Inspired by the growing popularity of short-form video content, Instagram unveiled Reels in late 2020. This new form of Instagram content has created opportunities for growth for businesses everywhere. If you aren’t pumping out Reels, what are you waiting for? Here are the benefits of using Instagram Reels for business growth:
Visibility and organic growth
Since its inception, Instagram has allowed you to share photos and videos to your feed, specifically targeting the people who follow you. Until Reels came to be, the “Explore Page” was the only feature on Instagram that allowed for organic growth.
Reels was specifically created to reach new audiences. The majority of the people viewing your Reels are non-followers. Under the “Reels” tab on Instagram, users can scroll through hours worth of short-form content that is specifically tailored to their interests. How does this work? The Reels algorithm observes a user’s media consumption habits and decides what kind of content the user engages with the most. With this information, the algorithm begins showing the user more content that aligns with their interests.
If you publish health and fitness content, the algorithm will begin pushing that content to users who are interested in health and fitness. As you begin posting Reels consistently and reaching new audiences, your following will grow.
Sharability
With Reels, your reach goes far beyond a user’s feed, as it can be shared in a variety of ways. Think about this:
You just released a new, innovative product, so you share a short product demo to Reels. This product demo appears in a non-follower’s feed. They watch the product demo and think, “Wow, I could really use something like this. My sister would probably think this is pretty cool too.” They link your Reel in a text message to their sister and follow your account. Their sister views your Reel and thinks, “Wow, I love this! I know so many people who could use this product.” Their sister then shares the Reel to her Instagram story, where hundreds of her followers view the video and share with people they know.
It’s a domino effect! With the “share” feature, your Reel went from reaching one person to reaching hundreds of people — and you probably got quite a few new followers in the process.
Multi-platform visibility
In recent years, Facebook bought out Instagram and formed the media entity known as “Meta.” With this buy-out, Facebook and Instagram users could link their two accounts and publish content to both platforms simultaneously with ease. With the introduction of Reels on Instagram, Facebook created a tab on its platform for users to view Reels, as well. With this crossover, content creators could now share their Instagram Reels to Facebook and reach even more people. Why is this significant?
Each social media platform has a primary demographic. The majority of Instagram users are ages 25-34, while the majority of Facebook users are ages 35-44. By sharing your Reels to both Instagram and Facebook, you’re not only reaching more people but a diverse range of people, as well.
Engagement
In 2022, video content receives far more engagement than an infographic, image, or isolated text; according to InVideo, video content is actually 12x more successful than other forms of content. This is why short-form and long-form video content has become so popular! However, many people struggle to focus on one thing for an extended period of time — which is why most people prefer short-form video.
Short-form video content does not typically exceed 3 minutes in length. It’s fun, interesting, and engaging. So get to filming!
At Springwood Marketing, our professionals specialize in social media management and content creation. Our professionals will curate content that engages your target audience and creates interest in your products and services. Interested in learning more about what Instagram Reels can do for your business? Contact us today!
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