In a world where attention spans are shorter than ever, capturing the spotlight has become an art form. Enter Instagram reels – a game-changing feature that has taken the social media world by storm. In this article, we will explore the profound importance of Instagram reels to brands and how they can leverage this dynamic platform to drive brand awareness, foster deeper connections, and unlock new growth opportunities.
Table of Contents
What is an Instagram reel and how it works?
Instagram reels are the ultimate playground for creativity. It’s where you can let your imagination run wild and turn everyday moments into cinematic experiences. With just a few taps on your phone, you can create 15 to 30-second videos that will leave everyone scrolling, double-tapping, and craving more.
To get started, open up Instagram and find the reels option. You’ll discover a treasure trove of creative tools there. From fancy effects and filters to an extensive library of music tracks that set the perfect mood, you have everything you need to make your reel shine. You can dance your heart out, lip-sync to your favorite tunes, show off your artistry, share quick how-to tutorials, or simply let your imagination run wild. With reels, there are no limits to your creativity.
Types of Instagram Reels for Brands
Product Showcasing
Create reels that demonstrate the features, benefits, and different use cases of your offerings. Show your audience how your product solves a problem or enhances their lives. Use captivating visuals, close-up shots, and engaging captions to grab attention and drive interest in what you have to offer.
Behind-the-scenes
Show your audiences the process of creating your products, the dedication of your team, or the story behind your brand. Behind-the-scenes reels give a glimpse into your brand’s personality and values, building trust and fostering a deeper connection with your audience.
Tutorials & How-tos
Provide step-by-step instructions on using your product, assembling it, or achieving a desired outcome. This type of Reel positions your brand as an authority and resource in your industry.
User Generated Content
Ask your audiences to share their experiences, testimonials, or creative ways they use your offerings. Give your customers a sense of community and recognition. It not only fosters brand loyalty but also serves as social proof for potential customers.
Influencer Collaborations
Collaborate with influencers whose values align with yours to create authentic and impactful content. Influencer collaborations can expand your reach, tap into new audiences, and lend credibility to your brand.
Trendy & Hashtag Challenges
Participate in popular challenges or start your own branded challenge. Use relevant hashtags to increase discoverability and encourage your audience to join in and create their versions of the challenge.
Storytelling & Brand Values
Showcase your mission, values, and the people behind your brand. Share stories that evoke emotions, inspire, or resonate with your audience.
Instagram Reels Statistics in 2023
- 2.35 billion people interact with reels every month.
- Reel is Instagram’s fastest-growing feature.
- 91% of active Instagram users watch IG videos every week.
- India prefers reels to TikTok.
- Instagram reels are more engaging than traditional IG videos.
- 9 out of 10 users watch Instagram videos weekly
- Instagram usage in Brazil increased by 4.3%.
- 87% of Gen Z think that TikTok and Gen Z are the same.
- Reels have a maximum running length of 90 seconds
- Instagram is the hub for Influencer marketing.
- Reels get 22% more interaction on Instagram.
- Reel videos have a maximum file size of 4GB
- Instagram recommends a ratio of 9:16 for Reels videos
- 50% of users use the Explore page every month.
- Posting reels can improve your Instagram engagement.
Difference Between Reels and Stories in Advertising
In advertising, understanding the difference between Instagram stories and Instagram reels is crucial for creating effective and engaging campaigns. Here’s a description highlighting how these features differ when it comes to advertising on Instagram:
Instagram Stories
Insta stories provide advertisers with a powerful tool to deliver concise and visually appealing content to their target audience. With stories, you can create immersive, full-screen vertical ads that seamlessly integrate into users’ story feeds. These ads can include images, videos, interactive elements, and call-to-action buttons to drive specific actions. Since stories have a time-limited nature, they create a sense of urgency, making them ideal for promotions, flash sales, or limited-time offers.
Instagram Reels
Reels, on the other hand, allow brands to showcase their products, services, or brand personality through creative storytelling, music, effects, and editing features. Reels can be educational, inspirational, or simply entertaining, offering a chance to connect with users on a deeper level. The key to a great reel is authenticity – something that doesn’t feel so polished. Unlike stories, reels have a longer lifespan and can be discovered by a wider audience through the Explore page. This increased visibility makes reels ideal for building brand awareness, reaching new potential customers, and driving engagement. Advertisers can also leverage popular trends or challenges within Reels to increase their content’s virality and impact.
Why is Instagram Reels Important For Brands?
Instagram reels have become an indispensable tool for brands seeking to maximize their online presence and engage with their target audience. With its captivating short-form video format, Instagram reels offer an unparalleled opportunity for businesses to showcase their products, tell compelling stories, and ultimately drive brand awareness and sales.
Furthermore, Instagram reels help brands amplify their reach and increase discoverability. By utilizing the platform’s robust algorithms and explore page, reels have the potential to go viral and reach a wider audience beyond a brand’s existing followers. This heightened visibility can translate into enhanced brand exposure, increased followership, and ultimately, improved brand loyalty.
The Brands We’ve Worked With
Meshki Australia
Four assets were produced using existing client assets and Life on Mars original audio. Adding motion graphics and 3d techniques to bring to life the assets and generate awareness of the new product range available online.
McDonald’s Singapore
VMG Digital was tasked to repurpose existing brand videos and create two distinct concepts around the Shake & Dip campaign for Instagram reels. In collaboration with Meta Creative Shop, 2 concepts were brought to life. One concept features the Shake and Dip Dance and the other Reel focuses on the delicious product.
Dish Australia
Two concepts executed with a Reels first approach. Using the client’s existing footage and stock imagery taken from the Sunflower shoot. Adding clear supers at the beginning of the video and close-up shots of the clothing to highlight the new collections and considered music and vision syncs to lean into the Reels format to drive awareness.
Poppy Lissman Australia
Two concepts executed with a Reels first approach. Using the client’s existing footage and stock imagery from their best-selling bags and sunglasses collections. Close-up framing and music syncs were just some of the techniques used to create the Reels assets. With the objectives of driving brand awareness and generating increased website traffic.
5 Easy Steps to Make Instagram Reels
Creating Instagram reels is a simple and effective way to engage with your audience and showcase your brand’s creativity. Here are five easy steps to help you make compelling Instagram reels:
Step 1: Launch the Instagram app on your mobile device and tap on the “+” icon at the bottom center of the screen. From the options that appear, select “Reels.”
Step 2: Before recording your reel, decide on the type of content you want to create. You can choose to record a video in real-time, upload pre-recorded footage, or create a collage of multiple clips. Select the appropriate option based on your creative vision.
Step 3: Start recording your reel by holding the capture button. You have the option to record a continuous video or stop and start recording multiple times to capture different scenes. Utilize Instagram’s creative tools, such as effects, filters, and text overlays, to enhance your Reel. You can also adjust the speed, add music, and align your clips for smooth transitions.
Step 4: Craft a compelling caption that complements your reel and provides context to your audience. Incorporate relevant hashtags to increase the discoverability of your reel. Consider using popular or trending hashtags related to your content to reach a wider audience.
Step 5: Once you’re satisfied with your reel, tap the arrow button to proceed to the sharing screen. Here, you can add a caption, tag other users, and choose whether to share your reel to your feed, to your reels tab, or to both. You can also share it on your Instagram story for additional visibility. Finally, tap the “Share” button to make your reel live on your profile.
What makes a reel go viral?
Mass Appeal
General content appeal to a larger audience.
Aesthetic
It’s all about making the human mind feel and see good.
Curiosity
Start w/ attention grabbing frame. Make the audience hold on till the end.
Group/ Couple Acts
Contents that show humans make it feel more real.
Short Reels with Value
Even 7s Reels perform well if they have good content.
Relatability
Show your audience that you are one among them.
How-To Reels
Teach your audience things that they can apply to their lives.
Humor
Lighten up the audience and create an indirect bond w/ them.
Transition
Pique the creativity of the audience.
Algorithm
Know what worked for you and what is working for others.
How can VMG Digital help you create thumb-stopping Instagram Reels?
We are a Meta-partnered creative agency, giving us special access to different Instagram trends, best practices, insights, and more. We have already produced 300+ Instagram reel projects to date all with an overall 96% customer satisfaction rate.
Our talented pool of editors, designers, and animators will also make sure that we deliver high-quality & world-class output with a fast turnaround time. Through the help of our dedicated client services managers and our Create Technology (one-stop collaboration platform), we will guarantee a seamless collaboration experience.
Frequently Asked Questions About Instagram Reels for Business
Are Instagram reels public?
Instagram Reels can be both public and private, depending on your account settings and privacy preferences. By default, when you create a Reel on Instagram, it is shared with your followers and can be seen by the wider Instagram community. However, if you have a private account, your Reels will only be visible to your approved followers.
How long do reels stay on Instagram?
Instagram Reels typically stay on your profile indefinitely unless you choose to delete them. Unlike Instagram Stories, which automatically disappear after 24 hours, Reels are designed to have a longer lifespan and remain accessible on your profile for as long as you keep them posted.
Should you post reels to your feed?
Yes, you can post your Instagram Reels to your feed if you want to make them permanently visible on your profile. When you post a Reel to your feed, it will appear as a regular post alongside your photos and videos.
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