When it comes to building brand awareness and creating engaging content, Instagram is an extremely effective social media platform. Much of this has to do with its range of dynamic features, such as Instagram Live and Instagram Stories, which provide opportunities for brands to share their personality with the world.
An Instagram feature we see that’s of great benefit to brands is Instagram Reels and it will become an integral part of digital marketing strategies in the years to come.
In this article we’ll explore what the advantages of Instagram Reels are and how it could develop in the future.
What are Instagram Reels?
Launched in 2019, Instagram Reels are short, multi-clip 15 – 30 second videos that can have sounds, music and graphics added to them. The purpose of Reels is to provide entertaining content and they can be shared with followers in your feed and with the wider Instagram community in the Explore page.
Instagram created Reels to compete with TikTok, which has a similar feature that lets users create and share short video clips.
Although it initially received criticism as a ‘TikTok copycat,’ Instagram Reels has since been embraced as a fun and engaging tool. There’s some great potential for you to leverage it in your digital marketing efforts.
What are the benefits of Instagram Reels?
Increased engagement
One of the major benefits of Instagram Reels is that you can drive more engagement with your followers by creating fun content.
With Reels being short, there’s an ephemeral quality to the content and it encourages people to tune in. They also don’t expire like Instagram Stories and can be watched multiple times.
When creating a Reel, you have the opportunity to showcase your brand personality and use Instagram’s algorithm to your advantage. The algorithm prioritises great content and a good way to ensure your Reels are discovered by new people is to share them in your feed and use relevant hashtags to boost their reach.
Promote products and services
If you’re looking for a new way to sell your products and services, Instagram Reels is the way forward. Reels has a shoppable component, meaning brands can tag products and invite viewers to buy directly in a video.
This might appear as a ‘view products’ tab at the bottom of a Reel, which users can click to find out more information about your offering. Or they can choose to save the product for later or buy it on the spot.
When promoting your products through Reels, a good technique is to work with an influencer. They could be featured in a series of Reels using the products and then inviting viewers to click through.
Become a thought leader
Another benefit is that you can build yourself as an authority within your space through easy-to-watch, educational content. This is particularly useful when you’re considering how to break down complicated subject matter to new audiences and hold their attention at the same time.
For example, an architect could create a collection of Reels about different styles of home décor and share the history of each location. When all the Reels are watched together, a short ‘movie’ feel is created and could drive more engagement.
Our CEO, Claire Daniels echoes these benefits:
“I see Reels becoming more and more important for businesses and it should be adopted as early as possible in a marketing strategy. In terms of reach and brand discoverability, Reels could very well be the secret sauce for leveraging Instagram’s algorithm and it produces some amazing results.”
Where could Reels go in the future?
We see Instagram Reels continuing to evolve in response to what other social media platforms are doing. In one of the latest updates, Instagram launched a feature called Remix, which lets you record a Reels video alongside a video from another user.
Remix is eerily similar to TikTok’s Duet feature, which also lets users interact with and record simultaneous videos. Snapchat have also thrown their hat into the ring with a feature called Remix and it’ll be interesting to see what the next steps are for these social media giants.
Nevertheless, Instagram Reels will continue to be an invaluable resource for brands who want to build stronger relationships with their customers.
At Trio Media, we specialise in Instagram marketing and can help you create Reels that stand out. Get in touch with us today at [email protected] or call 0113 357 0440.
