Stories, IGTV and now ‘Reels’? Finding it hard to keep up? We all know how savvy Instagram are at remaining competitive and on top of their game. Their stories approach surpassed Snapchat in daily users, their adapted ‘Instagram TV’ feed came into play following the surge in YouTube users, and they’ve now brought in ‘Reels’ to combat the huge success of the video social app ‘TikTok’.

Instagram Reels invites you “to create fun videos to share with your friends or anyone on Instagram. Record and edit 15-second multi-clip videos with audio, effects, and new creative tools”; and that is the real difference between this and the IGTV and stories features. Reels allows you to add AR effects, music, and a stop/start feature so that you can really get creative with your content. They’re designed to be fast, fun, and filled with special effects to create exciting content instantly. Short videos are a more dynamic and creative opportunity to share your brand story. They are the perfect medium to enable more authentic relationships with your audience. So why not give it a try?

What could you use Reels for?

Behind the Scenes (#BTS) videos

This would be the most simple use of your time if you’re not a confident Instagram, TikTok or reels user just yet. Simply open the reels function, then stop and start your camera wherever you want to, and add any effects you like down the left hand side. You could start by filming some quick behind the scenes shots, as a start point to showcase the work and services your company has to offer (and also make your followers feel a part of your brand!).

Educational content, how-to guides

For this kind of content, imagine putting a list of instructions into a 15 second video. Break it down, take one short vid for each instruction, get some good visual aids, actors, props, a good narrator, and go!

Or you could simply just make use of a more exciting way to showcase your products/services.

For inspiration, Red Bull France are smashing the Instagram Reels! 👉 @redbullfrance