What You Need to Know About Instagram Reels
Instagram recently rolled out a new type of content, called Reels.
To be perfectly honest, it feels very much like Instagram’s response to TikTok. We’ve seen this move before from Instagram. They pivot and give the users an aspect of another social media platform to prevent users from spending less time on Instagram. Think Snapchat = Instagram Stories or Vine = Videos on Instagram… throwbackkk!
And now we have Instagram Reels: 15-second videos made up of one or multi-clips. Reels can be recorded in a series of clips (one at a time), all at once, or using video uploads from your gallery. And just like TikTok, Instgram has a bunch of new editing tools to give the user more creative control. A big difference is that while TikToks can be up to 15 seconds long, users can also connect multiple clips together for up to 60 seconds of total recording.
How do you know what a reel looks like?
Instagram now has a little translucent icon, much like their IGTV icon that indicates the video is a reel.
Where are Reels shared?
Reels can be shared a few different ways, with your followers on your Feed (meaning it will show up on your main profile grid), the Explore page (could be shown to people who don’t follow you, if Instagram finds it relevant to them), or in Stories publicly or with close friends (will only live there for 24hrs). Instagram also has a Reels tab on a users profile page if they have added any reels content.
When you publicly share a reel featuring certain songs, hashtags, or effects, your reel may also appear on dedicated pages when someone clicks on that song, hashtag, or effect. You’ll receive a notification if your reel is featured in Explore.
So how the heck do you record a reel?
Go to your Instagram camera (swipe left on your homescreen), then select Reels at the bottom. Before you press record let’s talk about the edition tools that are on the left side of your screen.
Audio: add a song by searching in the Instagram library or for a song - or - you can simply recording a reel and use your own audio. Note: if your account is not private, people can create Reels with your audio by selecting “Use Audio” from your reel.
Speed: choose to speed up or slow down a clip
Effects: aka filters like you see in Stories
Timer: use this to set a timer to record a clip hands-free. Once you hit record you’ll see a 3-2-1 countdown, before the recording starts for the amount of time you selected.
Align: this feature helps you line up objects from your previous clip. Which is how all those fashion bloggers are able to “jump” in their clothes so seamlessly. This tool shows up after you have recorded an initial clip.
To record the first clip just press and holding on the big circle, just like you see on your phone’s camera. Except this time you’ll see the Reels logo or the effect you selected in the circle. You’ll see a progress indicator at the top of the screen as you record. Simply stop recording to end a clip.Once you’ve got your first clip you’ll see left and right arrows on the sides of the record button. Use those arrows to either go back and review a clip or move to the next phase of publishing your reel.
After you’ve recorded it and reviewed the short video, the next part looks a lot like the editing page of stories. You’ll have a chance to add GIFS or stickers, draw or add text.
Finally, you’ll arrive at the share page where you can add a caption, choose where to share the reel, save a draft, change the cover image, add a caption and hashtags.
And that’s it! YOU DID IT!!! You are so hip and with it.
