It’s not a bird, it’s not a plane — and it’s not TikTok.

It’s Instagram Reels, Instagram’s latest move in the bid to dominate social media. You may have heard of TikTok, the video-based social media platform, which as of January 2020, was the most downloaded social media app with 104.7 million downloads.

While TikTok’s content has created overnight stars like The NYC waitress who called out Hailey Beiber for being rude, Instagram Reels has most of its content coming from verified sources who already have a large presence.

This has led to many brands taking a “wait and see” approach on whether to use Instagram Reel instead of taking hold of the next big content marketing platform. Some major brands taking advantage of this new avenue include Louis Vuitton,  Sephora France and Redbull France, who have started creating video content using the feature.

What is Instagram Reels?

Instagram Reels is a new feature on Instagram that allows users to create 15-second short video clips. Users have access to music and effects, which lets users edit their videos with fun, fast-paced transitions and engaging sound effects.

What makes Instagram Reel stand out?

Instagram Reels stands out from IGTV and Instagram Stories because it offers in-app editing tools. The tools included are:

Audio: The audio tool allows you to choose background music for your Instagram Reels from Instagram’s music library or record your own original audio. Pick the 15-seconds you love in your song and rock it like influencer Gabi with her favourite track Woah (feat D3Mstreet). 

Speed: The tool provides you with a wide range of playback speeds from 0.3x to 3x the normal speed. You might want to try slow-motion videos of water falling or a person jumping in the air, or speed up clips where you quickly change your clothes or show how to cook a dish.

Effects: Not sure how to make your video more engaging?. Then try effects, which lets you create videos that are more engaging through the various effects brought to you by Instagram and its popular users. Some of the fun ones include travelling back to the 1950s with Super 8mm, having fun with Silly Face or adding some mystery to your eyes with perfect eyes. There are various others in Browse Effects too.

Timer: A great tool for creators. Timer lets you create 15-second videos by shooting multiple clips on Instagram Reels with the tool allowing you to record clips of specific lengths. For example, if you choose a 6-second timer, you will record a six-second clip after you click the capture button. Situations like changing your dress or shooting a jump sequence are times when this tool is incredibly useful.

Align: Ever wondered what tool makes Instagram Reels unique? The answer is Align, which helps make the transition between your multiple clips smoother by bringing up a translucent image of you in the last frame when the last clip ended. All you need to do is reposition yourself using the image to exactly where you were on camera to create the perfect transition. 

Now let us look at how major brands have used these tools to promote themselves on Instagram Reels.

#1 Reuse TikTok Videos

The ban and court cases might be a problem for TikTok, but why should you care! Instagram Reels is the best option for you, just repost whatever content you had created for TikTok onto Reels. Afterall they are similar in how the platforms operate, and their video dimensions match too. 

Like ASOS, brands have already started doing this with their most popular TikTok turned Reels content gaining more than 4.4 million views.

#2 Challenges

Everyone loves a challenge. TikTok was famous for them, and Instagram Reels will be too. Brands like Sephora have created viral challenges like #sephorachallenge on TikTok, which gained over 26 million views.

Is it possible on Instagram Reels? Yes, and they proved it is, with their second Instagram Reels with @ryanbpotter, which has already gained over 1.2 million views. Anybody see a new challenge coming up??  

#3 Sneak Peeks

Do you love to get a sneak peek of shows that you can stream? Instagram Reels can be the place for sneak peeks too. In fact, streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon have already started. The Amazon Reel here has already gotten 1.1 million views. Who knows, you might make one better than them.

#4 Product in Action

You can showcase your products on Instagram Reels too. Get creative and show what makes your product/service unique in 15 seconds.

William Sonoma has already started with their Instagram Reel. Do you know that in the first quarter ending May 3, they reported similar earnings to that of 2019 despite their stores being closed for five weeks thanks to e-commerce sales, which grew 30%?

It’s clear that Instagram Reels is the most recent game-changer in social media, especially with TikTok on it’s way out. Instagram Reels is the best feature to fill this gap as it allows brands to make engaging content similar to how they used TikTok while also providing them with the option of transferring TikTok content to Instagram Reels. Brands can also use the feature to soft-sell their services and products by creating 15- second videos that engage and inspire audiences. 

To get a better understanding of how the platform can be used by your business, contact us for a chat.