Instagram reels is a new way to record 15-second clips on Instagram, creating fun and engaging video content from Instagram Stories.If this concept sounds a bit familiar to you, you are right. Almost everyone is comparing Instagram Reels to TikTok ! Like on TikTok, Instagram users can record and edit 15-second video clips set to music together and share them with their Stories, Explore Feed, and new Reels tab on the user’s profile.
Reels’ algorithm is likely influenced by who you already follow, what content you interact with and where you are.If your video is in Explore, you will receive a notification. The Reels in the showcase are a selection chosen by Instagram and made public to help users discover original, fun and inspiring content.
And just like on TikTok, if you find a song or audio clip you like, you can click on it and select “Use Audio” to include it in your Reel.The advice is to take a look at the other videos that use that audio and get inspired!
Users can also choose music from a large selection or use their own audio.
In addition to selecting and adding music, there are a number of handy video editing tools to explore. A video countdown timer, the ability to adjust the speed of the video and a library of video effects to choose fromWhen creating Instagram Reels, you can choose to film the videos on the spot or upload them from the gallery. Once satisfied with the clips, you can use the drawing and text tools and choose from a selection of Instagram stickers.
Why does Instagram launch reels?
If you think most of the features sound very familiar to you, that’s no coincidence.
Instagram Reels could be seen as a direct response to TikTok’s growing popularity – which has increased exponentially over the past 12 months.
Suffice it to say that in the first quarter of 2020 TikTok generated more downloads than any other application. Furthermore, the type of TikTok users is changing rapidly. While it was once dominated by Gen-Z users, Millennials now account for the largest share of TikTok’s user base – making the platform a much more attractive proposition for investors.
According to recent data from Comscore, the percentage of US-based TikTok users between the ages of 25 and 34 increased from 22.4% in January to 27.4% in April, while the age group between 18 and 24 years old fell from 41.1% to 35.3%.So it’s no surprise that Instagram is moving to replicate TikTok’s most popular features – especially in areas where TikTok hasn’t already caught on, like Brazil.
Instagram Reels could have a great chance of success thanks to her privileged positioning in the Instagram app – and all the exposure and familiarity that comes with it.IGTV has found its positioning as series content, where audiences can tune into each episode with their favorite brands. But, with Reels, he is filling the void of high-quality and at the same time informal content that has a longevity of more than 24 hours, to make a comparison with the stories.
It is a more dynamic and creative opportunity to show more of your personality and brand.There are already over 1 billion active users on Instagram – and if we’ve learned anything from the introduction of Instagram Stories, it’s that Instagram knows how to successfully replicate an already proven format.
The potential for brands on Instagram
Instagram’s latest video feature is now available in Italy and 50 other countries.So, what will Instagram Reels mean for brands and businesses featured on Instagram?When Instagram launched Instagram Stories in 2016, there were 150 million users. Now, just four years on, over 500 million users are using Stories every day.
For brands it is certainly a good idea to start using Instagram Reels as soon as possible, while the competition is still low, especially since Instagram could give them an additional advantage to get the feature off the ground.Influencers and brands are already starting to use Reels as a means of promoting products, and we think this is just the beginning! Also, similar to TikTok, brands are likely to seize the opportunity to partner with influencers to create Instagram Reels.
Not only will it be a space for brands and companies to share creative content, but it will also be an additional way for advertisers to promote their products. Similar to how advertisers can place advertisements across Instagram Stories, we expect the advertising options to be quite similar.
Instagram Reels can also be another way for brands and businesses to better understand their Instagram community even better. Currently, the only analytics available to Reels are view count, likes and comments.But, just like with TikTok and Instagram Stories, we expect there will be in-depth analysis for Instagram Reels in the future.Whatever your brand or business, there is a creative opportunity waiting for you
