing it. Start small and set yourself a small goal that doesn't feel too large and too overwhelming. Maybe start by posting reels that don't show your face at first. This will at least help you familiarize yourself with editing and the technology part of the process. Once you feel a little more comfortable with the technical side then start posting a video to show your face.

One of the biggest benefits of Reels are their shelf life. While stories last for 24 hours, and a regular post may get engagement for a few days, Reels can get engagement and "pushed" for 90 days.

Be careful when it comes to trending audio. This will most definitely extend the reach of your Reels - Instagram confirmed that content with trending sounds will be served to more people - but there are watch outs: 1. Creating content based off trending sounds is not a solid strategy. You should focus on your brand, your core objectives, and the purpose of the content. Create it with that in mind and pick the most suitable audio to support it. 2. Brands and businesses can be penalised for using trending sounds without the copyright to do so, resulting in hefty fines. Individuals and smaller brand or entrepreneurial profiles are usually okay, but if you're a bigger business, using trending audio is a risk you'll need to consider.

Above all use UGC or EGC. Real life and authentic will cut through, so take opportunities to engage your base of followers and employees and galvanise them to create content for you.