10 Different Content Types For Instagram Reels
Instagram has created a new tool! Instagram Reels is a new way users can create engaging, short video content for their followers. And if you're excited to get started using it - here are a few ideas on what type of content you can create. Now get your ideas notes ready and read on for some inspiration.
1. Challenges
Keep your eyes open for challenges. These sort of videos always appear different, but if you read captions, they'll usually mention that the user is completing a challenge. Sometimes they are doing a dance, sometimes they are doing a dare, sometimes they are doing an acting scene.
If you're wondering how this can benefit your business, you're wondering the right thing. There are multiple answers:
They help people notice your page - Challenges are extremely popular. Many people like to do them, and many people like to watch them. (Tip: Use a hashtag so that your reels are easier to find).
They help you showcase your brand personality - Challenges are usually fun and light-hearted. This is perfect for businesses who want to appear more than just a company trying to sell products.
They help you engage with your community - Challenges show that you are a viewer of Reels just as much as you are a creator, because you wouldn't have discovered the challenges otherwise. This makes your brand more relatable and approachable.
Final tip: Make sure that you relate the challenge in some way to your business. You don't want to confuse your audience about your mission or purpose.
2. Story-Times
Story times are really simple forms of video content. They involve the creator sitting across from their camera and just... speaking.
Despite it's simplicity (or because of it) these are extremely popular. Your audience is going to love hearing more about you and your business, and other users will grow more interested in your brand once they learn more about it.
You can even increase engagement and follows by creating story time series. Create parts to your story so that people will have to visit your page or follow you if they want to know what happens next. This also means that your first part has to be interesting enough to make them want more - but no pressure!
3. Text-Over Video
Whatever your video is: use the text feature to place text over it.
In this content type, it's the text that's the most important. Your actual footage can be of anything. You can focus your camera on a still object, or you can focus on a person, or you can focus on something else. Finally, you can use instrumental music to add more context to the sort of emotion you want your audience to feel from your Reels.
To increase engagement, make these videos short. Depending on how long you make your text, people will keep re-watching the video to read all of it.
4. Jump Cuts
Jump cut videos can be very useful to small businesses, especially when they want to show off a product.
What are jump cuts? When you abruptly change the scene of the video to another. They're especially effective when the next scene shares similarities with the previous one, while having one main difference.
How can this be useful for a small business? By allowing you to show off before and afters. If you're offering a tool to make someone's life easier, show a customer before they had your tool and then jump cut to their life after they have your tool. Your audience will instantly see that life will be better if they purchase your product.
5. Lip-Syncing
Lip syncing is when a person silently moves their lips to an audio sound, pretending that they are the ones singing or speaking. These are very easy videos to make: just pick a sound, memorize what is being said, and act it out!
People love lip syncing. If you remember, it wasn't so long ago when everyone was going crazy for the Musical.ly app, which was essentially a platform to lip-sync. This hype has transitioned onto Reels - but Reels creators have added their own special element: by relating the audios to their own lives.
Want an example? One sound that's trending on Reels is a conversation between two people:
First Girl: Eh... now I'm panicking!
Second Girl: Don't panic.
First Girl: No, I am, because - I'm gonna lost my job!
People pair this sound with a caption or text explaining how they can relate the conversation to their own life. One girl wrote, "Me, an editor, now that kids on Reels are making really cool edits." Another girl wrote, "My co-workers comforting me after I make a mistake the first day on the job."
6. How-To's
Instagram Reels users love how-to's. Especially if they're entertaining, visually appealing, and educational. These can also be a huge advantage to your business! If you are the type of business that sells products, then you can show how to use your product. Or, if you're the type of business that sells services, then you can show how to purchase your service.
The trick for how-to's is to capture attention. This would mean that you're using the right colors, the right fonts, and the right backgrounds as a cover or a beginning scene. It would also mean that you consistently appeal to your audience. Don't just put your product on a plain background - actually interact with it! Make the scenery as engaging as what you're selling.
7. Lists
Instagram Reels users love lists just as much as they love how-to's. They offer quick, useful tips in easy and digestible ways. So, if you're looking for a content type that will instantly add value to your audience, then lists are a great option.
Here are a few things you can list to spark your creativity:
Tips
Tools
Products
Services
8. Skits
Skits are super fun to watch and super fun to do. To make them, you can either have a group of people come together or you can do it alone. Either way, it involves acting and a storyline. Here's a quick step-by-step on how to create them:
Write a short storyline/plot that includes characters
Decide whether you want to do the skit alone or with friends
Assign characters to your group (if you decide to include other people)
Pick out a wardrobe for each character (note: the wardrobe doesn't have to be elaborate. You can just give each character a different hat or shirt so viewers can distinguish who from who)
Set up your camera and act out the scene
Edit the footage so that it's 15 to 20 seconds
Add other features that could spice up the skit or make it easier to follow. For example, you should definitely include text that points out the names of the characters.
Remember, these skits don't have to be professional - children and teenagers with no editing experience are gaining millions of views by shooting everything from their phones and even editing directly from the platform. Viewers aren't expecting professionalism, they're expecting entertainment. So focus more of your attention on making your skit fun!
9. Compilations
If you have a bunch of videos that are too short to post alone - here's some good news! Compilations are also popular content that you can find on Instagram Reels. All you have to do is pile them together! For travelers, they love to edit the different places they've been into one short video. For restaurant owners, they can edit their different dishes into one video to rally excitement for a new launch or menu.
Other businesses can follow the restaurants example: show your products! Show what they can do, or show what they can accomplish. You can even show different satisfied customers saying how much they love your business. Or maybe you can show the behind-the-scenes of your business - the different employees, the different rooms, the different steps taken before a launch.
Whatever you compilation is about, make sure that one theme connects the sections to each other.
10. Voice-Overs
Voice-overs are exactly what they sound like - you editing your voice over a video. There aren't any other rules to this type of content. In fact, you can say whatever you want and choose whichever video you want.
But this much freedom can seem overwhelming, can't it? So here are some ideas! You can show
A compilation and use the voice-over effect to tell the story behind it.
Your community and describe you appreciation you have for it.
Photographs from the beginning of your business to the present and explain what this growth feels like.
Yourself using your product and describe the how-to in this way.
There are so many other ways you can use the voice-over effect - so let your creativity show! Don't be afraid to think outside of the box. People will really enjoy fresh, new ideas.
We hope that these content types truly inspire you to start creating Instagram Reels. There is a huge audience out there waiting for you to start putting out videos, and they're just waiting to become invested in your business. And you're also likely to have a lot of fun creating IG Reels!
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