Keep reading for more tips and tricks to use Instagram reels for business in 2021.
How to Track Instagram Reels Analytics
To know if your Reels are hitting the mark and engaging your audience, you need to keep track of their performance. Instagram makes this simple for Business and Creator accounts to access Reels analytics in Instagram Insights.
Reels-specific performance metrics include:
- Accounts Reached. This metric tells you how many unique Instagram users saw your Reel at least once.
- Plays. This is the variety of times your Reel has been played. It could be greater than the number of accounts reached, since some users may watch your Reel more than once.
- Likes. This metric shows you the number of users who clicked like your Reel.
- Comments. The variety of comments on an individual Reel.
- Saves. How many times your Reel was bookmarked.
- Shares. The number of times Instagram users shared your Reel.
In Insights, you can track the performance of individual Reels as well as see how the format is contributing to the general performance of your account.
Source: Instagram
To learn more about Reels analytics and the way to use them to create better content, take a look at our complete guide to Reels Insights.
Tips to Use Instagram Reels for Business
When Instagram Stories was first launched in 2016, it was just the same as a Snapchat clone. However, Stories quickly surpassed Snapchat in daily users and has turned into an effective channel for brands to build their audience.
With that in mind, brands ought to grab the chance to interact with new audiences with Reels—people who want quick-and-easily-digestible content. Reels are also an awesome platform for collaboration with creative talent.
And, one more thing: successful Reels are likely to be featured on the Explore page—a spot that more than 50% of Instagram accounts use for discovery every month. If your Reel is shown on this page, you have more opportunities to introduce your brand to new followers.
If massive names like Maybelline, Sephora, or Louis Vuitton have been using Reels from day one, and if you’re already utilizing Instagram for your business, why not give Reels a try?
Convinced? Here are five methods you should use Instagram Reels in your social media marketing strategy:
1. Share educational content
Creating educational content is an effective way to start on Reels. Top 5 skincare routines, a secret to make delicious pancakes in 5 minutes, or hot ideas for styling a skirt—there are tons of things to share with your followers that let them learn a new skill.
Rena Awada, the owner of Healthy Fitness Meals (@healthyfitnessmeals), used Reels to share scrumptious, healthy, family-friendly recipes made with real food.
Her video was quick, simple, and easy to follow, it’s the reason why it gained in popularity. She also included a number of relevant hashtags like #healthy, #snack, and #lowcarb.
2. Showcase your products
Let me repeat it again: users can find Reels within the dedicated Reels tab and on the Explore page, meaning Instagram users who don’t follow you can also see your content!
To help the algorithm understand what your content is about and show it to the right audiences, use hashtags, text overlay, and descriptive captions. Below is an effective example from @elfcosmetics. Take a look at how the brand focused on the benefits of their Luminous Putty Primer and used emojis to show them clearly.
Another example is from Deborah Ruiz. She used her personal Instagram account to post a Reel explaining how she wore lashes from her small business @deborahcosmestics.
Besides, you’ll be able to collaborate with Instagram influencers to promote your product, as FLOWER Beauty and Revlon did:
3. Share behind-the-scenes content
Behind-the-scenes content helps your Instagram followers understand who you are and why you’re selling no matter it’s what you’re selling. It’s personable, increases trust, and builds strong relationships.
Check out two examples below. Fast and Food shared a moment of their staff preparing food for guests during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Benefit Cosmetics US created a Reel to show how a day within the life of their graphic designer.
Some behind-the-scenes concepts you can share:
- How you select materials for your product
- The method of making products
- The day-to-day life of your team
- Your brand story—the way you came up with your business idea and what you’ve been through.
4. Announce your sales and share offers
How about utilizing Reels to show your sales and exclusive deals? IT Cosmetics US and Tarte Cosmetics utilized this tip successfully, as they gained lots of engagement from Instagram users.
Bonus tip: Stay genuine, and don’t make your content too explicitly sales!
Think this way: many brands have been successful on TikTok as a result of they show their human side and give up being good all the time, which is exactly what TikTok users want to see.
So, try to keep the same level of authenticity in your Reels. Concentrate on originality and fun, rather than the quality of your videos. It could be highlighting staff or bringing an ordinary aspect of your brand to life using music and motion. Doing this can lead to high engagement for your Reels videos.
5. Use Instagram Reels ads
As of June 2021, Instagram advertisers can select Reels as a placement for their Instagram ads. The placement helps 6 advertising objectives:
- Brand awareness
- Reach
- Traffic
- App installs
- Video views
- Conversions
Reels ads provide brands a new method to reach targeted audiences when they’re scrolling through Reels within the mindset to interact with content. It’s no doubt that a lot of brands are already experimenting with ad placement. Here’s an instance from the Canadian supermarket chain Superstore:
To learn more about tips on how to set up your first campaign on Reels and the way to make your creatives stand out, take a look at our guide to Instagram Reels ads.