Today we are starting a new series for the month of March on the topic of Instagram Reels. The free training in my Facebook group for the Christian Business Advantage will also be on reels. So today we are going to talk about why you should be doing reels.
I did some research on a website called Agorapulse, and you can find that article here. I myself have been creating reels for a really long time. I recently started doing TikTok videos as well. I actually repurpose my videos on several platforms. But this particular article is about reels, how they have evolved, and how they are useful to you as Christian authors, speakers, coaches, business owners. More than 1.3 billion people use Instagram. More people are on Instagram than on TikTok, which was surprising to me – only 1 billion users on TikTok. This article is from February 10, 2024.
TikTok has users that are younger than Instagram. Since my audience is older than the 18 to 24-year-old group, Instagram is more our vibe. Instagram reels have been about brands and influencers, while TikTok has been more under the entertainment platform. So, Instagram is what I would pay more attention to from the standpoint of a business, than TikTok, though it has its benefits as well.
Why Should You Be Doing Instagram Reels?
Reels are easily accessible, and you can quickly establish yourself as your own brand on Instagram. That is so important. You want to be seen as who you are. Most of us, if we’re authors or speakers, we are the brand. We don’t necessarily stand behind a company name. We are branding ourselves. You can give them a peek into your life. Those who watch you to get to know you, like you, and trust you, as we do with other forms of marketing. Reels are a great way to do this because they are video, and we all know video is very popular. It gives us the ability to connect with our listeners, readers, or watchers in an easy way.
Be thinking about how reels can be part of your marketing strategy. It’s still early in the year, and if you’re going to embrace reels and utilize them yourself this year, there is some planning and prep you need to do in order to make them a part of your marketing. You cannot just turn on your camera and make great reels. But you can create a plan.
How to Plan Reels
First of all, seek some inspiration. Don’t beat yourself up, though, while you’re looking at other people’s videos in an effort to find ideas. Be sure you look at them through the lens of “How can I do this, unique to me?”
Consider your lighting and equipment. Make sure that you have a place where the lighting is very clear. You can always record in front of a window, or you can purchase a ring light as well.
Then you want to know about editing tools, because we can never get reels right the first time. But you can find some easy to use editing tools that will make it so simple to record your reels and edit them. My favorite one is CapCut on my iPhone, but there’s also one called InShot.
Also, plan out and brainstorm reels that you can make. Try to think of as many possibilities as you can. You can even batch this content.
Then you’ll want to experiment with sounds and formats. Trending sounds will help your reels to be found, and I will talk in a later episode about how to find these.
Don’t use your reels just once. Make sure you can capitalize on them by cross-posting to Facebook. You can do that right in your Instagram app.
If you’ve not taken on reels in your business, I hope that you’ll consider doing so, and that you’ll come back for future episodes to help you to record reels for your business.
STAY CONNECTED
I have a Facebook group for Christian authors, speakers, and coaches. It’s called The Christian Business Advantage, and each month I do a FREE training around the third Thursday of each month. Please come join our group, and you will learn tips and tricks for your business.
