Instagram Reels are the social media hot potato right now, aren’t they? If you aren’t using Reels for your business yet, you’re missing out, big time. By using those 15-second videos, you could multiply your revenue multiple times over (this piece tells you how).
Reels isn’t just another “feature” that Instagram rolled out. It isn’t just a “TikTok clone” either.
It has its own set of benefits. These aren’t offered by the other features that Instagram offers.
Now, you clearly know what Instagram Reels are (why else would you be reading a piece on using Reels for marketing, right?).
However, you may not know these hidden benefits that Reels offers. So, let’s start there?
Instagram Reels secrets for business (you didn’t know)
If you’re asking “how” to leverage Reels, you also may need help with the “why”, right? There are more than a few answers to that.
Get on the train early
Instagram Reels just came out. That means, it’s still in its “early adoption” period. What’s that? Well, because it’s new, Instagram wants more users to use it. To promote the same, Instagram may boost the reach for Reels.
Now, there’s no official statement from Instagram (or Facebook, the Instagram parent company) verifying the same.
However, individuals and businesses alike have observed that Reels (or, any other new Instagram feature) gains more reach and exposure than older features.
Secondly, Reels actually resulted in more users signing up on Instagram. Just Indian downloads resulted in a 11.4% increase in Instagram’s overall downloads. These new users downloaded Instagram for Reels, which means they’ll engage and look for Reels actively, isn’t that right?
Retarget your ads
There’s also a more direct, marketable benefit that Reels offers as well. You can create video views custom audiences using Instagram Reels.
Basically, those users who interacted with your Reels can be re-targeted via ads. Now, this is something that neither Instagram Stories nor Instagram IGTV offers. This is why I mentioned earlier that Reels has brought in possibilities that other Instagram features do not offer.
Does retargeting even work? Well, it’s considered to be better than all other ad-placement and has a 1046% efficiency rate.
So, you may not get them to hit that “buy” button just with your Reel. But, you sure will have a list of people who’ll be much easier to convert with your ads.
In fact, over 11% U.S Instagram users are already searching for and buying products on Instagram. Why not make them buy from you, right? (If you keep reading, I’ve shared how you can use Reels directly to increase your sales!)
Everyone sees you (even non-followers)
Another reel benefit is that it appears in the Instagram “Explore” tab! Meaning, even those who do not follow you will get to see your Reel.
This opens the floodgates for a much larger audience to you, doesn’t it? Obviously, it would depend on how effective your Reel itself is when it comes to anyone actually paying attention to it.
Again, not all of you may be impressed yet. Does anyone even care about the “Explore” tab? People mostly just stay on the feed, right? Well, not exactly.
According to the official Facebook quarterly reports, 50%+ Instagram accounts use Reel every month! With its 1Billion+ user base, you can imagine the impact of potentially being visible to 500K people, at the least!
You stand a chance to get featured
This is rare, and not exactly a direct “benefit” of using Reels. But, it still is a possibility that the other Instagram features do not offer!
Your Reels may sometimes be “featured” by Instagram on the explore page. If and when this happens, you’ve officially gone viral. It’s still more luck than work, but, a possibility nonetheless.
How to use Instagram Reels for Business?
So far, I’ve just been talking about “why” you should start using Instagram Reels. But, I wouldn’t leave you hanging. Let me help you with the “how” of using Instagram Reels for your business, right?
Educate your audience
This is true for most digital content. Why are you reading this post? Because, it’s informative, right? Hopefully, you’re learning at least something which wasn’t known to you.
Similarly, using Reels to educate your audience is the best and most effective use for Reels.
If you’re a food-chain, restaurant, delivery app; why not post recipe Reels? Into the clothing industry? How about showing different ways to wear the same dress? There really is no limit to what you can do.
Promote your products
Instagram Reels are short, very short indeed. But, that’s just the kind of content that users commit to these days, right? Not everyone fancies watching a 30-minute long video on their office desk.
Hence, these 30-second long Reels are perfect for promoting your products! Show what you offer, what your competitors do not offer, and, why you’re worth your viewers’ business.
We did some research and found Louis Vuitton making waves doing exactly this! Here are some of the Reels it posted:
(Image Source: https://www.instagram.com/louisvuitton/Reels/)
If you’re saying LV is going viral because it’s already popular, you’re wrong. Most of its normal “videos” do not even cross the 300K mark in terms of views! While their Reels average 5 million views!
Use trending audio
How about using someone else’s music, legally, for free, and it getting you millions of views? Reels offers that opportunity!
As is public knowledge, Reels lets us add music to the videos, right? Now, users can discover Reels via the audio/music in them.
Hence, if you use a trending music/audio (e.g. The “Coffin Dance” meme audio) chances are, users may discover your content by tapping on the music in someone else’s Reels.
Let your customers market you
We can make a Reel saying –“Hey, this is our product, go buy it.” Guess what, no one buys.
Or, you can ask your existing customers to send you videos of their feedback/testimonials/experiences/reviews.
You can then upload these to your account. Now, you got a video with absolutely no production cost. More importantly, the reviews will increase your brand’s trust-factor and may lead to conversions.
So, you just promoted yourself without making it seem like a promotion. Isn’t that the best kind?
Put TikTok videos to use
Let’s face it, Reels and TikTok are basically the same thing. So, if you’re the business I hope you are, you probably cashed in on TikTok as well?
How about using those same videos also for your Instagram Reels? Video production is expensive and time-consuming. But, not if you already have those videos, right?
You don’t need to import your entire TikTok library. Simply share your best-performing TikTok videos again on Reels!
Build trust (and, a connection)
It’s 2020. No one just falls for “ads”. You’ve to be honest, transparent and “actually worth it”. You can use Reels to do just that!
Start sharing production videos, show them how things are done in your offices/factories, maybe even share prank videos/fun moments?
The point is, you need to show your company/business is “human” and not just a money-making setup.
Prepare for the future
Instagram Reels doesn’t have ads, for now. I’m 100% certain that ads will be introduced for Reels in the (very) near future.
So, create a team, today. Start working on those ad creatives. Do note that your standard banners and graphics won’t work for Reels.
Why not work on an ad idea starting today? At the least, prepare a rough checklist of what you’ll do, and how. Trust me when I say this, most million-dollar companies have already started planning their Reels-ad strategies.
By doing this, you can have your ads running in the first few hours of Instagram launching ads for Reels. Maximum visibility and conversions. Because, users wouldn’t be used to skipping ads on Reels then!
Worst –case scenario? Instagram wouldn’t introduce ads for Reels, you can still use these ideas for your video ads. No losses there.
Final words- Is Instagram Reels worth going after?
I’ll be honest, anything that’s owned by Facebook is worth going after. You may, or may not like the company, but, they do own Facebook + Instagram + Whatsapp. The three horsemen of Gen-Z, right? They do have the biggest user-base on the planet (literally).
Even though I’ve shared why Reels are worth it, and how to capitalize on some of it; this is just a “fraction” of Reels’ true potential. You can come up with a dozen other ideas on how to make Reels work for you.
Instagram is such a mammoth algorithm, it’s hard to sum it up in any number of words. If Instagram is a major part of your marketing strategy, this authority course for Instagram should come in handy.
Author
Jyoti Chauhan is a professional, full-time blogger who likes to blog about Business, SEO, Digital Marketing, and all things “blog”. She can be found reading books when not typing on her keyboard.
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