Social media feels like a full time job.
Keeping up with trends. Creating content. Utilizing popular sounds and hashtags. Etc, etc.
It can take a LOT of time and effort to gain momentum on social media. Since I have had quite a few people reach out to me for help on their own social media accounts, I thought I should publicly share with you some of the techniques that have worked for me. In this post, I want to focus on Instagram Reels.
COMING UP WITH CONTENT.
This is honestly the hardest part of social media for me. Before you start creating content, find your niche. Think about something that you know you’re good at, or that you feel very confident about. Are you great with technology? Do you have good fashion sense? Are you a creative artist? This will help you establish a ‘brand’ to your name. For instance, my Hermione content performs better than any of my other content because people view me as “Hermione’s doppelganger” and that’s what they kind of expect from me. My niche was practically written all over my face. People love it when I bring one of their favorite characters to life.
So, when it comes to coming up with content, think of 1 or 2 things you’re very good at and focus on that. For instance, I’ve seen photographers share videos on their before & after photos, their editing process, etc. I’ve seen musicians share videos on their music, their creative process, and more. I’ve seen cosplayers share videos on their costume & makeup process, performing scenes, and all that jazz. Watch your favorite creators for inspiration. Obviously don’t copy their videos, but you can soak in ideas and make it your own.
KEEPING UP WITH TRENDS.
Trends happen for a reason. When something is trending, it shows how popular it is with viewers. You don’t need to keep up with every single trend, but it can be fun when you join in on a trend or two! However, make it your own. Bring something new to the table. You can even try to incorporate your niche in it.
DON’T USE THIRD PARTY APP.
Instagram has confirmed that using their Reels app will prioritize your content. You can use their Reels app, the Reels feature on Instagram, or your camera. If you transfer your TikTok video to Reels, it won’t perform as well. If you use any other third party app, the same applies. Instagram wants you to utilize Reels. However, you can edit your video in an editing app for effects and transitions. I like to use CapCut and Prequel.
CLOSED CAPTIONING!
85%+ of videos on Facebook, which features Instagram Reels, are viewed without sound. There are a number of different reasons as to why people watch videos this way — therefore, use closed captioning! If someone is trying to view your video, but they don’t understand what’s happening because they have their volume turned off, they’re going to scroll past it. Plus, closed captioning is beneficial to deaf/hard-of-hearing viewers!
KEEP CAPTIONS SHORT & SWEET.
Don’t use long captions on Reels videos; that’s what Instagram posts are for. Very few people will sit there to watch your Reels and read your lengthy caption at the same time. Your video’s focus should be the video.
FIND YOUR BEST POSTING TIME.
You’ll want to share your Reel about 30-60 minutes prior to your prime audience time. Use analytics for this. If you see that your audience is active around 10am, plan on sharing your video about 9:00-9:30am. This will help your video gain momentum. When you post a video, Instagram prioritizes it to a small group of followers. If it performs well within that group, it moves on to the next, and to the next, etc. until it no longer performs well.
If you’re unable to figure out your analytics, use trial and error. Post a Reel in the morning and see how it does. Do the same with other Reels (not in the same day) in the afternoon, evening, and night. You’ll have to do this a few times over so you can look for any patterns. If the majority of your Reels perform better during a certain part of the day, stick with that time. You can establish a posting schedule to keep it consistent.
ENGAGE WITH YOUR AUDIENCE.
This is honestly THE most important part of creating content. Find ways to connect with your audience. Ask a question of the day. Have them share their favorite emojis in the comments. Reply back to every comment you receive, until you can no longer keep up. Personally, it’s always been a habit of mine to respond to as many people as I possibly can. I don’t like to have my followers feel neglected or unnoticed; I like to show them that their comment means a lot to me. It’s a great way to boost your content, and it keeps your followers happy!
More tips and tricks coming soon.
Stay tuned — I plan on sharing more Instagram Reels tips, as well as other social media tips & tricks, soon! If you have any questions, let me know in the comments and I’ll make sure to answer them in the next post. 🙂
