The Guide to Instagram Reels: How to add a new platform to your content strategy
Ohhh let’s get real…. Yeah, I know not funny! But let’s chat about Instagram Reels and how you can add this brand new platform to your content strategy for your business!
It might seem daunting to add a new platform to your suite of platforms you already have, I get it. A lot of you do struggle with time as it is, BUT there are really easy ways you can add it in without it taking too much work! Plus, the best thing about it is, you know it is here to grow your following and grow your audience, so it really is a win win!
PLUS, to make it easier for you to digest, I have two things for you!
A podcast episode on this, so you can listen rather than read - see it below
MY FREEBIE! I have a guide to Instagram Reels and how you can add it into your strategy, all you have to do is click here to download!
So, shall we get stuck into it? I think so too!
What is Instagram Reels?
Before we go into too much detail, let’s look at WHAT IS INSTAGRAM REELS? Some of you might be thinking, but what is it actually?
Okay, so if you have seen the craze of TikTok spread across the world (especially with most people in lockdown), Instagram Reels is a similar feature to TikTok, allowing you to create short 15-second bite-size videos for your following.
It is a fun and creative way to create engaging videos from your Instagram Stories content and beyond.
As mentioned in “The Ultimate Guide to Instagram Reels” by Later “Instagram users can record and edit together 15-second video clips set to music and share them to their Stories, Explore Feed, and the new Reels tab on a user’s profile”.
The best thing about it is, you can now access your audience from a new angle! Don’t be anxious or fear this new feature, embrace it and have fun!
How do you use Instagram Reels?
So how do you actually use it?
Well, TikTok users will very familiar to the editing process, so they will find it very easy to navigate. You can do a lot of the same things as TikTok like:
Add music (MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A CREATOR ACCOUNT for all the good music - see here)
Slow down or speed up your content
Add text and effects - the same as Instagram Stories
Of course, I have a few resources to help you navigate how to use Instagram Reels, if you are a visual person:
For the YouTube lover, there are loads of videos created already on how to use Instagram Reels, see here
Again, my Freebie has a little screenshot tutorial on how to use the basics of the platform, you can download it here!
If Instagram Reels seems complex to use now, give it time and PRACTICE!! Also remember, it is new, so if there are some limitations right now, Instagram is likely to improve it over time!
You can also watch Reels by going to your “Explore” page and scroll through all the Reels that are most relevant to you!
How is Instagram Reels different from TikTok
Good question, how is Instagram Reels different to TikTok?
Well, to be fair, it is very similar. The concept and objective (to create fun and engaging short videos) is the same! BUT this is the amazing thing about Instagram Reels.
It allows you to connect with an audience YOU ALREADY HAVE!! No starting from scratch for you like you would if you started TikTok!
Then you can integrate your content straight to your Instagram profile, which means more exposure for you!! It really is exciting, especially if you were keen to start a TikTok but hadn’t made the plunge.
Mix this with Instagram feed content, Instagram Stories, Instagram Lives and Instagram TV and you really do have the complete content package right here! Which includes:
Blog style content on your feed through long-form posts
Instagram Stories, short in the moment content
Instagram Lives, Q&A style interactive content
Instagram TV podcasting and youtube style content
Instagram Reels the fun, engaging bite-size content (like mini movie trailers)
How is it different from Instagram Stories?
So, I had this question when Instagram Reels first launched. What is the difference between Instagram Reels and Instagram Stories?! Well, let’s break it down (and I say this in my podcast). If you were an entrepreneur wanting to show your day to day life, you might do this:
Instagram Stories: Spend the day documenting your day from when you get up to when you switch off - little 15 second to a minute video
Instagram Reels: Sum it up in 15-seocnds with music, effects and only bite-size pieces of content
Another example:
Instagram Stories: you might do mini-trainings on your story that would go for like 2 minutes
Instagram Reels: you might take the key learnings and put it into a fun short video like I did below.
Check out this reel!
Why should you start using Instagram Reels in business?
Now, let’s get this straight, you don’t have to use Instagram Reels, if it doesn’t sit well with you and doesn’t make sense to your new or existing audience, you don’t have to!! But here are some key reasons why you should:
It allows you to connect with an audience you already have
Is a quick and easy way to show the fun side of you and your business
Can be used to inform, educate and engage as well (like my content pillars, see here what they are)
You can access a new audience who LOVE this type of content
It is a quicker way to integrate video to your strategy (if you are looking to do that but hate lives and IGTV)
It is new, the algorithm is favourable and if you do it well, it will have a great benefit for you (get in while it is hot)
Do you need more convincing? Check this one out.
How to be creative with Instagram Reels
Do you need inspiration? Well here are a few things you can do to be more creative with your new Instagram Reels platform:
Give fun facts or tips around your niche
Use it PURELY for fun (if you like to travel, you might just use it to showcase your travels)
Showcase a new content bucket (if you love cats, you might refer it back to cats and use cats to educate people on your niche or just as mentioned, for fun)
Show behind the scenes work in a new engaging (and I’ll say it again) bite-sized way
Can use it for one sole purpose (if you are a mindset coach, you might use it to show JUST your mindset journey)
Create a mini vlog with it (your day in 15-seconds)
There is SO much you can do with it, see what others are doing, get inspiration and just have FUN with it!!
How to add Instagram Reels to your content strategy?
Now, how can you add it into your content strategy? Let’s break it down into steps, because chunks of writing is boring!
Step 1: Look at when you will use Instagram Reels (like WHAT DAYS)
Step 2: Add the spots into your content calendar, it is DONE now you have to do it
Step 3: Start brainstorming what content you will do on the days you will be showing up (if you are a fan on the theme a week, you might add a Reel on your theme). You could also see what others are doing, you know watch hours of Instagram Reels and TikToks as “market research”, I do this ALL the time!
Step 4: Ask what the purpose of Instagram Reels is on the day you want to show up. Will it be to Inform, Educate, Engage or be Fun (as I mentioned, like my pillars). To inform is to promote, to educate is educate around your niche, engage is to ask your audience to DO something and fun is yep, the fun side of your business!
Step 5: Look at content you already have, what can you repurpose into a Instagram Reel?
Step 6: Then how are you going to repurpose your Instagram Reel? Will you add it to your stories? Maybe you will put it on your feed and even post it to TikTok??
Step 7: Now set a few goals around it, it could be to just post x1 a week or even x3, don’t worry about return on investment (ROI) right now!
Step 8: BE CONSISTENT!!!
How to add other platforms to your strategy?
So maybe you want to look at adding other platforms to your strategy?
Maybe YouTube or another social media platform, well repeat the above steps!! One thing I would add into this is:
Research the platform: is my audience there? Do I see myself on this platform?
Research how to use it: watch tutorials OR stay tuned for my series of podcasts on all the other platforms we use from podcasting to YouTube and LinkedIn
REMEMBER: you can have a platform JUST FOR FUN! Like my YouTube, I have 0 purpose or 0 intention to get clients from it, it is just for fun!!
It doesn’t take long to implement a platform into your business, but also give it time to settle in and remember, your content will always improve the more you create!
Final thoughts
What do you think? Will you be adding Instagram Reels to your suite of content creating platforms??
Come over to Instagram and let me know if you have any questions about Reels OR if you just want to share with me what you are doing on Instagram Reels, I love supporting!
Really, what you need to remember is, do not over complicate things! Always test and trial and see what works for you and your business - but also your audience! You really won’t know if it works until you try and continue to test new things!!
As entrepreneurs, we need to be at the forefront of these sorts of platforms, but of course, if it doesn’t work for you, that is ALSO okay!!
Don’t forget to download my freebie, there is more information in here AND some tables you can use to help you get Instagram Reels ready!!
