Instagram Reels are short, entertaining videos that you can create and share on Instagram. Reels allow you to get creative with multi-clip videos, audio, effects, and more. With Reels being one of Instagram’s most popular features, creating fun and engaging Reels is a great way to grow your Instagram account and connect with your audience.
This comprehensive tutorial breaks down everything you need to know to make amazing Instagram Reels from start to finish.
Table of Contents
Getting Started with Instagram Reels
To get started making Reels, first make sure you have the latest version of Instagram installed on your mobile device. You can create Reels in the Instagram app for both iOS and Android devices.
Once you open the Instagram app, you’ll see a plus icon in the top-right corner. Tap on this icon to open the content creation menu, then select “Reel” at the bottom to open the Reels camera.
Key Things to Know About Reels:
- Reels can be up to 30 seconds long
- You can record clips of any length and add them together to make a 30 second Reel
- Add music, effects, timers, and more to make your Reels stand out
Recording Your Reel Clips
The first step to creating a stellar Reel is recording great short video clips to use. Here are some tips:
- Film horizontally – this is crucial to ensure your clips take up the entire frame
- Capture clips from multiple angles to add visual interest
- Keep clips short, around 3-6 seconds each
- Be creative and spontaneous! The best Reels feel natural, not staged
To start recording clips:
- Press and hold the circular capture button to record a clip
- Tap again to stop recording when you want
- You can record up to 30 seconds of footage all together
You can delete or trim any clips you don’t love before posting.
Adding Music to Your Reel
Music takes Reels to the next level. You have a few options to add music:
Use the Music Library
Instagram provides a library of licensed music to choose from. Simply tap the music icon at the top and browse or search for songs. Trim your clips to match the song length.
Use Your Own Audio
You can also use an original sound recording or any song you have saved on your phone:
- Tap the music icon then select “Audio”
- Choose a file to upload from your camera roll
- Trim clips to match the audio length
Align Clips to the Beat
Use the waveform visuals while editing to perfectly align your clips to the beats in the song. This creates a super satisfying effect.
Applying Creative Effects
Effects let you spice up your Reels with fun filters, interactive stickers, timers, and more.
AR Effects: Choose from Instagram’s library of augmented reality effects and add them to specific clips or frames. Popular ones include makeup, glasses, hats and more.
Timer and Countdown Stickers: Add a fun countdown or timer to build anticipation. Great for transitions!
Interactive Stickers: Let viewers interact with your Reel by adding quiz stickers, polls, emoji sliders and more.
Text: Add text captions and stylize them with different colors, fonts and backgrounds.
Drawing: Get creative by doodling directly on your clips!
Speed: Speed up or slow down clips for dramatic effect.
There are endless possibilities to make your content stand out. Play around with all the effects and see what works best for your style and audience!
Putting It All Together
Once you record all your clips and customize them, it’s time to put them together into an amazing Reel:
- Rearrange clips in the order you want
- Trim/delete clips as needed so your Reel flows well
- Add transitions between clips for smooth animation
- Continue customizing with music, effects, text and more!
- You can preview your Reel at any time
When you’re happy with how it looks, move onto the next steps.
Final Touches Before Sharing
Before posting your Reel for the world to see, finish it off with these important details:
Add a Cover Image
The cover image appears as the thumbnail to represent your Reel. You want something eye-catching! Choose an appealing frame from your footage.
Write an Engaging Caption
Captions help provide context and make your Reel more discoverable. Be creative and use relevant hashtags.
Tag People
If you feature friends, make sure to tag their Instagram handles so they can share it too. Location tags are also great for exposure.
Check Settings
- Toggle on/off comments and sharing capabilities
- Select “Also share to Facebook” if you have a connected account
- Turn off “Save to Camera Roll” if you don’t want Reel saved
Once your Reel is fully customized and ready to share, tap the arrow icon to publish it for the world to see!
Reels Best Practices
Follow these best practices when creating Instagram Reels to maximize your views, engagement and overall performance:
Trend-jacking
Hop on the latest meme, dance or music trend by putting your own spin on it. This helps increase discoverability.
Leverage Hashtags
Include a mix of popular and niche hashtags so your content surfaces for more targeted audiences.
Engage Your Community
@ mention your friends, ask questions and encourage viewers to interact in comments/duets.
Remixing
Duet or stitch popular Reels from other creators to expand your reach.
Consistency
Post Reels consistently (1-2x daily) to build brand awareness and views over time.
Analytics
Pay attention to which effects, sounds and captions perform best. Give viewers more of what they love!
Inspiring Ideas for Fun Reels
If you need some inspiration for the types of Reels you can create, consider these popular ideas:
- Dances/Lip Syncs: Show off your moves or lip sync skills set to catchy music
- Comedy Skits: Entertain with funny mini sketches and punchlines
- Behind-the-Scenes: Give a “making of” look at your projects and work
- How-To/DIY: Teach quick tips, tricks and craft projects step-by-step
- Outfit Transitions: Quickly transition through fashion looks with fun effects
- Quote Reactions: React to relatable quotes with real-talk expressions
- Life Hacks: Share useful life shortcuts and cleaning/organizing tricks
- Food Recipes: Fast recipe tutorials are always crowd pleasers
- Pet Antics: Capture cute moments with your furry friends
The possibilities are endless when it comes to creating fun and engaging Reels. Don’t be afraid to get creative and show off your unique personality!
The most important tip: have fun with it! Don’t take your Reels too seriously. Bringing positive energy and humor into your content will make it stand out.
