If Instagram Reels sounds a little familiar, it may be because of the new Reels tab that’s taking center stage on the Instagram navigation bar. It’s Facebook’s attempt to compete with TikTok, which is also aimed at short-form video creation and is especially popular for Gen Z.

So what is Instagram Reels, and how can you use them in your marketing strategy? Find out more you need to know in our Quick Guide to Instagram Reels.

What is Instagram Reels?

Instagram Reels is a new way to create and discover short, entertaining video content on Instagram.

Record and edit multiple 15-second video clips with audio, effects, and new creative tools. You can share reels with your followers in a new dedicated Reels Feed. If you have a public account, you can also make them available to the wider Instagram community through Explore. Reels in Explore offers anyone the chance to become a creator on Instagram and reach new audiences on a global stage.

Reels vs. Stories?

Don’t get confused between Instagram Reels and Instagram Stories. While there may not be too many differences between the two, here’s what makes them different:

Format – With Instagram Reels, you can only share videos. Stories allow you to share both images and videos.

Captions – While you can add a full caption on Instagram Reels, Stories don’t allow captions.

Hashtags – You can add up to 30 hashtags on Instagram Reels and up to 10 on Stories.

Lifespan – Unlike Instagram Stories, which disappear after 24 hours, Reels won’t disappear after 24 hours and stay in a dedicated Reels tab on your profile.

Engagement – Like on your Instagram Feed posts, users can comment publicly on Reels. Whereas on Instagram Stories, users can only engage through direct messages.

Placement – Instagram Reels can be shared to your main Instagram feed, the Explore tab (if you have a public account), and the dedicated Reels tab on your profile. You can also share Reels to the Instagram Stories feed, in which case they will disappear after 24 hours.

Editing – Instagram Reels come with several editing tools such as AR effects, speed controls and the ability to align or stitch videos for cleaner transitions. There’s also an option to include your original audio in your Reels, which will be attributed to you, and other users can also use that audio to create their reels.

Now that you understand what Instagram Reels is, let’s move on to how to use it!

Let’s Make A Reel

Step 1: Access Reels in 3 ways:

From your Profile, select Reels in the navigation bar, then the camera icon in the upper right hand corner
Open the Instagram Stories camera, select Reels
From your Profile, tap on the Create icon in the upper right corner and select Reel

Step 2: Adjust the settings:

Use the tools below to prepare for your recording:

Audio: Select audio from the library and add it to your video. You can even choose to add your favorite part only.

Duration: Instagram gives you the option to toggle between 15 and 30 seconds when choosing a time limit.

Speed: Change the speed of your video. Your options range from 1x to 5x.

Stickers & Gifs: Similar to Stories, you can add fun stickers and captions after recording your Reel.

Effects: Apply special effects to your Reel.

Timer: If you want to record your Reel hands-free, click on the stopwatch sign to set the timer.

Step 3: Record your video or upload a pre-recorded one

When you’re ready, tap, and hold the record button to record a clip. If you set a timer early on, there’s a countdown before the recording starts.

During the recording, you can tap the record button to end a clip, and then tap it again to start a new clip. You can record as many clips as you want and align them to create a seamless transition that Reels are famous for. When you begin your recording, the Align button will appear, allowing you to line up objects from the previous clip before recording your next.

Note: If you don’t want to record, you can also upload a pre-recorded video.

Once your recording is complete or you have uploaded a video, use the drawing tool, choose a sticker or gif or add text and show your creativity.

If you want to watch, trim, or delete the previous clip you recorded, you can tap the clip and edit it.

Done! You now know how to create a video with Instagram Reels. Let’s move on to find out how you can share it with your followers.

Sharing A Reel

After adding the final touches to your Reel, click “>” to go to the final screen. Now, you can add a catchy caption and include hashtags to expand your reach. You can share it with your Stories if you want or post it to your Feed. It may also appear on Instagram’s Explore page if you have a public account.

Tap Cover to edit the cover photo with a video thumbnail or add a cover from your camera roll. You can write a caption, too. If you don’t want to publish the clip right away, you can save it as a draft.

Instagram Reels allows you to:

Share your reel to a dedicated space in Explore or post it to the Reels tab on your Feed if your account is public. When you share reels using certain songs, hashtags, or effects, your reel may also appear on dedicated pages when someone clicks on that song, hashtag, or effect.
Share your reels with your followers only if you have a Private account. In this case, Reels follows your privacy settings on Instagram. Your followers won’t be able to use original audio from your reels and can’t share them with others who don’t follow you.

Instagram Reels come with a semi-steep learning curve. You don’t have to invest hours and hours learning how to make a reel on Instagram, but you need to tap into your creativity. Keep this guide handy when figuring out how to use Reels on Instagram and connect with your audience better. But don’t forget to track engagement to measure the impact your Reels are creating.

A Quick Guide To Instagram Reels