When Instagram Reels first showed up, they took the social media world by storm. Soon, we were seeing short form videos everywhere… and then TikTok entered the chat. Now, it seems it’s impossible to navigate social media without creating short video clips. In this blog, we’re going to tackle the most frequently asked questions about Reels.
So, what is a Reel?
Instagram Reels are short-form videos that can be up to 90 seconds long. Users can record, edit, and clip videos and photos together, add music (or even a VoiceOver), and post to their feed. Unlike other types of Instagram posts (e.g. carousels, images, graphics), Reels has its own tab on the home feed navigation bar, making them more discoverable. Plus, they are way more fun and engaging!
Does my Instagram account need to be public for my reels to work?
Believe it or not – I do get this question. (read: if you saw that question and thought “omg people actually have private accounts” – skip this question!)
The answer is: Yes, a public account will allow you to get more reach on your Reel. As with anything on social media, a private account is just that – private. That means that only your followers can see what you post. If your goal is to gain followers and increase engagement, consider making your account public!
How does the algorithm work?
Instagram promotes high resolution, unique content. If your Reels are interesting, it will promote them to users who might like your content. If your Reels are low quality, it may not perform well.
From the user side of things, it’s pretty simple. The types of content you engage with often is what you will see more of.
What can I do to improve my reach on Reels?
There’s lots you can do to improve your overall reach and engagement! For the sake of this blog, I’ll just share a few pointers.
- Add text to your reels (or captions if there is a VoiceOver!)
- Add stickers (there’s lots to choose from on Instagram!)
- Add trending audio
How many Reels should I post a week?
The goal with social media is to be consistent, so I always recommend posting what you can commit to. For example, don’t post 5 reels one week and 0 the next. Try to find a number that works for you! If you are just getting started, try to post 2 reels per week. If you are already posting but the consistency isn’t there, try committing to 3-4 reels per week. If you are already posting consistently but you want to improve engagement, try to take it to the next level by posting 1 reel per day!
When is the best time to post?
This is hard to say without looking at your specific account analytics. In general, the best day to post Reels is Monday, Tuesday, or Sunday between 3-6am or around 11pm.
