How to make a reel on Instagram

Instagram Reels are a popular and creative way to showcase your personality and talent on the platform. If you're new to Reels or just want to learn more...

Instagram Reels are a popular and creative way to showcase your personality and talent on the platform. If you're new to Reels or just want to learn more about how to make a captivating reel, you've come to the right place. In this step-by-step guide, we'll show you how to make a Reel on Instagram from start to finish, ensuring that you're equipped with all the knowledge you need to create amazing and engaging content. So let's dive in!

Understanding Instagram Reels

Before diving into the step-by-step details of crafting your own Instagram Reel, it's critical to establish a solid understanding of what Instagram Reels actually are and why they have rapidly risen to prominence in the realm of social media. To put it succinctly, Instagram Reels are compact, 15-second videos that are shot vertically, bestowing upon the Instagram community a fresh avenue to generate and unearth bite-sized, visually stimulating content directly within the Instagram application. The dedicated 'Reels' tab within the app serves as a creative playground, allowing you to let your imagination run wild and craft compelling videos that are not just aesthetically delightful but also engaging enough to hold the attention of your target audience.

This feature is more than just a video clip; it's a comprehensive creative suite in your pocket. Instagram has loaded Reels with a myriad of editing capabilities, ranging from the ability to incorporate voiceovers to using sophisticated video effects. It doesn't stop there; you can even add your own original audio or select from a massive library to ensure that your content is not only visually captivating but audibly engaging. The user interface is designed to be intuitive, ensuring even first-timers can navigate the controls effortlessly, making the process of content creation less daunting and more enjoyable.

What are Instagram Reels?

Launched in August 2020, Instagram Reels emerged as the platform's strategic countermeasure against the skyrocketing popularity of TikTok and its brand of short-form video content. Unlike the conventional Instagram videos or IGTV, Reels are engineered for brevity and impact, giving Instagram aficionados the power to encapsulate their imagination, creativity, and individual personalities within a time constraint of 15 seconds. Essentially, Instagram sought to bring the vivacity and engagement levels of TikTok into its own ecosystem without making users jump ship to a different app.

The feature set that accompanies Instagram Reels is nothing short of abundant. To start with, Instagram has tapped into its vast music library, making it available for Reels. This means you have an extensive catalog of tracks at your disposal to give your video the right mood or tone. In addition to this, Reels offer Augmented Reality (AR) effects, providing you with a palette of digital enhancements that can transform your video content into an immersive experience. These effects can vary from simple filters to complex virtual landscapes. 

Furthermore, the app provides a host of animation features that let you tweak and manipulate your Reel into a visually arresting masterpiece. Add slow-motion effects, speed up your clip, or even splice your content with another existing Reel using the platform’s native editing tools. The 'Explore' page is another significant aspect of the Reels feature. Here, Instagram highlights trending and engaging Reels, serving as a discovery hub that can potentially skyrocket your content into viral fame, attracting an audience far beyond your current followers.

Why use Instagram Reels?

There's more than one compelling reason to integrate Instagram Reels into your social media strategy, whether you're an individual looking to boost your personal brand or a business keen on elevating your digital footprint. First and foremost, the Instagram algorithm seems to have a notable bias towards this new form of content. Since Reels are a relatively new addition to Instagram's arsenal of features, the algorithm is designed to prioritize and promote them, making your Reel more likely to appear on users' feeds and thereby dramatically enhancing your content's visibility on the platform.

The inherently concise nature of Reels, capped at 15 seconds, offers both a challenge and an opportunity. It forces you to distill your message into a brief yet potent format that can seize and sustain viewer attention in an increasingly saturated and competitive social media environment. This is especially advantageous for businesses and brands that aim to enrich their video content strategy. 

Reels serve as a versatile tool that can be adapted to various business needs—be it tutorials, product showcases, behind-the-scenes glimpses, or just sheer entertainment. By producing Reels that are either educational or entertaining—or a blend of both—businesses can significantly amplify their reach, engage more intimately with their community, and potentially drive a spike in traffic to their official websites or online retail outlets.

So, when it comes to Instagram Reels, we're talking about more than just another feature. We're discussing a dynamic, highly versatile platform within Instagram that resonates with contemporary social media consumption habits. Reels provide not just a blank canvas but a multifaceted creative space that can be maneuvered in countless ways to showcase a wide variety of content, from how-to tutorials to whimsical, light-hearted entertainment pieces.

Preparing to create your reel

Embarking on the journey of creating Instagram Reels necessitates a well-thought-out plan to circumvent any potential roadblocks. Lack of planning could result in disjointed segments and a haphazard creative process, which is why it's crucial to take a step back and strategize before diving into the execution phase. The significance of preparation is most evident when you're aiming for seamless transitions between clips, ensuring that each segment flows naturally into the next. 

This well-orchestrated flow enhances not only the visual aspect of your Reel but also improves viewer engagement by offering a smooth, consumable piece of content. When every second counts—both in capturing attention and the 15-60 second timeframe you have per Instagram Reel—planning ahead can help you present a polished, impactful narrative from start to finish.

Gathering your content

Once the planning stage is out of the way, the next vital step is gathering the content you'll be using. This process isn't just about shooting random video clips; it's a methodical endeavor that requires brainstorming and conceptualization around the subjects, themes, or skills you want to showcase or demonstrate. Do you aim to entertain, inform, or inspire? The nature of the content should align with your objective. 

Whether you'll be using the Instagram app's in-built recording capabilities or importing pre-recorded snippets from your camera roll, remember that the overarching goal is to create content that is not just engaging, but visually arresting as well. To further enhance your Reel's aesthetic quality and thematic consistency, think about supplementary materials you might need—props that fit within the frame, costumes that resonate with the Reel's subject, or even Canva templates that can serve as your Reel's background or add text overlays. All these elements should work together to deliver a unified, cohesive message and aesthetic.

Planning your reel story

If your Instagram Reel were a narrative arc, how would you construct it? Crafting your Reel should be akin to shaping a mini-story or an instructional tutorial, adding an extra layer of depth and engagement for the viewer. Start by breaking down your core idea into bite-sized, sequenced segments. Create a step-by-step guide or outline on how you'll make transitions between these segments. 

Transitions are not just about moving from one clip to the next; they are opportunities to creatively guide your audience through your Reel's narrative. Will you use swipe effects, zoom ins, or perhaps a catchy sound effect to create a seamless flow? Mapping out these elements beforehand can save you from last-minute creative blocks and ensure a harmonious amalgamation of clips during the actual recording or video editing phase.

Step-by-step guide to creating an Instagram Reel

Step 1: Accessing the reel feature

Launching the creative process begins by entering the Instagram Reels' workspace. To do this, open the Instagram app on your mobile device and make your way to the camera icon, usually nestled in the top left corner of your user interface. Below, you'll find several options laid out: "Live," "Story," and of course, "Reels." By tapping the "Reels" icon, you'll gain entry into Instagram's dedicated Reel editor, a versatile space teeming with creative tools designed to make your Reel as dynamic as possible.

Step 2: Recording your first clip

Once inside the Reel editor, your first order of business is recording that pivotal initial clip. Locate the record button, typically centralized at the bottom of the screen, and hold it down to begin your recording. A helpful countdown is initiated before the recording officially kicks off, serving as a crucial tool to help you frame your first shot perfectly. Bear in mind the temporal constraints; each clip is limited to 15 seconds, imposing a need for precise, impactful content that grabs viewer attention from the first second.

Step 3: Adding and editing multiple clips

With your inaugural clip in the can, you can move onto accumulating more footage to complete your Reel. By tapping the record button again, you'll add subsequent clips to your ongoing project. Should any clip not live up to your expectations, don't despair. The Instagram Reels editor is forgiving, providing options to edit existing clips, delete the most recent one, or even rearrange them to better fit your narrative flow. It's a flexible system, designed to accommodate creative freedom as well as necessary adjustments.

Step 4: Using reel effects and filters

Your Reel is not complete until it's dressed in its finest attire—effects and filters. This is the time to dive into Instagram's expansive catalog of augmented reality (AR) effects, gifs, and stickers, each capable of adding unique flavor to your content. These visual embellishments aren't just for show; they can amplify the tone, emotion, or humor in your Reel, making it more memorable and shareable. 

The auditory element is equally vital; you have the option to browse through Instagram's comprehensive music library to attach a background track or even add a voiceover that further explains or complements what's happening in the video. The combination of visual and auditory elements can make your Instagram Reel a symphony of engaging content.

Finalizing and sharing your reel

Previewing and editing your reel

Before sharing, preview your Reel to ensure everything looks as planned. Look out for any glitches or awkward transitions that might need a quick fix. You can use Instagram's video editing tools, available at the bottom left corner, to make any last-minute changes to your clips.

Sharing your reel to your story or feed

Once you’re satisfied, tap "Next" to share your Reel. You can post it on your Instagram feed or as an Instagram Story. If shared on your feed, your Reel could be featured on the Instagram Explore page, subject to Instagram’s algorithm, giving you a chance to reach a broader audience.

Saving your reel for later use

Lastly, consider saving your finished Reel to your camera roll for future use or social media management. Whether you want to post it on other platforms or simply keep it for inspiration, it's always a good idea to have your reels content archived.

And there you have it, a step-by-step tutorial on how to create Instagram Reels that not only entertain but also have the potential to go viral. Remember, creativity is key, so don’t hesitate to experiment with all the options available to you, from fonts to transitions to Canva templates. Happy Reeling!

Enhance your reels with Speechify AI Voice Over

Incorporating voiceovers into your Instagram Reels can add a layer of depth and professionalism that really engages your audience. If you're looking for an easy and efficient way to add high-quality voiceovers, Speechify AI Voice Over is a tool you won't want to miss. Available across multiple platforms, you can access Speechify on iOS, Android, and PC, making it incredibly versatile for your social media management needs. Whether you're a pro at making Instagram Reels or just starting out, using Speechify can help you narrate your short-form video content and make it more compelling. Ready to elevate your Instagram game? Try Speechify AI Voice Over today!

FAQs

1. How can I leverage hashtags and the reels tab to get more visibility for my Reels video?

Hashtags play an integral role in making your Instagram Reels discoverable by a wider audience. When you make Instagram Reels, you can add relevant hashtags to the caption or comments section, which will increase the chances of your video appearing in targeted searches. Now, when it comes to the reels tab, this is a dedicated space within the Instagram mobile app where users go specifically to watch Reels. Featuring your content here can give it massive exposure. Your Reels video is more likely to appear in the reels tab if it gains traction, which is where strategic use of hashtags can really help.

2. Can I remix existing Reels and add my own audio and effects? What about AR effects?

Absolutely, the remix feature allows you to create new Reels by adding your own twist to someone else's Reel. It opens up avenues for collaboration and creativity among Instagram users. You can add audio from Instagram's music library or even use original audio. Look for the music note icon when you're in the editing interface to access this feature. If you wish to add effects, the Reels editor has several options. In addition to standard filters, you can incorporate AR effects to give your Reel an interactive and entertaining layer. Just explore the effects options, often represented by a magic wand or similar icon, at the top of the screen.

3. What should I know about the technical aspects like aspect ratio, edit clips, and high-quality video posts for Instagram Reels?

When creating Reels, keeping an eye on the technical details can be just as important as the content itself. For starters, Instagram Reels are vertical videos, and the most commonly used aspect ratio is 9:16. This fills the entire screen of a mobile device, making it more immersive. In terms of editing, the Reels editor within the app allows you to trim and edit clips. You can also add effects and transitions to make your video more engaging. If you're looking for even more advanced editing options, you can use third-party video editing tools and then upload the high-quality video post through the Reels icon in the Instagram app. It's crucial to maintain high-quality video and audio to stand out among other entertaining videos on the platform.