Reels are a new feature of Instagram, but nevertheless, they have already become one of the most popular and efficient formats of content.
From a technical point of view, Reels are doppelgänger of TikTok, and that is what they really are. Reels are short videos lasting up to 60 seconds. You can choose music from an available catalog and use various effects, stickers, and editing options on Reels.
But together with that, Reels have some outstanding features that neither different Instagram content nor TikTok can boast.
1. Separate Explore tab
The first most vital Reels feature is a separate outreach and their own ‘explore’ tab. The Reels you post will be shown to your audience and the users who are not following you yet. The algorithm suggests your reels might be of interest to such users. It is a helpful and unique tool to attract an audience. It has been a long time since Instagram required using paid tools for promotion. Reels give you an opportunity to win a new target audience for free, just because your reels are shown to those who might like them.
2. Reels stay forever
Unlike Stories, Reels remain on your account permanently. Right after announcing the feature, people talked a lot if there was a sense in such a format when there were stories on Instagram. Stories are a one-time thing — Reels are forever. They bring engagement at the moment, and together with that, your audience can save them to their library and watch videos of their interest.
Instagram is now testing a special tool that can take a series of stories and automatically make reels out of them. It means that your content will get a second chance and stories will survive a 24-hour period. Lots of new features will be available to content-makers, as they can make captivating collages and editions.
3. Various effects and functions
You can add reels to your Feed and stories — and together with that, they have their own outreach. It basically broadens your outreach significantly. Reels are shown as posting on your Feed, and when on stories, they will also provide new views.
You can add reels on your feed and stories and together with that they have their own outreach. This basically broadens your outreach significantly. Reels are shown as a posting on your feed, and when on stories reels will add views as well.
If for some reason, you don’t want your reels to stay on your Feed (for example, it has eye-catching photos or other visual content), you can add your Reels and hide them later on. The Hide feature is available in the Settings section. It works when hidden reels are still visible to your audience, but they are not on your Feed.
4. Length
A minute is the best possible length. 15 seconds is not enough — there was much talk about that. A 15-second limit on Stories made users shoot a series of them. Those seconds are not enough to express your personality in full. And a 60-second time limit is perfect for providing maximum worth.
Users watch minute-long videos quite easily — it’s a simple content format
5. Slippery slope principle
Reels are an instrument of storytelling and content-building on social media.
The slippery slope principle in storytelling is about saying or showing something the way your listener and/or viewer would follow further. The same as on TikTok — you need to remember that the user is always holding his thumb over the screen and they are ready to swipe the reels and switch to other content. That is why it is vital to catch his eye from the very first moment because a 10-second rule will not work here.
How can you do that? You can use various formats, such as intrigues, surprising and fascinating facts, specific tasks, or some personal issues of your subscriber, etc. 60 seconds will not give you much time to go into unnecessary details, and for that, every sentence must lead to the next one.
How can you do that? You can use various formats, such as: intrigues, surprising and fascinating facts, specific tasks or some personal issues of your subscriber, etc. 60 seconds will not give you much time for going into unnecessary details, and for that every sentence must lead to the next one.
Together with that, keep in mind that reels are always about emotions. If reels are not about emotions and you — there is no sense in them. Reels are not some abstract matters — they are an ad hoc tool.
6. What are Reels for?
- To attract a new audience;
- To stay in touch with your audience. Reels give you more perks than TikTok. TikTok videos are about going out, grabbing some random passers-by, chosen by an algorithm, and trying to tell them something. The bigger part of your audience here is your subscribers. One can do warm-ups on reels, the same as they do on stories.
- To make video content on your Feed. Reels are now much more preferred to IgTV, stories, etc. Nevertheless, we do understand that stories will stay — they are of top popularity. But we do have an alternative solution now.
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