Simply Social Newsletter

Instagram Is Testing Longer Reels

Instagram is extending its Reels video uploads, allowing some users to share 3-minute videos, a significant jump from the current 90-second limit. This expansion has been under consideration for a while, with Instagram even contemplating 10-minute uploads. Notably, only pre-recorded videos can be used for longer Reels uploads, not ones captured directly through the Reels camera. The trend towards longer videos is mirrored on TikTok, which recently launched a Creator Rewards Program incentivizing longer clips. Instagram is also urging users to share longer Reels to boost engagement, reflecting a broader shift in social apps towards prioritizing entertainment over social features to sustain user interest and app growth.

What does this mean for my brand?

The extension of Reels video uploads on Instagram offers your brand several benefits:

1. Increased Engagement: Longer videos allow you to showcase your brand more comprehensively, encouraging users to spend more time engaging with your content.
2. Enhanced Creativity: With more time available, you can explore various storytelling methods, product demonstrations, and tutorials to captivate your audience and stand out from competitors.
3. Broader Reach: Instagram's expanded video capabilities may attract a wider audience, including those who prefer longer content. This presents an opportunity to reach new followers and potential customers interested in your brand's extended Reels content.

Overall, this extension presents a valuable opportunity to deepen engagement, foster creativity, reach new followers, and align with current social media trends. Consider leveraging this feature to effectively showcase your brand's identity, values, and offerings to connect with your target audience.

Reportedly, Instagram Is Testing Expanded Carousel Posts

Instagram is testing expanded carousel posts, allowing some users to include up to 15 images in a single upload, up from the current limit of 10. This enhancement provides more capacity for showcasing events, projects, or holidays in a single stream, offering additional context without overwhelming viewers.

While the extension could potentially lead to clutter, the additional five frames offer a reasonable increase in space without necessitating separate posts. Though a minor change, it could significantly impact how users share on the platform, particularly for brands looking to provide more context on product announcements and listings. However, it's essential to avoid overcrowding updates, but having extra slots could be beneficial in certain situations.

What does this mean for my brand?

The expanded carousel posts on Instagram offer your brand several advantages:

1. Enhanced Storytelling: With more images per post, you can craft richer narratives about your brand, products, or services, fostering creativity and deeper engagement with your audience.
2. Improved Product Showcase: Brands can now showcase products more comprehensively, highlighting features and providing context, which is particularly beneficial for launches, announcements, or showcasing a range of offerings.
3. More Contextual Content: Additional slots allow for more detailed messaging about specific topics, events, or campaigns, facilitating deeper connections with your audience and delivering a more comprehensive message.

In summary, the expansion of carousel posts presents opportunities to enhance storytelling, showcase products effectively, provide more context, and unleash creativity on the platform. Leveraging this feature can help create compelling content that resonates with your audience and reinforces your brand identity.

Cool Campaigns of the Week!

Asics Debuts the Youngest Ever Team of Fitness Influencers

Asics' latest campaign, "Little Reminders," features a team of fitness influencers, the youngest ever, aimed at inspiring adults to rediscover the joy of exercise. Named ‘Little Reminders,’ the campaign stems from research showing that while 63% of adults exercise for physical gains, 77% of children do so for enjoyment. Moreover, 77% of adults see exercise as a chore, whereas 92% of children aged 6-11-years-old find it enjoyable and look forward to it.

The campaign showcases 7- and 8-year-old Tillie, Hiba, Joash, Imuujin, and Henry leading their own workouts on popular exercise influencers’ channels. Additionally, the campaign introduces the first-ever exercise guide created by children, encouraging adults to ‘move for their mind’. Asics aims to challenge the mindset that adult-focused influencers may inadvertently reinforce limitations. By featuring children whose exercise motivation is rooted in joy rather than results, Asics hopes to inspire adults to reconnect with the positive emotions associated with physical activity.

Dribble, Dip, and Dunk: Hellmann’s Game-Timed Recipes

Hellmann’s Canada, in collaboration with the Toronto Raptors, has launched ‘Game-Timed’ Recipes to ensure basketball fans can savor every moment of the game without being stuck in the kitchen. This recipe collection offers a range of dishes perfect for enjoying during live action, whether prepared pre-game, in the brief intervals between quarters, or during halftime.

Curated by Canadian food influencers like Ang Geronimo and Ang Sturino, Game-Timed Recipes are tailored to provide fans with satisfying options for every time-constrained segment of the game, from 'tipoff to the final whistle.' New recipes will be revealed on Hellmann’s website every Wednesday, with additional interaction and engagement promoted through sampling at the Scotiabank Arena and a Game-Timed Recipe Contest.