When it first came out, people dismissed Instagram Reels as a TikTok plagiarism. However, since its introduction, this powerful tool has proven to have some serious brand power.
That’s because, unlike Instagram stories that disappear, the videos stay. The content you create will live on in the Papers tab of your account…well, as long as you want.
If you’re looking to increase engagement and awareness, Reels can be a game changer. But coming up with video ideas and then creating content takes a little work and planning ahead of time.
Struggling to come up with Instagram Reels ideas for your business? Check out our list of Instagram Reels ideas, or skip right to the end to find hooks to jump-start your creativity. You will create vertical videos and attract new business partners instantly!
15 Instagram Reel Ideas That Will Boost Engagement
1. Show off your work
The most obvious idea behind Reels is also one of the most effective – to showcase your work.
British clothing manufacturer Lucy and Yak is doing well with their ongoing #InMyYaks campaign. They use this hashtag as a hook for Instagram Reels where they display new items. Fans of Lucy and Yak also used the hashtag to showcase their outfits.
Come up with a hashtag that showcases your products and then use it. Your fans will most likely follow your lead.
2. Show off your skills
Videos that showcase the talent it takes to create your product or service are always a great idea.
Jewelry brand Cleopatra’s Bling uses Instagram Reels to provide insight into the craft behind their beautiful pieces. They even include a mandatory coffee break.
3. Invite to participate
The more engagement you get, the better your drums will work. But you don’t have to wait for the comments to appear on their own. Instead, create videos that encourage interaction.
Letterfolk, a home improvement company, has had success with their St. Patrick’s Day video. A stunning animation showcases their product. It also encourages viewers to interact with Reel by tagging someone they happen to know.
4. Take a look behind the scenes
Come on, show some behind-the-scenes magic. If you’re planning on shooting anyway, take a few minutes to create some free B-roll shots.
This is what sportswear brand Bliss Club did in this video. They present their models as BlissFaces, using a casual approach that invites the viewer to step inside. This makes their entire advertising campaign more accessible.
If your brand is passionate about their practice, share it! Maybe you’re all about ethical materials or sustainable packaging. Why not tell the world with a reel?
Here’s a great example of how Kay Carter Homeware did just that. Their Reel offers a glimpse into the company’s sustainable studio practice. With content like this, they inspire potential customers and small business owners.
6. Roller versus reality
If you’re already going backstage, take it one step further. Become a little vulnerable in the life of a business owner. People love original content that showcases the human side of your brand.
Take this clip from You’re the Bomb, where founder Luana talks about the triumphs and challenges of running a brand.
The reel itself is vague enough to be playful and fun. However, Laura uses the caption to talk more about the struggles of being an entrepreneur. Of course, most of us may not know what it’s like to run a vegan bath bomb company in New Zealand, but we can understand.
7. Tell it like it is
Brands that aren’t afraid of a little authentic expression always find an audience. The Reels format is the perfect platform for this.
In this post, shared by brand consultant Namrata Vaid, she uses a popular audio clip to share an unfiltered take.
In your own videos, you can use sound, text and facial expressions to debunk myths, share hot experiences and express yourself. This may sound too specific, but these posts tend to do well.
Clients and customers will appreciate your honesty. You can get additional support from peers in your industry.
8. Use filters
Of course, being rude and real is one way to get the message across. However, it may not seem right for your brand. If so, you can explore the world of augmented reality (AR) Instagram filters.
Integrate AR filters into your Reels toolkit and you can create super futuristic posts.
9. Count backwards
You have a full minute to fill the reels and that’s actually a respectable amount of time to count down your top favorites.
Here Greg from Greg’s Vegan Gourmet offers three mouth-watering recipes, but that’s not all. It also includes a lot of jokes and organic calls to action for viewers to visit his page. All this content, and it doesn’t even hit the one minute mark!
This is a perfect example of what you can do with carefully edited countdowns.
10. Show before and after
There’s nothing better than a makeup montage, right?
If your job involves any sort of transformation, Reels could be the perfect opportunity for your business.
Here, professional organizers from Organized Dwelling transform the chaotic workplace clutter. After a little editing, it becomes a soothing and functional cabinet.
11. Get musical
The internet will always love dance videos (remember OG’s dancing baby?!), and Instagram Reels is no different. Just make sure you dance according to this week’s trends and not last year’s.
Instead of jumping on the trend too late, you can keep up to date with everything musical by following the official Instagram account @creators.
They offer weekly updates on popular songs and dances, so you’ll never be behind the times.
12. Play with style
On a visual platform like Instagram, sharing fashion just makes sense. (And the #ootd hashtag will likely outlive the rest of us.) So if that makes sense for your brand, why not try to capture some of that magic for yourself?
Show off your WFH look or tell us what your team wears to the office. A week’s outfit shoot can become a fun, easy-to-edit video that’s surprisingly popular.
13. Create a tutorial
The Internet is still the main way people learn to do anything. So using social media to share experiences, no matter what the field, is always a good idea.
Here, Adobe shares interesting ways to use its products to create thoughtful, personalized gifts for family and friends.
It’s something someone can watch over and over again – or share with their friends – to master the skill.
14. Be stupid about it
By playing cool, you will only advance online. Sometimes it’s okay to let your hair down and do some good old fooling around.
Boldfaced Goods does just that in this video. They poke fun at the forgetful partner who comes home from the store with paper towels instead of eco-friendly dishcloths.
The reel is simple yet visually exciting and fun. It’s also exactly what their followers will love.
15. Repurpose Evergreen Content
If you’ve shot promo videos for other platforms and have had some success (or frankly, even if you haven’t), try repurposing them as Instagram reels. Consider Reels an opportunity to give your YouTube videos new life!
You may have to readjust your edit to fit the 9:16 aspect ratio, but it will almost certainly pay off. After all, in a sea of front camera rants, professionally shot video stands out.
7 Instagram Reels Hook Ideas
Typically, you have about three seconds to capture a viewer before they scroll through your video. Every good Instagram video starts with a hook that grabs attention right away.
Need help finding a hook for your own drums? We’ve got seven ideas to help you stop those thumbs in your tracks.
1. How… Before sharing your experience, tell viewers what they will learn from watching your video. Instagram’s built-in text editor is great for this!
Source: Bon appetit on Instagram
2. My Top 3… Numbered lists are always great leads (you’re reading one of them right now!), and three items usually makes for a cool reel. List anything from your favorite dining spots to your desert island scrapbooks.
3. Three Hard Lessons I Learned… Become vulnerable by looking back at the learning curve of your business.
4. Four tips for… Bring that niche experience to your drums! Share facts or issues from your industry that only you know.
Source: Domino on Instagram
5. Don’t start your day without… Does your local coffee shop make the best cappuccino? Maybe you have a great note-taking system to help you stay organized. Whether you’re sharing a daily life guide or industry advice, this hook is a great way to grab the attention of your fans.
6. Five things you can do right now to improve… Whether you’re discussing planning, business development, or even mental health, adding “right now”gives the video a sense of immediacy that will engage viewers.
7. You need it… Whatever you connect, this hook almost guarantees that your audience will be engaged.
Source: Real Simple on Instagram
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