How to create and post videos to Instagram Reels
It’s hard to have a successful marketing strategy without incorporating video in some way. While it can be daunting to put yourself out there and step in front of the camera, there are things you can do to get comfortable.
Last week we went over a step-by-step guide to posting on TikTok. This week we’re covering Instagram Reels.
What is an Instagram Reel?
In 2022 Instagram consolidated all videos into the Reels format. While short Reels videos are more popular, Reels can be up to 15 minutes long. Only Reels that are under 90 seconds are eligible to be recommended within the platform’s algorithms for higher visibility. If you plan to put some money into your strategy and boost your Reel, it has to be under a minute long.
Instagram reels are vertical videos that fit the whole mobile screen. They have a dedicated section both on your profile as well as on your feed home page where you can explore just Reels.
While Instagram went all in on reels in 2022, they have since pulled back a bit on it to create more of a balance between video and image content on the platform. It’s a great idea to create a mix of video and image content as part of your strategy.
How to post a Reel via the Instagram App
Step 1: Log in to your profile in the app.
Step 2: Tap the + in the top right corner of the home screen (little house icon) or tap the + on your profile screen.
Step 3: Select Reel from the bottom options or Select Reel from the pop-up menu if you are working from the profile screen.
Step 4: Record or upload your video clip. (see image below)
Upload pre-recorded video files: Click the square with the blue and white plus sign in the bottom left-hand corner to select a video(s) from your camera roll. If you want to select multiple videos, click the middle icon to select multiple videos (it will be the same icon you see in Stories when you select multiple videos or images).
Record video in the app: Press and hold the record button to capture footage.
Here is what each of the features does on this screen:
Audio: Select audio from the Instagram music library or import it from your device.
Effects: Add an Instagram filter to your recorded video clip.
Add Yours: Add this to ask viewers to share a similar picture or video of their own.
Speed: Adjust the speed of your video. Slow it down by choosing .3x or .5x or speed it up by choosing 2x, or 3x.
Video Layout: Adjust the layout and add more than one recording to a single frame.
Timer: Set a timer that will go off before you start recording and set a time limit for the next clip. This is useful if you want to record hands-free and if you want a smoother start to your recorded clip.
Dual: Record videos using your front and rear cameras at the same time.
Gesture Control: Allows you to raise your hand to start and stop recording.
Step 5: After recording or adding files, click Next.
Step 6: Edit your Reel using the in-app features. (see image below)
You can add text, stickers, and more. You can also save a copy of your Reel (click the first circle: an arrow pointing down).
Here is what each of the features in the editing step does:
Audio: If you didn’t select audio during the recording process – or you uploaded your own clip and want to add audio after-the-fact, you can add it here.
Text: Add text overlay to all or part of your video. Type your text. To adjust how long the text overlay appears for , tap on the text bubble at the bottom of the screen and adjust it in the preview.
Stickers: Add in things like captions (highly recommended for accessibility and for your viewers who watch with no sound), polls, question stickers, GIFs, and much more.
Draw: Freehand designs on your Reel.
Effects: Add things like filters and other special effects.
Download: Save a copy of your Reel to your device. Another one we recommend as it can be super frustrating to do all that work and lose it if the app crashes!
Step 7: Once you are happy with how your Reel looks, click next.
Step 8: Adjust your Reel’s settings. (see image below)
Some options at this stage are: Add a caption, tag your location, tag people/co-brand content, select topics from a preset Instagram list, tag products within the Reel, and save a copy in your Reels drafts.
If you want to select a specific cover image that will show on your profile page, Click “Edit Cover,” then select a still from your video which will serve as your thumbnail or click “Add from your device” to add a premade image cover from your camera roll. Click “crop profile image” to position your image as it will appear in the profile grid. Click done when you are ready.
Step 9: Once you are done all of the above steps, click share!
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