Instagram Reels: Best Practices Guide

Use this simple guide to better understand and implement vertical video content in your social media efforts.

Reels, which were first introduced to Instagram back in 2020 to compete with TikTok, are now among the most popular vertical video content. Many companies with a preexisting Instagram presence should tap into Reels to grow their brand and promote their business.

Our Social Team has put together this best practices guide to help our clients make the best out of this short-form 90-second video format.

1. Follow the Trends

Using a trending sound is one of the most effective ways to capture more audiences. Keep an eye out for trends by scrolling through the Reels tab on Instagram and seeing what other creators (or even competitors) post. If you see something gaining traction, make sure to commit to it quickly, because trends come and go really fast!

2. Add On-Screen Text & Captions to Your Videos

Since 69% of video is watched without sound, it’s crucial to always add on-screen text and subtitles to your Reels. That way, you’ll reach more users and make your videos more accessible to people with hearing impairments.

3. Stick to Your Voice & Niche

Though trends are exciting, not all of them align with every business’ mission and goals. You are likely to see results from consistently posting reels that speak to your brand and help your audiences get to know you and your team better.

4. Avoid Horizontal Video

One of the most important evergreen tips is to keep vertical videos, such as Reels, vertical. If your institution has a high-quality horizontal video, it might be better suited for other platforms, such as YouTube, or as a post on any of the Meta platforms. Create Reels with the ideal aspect ratio of 9:16 and size them 1080 x 1920 pixels. That will make the Instagram algorithm more likely to favor your content and show it to users.

5. Use Tools & Hashtags

Take advantage of Instagram’s built-in features that help streamline the process of Reel creation. You can trim and delete video clips within the app and use Templates of other Reels to make your content match the trending sound perfectly. Before uploading your Reel, make sure to include 3-5 hashtags to help the algorithm better understand your content and offer it to the right audiences.

Keep in mind that most of these guidelines can be applied to not only Instagram but other platforms and types of vertical content as well. That includes Facebook Reels, TikToks, and Stories on both of the Meta social media platforms. 

Do you want to further increase your brand’s visibility? Contact us to learn more about how we can help you achieve your social media goals.