5 Tips for Getting Started With Instagram Reels
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING
We all love swiping through reels. Like you, I laugh over funny reels and share relatable ones in my group text threads.
But, since the rise of reels and the Instagram algorithm's preference for reels over other types of posts, many business owners I’ve talked with feel overwhelmed by the idea of making them a part of their marketing strategy.
If you follow me on Instagram, you know it’s a trend I’ve embraced fully in 2022. Although I was also intimidated at first, I’ve found reels to be an effective part of my social media outreach. That’s why I’m sharing 5 suggestions to get started with making your own reels.
#1 - Get over the cringe
Let’s be honest, filming yourself can feel cringy AF. This is the #1 reason I waited so long to start doing reels. I was embarrassed and worried people would judge me. Guess what? People are going to judge you regardless of what you do. Eventually you have to put your insecurities aside, say “F*uck it” and try. It will feel vulnerable at first, but the more you do it the easier it will become - I promise!
Also, there is no rule that says you HAVE to be in the reels you are creating. Do what feels best for you and your business.
#2 - Find inspiration
When creating reels, you will want to look for trending audio first. This will show as an upward arrow on the reel. Ideally you want to use audio that has under 10k uses. This means that the audio is gaining popularity but hasn’t blown up yet, giving you the best chance to be seen and not buried in a million other posts.
I recommend saving reels (tap the little bookmark icon) that inspire you to a new folder (Reel Inspo) within your saved section in Instagram. This will make them easier to find later on.
Now that you have some inspiration, get creative and adapt it to your niche. Remember it won’t be as funny or relatable if the content doesn't have anything to do with your specialty. Instagram recommends reels to other app users based on their interests, so stay in your lane to be seen by potential customers who are looking for what you have to offer.
Bonus Tip: Look for the “Use template” button on reels with lots of video clips or photos. These are usually timed to the music and make it easy to drop your content into the pre-made template.
#3 - Get organized
When I first decided to try making reels, I was overwhelmed by the entire process. Once I landed on a system, it didn’t seem so difficult anymore!
When I’m ready to make a reel, I pull from my “Reel Inspo” folder within Instagram and add it to a Google doc. I save the link to the reel and notes about any thoughts or ideas I have about how it could apply to my business. I can then easily find it later when I’m ready to post and add the caption. This keeps everything in one place and saves me a ton of time!
#4 - Personalize, don’t copy
When you’re adding text on the reel video or writing your caption, it’s important that everything you’re sharing is authentic to you and not copied from what someone else has already written.
It’s also important to keep in mind that only the first line of your caption will show up on your reel until the viewer expands the caption. So make that first line short and catchy!
Bonus Tip: If you have a Virtual Assistant or someone who helps with your marketing, finding, organizing, or personalizing reels are great things to task them with in order to remove something from your plate!
#5 - Record and share!
If you tend to be overly critical of yourself on camera (I mean, who isn't?), I recommend recording your reel several times. Save every video you record on your phone and revisit them at a later time or the next day. I’ve found that I’m less critical of myself when I have a little distance from the creating process!
But don’t wait too long to pull the trigger on posting… Reels can skyrocket in popularity within days or even hours and then stop trending just as quickly.
Once you get the hang of it, reels can be not only effective in your marketing, but also fun to create! They can help your potential customers to see your personality, sense of humor, and begin to relate to you before they even meet you. With these tips in mind, you’ll be ready to start creating and sharing your own reels without feeling intimidated or overwhelmed.
I’d love to chat more about this topic and see the reels you create! To share with me, reach out to me here or follow me on Instagram.