Instagram Reels are a lot of fun to make and a great way to give exciting new content to your audience. Since Instagram introduced Reels to the world, content creators have been getting creative, and they have shown the world how powerful Reels can actually be. The question is, how do we tap into the power of Reels? And what do you need to focus on to get the most out of your Reels? The answer is engagement. In this blog, we'll share with you the engagement hacks we use to get the most out of our Instagrams Reels performance. So without any further ado, let's get started.
Note: If you are still not really sure what Reels are all about, make sure to read our blog post on everything you need to know about Reels!
Always use original content
Let's start with one of Instagram's recommendations: post original content. Some people might think this sounds pretty obvious. Others, not so much. You might be surprised by the number of people who make the mistake of not creating original content and, as a result, see their Instagram page suffer. Either way, to get maximum engagement from your Instagram Reels, making original content is the way to do it.
Creating original content for your Instagram Reels is one of the best ways to make your content stand out. Instagram is a platform with millions of users producing tons of content every day. To break through all the noise and grab the attention on Instagram, you must create something original. Finding your niche will be a massive help when it comes to producing fantastic and engaging Reels for Instagram. Having a niche will give you a unique appeal. It means you can more easily create original videos for your audience because your brand naturally has something different to offer your audience.
There will be times when it comes to creating original content for your Reels when you might need help to come up with something. At times like these, you will find help is always at hand on the very same platform where you publish your content. Instagram is a great place to find inspiration for creating original content. A good tip is to always follow or keep an eye on accounts that have a similar audience to you. This way, you can see which of their original content works well for them and grab a bit of inspiration along the way. The idea isn't to copy other people's original content as that would, of course, no longer be original content. But instead, use it as a guide to inspire original content for your own Reels so you can produce great, well-inspired, engaging content in your style and consistent with your branding.
Experiment with new ideas
One of the reasons Reels are so fun and why audiences and creators love them is that they encourage users to get creative. You may have noticed if you've been keeping an eye on Instagram Reels that since they debuted in 2019, thousands of trends have come and gone. And there will probably be a new one coming down the road any minute now. So don't be afraid to try a few of these trends in your Reels when they come around. They might just pay off in a big way.
There's also no reason you can't be the one bringing a brand new trend to the world of Instagram either. The way to come up with a new trend for Reels is simply to experiment and take a risk. Try something that no one else has done. Think outside the box. Alternatively, you could modify or improve a previous trend that's come before and add your own unique twist to it. Remember to consider two things when coming up with the next best trend or unique idea for Instagram Reels. Firstly, what can you share on your Reels that will show your strengths? What would your audience want to see? These two questions are worth asking yourself if you want your Reels to really resonate with your audience. You might find that every now and then that your experiments with new Reel styles might not always pay off. If they don't, try not to be deterred, as there will be plenty that will pay off. And the Reels that work learn from those to keep producing quality content for your audience.
Add your Reels to your feed
This is an incredibly straightforward way to boost engagement on your Reels but one that is often easily overlooked. It's also one of the best ways to promote engagement on your Reels and is an excellent way to increase your reach. Many people who visit your Instagram page that come to look through your feed might not bother to look through your Reels page separately. So by adding your Reels to your feed, you will increase the likelihood of visitors to your page commenting, liking, and sharing your Reel.
Another important note to mention is to keep the imagery consistent on your feed. This will make your feed more aesthetically pleasing so visitors won't be put off when they arrive on your page. This is quite a simple fix when it comes to your Reels. All you need to do is make sure you pick the right cover photo before you upload for the best engagement results, as a compelling photo is the best way to make a great first impression and connect with your audience. If you still don't like how it looks, you can still remove your Reel after a few days or weeks.
No TikTok watermarks
This is a biggie. I know we've said this before (not to mention Instagram has publicly announced it in the past), but we need to keep hammering this home and spreading the word. Don't use content for your Reels that has the TikTok watermark! The reason is that the Instagram algorithm won't push content with the TikTok watermark on it, so your Reels will suffer as a consequence. Always remember recycled content from other social media platforms won't do well on Instagram. Of course you can post the same videos onto different platforms, but make sure it doesn't have the watermark. You can easily avoid that by editing your videos with third party apps.
Always Include Captions
Getting your captions right on your Reels is a very important but often overlooked part of making your content more engaging. Your Reels caption might only be a small part of your piece of content. Still, it is an opportunity for you to communicate with your audience, describe the content, introduce your Reel and add an engaging call to action.
Caption stickers on your Reel itself are also a great way to boost engagement on your content. With caption stickers, you can add text to your Reel using keyword phrases that will boost your SEO and increase your discoverability. And the higher your discoverability, the more people you'll be able to reach with your Reel. These captions are also a great chance to ask your audience questions and write a great call to action to get people engaging with your posts.
Remember to Post Consistently
Posting Reels consistently is a fantastic way to keep engagement high on your Reels. You'll want to post at least as frequently as 4 times per week, 7 times if you can consistently keep up with it. This way, you can stay relevant with your audience and keep them interested in your content. Because you will have competitors out there who have a similar audience to you. Any slip in consistency might mean your audience might spend more time enjoying other content creators' reels and engaging with them instead of you. So remember that when you're competing against your competitors, you're competing for your shared audience's attention. There are a lot of Reels on Instagram, so try and find the right amount of Reels you can post a week. This way, you'll be able to stay consistent over long periods of time. If you need some tips on how to stay more consistent you can find them here.
Engage with your audience!!
Once you've put these hacks into practice and started getting results, you will need to keep up with the engagement and, of course, engage with your audience. So when you get all those well-anticipated comments, likes, and DM from your audience. Be sure to respond to everyone that has made an effort to engage with your content. It sends a good message out to your audience. It lets them know that you are accessible and care about the support that they give you and will encourage engagement further into the future.
