Tips for Instagram Reels

General Tips

• Ask yourself, "Why would someone want to watch this video?" If you can't think of at least one person you know who would enjoy the content, it may not be worth it to share the video.
• Shoot videos vertically. IG Reels are designed to be watched on a phone, so to capitalize on the real estate allotted for your content, it is best practice to film your video vertically. Also, people tend to engage more with vertical videos on these platforms.
• Choose an engaging cover image for your video. Instagram allows you to choose your cover image for your video. The image you choose will change how well viewers engage with your content, so be sure to choose a scene from the video that looks intriguing.

Audio Tips

• Choose a sound that is appropriate and enjoyable. While trending sounds are a big part of the fun of these short-form videos, be sure to choose audio that are appropriate for a work account, e.g., sounds that avoid explicit content and language.
• Add text to the beat of your music. If you are adding text stickers to your video and your video has music, a powerful tactic is to line your text up with the beat of the music. This will add an element of fun and will create a more engaging video.

Captioning Tips

• If someone is talking - Caption it! Be sure to add captions any time someone is talking. It not only allows users to read instead of or in conjunction with listening, but it allows individuals with auditory impairment to participate in the video as well, making the content accessible.
• Avoid adding too much text on your video. Too much text is difficult to read and can be a turn off to many viewers. If you have a lot of information to convey, consider alternative options besides long-form text on your video, such as a providing a link to additional information.

Tips for Improving Reach

• On Instagram, share your Reel to your feed. On IG, you have the option to share your Reel only to the Reels section of Instagram, or to both the Reels section and to your own feed. Sharing to your own feed allows more of your own followers to see to Reel you shared.
• Share all your Reels to your IG Story. Many Instagram users, particularly younger demographics, focus on Stories as their primary source of content, so every time you post a Reel or any other kind of post, share it in your Story to get a few more eyes on the content.
• Post reels frequently. If you are trying to get your content out there, post Reels and TikToks often. Social media platforms reward consistency, and Instagram accounts that post Reels more frequently see an increase in their reach.
• Don't forget about SEO. Add hashtags and keywords to improve search engine optimization (SEO). When writing your description for the video, think of 3-5 words you think someone may use to try to find your video. Try to write your description to include those words.
• Use a trending sound. This is only necessary if you want more eyes on your content regardless of where they're coming from. Our goal is to primarily target Arkansans, but using a trending or popular sound can certainly increase your reach.