In August, Instagram launched their new “Reels” feature. Similar to TikTok, Reels lets users create, edit, and share short videos, all within Instagram! You don’t need to download any external apps or programs to create an Instagram Reel.
With the future of TikTok in the U.S. so unsure, getting familiar with Instagram Reels is a must. While it may seem more targeted to young content creators at first, Reels can be a great tool for small businesses to showcase your product and have some fun!
Let’s take a closer look at how it works:
When you go to add to your story (by clicking the camera icon in the top left corner of your home screen), you’ll notice a new option below the shutter button. You can choose from “live”, “story”, and now, “reels”!
One of the most exciting new features Reels offers is the option to add music to your video! You can do this by clicking the music icon and choosing any song from the list. This is a great, simple way to add popular songs to any post without worrying about any of the legalities! Adding music in an Instagram Reel is 100% legal and will not cause any copyright infringement.
Once you choose a song, you can trim it to include whatever snippet you want to your reel.
You can also add filters and effects, change the video speed, and add a countdown timer before any recording begins.
Press the shutter button to record, and press it again to stop recording. Once you do this, you’ll notice two new buttons next to the shutter button. If you click the one on the left, you can go back and trim whatever clip you just recorded!
Press the forward arrow to go back to the record screen, or the trash can icon to delete the entire clip. Once you’ve edited your clip, you can go back and record the next! Just click the forward arrow, and your previous clip will be saved automatically.
Once you’ve finished recording, press the forward arrow to move on.
From here, you can preview your video! You can also add stickers, drawings, or writing from this screen, just like with a story post!
Once you’re satisfied with the final product, press the forward arrow to write a caption and share it!
You can choose to post your Reel to your feed or to your story, whichever you’d prefer! Just toggle between the “Reels” (to post to your feed) and “Story” (to post to your story) options at the top of the screen.
Reels are a fun tool for anyone to use, but it can be especially helpful when showcasing your products! It’s a simple, fun way to create short videos showing off different outfits or discussing different pieces.
In the past, it was very difficult to feature any music in product videos on Instagram. You had to either find copyright-free music, or use none at all to avoid the risk of copyright infringement. Now, thanks to Reels, it’s easy to record, edit, and add popular music to any video you post on Instagram!