Instagram released a new feature that people are comparing to their rival, Tiktok.
What are Reels?
They are a fun and new engaging way to create content in 15 secs.
It first tested in Brazil back in November and with great success. It will now expand its launch in over 50 countries, including Australia, the UK, and the US in the upcoming weeks.
How does it work?
Like with making a TikTok or an Insta story,
- Click on Add Story; you will have options for Live, Story, and Reels.
- Click on Reels
- Record or upload your content
- Add editing effects of your choosing.
- Audio– You can search for diverse music by clicking on Browse
- Speed– Select the rate you want for your videos according to your requirements.
- Effects- With this option, you can enhance your videos with different kinds of effects
- Timer- This feature is to fix the time for your videos
5. Once you added your results, upload the finished content to a new tab labeled ‘reel’ to share.
Now, watch those numbers go up!
Why Reels?
TikTok’s sudden rise in popularity and its alleged country ban in recent months marks the perfect time for their rival, Instagram, to rise once again. Plus, Reels will succeed in what TikTok didn’t do, reaching more people. With over a billion users worldwide compared to TikTok’s 800 million users, we don’t see why.
Unlike their predecessors, Insta Stories and IGTV, it fills the void between high-quality, entertaining content but has a more prolonged exposure than merely 24 hours. Claire Winterbourne of the Australian Media Company, BornBred, discusses Reels in her interview with AdNews, expressing her opinion about the new feature.
“While some creators were able to grow a large following very quickly on TikTok and have seen success on TikTok, it’s been hit and miss for many influencers and creators who aren’t getting traction and are looking for an alternative, and Reels will fill that gap.”
So far, people who tested reels are either for or against Reels.
Who should use it?
By adding this new feature, Instagram can encourage their users to stay on the platform while bringing in a new generation of content creators. The average users are between 25–35. Most in this age range consists of millennials and gen z who are among the first to grow up in the social media era. They are the ideal group to push the new feature for both business and leisure purposes.
Speaking of business, Reels would certainly make advertising businesses much more engaging. It also could be the key to putting more micro-content and call to actions on the forefront. The popularity of reels will make users 3x more to engage in a business’ page. The added engagement and increased followers will turn to profit, especially for freelancers and entrepreneurs.
Look at these examples of successful reels.
