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An All-Inclusive Guide To The New Instagram Reels Feature

Instagram is at it again, bidding for competitor traffic. TikTok’s exclusively short-form video content has proven popular enough to panic them and has led to the introduction of a brand new Instagram Reels feature. Does this story sound familiar? That’s because in 2016 Instagram similarly launched its Stories feature after Snapchat proved itself a worthy competitor. It seems as though they’re determined to be the app that offers it all and, so far, it’s working

WHAT IS THE NEW INSTAGRAM REELS FEATURE?

The Reels category has nestled itself in the space right between Stories and IGTV. It combines aspects of the two, encouraging short-form video content that remains on your profile indefinitely, within its own little tab. The concept and content are almost identical to that found on TikTok, but Reels have a slightly more restrictive time limit of 15 seconds. You can film in-app alongside your chosen audio, utilising the new library of filters and effects. Alternatively, you can edit outside of the app and simply upload video from your camera roll.

HOW DO I USE THEM?

The feature is accessed by clicking the little camera icon on the upper left of the timeline that usually takes you to Stories. At the bottom of the screen there are now three options; Live, Story and Reels. Hit Reels and you’re ready to play around with it.

You have the option to add a caption including hashtags just as you would for a feed post. You also have a choice between sharing your video immediately or saving it as a draft. The ‘also share to feed’ post is set by default, so at the final stage of posting don’t forget to click ‘cover’ on the video if you want to change the preview image that appears on your feed. Alternatively, you can click to turn this option off so that your Reel doesn’t show up on your main feed. If you’ve featured it initially but change your mind later, you can head to your feed, click on the Reel, then onto the three little dots to the upper right and ‘remove from profile grid’. Doing this will only remove the Reel from your main feed and not from your Reel library.

WHY SHOULD I USE THEM?

When new features are introduced there are always some of us who hold back and watch how they pan out before jumping in ourselves. However, I’d advise that you start using the brand new Instagram Reels feature sooner rather than later for the following reasons:

TO GET USED TO IT

We’re currently within the short grace period that is allowed with new features. It’s better to get your hands dirty now because as a newbie, you can justify messing up a little. You don’t want to be the person just trying to figure out how to publish your own Reels as everyone else graduates to professional and already has an impressive portfolio. Don’t allow yourself to always be a step behind.

TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR CONTENT

If I have several good images from the same shoot (same outfit and location), I always try and space them across my Instagram as much as possible. This makes for a more aesthetically pleasing feed and ensures that they don’t look ‘crammed in’ or overdone. Using one of a set of images for the cover of a Reel is a fantastic way to get the most out of the images you have without overdoing it. Creating a BTS Reel, for example, keeps the theme fresh and interesting while making the most of your time and effort.

TO GROW YOUR ACCOUNT

Those with public profiles could see their Reels appear in the new dedicated section of the Explore Page. A spot on the Explore Page equals greater reach which, in turn, equals higher engagement and possibly some new followers. It’s a great feature to jump on right now as Instagram has a history of pushing new features, which means your chances of going viral will only decrease over time. At the moment, the Reels section of Explore takes up the majority of the screen, so we know that people will be paying attention.

TO EXCITE YOUR FOLLOWERS

We all know that organic engagement is in decline. Pushing your boundaries and putting out exciting, new content certainly can’t hurt your chances. Whether you’re jumping on Reels to show a different side of yourself or working on improving your game with professional photography, do your best to stand out. It’s important to see the new feature as an opportunity rather than just something else to manage. It’s a great way to explore new options within your niche but also to experiment with your content a little. You can always find inspiration from the type of Reels that other people are posting and finding popular.

BECAUSE ITS FUN

I must admit that I rolled my eyes a little when I first learned about the new Instagram Reels feature. Although I don’t agree in principle with Instagram’s blatant tactic to ensure their dominance, I have to admit that as a user it’s handy to have everything in one place; Feed Content, Stories and now, Reels.

I’ve really enjoyed playing around with them so far. Despite the 15 second time restriction, it’s a great way to store memories in video format. I enjoy being active on stories but ultimately they do disappear after 24 hours. They’re a great way to authentically connect with people, and most of us enjoy the realism that it offers. However, the timeout aspect isn’t a great source of motivation to commit a lot of time and energy to them. For these reasons, I’m certainly not going to edit to perfection the images that I share there. On the other hand, I enjoy IGTV but I’ve not quite got the knack of filming longer video content. IGTVs have a limited lifespan so I don’t regularly (ahem, ever) upload them. Reels feel like a great in-between that most users will be able to easily and happily get on board with.

Have you played around with Reels yet or have you just been watching them so far? I’d love to hear your thoughts and I look forward to seeing how they change the scope of Instagram. There was a time that I preferred Snapchat to Stories but now I don’t even have the Snapchat app on my phone, which leads me to wonder whether TikTok will share a similar fate. I guess that only time will tell.