"Reels are just people dancing around and pointing to things."

"If I'm already creating Stories, why do I need to create Reels."

"Reels just don't fit my product/service."

These are some of the things I hear regularly from business owners who are still resisting creating Reels content for their Instagram business page.

And I get it! At first glance it does just look like a lot of dancing around and lip synching and not a lot of marketing going on BUT there is definitely a method in the madness!

Number one being, Instagram is loving this content right now. When they first launched Reels in 2020 (to compete with the rise of TikTok), that's all we saw in our feeds. It's calmed down a little now but Instagram have made no secret about the fact their algorithm favours Reels content and that their focus is on video.

That's not it though. 

  • Reels are a great way to show off your and your brand's personality
  • They are a great way to add little snippets of value
  • Reels aren't just for your followers - unlike Stories, people who aren't following can find and watch your Reels
  • Reels are discoverable! Keywords you use in captions and hashtags can appear in corresponding searches on the Explore page
  • They stick around and don't disappear like Stories, meaning they have a much longer shelf life
  • They work for both product based and service based businesses!

Have I started to convince you yet?

If you're starting to get on board but you don't know where to start, here's my top tips on how to create a good Reel:

  • Don't forget who you are creating your Reels for - keep your target audience in mind at all times as this is who you are talking to!
  • ALWAYS include music or audio!! This is what Reels are all about - do some research and see how others incorporate music and audio into their Reels
  • Keep things fun - viewers are looking to be entertained so make them smile, grab their attention, include a surprise twist!
  • Add value by providing the answer a problem you know your target audience has - allude to it in the video and answer it in the caption
  • Try out all the different creative tools - add a filter and definitely add text overlay (lay off the GIFs though, save those for Stories)
  • Keep up with trends and trending audio and see how you can adapt them to make them fit your brand
  • Try some transitions to make your Reel look appealing and interesting (you don't have to get too complicated at first - a simple click of the fingers will do!)
  • Include a short caption and super relevant hashtags
  • Try out including a pre-created cover and see how/if they effect your reach
  • DON'T use rubbish, low-res video, don't include borders and don't have the majority of the image/video covered in text
  • And definitely don't just copy across TikToks with the watermark on them - the algorithm will penalise this content!

So, have I managed to change your mind on Reels?

Overall, my advice is to just to jump on in and give them a go but most of all HAVE FUN as that's what they are all about! 

And if you need any help getting out of the starting blocks, download my Instagram Reels mini-course for just £26. Click here to get started - I can't wait to see what you create!

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For any advice and support with social media marketing for your business, contact Glow Social. today on 07876136311 or emma@glowsocial.co.uk.

For any advice and support with social media marketing for your business, contact Glow Social. today on 07876136311 or emma@glowsocial.co.uk.