An Instagram Reel is a key tool for garnering the attention of your target audience and maintaining your organization’s relevance and algorithm placement. Reels are short, 15 – 30 second videos that play on a loop which can be used for a variety of purposes. With the dwindling attention span witnessed in today’s fast-paced world, Reels are just the succinct, attention-grabbing content you could be using for your brand.
If you’ve never created one before it can seem daunting, however, there is no need to fret! Here are a few simple steps that will get you on your way to creating Instagram (IG) Reels.
Start with a goal and purpose
What are you aiming to accomplish with your Reel? Teach? Advertise? Broadcast? Entertain? Whom are you trying to reach? Know your goal and know your audience. This will help set you up for success.
#TeamStrategyTip: Extract content ideas from previous posts, FB or IG Lives, blog posts, and client interactions (Q&As/ FAQs)
Write your script
There are filters, like the green screen effect that let you “present a topic” and or display a photo. You can use this to present information and or add captions and/or GIFs on the screen. These can be used to visually augment the message your brand is attempting to highlight for your Reel. This will be explained further in a later step.
#TeamStrategyTip: Writing out your script will help you organize your thoughts and feel more prepared.
Set the Stage
It is extremely important that you keep in mind, good lighting, clear audio, and putting a professional image forward since this is a representation of your brand and organization. Good camera and sound hygiene are particularly critical for these since they will be used to best capture your ideas without distractions and/or interruptions. #LookGood #FeelGood #BeGood
#TeamStrategyTip: If you don’t have a ring light, stand in front of a big window. Never have the window or light behind you.
Hit Record
IG Reels are 15 to 30-second videos composed of segments or mini clips of your content, and these segments can be individually trimmed and edited to add text, graphics, and/or filters.
Allow time and be prepared to do a few takes of each segment, playback, and/or make any/all adjustments to script and/or timing.
#TeamStrategyTip: Once you have recorded a segment, go back, and REVIEW it. Once you record the following segment, you cannot go back and re-record a previous one or adjust the order of the clips.
Edit
The segments will be solidified into a continuous stream so you will want the content to be very succinct and smooth. This is when one can go in and clip all extraneous breaths, pauses and empty spaces before and after you speak in each segment.
#TeamStrategyTip: It doesn’t have to be perfect. You will get better each time you do this.
Send Out For Review
Before you spend time adding final touches send out your video draft to peers to have a second opinion. This gives you an opportunity to have other eyes look over and catch anything you may have missed or areas in which you can improve, prior to prematurely spending time adding final touches.
#TeamStrategyTip: If you are out of creative juice for the day and/or waiting for review you can save the Reel as a draft and resume edits later. You’ll find the draft by going to the IG profile page and it will be located under the Reels tab. You can continue editing from there and save as you find necessary.
Add Flourishes
You are almost done! We have reached the step where you can go in and add music, hashtags, GIFs, filters, text, and links, if applicable. It can be pretty time-consuming to match the timing of the script to the caption, so plan ahead.
#TeamStrategyTip: Less is more, use captivating colors; but, keep the extraneous graphics and or effects to a minimum.
These few steps should help you start your journey into Instagram Reels.
Remember, no one is ever perfect at anything on the first try; but, get started and learn as you go. You’d be surprised how much you’ll learn through trial and error.
#HappyCreating!
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