How to post reels on instagram?

Reels are short 15-60 seconds multi-clip videos with audio, effects, and creative tools that allow you to create fun and engaging videos to share on Instagram. Posting reels is easy and can help increase your reach and engagement on Instagram. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to create and post reels on Instagram using both Android and iOS devices.

Prerequisites before creating reels

Before you can start creating reels, your Instagram account and app version need to meet these requirements:

• Your Instagram account must be public to post reels. Private accounts cannot post reels.
• Your Instagram app must be updated to the latest version that supports reels.
• Your region should support reels. Reels is available globally but some countries may have limited access.

How to create reels on Instagram

Here are the steps to create reels on Instagram:

1. Open the Instagram app on your Android or iOS device and tap the + icon in the top right corner.
2. Select Reels at the bottom to open the reels camera.
3. Record or upload clips – You can record clips directly in the Instagram app up to 30 seconds each. Or import videos from your camera roll up to 10 seconds each. You can add up to 30 clips to make one reel.
4. Add audio – Search for a song from Instagram’s audio library, use your own original audio, or borrow audio from another reel. Align and edit the audio length.
5. Add effects – Instagram provides lots of AR effects, filters, timers, countdowns, stickers and text options to make your reel visually appealing.
6. Adjust clips – Trim and rearrange your clips. Set a cover frame for your reel. Speed up or slow down parts of the video.
7. Finalize reel – Add a caption. Tap Next to proceed to sharing options.

How to add hashtags and location tag to reels

Adding relevant hashtags and location tags to your reel can help more Instagram users discover it. Here’s how to add them before posting:

• After creating your reel, go to the caption box and type in your hashtags. Add a mix of popular and niche hashtags related to your content.
• Tap the Location icon and search to find the appropriate location to tag your reel with. This helps if your content is related to a specific place.
• You can add hashtags and location either before or after posting the reel. But adding them beforehand saves an editing step later.

How to post reels to your Instagram feed

Once you’ve finished creating your reel, you can choose to post it your Instagram feed by following these steps:

1. After finalizing your reel, tap Next on the sharing options screen.
2. Select “Share to Feed” to post the reel directly to your Instagram feed.
3. Enter a caption and hashtags as you normally would when posting a standard photo or video.
4. Tap Share and your reel will be posted to your profile’s main Instagram feed.
5. The reel will also be shared to the Explore page so non-followers can see it too.

How to post reels only to your Instagram Story

If you only want to share your reel temporarily, you can post it to your Instagram Story instead:

1. After creating the reel, tap Next then select “Share to Story” on the sharing screen.
2. You can choose to add the reel to your story as-is or customize it further.
3. Tap the Send To button to add the reel to your story. It will disappear after 24 hours.
4. This adds the reel only to your story. It won’t appear on your feed or on Explore.

How to crosspost reels to Facebook

Instagram allows you to crosspost reels easily to Facebook. Here are the steps:

1. Create your reel in the Instagram app as usual.
2. Go to the sharing options and tap “Share to Facebook Story” or “Share to Facebook Feed”.
3. A popup will ask you to confirm sharing the reel to connected Facebook account.
4. Tap Share and your reel will be posted to your Facebook story or feed.
5. The reel will appear on both Instagram and Facebook simultaneously.

How to repurpose video content into reels

You don’t have to create reels from scratch everytime. An easy way is to repurpose videos you’ve already created into reels:

• Trim longer videos into 15-30 second clips perfect for reels.
• Upload existing clips to reels camera roll. Add effects, audio, captions as needed.
• Record voiceover audio or commentary to overlay on your video clips.
• Creative editing by speeding up clips, zooming in, text animations make old videos fresh.
• Add trending audios and effects to breathe new life into older content.

Tips for creating engaging reels

Follow these tips to make reels that captivate viewers and stand out on Instagram:

• Use music and audio creatively. Funny voiceovers, meme sounds grab attention.
• Leverage Instagram effects, filters and AR. Align effects to beats for impact.
• Optimize hashtags, captions and location tags for discovery.
• Interact with viewers by asking questions, running polls, comments.
• Be consistent and post reels regularly. Batch produce reels to save time.
• Analyze data in Instagram Insights to know your best performing reels.
• Crosspromote top reels on other channels like Stories, feed, IGTV.

Mistakes to avoid when creating reels

Steer clear of these common reel mistakes:

• Text too small. Add text that is legible on mobile screens.
• Music drowning your voiceover audio. Balance audio levels.
• Too many fast cuts and transitions. Use only transitions that aid storytelling.
• Overuse of effects. Apply effects judiciously for impact.
• No clear subject. Have a strong visual focal point.
• Repetitive or unrelated clips. Every clip should add value.
• Reused viral audio trends. Create original reels with unique POV.

With these tips, you can create reels that captivate and convert on Instagram. Have fun and express your authentic creativity through reels!