Instagram Reels: It's available in Hong Kong!

Instagram Reels In Hong Kong

As early as 2020, Instagram has launched a brand new function, Reels. Reels have provided a platform for initiating Reels Challenges, sharing weekly OOTD (Outfit Of The Day) and introducing new products, which has made Reels prevalent. Despite the fact that this function is criticised as a “TikTok copycat”, it has actually received positive reactions from influencers and brands. Big brands like Sephora and Louis Vuitton have started to use Reels since day one. This function has finally been introduced to Hong Kong users lately. Would it be all the rage in our society?

What Are Instagram Reels ?

Reels offer a new channel to create and discover entertaining clips. Reels are edited short videos, ranging from 15 seconds to 60 seconds. By merging multiple clips or photos and adding a myriad of features: audio, effects and creative tools, new reels are created. The speed of each clip can be adjusted from 0.3x slower to 3x faster. Seamless transitions of videos and photos can be done by applying the align function.? Different sounds can be played at the same time in Reels, adding your own voice-over or sound effect to the selected music. Timer is included in Reels, which allow hands-free recording. Aside from solo creation, you can remix others’ Reels with your own Reels. You can also allow people to remix your Reels by enabling the remix function.

How To Create An Instagram Reel?

Select Reels at the bottom of Instagram camera or press the camera button on the top right hand corner of Reels in Explore. Choose the duration (15s, 30s or 60s) of your Reels. You can either record real-time videos or add pre-shoot clips and photos from the gallery, merging them into one video. By pressing < , you can review, trim or delete the previously recorded or added clips. By pressing ‘Preview’ or > , you can then include AR effects, audio, stickers and words in the video. Then, you can choose the cover of Reels and add a caption to it. Your Reels will live on a separate Reels tab on your profile. If you also share to your Feed, your Reels will appear on your main profile grid.

How To Market Your Brand By Using Instagram Reels?

From stories, to IGTV, to Instagram Shop, and now Reels, Instagram has offered brands a full suite of business features within one platform. Given that Reels are organically boosted by instagram on the explore page for worldwide users, it is very likely to gain new audiences and move existing consumers down the sales funnel. Here are some ways for brand promotion by using Reels:

1. Showcase Products

Reels connect multiple clips, which allow a brand to showcase their new products in a short video. Audience can view different products within a minute in a fun and dynamic way. By adding product tags in Reels, potential consumers can click on them to look for more details.?

2. Share Educational Content

Posting educational content can show a diverse side of the brand and is a wise way to connect with the audience. Instead of just showing the audience your products, you can virtually demonstrate them how to use your products.?

Fashion brands can post Reels that teach the audience different ways to style a top or display the colours and features of the product. Beauty brands can post Reels that teach the audience to do nice makeup by using their products. Catering brands can post Reels that teach the audience to make simple food or snacks.

3. Initiate Challenges

Online challenges have taken social media by storm all the time. Initiating challenges, like dance challenges or styling challenges, can certainly engage the audience and interact with them. Spreading the challenges by different Instagram users could probably raise the reputation of the brands.

4. Feature Influencers

It is always a smart idea to do partnerships with influencers. Featuring popular influencers can truly attract a great number of audiences.

Successful Cases of Using Reels

#1 Louis Vuitton

As soon as the debut of Instagram Reels, Louis Vuitton started to make high calibre and creative Reels. Noticeably, each of their Reels has gone viral, with an average of 5 million views.?

This global fashion icon also uses Reels to showcase their new collections, such as LVCruise. Each campaign Reel is very similar. All of them have the exact same caption just with a different model and #LVCruise bag.

#2 ASOS

Having strong followers on both Instagram and TikTok, this British online retailer has been reposting their best TikTok content on Reels. This reel has reached 4.4 million views in just a few days. This action of reposting not only shows the content to new audiences, but also triggers people who have already seen the clip on TikTok to search on Instagram. The success of TikTok is due to brands revealing their human side, which is what viewers want to see. With reference to it, it is believed that Reels can bring the same positive impact and growth to numerous brands. The great view counts received by ASOS has shown the potential of Reels on brand promotion.?

#3 Red Bull

This brand has dominated Instagram Reels by initiating unique challenges that promote their own brand value, “give you wings”. They launched the #RedBullKeepItReels campaign, in which each of the campaign Reel has received over 200K likes.

Here Are Some Tips For You

It is said that Reels can boost reach and engagement rate, but not every Reel can go viral on Instagram. According to Instagram guidelines, Reels are recommended to users based on Reels that they’ve watched, liked or commented on, and the accounts they’ve followed.

In addition, Instagram would give greater exposure to reels that are entertaining to a wide audience, can inspire and prompt people to create, include music from Instagram music library, can show diverse backgrounds and are filmed vertically.

On the other hand, Instagram would make reels less visible if they are blurry, of low resolution, contain borders, logos or watermarks. Reels that are not original would gain less reach. Following the aforementioned guidelines and making good use of Reels, it is believed that the Reels would gain much attention, which can further help promote and expand a brand.?