Instagram

Learn how to Instagram Reels like a pro! Here’s the ultimate guide to creating amazing Reels that will help you reach more people.

Instagram users spend an astounding 17.6 million hours watching Reels every day. These short, quick videos grab people’s attention and keep them sharing enough. If you want to leverage your audience and reach more people, creating Reels is the way to go.

So, how do you get started?

In this guide, we show you how to create successful Instagram Reels. We’ll start by building the benefits of Reels, then provide a step-by-step guide and finish with some best practices.

How to Make a Reel on Instagram

What are Instagram reels?

Instagram Reels are short videos posted on Instagram. While the maximum reel length is 15 minutes, the most popular are 7 to 15 seconds. Reels can be a single video, multiple clips edited together, stills, or a mixture of photos and videos. You can create them with Instagram’s own video editing tool or a third-party video editing app.

Most reels aren’t just video—they often include text and streaming audio to get the message across. While many are humorous, there are also plenty of educational, informative, and serious reels. They are an excellent tool for your business to build brand recognition in a modern, flexible way.

How to Create Reel on Instagram

Creating short, engaging videos is an art, and Instagram offers plenty of ways to succeed. Here’s a step-by-step guide to editing and posting Reel using the Instagram app:

1. Open the Instagram app and swipe right to access the camera.
2. Select “Reel” at the bottom of the screen.
3. Show or upload video clips by holding the record button or clicking the gallery icon.
4. Change your Reel using Instagram’s tools—add text, effects, and music.
5. Preview your Reel to make sure it looks good.
6. Add captions and hashtags and choose a cover image.
7. Share your Reel if you want in your profile and your Stories. Follow these steps, and you’ll be on your way to creating fun and effective Instagram Reels!

(Psst: If the Instagram Reels in-app editor isn’t working for you, there are plenty of free third-party video editing apps you can use).

Step 1: Open the Instagram Reels Editor

Starting an Instagram Reel is simple, and you have three different options. Here is a quick summary:

1. From the News Feed: Click the plus button at the bottom of the screen on the main page that opens when you log in to the app.
2. From the Reels Section: Click the camera icon in the top-left corner of the Reels tab.
3. From your profile: Click the plus button at the top right corner of your profile page.

Note: The next two steps (2, and 3) can be performed in any order. You can select your songs first and then add your clips, or you can add your clips first and then select your songs. You are in control!

Step 2: Create your Video or select Clips from your Camera Roll

You can use the record button on your screen to shoot a Reel at a point, but most social media managers prefer to build video clips first. To access these pre-recordings:

1. Click on the square icon in the lower-left corner of your screen.
2. Select videos from your photo and video library.

This method allows you to select and assemble the best clips for your Reel.

Step 3: Add Audio

There are three ways to add music to your Instagram Reel:

1. Selecting clip: Click the music note icon on the left side of your screen when selecting your clips.
2. After Hitting Next: Click the music note icon at the top of your screen to open the audio menu.
3. From the Clip Editor: Add audio directly when editing your clip (see step 5 for more details).

Regardless of your choice, the audio selection menu looks the same. You can search for a specific song or select trending music (indicated by a slight upward arrow).

Step 4: Add text

Adding content to an Instagram Reel is simple, there are two ways to do it:

1. While viewing your Reel: Click on the text icon at the top of your screen while viewing your Reel.
2. In the Clip Editor: While editing your clip, tap “Text” at the bottom of your screen.

You can customize it by typing the text you want and changing the size, font, color, and layout.

Step 5: Edit Until You’re Satisfied

Using Instagram’s Reel editing tools you can:

• Clip the video
• Change the video settings
• Add changes
• The split
• Adjust playback speed
• Add a sticker

This step usually means you end up with audio in your head, but it’s worth it.

Once completely satisfied with your Reel, hit the little blue arrow on the right side of your screen.

Step 6: Add Image

Overlay Don’t skip this step: Choosing a specific cover image ensures that your Reel fits perfectly with your Instagram aesthetic.

1. Click “Edit Cover”.
2. You can:

• Select a frame from your Reel as the cover image.
• Tap “Add from Camera Roll” to select a different still photo.

Choosing a cover image that accurately represents your content can make your Reel more engaging for viewers scrolling through Instagram.

Step 7: Add a Caption

Write a catchy headline that grabs attention and includes a call to action. If you need inspiration, check out our roundup of over 250 awesome stories!

Step 8: Applying other tags

Click “Tag People” to tag relevant users, colleagues, or creators in your Reel.

Step 9: Add other optional details

Consider adding this optional information before publishing your Reel:

• Products from your Instagram store: Show featured products in your reel.
• Headings: Include relevant headlines to help categorize your content.
• Change your audience: Change who can see your Reel.
• Add Location: Tag a location to reach users in that location.
• Set reminders: require viewers to save or add their Reel later.
• Fundraiser: Pair your reel with fundraisers or charitable causes.

This information is not mandatory, but providing more information can improve visibility and engagement, making the algorithm more efficient.

Step 10: Click “Share”

Congratulations, you are ready to share your Reel! Just click the “Share” button.

Alternatively, you can customize your Instagram Reel to get more users. Services like Storefries can help you organize.

How long can Instagram Reels be?

In 2024, Instagram reels could be as long as 90 seconds. This deadline allows you to provide valuable information and effectively engage your audience without risking losing their interest.

Reels can range in length from 15 to 90 seconds using Instagram’s built-in Reel Creator.

However, if you want shorter or longer Reels, you can use a third-party scheduling tool like Sproutsocial or Storefries. With Storefries, you can upload Reels as short as three seconds or as long as 15 minutes.

Using Instagram’s in-app video editor can be difficult, so many people opt for other video editing apps.

The optimal reel length for maximum engagement is typically 7 to 15 seconds.

Instagram reel sizes

Instagram reels should be 1080×1920 pixels, with an aspect ratio of 9:16. However, the reels look different depending on how they are viewed.

In the Instagram Reels category, the aspect ratio remains at 9:16. However, when the reels appear in the Instagram news feed, the aspect ratio changes to 4:5. This means that parts of the video may be cut out.

To avoid cutting out important details like text, aim to keep it centered on the screen when editing your Reels. This ensures that your content looks great no matter where it appears on Instagram.

The Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram

The good time to post an Instagram Reel can vary based on your audience, content type, and posting frequency. However, Hootsuite suggests that the best times are typically between 9 AM and 12 PM from Monday to Thursday.

(Psst: If you prefer not to be tied to your phone during those times, scheduling Reels to publish at strategic times is much easier… and Storefries can help you with that.)

Why would you create Instagram reels?

Before you go about creating your own Instagram reels, it’s important to understand their value. Here are some of the benefits you can expect when you talk about it:

1. Increased Visibility: Instagram Reels have the potential to reach a larger audience. They will appear on the review page and in user feeds, increasing your chances of gaining new followers and engagement. Reports show that even accounts with up to 500 followers can have an average of 892%.
2. Engagement: Short texts tend to be more engaging. Users can like, comment, share, and recreate your Reels, enhancing special interaction with your content. Research shows that a large portion of Instagram likes—35.4%—come from Reels content.
3. Creativity and Branding: Instagram Reels allow you to express your creativity, personality, and brand identity uniquely. You can use music, influences, and trends to create engaging content that resonates with your target audience.
4. Showcase products or services: Companies can effectively showcase their products or services through attractive and attractive reels. This can increase sales and conversions, as research shows that a larger percentage of consumers (70%) have made a purchase after seeing the reels.
5. Quick and easy content: Reels are usually short, from 15 to 60 seconds (now extended to 90 seconds), and easy to play compared to longer videos This feature enables you to share engaging content quickly without the need for a huge time commitment.

By taking advantage of these benefits, Instagram Reels can be a powerful tool to extend your reach, engage your audience, and increase your brand presence.

Related blog : How to make money on Instagram

How does the Instagram Reels Algorithm work?

The Instagram Reels algorithm recommends content based on:

1. Your past connections.

2. The relevance of your interests.

3. Levels of engagement (likes, comments, shares).

4. Video metadata (text, hashtags, audio).

5. Popular accounts and entries.

These features help identify which Reels appear in users’ feeds and on the Explore page.

Instagram Reels Features 2024

On April 30th, 2024, Instagram announced significant updates to its Reels algorithm aimed at supporting smaller creators:

1. Changed Algorithm: The algorithm will prioritize boosting the reach of smaller creators. It will reduce the visibility of reposted content in recommendations and provide links to the original content instead.

2. Blend Feature: Currently in the trial phase, this feature allows users to blend their Reels algorithm, creating a private feed visible only to themselves and their friends.

These updates are intended to enhance the Reels experience by promoting original content and fostering community interaction among users.

Conclusion: Focus on Reels Insights

Use Instagram’s search to see how your Reels perform. These metrics include likes, shares, comments, and saves along with audience size and reach data. Insights provide valuable information that can help shape your social media strategy.

Using Storefries intuitive dashboard, you can schedule and manage Reels along with all your other content. Schedule Reels to publish even remotely, deliver at optimal times, and track metrics like reach, likes shares, and more.

Instagram reels FAQs

What is a Reel on Instagram?

A Reel is simply a video post on Instagram. These videos are limited to 90 seconds and include creative features like Remixes and AR filters. Essentially, a Reel is Instagram’s term for a short video post.

How to Get Reels on Instagram?

All Instagram accounts have Reels automatically enabled. Simply follow the steps above to create and post your first Reel!

What is the Difference Between Instagram Posts and Reels?

An Instagram Reel is a type of post that features video content. Reels are shown in a dedicated Reels feed and can reach a broader audience beyond your followers.

Regular Instagram posts can be in various formats, including photos and videos, and are primarily seen by your followers on their feeds.