What is the latest strategy for growing Instagram followers?

As the Instagram algorithm changes, yesterday’s marketing tactics might become less effective tomorrow. That’s why your strategy on each platform needs to constantly evolve too.

Posting on a regular basis with the right hashtags won’t necessarily guarantee that your content will always reach its expected audience.

Instead, you’ll need to consider some new IG tools and features.

Digital marketers said that 2020 will be more of video content rather than anything else.

Recent research showed that IG lives, stories, IGTVs are the most effective ways to show up on IG.

When it comes to the latest strategy IG reels are on the top.

Instagram Reels is a brand new way to create fun and engaging video content. First launched in Brazil in late 2019, Instagram Reels are now available for over 50 other countries, including the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and Japan, on both iOS and Android.

So what is it?

Much like TikTok, Instagram Reels offers you a set of creative tools to create fun, engaging short videos on Instagram. Record and edit 15-second multi-clip Reels videos with audio, text, special effects, and stickers, then share them with your followers.

Creating Reels

Select Reels at the bottom of the Instagram camera. You’ll see a variety of creative editing tools on the left side of your screen to help create your reel, including:

• Audio: Search for a song from the Instagram music library.

You can also use your own original audio by simply recording a reel with it. When you share a reel with original audio, your audio will be attributed to you, and if you have a public account, people can create reels with your audio by selecting “Use Audio” from your reel.

Note: The Instagram Reels music feature may not work for all Instagram accounts. If you notice your account doesn’t have the music feature, don’t panic! There are ways you can work around it. Either record your own music and audio or you can edit your video outside of Instagram Reels.

• Timer and Countdown: Set the timer to record any of your clips hands-free. Once you press record, you’ll see a 3–2–1 countdown, before recording begins for the amount of time you selected.
• Align: Line up objects from your previous clip before recording your next to help create seamless transitions for moments like outfit changes or adding new friends into your reel.
• Speed: Choose to speed up or slow down part of the video or audio you selected. This can help you stay on a beat or make slow-motion videos.

Instagram Reels vs. Instagram Stories?

Don’t get confused between Instagram Reels and Instagram Stories. Even though they sound a lot like each other, they have some key differences:

• Reels offers several editing tools, like AR effects, speed controls, and the option to align multiple clips for cleaner transitions.
• Reels can be shared to Explore and Stories. When you upload a reel, you can also choose to post it in your Feed. All the reels you create will also appear in a dedicated section of your profile, similar to IGTV posts.
• If you include original audio (sounds you end up recording in the video), your audio will be attributed to you, and other users can use it to create new reels.

It can be too soon to say Instagram Reels will be successful as its predecessor, Stories. But one thing for sure is that it gives you a new way to create more compelling content, better understand your followers, and increase your reach on Instagram. So, just give it a try.