How To Make A Reel On Instagram? The Complete Guide

Reels have exploded in popularity on Instagram. These short, fun videos allow brands to showcase products in creative ways, connect with audiences through trends and challenges, and collaborate with influencers.

For businesses and content creators, learning how to make an Instagram Reel is crucial to level up on the platform. This definitive 4000-word guide will teach you how.

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What Are Instagram Reels and Why Should You Care?

Instagram Reels are short, entertaining vertical videos up to 30 seconds long. They can be recorded and edited directly within Instagram Stories.

Here are some compelling stats on why brands should care about Reels:

50% Higher Engagement Than Feed Posts: Reels have an average engagement rate of 6.5%, compared to only 4.2% for regular Instagram posts (Socialinsider).
20% of Time Spent on Instagram is on Reels: Users, especially Gen Z, are spending more time scrolling through Reels than Instagram Feed (BusinessofApps).
40% Higher Share Rate Than Stories: Users are more likely to share Reels than Stories with friends (Facebook).

As an Instagram marketing expert with over 5 years experience advising brands on the platform, I strongly recommend focusing creative efforts on Reels over static posts. The engaging video format allows showcasing brand personality more effectively.

Let‘s go through how to make an Instagram Reel step-by-step:

Step 1: Access Instagram Stories Camera

Tap the plus + icon in the top left of your Instagram home screen. This will open your Stories camera.

Alternatively, you can swipe right from your Feed.

Step 2: Select Reels at the Bottom

When inside Stories camera, you will see multiple options like Boomerang, Super-Zoom, etc.

Scroll and select the Reels icon at the bottom.

[Insert screenshot demonstrating Reels icon inside Instagram Stories camera]

Step 3: Record or Upload Your Reel Clip

You have two options when making your Reels video:

A) Record Directly in Instagram

Use Instagram‘s built-in camera to record your Reel:

Tap and hold the circular shutter button to record a clip.
Release to pause. Tap again to resume recording.
Record multiple clips this way and the app will automatically stitch them.
You can record up to 30 seconds of footage.

Make sure you hold your phone vertically for recording Reels.

B) Upload From Camera Roll

Alternatively, you can use existing video clips from your camera roll:

Tap the gallery icon in the bottom left.
Select up to 10 videos or images you want to upload.
Rearrange them in the preferred order.

Mixing videos shot on Instagram and uploaded clips gives you more flexibility.

Step 4: Add Music to Your Reel

No Reel is complete without a great soundtrack.

Instagram provides a vast library of songs and trends to add:

Tap the music note icon on the top right.
Browse categories or search for a specific track.
Select the part of the song you want to use.
Adjust volume if needed.

If you already have a video with audio, you can still add music from Instagram on top.

Step 5: Get Creative With Effects, Stickers & Text

Stand out by using Instagram‘s creative tools:

AR Effects: Select from a wide range of augmented reality effects like makeup or glasses to overlay on yourself.
Filters: Give your Reel a cool look and feel through filters like black & white, vintage, brightness, contrast etc.
Stickers: Add some personality and fun with emojis, gifs and trending stickers. Great for engagement.
Text Tool: Insert dynamic text captions anywhere on your Reel. Useful for storytelling or CTA.
Drawing Tool: Get creative by doodling on your Reel in different colors and brush sizes.
Timer and Countdown Stickers: Record yourself or a process over time through these stickers.

I recommend checking out the latest trending effects on Instagram and experimenting with different combos. Using the right features can make your content stand out big time.

Step 6: Trim and Rearrange Your Clips

Once you‘ve recorded or uploaded all your clips, you may want to customize the Reel further:

Trim Videos: Cut longer clips to just the impactful moments.
Delete Clips: Remove unwanted clips.
Rearrange Order: Drag clips to organize as you prefer.

The edit mode allows refining your Reel to keep only the best parts that communicate your story or message clearly.

Step 7: Finalize Your Post Settings

Before posting your Reel, optimize visibility and reach through these settings:

Cover Image

Choose an attractive thumbnail frame from your Reel clips. This cover immediately catches viewers‘ attention and entices them to watch the Reel.

Caption

Write a compelling caption using emojis, hashtags and tags for maximum visibility:

Emojis: Start with an emoji to stand out in comments and get more engagement.
Hashtags: Include relevant hashtags so your content appears in those niche communities. Check what hashtags are trending to increase reach.
Tags: Tag any brands, creators or friends featured in the Reel so they are notified and may share with their followers.

Audio

Credit the audio used through the attribution sticker. This helps avoid copyright issues.

By default Reels only appear on your profile‘s Reels tab. Select "Share to Feed" if you also want them to appear in your main Instagram feed. Turn off if you want to test content first.

Step 8: Preview & Post

Do a final review before posting publicly:

Check everything looks and sounds great.
Ensure correct tags, captions and music credits.
Post at optimal times when your audience is most active.

And you‘re done! Enjoy as the views and engagement start pouring in.

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