If you want to stay on top of social media marketing, you have to constantly be up to speed with how an app’s algorithm works. Take Instagram, for example. While it used to be known primarily as a photo-sharing app, it’s been prioritizing video content for a while now, specifically Reels. “Instagram redesigned its home screen to put Reels front and center, which turned Reels into a key frontier for organic reach on the platform… That means that they have the potential to reach a much wider audience than just your followers.” (Prokofieva, 2022). So, to optimize your Instagram engagement, take note of some tips to make your Reels stand out!
Have your videos be as engaging as possible. This means both visually and literally engaging. In terms of visuals and how your Reels look to others, “use graphics, screenshots, or short videos to break up the text and make the information more digestible” (Panda, 2023). In addition, a great way to encourage people to interact with your content is to put an on-screen question at the end of the video, in the caption, or repeat the same question in both places! Getting comments and then making sure you respond to comments is a way to boost your engagement and build rapport with followers. It’s also more likely that the more you engage with others, the more existing and new followers will want to engage with your content and continue to do so.
Make viewers feel like they’re a part of the action, too. I follow a couple of travel and food bloggers, and they like to feature landscapes, videos of them walking around the places they’re traveling or doing certain activities, and close-up action shots of food. When people can envision themselves doing what you’re doing in the Reel, your video will be that much more enticing. If you’re marketing a product, showing footage of you using it and talking about how helpful it is or how much you enjoy it is a casual way to be relatable and persuasive to consumers. Of course, while the editing, framing, and more technical aspects of a video are impactful, the way in which you craft the cuts in your Reels also matters.
Tag products and businesses! Whether you’re marketing fashion, food, beauty, travel, or anything in between, don’t forget the power of tagging. For example, if you are an influencer, tagging a business in the video itself and caption allows people who visit that business’ Instagram account to see your Reel in the tagged content and discover your account. Tagging products is also helpful for people to see exactly what is being shown in the video. “When watching a Reel with product tags, potential customers can tap ‘View Products’ to see more information about the item featured in the Reel. They can also buy the tagged product right away, without even leaving the app!” (Prokofieva, 2022). This makes it extremely convenient for Instagram to be a one-stop shop for consumers, and they’ll probably thank you for making the shopping process easier for them and become a loyal customer!
Hopefully, these tips will help you reel in more consumers!
References:
https://www.ecwid.com/blog/instagram-reels-ideas-to-promote-your-business.html
https://www.feedough.com/how-to-use-instagram-reels-as-a-marketing-tool/