Instagram reels are a feature on Instagram that provide businesses with the opportunity to reach their audience through short-form video posts. The feature has grown massively in popularity since its introduction in August 2020 and these short, entertaining videos have become an effective way for business pages to grow their following.
WHY SHOULD BUSINESSES USE INSTAGRAM REELS?
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REACH A WIDER AUDIENCE
One of the most significant advantages of using Instagram reels is their ability to reach new audiences. Like any Instagram post, with enough interaction, reels will be pushed onto the Explore page for non followers to also see. Data from Meta displays that approximately 200 million Instagram users browse the Explore page on a daily basis. Having a reel land on the Explore page can lead to an increase in brand awareness and visibility which will lead to business growth.
Similarly, Instagram also incorporates recommended posts into users’ feeds. Where users have the potential to be interested in certain posts/pages, the Instagram algorithm will display this content to non-followers as a ‘recommended post’. Again, this helps to increase brand awareness and visibility which will assist in moving consumers through the digital sales funnel.
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THE INSTAGRAM ALGORITHM FAVOURS REELS
Although reels are not considered ‘new’ anymore, they are still the newest major feature on the Instagram platform. This means that Instagram wants to encourage users to upload content in the form of reels to promote this latest feature. As a result, accounts that post reels are more likely to have their content seen by both followers and non-followers. This can be a powerful tool when it comes to page growth for businesses as it could be the catalyst for business growth.
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INCREASE CONVERSIONS
Following the sales funnel strategy, more shares will translate to an increase in conversions. This is because reels can be used to drive traffic to specific pages, promote products or services and build engagement with prospects who have the potential to become loyal customers.
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THE CONTENT IS MORE CAPTIVATING
After the explosion of TikTok in recent years, it is no secret that short, engaging videos have become the centrepiece of social media in order to compete with the emerging platform. This has helped Instagram business pages as the introduction of video content on the platform has meant that consumers are seeing more captivating content which, in turn, is increasing engagement levels.
Moreover, as video is a more entertaining form of content, more consumers are likely to retain the information you are sharing and will want to watch it. This will mean that you are successfully reaching your audience in order to drive business goals.
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IT SHOWCASES BRAND PERSONALITY
Instagram reels allow businesses to humanise their brand which can help it to reach a relatable level with its customers. This is helpful in the current business market as consumers are looking to build trust and relationships with brands. In fact, 76% of consumers say that they would buy from a brand if they felt more connected as opposed to a competitor. Reels assist in building these authentic relationships as the human element of a business is showcased.
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PROMOTE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IN A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY
With Instagram reels, businesses can create short, engaging and addictive between 15 and 90 seconds in length, and the editing tools incorporated into the feature are extremely helpful to create impactful videos.
Features such as music, text overlay and transitions can help to promote products and services in a memorable and catchy way where consumers are left feeling more informed or intrigued about a product/service.
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GATHER USEFUL DATA USING INSIGHTS
Instagram has a helpful, data tool that helps businesses to obtain helpful information about their marketing campaigns. This tool is known as insights. It provides tangible performance and engagement metrics that allows businesses to evaluate their marketing efforts and determine what is working and what is not. This prevents businesses from wasting time and money on marketing methods that are not achieving desired results. Some of the metrics included in the insights tool include:
- Engagement (comments and likes)
- Impressions (how many people have seen the video on their screen)
- Views (how many people have watched the video)
- Shares
Instagram reels can be a powerful tool for business growth if planned, created and shared correctly. If you have any questions about Instagram reels or how they can help your business to grow, don’t hesitate to contact us so that we can offer our expertise.