When Instagram launched reels, everyone was divided.
Either they loved it or they hated it.
Personally, I was intrigued but generally speaking did NOT want to jump in front of a camera. It took years of practice and luckily, showing our face isn’t necessary for every single video.
But video content is still incredibly important (read: absolutely vital) to your Instagram strategy.
For two main reasons.
The first is that Instagram reels are typically pushed to accounts that don’t follow you, which means they’re a great way to grow your followers, find new customers, and overall increase your brand awareness.
The second is that they’re a great way to build a relationship with your customers in a way that photos and graphics simply can’t. When you’re talking on camera, showing what you’re doing, holding and using your product, the customer can get a better sense of you and your business than if they were to just see a photo.
Now let’s get into three ways to add more video content to your Instagram strategy.
Record the Things that Happen in Your Business
This sounds obvious, but I see so many business owners ignoring this! When something happens in your business – good or bad – record it. Take your customer on the journey with you: talk about what’s happening, how you’re problem solving, what the good news is.
It’ll show that you’re so much more than a product, you’re a real human running a real business with real problems (and real solutions). It’s also interesting for customers to see. Most customers don’t know what goes into running a business, which means they might not understand your pricing or policies. These types of videos can give them that much-needed context.
Set Up Your Camera to Create B-Roll Footage
Whether you’re packing orders, sitting at your desk, or driving around town making deliveries, setting up your camera to capture b-roll footage is invaluable.
You can use these videos over and over again. Feature them on their own with overlay text, edit them together for a “day in the life” video, include them in an end-of-the-month round-up – anywhere really! Although I see more service providers using b-roll footage, it’s also valuable for product-based businesses.
Make the Most of Your Scrolling Time
Generally speaking, Instagram reels have moved away from lip-syncing trends towards substantial content that provides some kind of value. That could mean educating your community about your products, sharing a new recipe, or collaborating with content creators.
But there’s still opportunity to use lip-syncing trends to your advantage. When you’re scrolling your feed, save any audios that could work for your business. Then once a week sit down and film as many as possible – these are usually a LOT easier to film than other videos. These videos can break up your content calendar, increase your engagement, and help your customer become familiar with you, not just your products.
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