In this article, we’ll cover all the basics about the new feature and guide you on how to make Instagram Reels.
What Is Instagram Reels?
Instagram Reels is a new feature on Instagram that allows users to film short videos or otherwise upload pre-recorded videos on Instagram. Instagram created the feature in response to the increasing popularity of TikTok and Snapchat, which popularized the instant video format. Prior to releasing Stories and Reels, Instagram was focused on photo-based content with features such as its own photo editor. Much like TikTok, Instagram Reels is a one-stop shop for creating short videos. The program offers a wide selection of tools and a special interface for editing videos quickly and easily. These tools allow you to clip and delete videos and add text, music, music captions, filters, or stickers to them. Instagram offers three avenues for uploading these short videos on the platform. You can upload your Reels through the dedicated Reels feature, Instagram Feed, or through Stories. The reels may be visible to only your followers or to the whole Instagram community, depending on your privacy settings. Meanwhile, reels uploaded to Stories are ephemeral and disappear after 24 hours. There is no download or installation required to get Instagram Reels; it’s automatically available on the app. Instagram released the feature in mid-2020, and it’s currently accessible in about a third of all countries around the globe. The list of countries includes the U.S., India, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, and the U.K.
How to Make Reels on Instagram
Learning to create Reels on Instagram can be a little complicated, but anyone can do it with a little practice and application of intuition. But before you can create reels, you will have to decide where your reels will appear. Subsequently, there are three avenues for uploading Reels, and they can be accessed through different methods. Here are the steps for each method:
Reels Tab
Instagram Home Screen:
Instagram Stories:
How to Edit Instagram Reels
There are various ways that you can edit reels that you have taken on uploaded through the app. You can trim a reel to keep only the sections you need and compile multiple sections from different reels into a single reel. Afterward, you can also add songs, clips, text, stickers, filters, subtitles, and captions to your clips.
Trimming Raw Video
While it’s perfectly acceptable to upload raw clips on Instagram, raw clips often contain unnecessary or distracting elements. They lengthen your clips without adding value, and most people have very limited attention spans. As such, you may want to trim your clips to show only the most essential parts. Here’s how:
Combining Multiple Reels
There are times when combining multiple reels into a single reel is a good idea. It’s a good way to illustrate content based on time progression, which can include anything from adventures to weight loss. In addition, it would also be a great way to showcase different products, hairstyles, food, or clothing within a single clip. That being said, here are the steps for combining multiple clips into a single reel:
Adding Music
Music makes short videos a lot more interesting and memorable. Thankfully, Instagram has a special feature that lets you overlay music to your videos without having to rely on an external application. You can add the music before recording the video or after the fact. Here is how you can add music to your reels:
Adding Special Effects
Instagram Reels features a wide selection of creative tools to enhance your video’s aesthetics. These tools can be set up before or after recording. Here is how you can add special effects to your videos:
Adding Captions
Most people scroll through Instagram without headphones on, which can make it difficult to hear reels with voiceovers or dialogue. Adding subtitles or closed captions is a great way to make sure that your audience knows what is being said regardless of whether they are wearing headphones or not. It’s also a considerate move for people who are hearing-impaired. Here are the steps for adding a caption to your Reels:
Adding In-Video Text
Providing context for your Reel is essential, and one of the best ways to go about this is by adding text to your Reel. Take note that the standard size for Instagram Reels is 9:16, but they appear in the ratio of 4:5. Having said this, you may want to place your text in the middle to prevent distortion in the final video. In any case, here are the steps for adding text to your Reels:
How to Do Finishing Touches (Pre-Upload)
Once you’re done with editing your Reel, the next part involves adding a caption for your Reel and selecting a cover photo. Here’s how:
How to Upload Your Reel to Instagram
Once you’ve selected a cover photo, it’s time to upload the reel to your Instagram. Now, it must be pointed out that the availability of your Reels will depend largely on your privacy settings. If your profile is set to public, other Instagram users may be able to see and download your Reels much like they can download other videos on Instagram. On the other hand, if your account is set to private, then only your followers will be able to see and download your posts. With this in mind, you may want to check your privacy settings before uploading any Reels. Here are the steps for finally uploading your content online:
Final Thoughts on How to Make Reels on Instagram
Instagram and TikTok certainly have a lot of similarities, from the overall concept to their video editing interface and tools. For starters, Instagram used to impose a 30-second limit on Reels, but they have since then adjusted their time limit to match that of TikTok. The algorithm for both apps is also similar in that they recommend and rank content based on what’s popular. However, one key difference is that Instagram prohibits business profiles from accessing the music feature on Reels. Meanwhile, TikTok allows all of its users access to their sound library. In addition, Instagram Reels also offers a limited number of filters and editing tools, at least compared to TikTok. Nonetheless, it’s clear that Instagram really pushed their app hard, and the new feature itself is impressive in its own right. Ultimately, while the feature could certainly use some improvements, it certainly nails the concept of instant videos.
