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TikTok has a new competitor—well, not entirely new. The social media giant, Instagram, is constantly evolving to provide it's users with a dynamic social experience. With new features and steady updates, there's always something to explore for the regular Instagram user. Enter Instagram Reels, the newest edition to the platform.
Instagram Reels are short, vertically-aligned 15-second videos that users can share with their friends. With the addition of audio, special effects, and edits, these quick clips can help any content creator flex their creative muscles. Similar to the TikTok set up, this new feature is a mix between IGTV and Instagram stories, finding a sweet spot somewhere in the middle.
In order to create a reel, a user must click the camera icon at the top left of the Instagram screen as if they were going to .png?width=300&name=Inline%20Blog%20Images%20(18).png)
create a story. Then, the user can select "Reels" on the bottom right of the screen to begin filming.
On the left-hand side of the screen, "audio", "speed", "effects", and "timer" are options available to add something more to the reel. These options let the user add music from the Instagram audio library, set up a timer for hands-free recording, speed up or slow down the recording, and add unique effects.
To view reels from influencers and friends alike, visit the user's profile and click on the reels icon. Also, when visiting the "Popular" page, reels will be accessible at the top, where you can click and see what reels are trending for your specific algorithm. If a reel ends up in the timeline as you're scrolling through Instagram, in order to differentiate it from other videos, it'll have the reels icon in the left-hand corner.
Reels do not exist in the grid of a user's profile, so make sure to visit the reels tab if you'd like to see what they've created!
Now armed with a multitude of ways to create better video content, users on Instagram can decide to make long-form content, short and sweet content, or add videos to their stories for a 24-hour update. Highlights, stories, IGTV, and now reels are proving to make Instagram a powerhouse of a social media platform. As influencers and users adopt this new feature, we can only await the next big announcement from the Instagram team.
If you're looking for additional support with your social media marketing, our team is prepared to steer you in the right direction. Contact us for more.
