3 Reasons to Use Reels

When Tik Tok came onto the scene and brought short-form video to the US, the app didn’t take long to catch on with young people. In response to Tik Tok, Instagram introduced Instagram Reels a short-form video on the popular Meta-based platform. Short videos are a great way to share a message with an audience and be found on the “explore” page to gain new followers.

According to Statista, Facebook still commands the top spot with over “2.9 billion active users.” (Statista) YouTube claims the second spot with 2.5 billion and WhatsApp and Instagram tie for third at 2 billion. Tik Tok comes in 5th place with 1 billion. The controversy surrounding the Tik Top app as a spying arm of the CCP is likely the reason for the lower numbers. The popularity is still impressive for an app that’s only been around for half of the time of its competitors.

Sharing content on social media is the way forward. This is the way information is shared, and finding the most effective way to do it is the key. Short-form video is both popular and addictive. Think of the popularity of Superbowl commercials. Some individuals would never pay attention to the football game, but want to see the commercials each year. They’re new, fun, exciting and attention-grabbing. It’s the same concept with short-form video. The content provides information or entertainment in short, digestible snippets. It’s also easy to produce and share. The biggest factor is that the content is free to access. There are no subscription fees allowing content to reach a much wider audience.

Think of why you consume content. There may be more than one reason. Is it entertainment? Distraction? Information? Whatever the reason, short-form video delivers.

Instagram Reels and other short-form videos teach something new to an audience, show real-time parts of a user's life, or highlight a product. The goal is to share information that other people need or to entertain them.

Let’s look at 3 statistics that reflect you need to use Reels.

1. Instagram users are watching videos often.

2. Instagram users visit the Explore page daily.

3. Instagram can videos boost engagement.

Instagram users are watching videos often. 

The statistic on videos are pretty bold, in fact. The next time someone in your home is on Instagram, ask what they’re watching. They’ll likely say a video. According to Instagram for Business, “90% of Instagram users watch videos weekly.” (@Instagramforbusiness) 

Instagram users visit the Explore page daily.

Personally, there are accounts I do not follow, but I check them from time to time. As a result, I end up on the Explore page to type in the handle. Before I realize it, I have been sucked in to the sea of new videos and accounts based on others I follow. It happens at least once a day. It’s not surprising though; according to SproutSocial, “more than 200 million users visit the Explore page daily.” (SproutSocial)

Instagram Reels can boost engagement.

Engagement is a measurement of interaction with content. Details like follower count, likes, comments, saves and shares are factored into the equation to determine engagement. Engagement is an insight to track when determining direction for future content. A good engagement rate is between 1-5. According to HootSuite, “Instagram videos show a 1.5% engagement rate for video posts.” (HootSuite)

Depending on your age, Reels and Tik Toks may not be your thing. The appeal doesn’t make sense to you. Perhaps even you feel silly doing things on video. Whatever your hesitation, we encourage you to try it. Social media generates connection between your business or brand and your audience. Connecting with the audience through video is a great way to boost engagement and offer a peek behind the scenes of your brand.

Here are a few tips to get started:

• Do post your reel to your feed to give it a permanent place.

• Do be creative & have fun!

• Do you use available features within Instagram: filters, Gifs, and audio. There are also other options like Canva templates to create standout Reels.

• Do use relevant hashtags in a comment to boost discovery on the Explore page.

• Do tell a story or share a bit about yourself with your audience.

• Do show how to do something that someone else might find helpful!

You can start today posting a fun Reel. It might be nerve-wracking, but you can do it! We love working with clients to learn new things. If Reels or social media seem overwhelming, Flywheel Marketing would love to help! Send us a message for a free consultation today. We want to work with you.