Instagram Reels has quickly become one of the most popular features on the platform. With two billion active monthly Instagram users, small business owners have a lot of opportunities to reach new audiences by making Reels. Make sure you don’t miss out!
If you’re looking for creative ways to use Reels to promote your business, use the tips below to get started. We’ll give you ten ideas for Instagram Reels that you can use to promote your business, as well as best practices for creating engaging videos.
What Are Instagram Reels?
Instagram Reels are short-form videos (up to 90 seconds long) that users can create and share on the platform.
An example of a Reel on Instagram
Reels can be created using any of the creative tools available on Instagram, including audio, AR effects, and editing tools. You can also add polls, quizzes, and emoji sliders to Reels, just like you do with stories.
Reels can be shared on your profile or in the dedicated Reels feed, and they can also be featured in Explore—the tab is where users can discover new content and accounts to follow.
Learn more: Shopping in Reels: How to Get Discovered and Sell Your Products
Why You Should Use Instagram Reels for Your Business
There are a number of reasons why businesses should use Reels to promote their products or services. Let’s take a look at a few of the most important ones:
Reels Are Discoverable
Reels are easily discovered by people who are not following you yet. There are several reasons for that. First off, Instagram redesigned its home screen to put Reels front and center, which turned Reels into a key frontier for organic reach on the platform.
Plus, as we mentioned, Reels can be featured in the Explore tab. That means that they have the potential to reach a much wider audience than just your followers. If your Reel is interesting and engaging, it could end up being seen by millions of people.
The Explore tab is personalized for each Instagram user
Reels Are Great for Engagement
If you’re like most people, you probably scroll right past the ads when you’re checking your feed on Instagram. So how do you get people to engage with your content? The answer is by creating engaging and interesting Reels.
The great thing about Reels is that they’re perfect for quick, attention-grabbing content. And since they’re so easy to make, they’re a great way to promote your business on Instagram without putting in a ton of effort.
This Reel engages viewers by inviting them to share their opinion in the comments
Reels Are Growing in Popularity
According to Instagram, 91% of surveyed active Instagram users say they watch videos on Instagram weekly. At the same time, Instagram Reels present a higher view rate than general videos on the platform. That means that people are more likely to watch Reels than they are to watch other types of videos on Instagram.
Lastly, with recent updates, including the redesign of the home page to focus on Reels, it’s obvious that Instagram is interested in switching the users’ attention to video content rather than images—presumably to compete with TikTok. This shift means that creators and businesses must adapt to the change to stay ahead of the game.
Engaging Instagram Reels Ideas
Now that you know what Instagram Reels are, how they work, and why they’re getting more popular, let’s look at some ideas for making them promote your business. Use these ideas as a starting point for creating your own Instagram Reels.
Remember, have fun with it! The whole point of Reels is to create quick, attention-grabbing content that will help promote your business in a creative and fun way. So go ahead and experiment until you find what works best for you and your business.
Introduce Yourself and Your Business
Create a couple of Reels that tell viewers who you are and what your business is all about. This is a great way to build trust and establish yourself as an authority in your industry.
This business owner shows the day-to-day of running his store
Show your products or services in action. This is a great way to give potential customers a taste of what you offer without asking them to make a purchase immediately.
Make Before and After Reels
As a small business owner, you know the importance of showing your customers the results of your products or services. A great way to do that is with a before and after Reel.
To create a before and after Reel, all you need is one or two before and after photos or videos. This can be about making your product or someone using your product or service. Add some fun music and captions, and your Reel is ready to go!
If you make your product yourself, you can create a before and after Reel showing the process of making an item and the end result.
Showcase Your Products or Services
Give people a glimpse of what you have to offer and why they should care about it. Remember to focus on the benefits rather than the features. For example, if you’re selling a new skincare product, don’t just list the ingredients. Instead, explain how it will make your customers’ skin look and feel. Or, show a customer’s glowing face after using your product.
The brand shows how its products can be used to style a room
Debunk a Common Myth about Your Industry or Product
There are a lot of myths and misconceptions out there about different products and industries. And as a business owner, share your first-hand experience to debunk myths and share valuable information with your audience. Such educational Reels also help to demonstrate your expertise and authority in your niche.
To create this type of Reel, start by picking a common myth about your product or industry. Then, film a quick video explaining why that myth is wrong (or right!). Use photos or videos to help get your point across, and be sure to include a catchy title.
Share Behind-the-Scenes Footage
People love getting a sneak peek at what goes on behind the scenes of their favorite businesses. You can show them how your products are made or give them a tour of your office or store through a Reel.
You can also show how you package orders by making a Reel where you pack an order for a particular customer to show your appreciation. Such Reels are likely to be shared by said customer, which could help introduce your business to more people.
The business owner shows the process of packaging an order for their customers
Feature Customers in Your Videos
Customer testimonials are always valuable, but featuring customers in your Reels can be even more impactful. Such Reels work as social proof—they help viewers see that real people are using and enjoying your products or services. For example, if you run a wedding dress store, show your customer trying on different gowns. Ask viewers what dress they think the customer decided on.
However, not all customers are ready to be the star of your Reels. Always ask for a customer’s permission before publishing a video to avoid any complaints.
Share a Tip for Using Your Product
If you want to show off your product without making a hard sell, then consider sharing a tip for using it. For example, if you make jewelry, you can share a tip on how to style using a particular piece. Or, if you’re a makeup artist, show viewers how to achieve a certain look using your products.
Tutorials are also a win when you make video content. Make a short tutorial for a topic that’s relevant to your niche. For example, if you sell sneakers, you can make a Reel showing viewers how to tie them in a fun way.
This Reel shares a hack for using the products
Unbox Your Products
If you sell physical products, then unboxing videos are a great way to show off your items and get people excited about them. To create an unboxing Reel, simply film yourself opening up one of your products. Be sure to include close-ups of the product so that viewers can see all the details.
Make an Expectation vs. Reality Reel
This type of Reel is fun and relatable, with an unexpected element catching a viewer’s attention.
There are a lot of ways to make this type of Reel. For example, you can show someone trying to use a product without reading the instructions first. Then show them following the instructions to get the desired result. Or, focus on your business story and show how you imagined running a business and how it actually turned out.
Share Your Top Three
Given the abundance of products and services available, people are constantly looking for recommendations on social media. Think about what you can recommend to your audience that is relevant to your products or niche. For example, if you teach languages, you can share your top three ways to learn new words.
This creator shares a tip with the viewers
Best Practices for Creating Reels
The Reels you can create are not limited to the ideas we shared above, so don’t hesitate to experiment. To make the most of your Reels, keep the following advice in mind:
Tag Products in Your Reels
We’ve already mentioned that if your Reel is engaging enough, it might end up in the Reels feed or the Explore tab, where Instagram users can discover it organically. That makes Reels perfect for product discovery. Seize the moment and tag your products in Reels so that potential customers can buy your products in a few taps. Products tagged in your Reels might be seen not only by your followers but also by a bigger audience.
When watching a Reel with product tags, potential customers can tap View Products to see more information about the item featured in the Reel. They can also buy the tagged product right away, without even leaving the app!
Customers click View product on the Reel to view and buy the product
To tag products in your Reels, you need to connect your online store to Instagram to enable Instagram Shopping. When you do so, you’ll be able to tag products in your feed posts, stories, IGTV, and lives—no matter what kind of Instagram content you create, it’ll be shoppable.
With Ecwid by Lightspeed, you can connect your online store to your Instagram business profile and start using product tags right away. Here is how to enable Instagram Shopping for your store.
Learn more: How to Leverage Product Tags on Instagram to Increase Sales
Keep Reels Short and Sweet
Remember, you only have a few seconds to capture a viewer’s attention, so make sure your Reel is concise and to the point. Using catchy music can also help grab attention.
Use Templates of the Reels You Like
There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. If you see a Reel you like, recreate it to promote your own products or services. Just click Use template on the screen while viewing the Reel you want to recreate and add your own videos. This is an easy way to start making Reels without having to come up with new ideas from scratch.
Click Use template to create your own Reel
Use Relevant Hashtags and Geotags
Hashtags are essential for helping people discover your content, so be sure to use ones that are specific to your business (e.g., #smallbusinessowner, #entrepreneur, #candlemaking).
When appropriate, geotag your Reels so that people in your area can find them more easily. That’s vital if you run a local business or have an offline store.
Adapt Your Videos to Current Trends
Keep an eye on the latest trends and adapt your Reels accordingly. This doesn’t mean that you need to jump on every trend, but if there’s a relevant one that makes sense for your business, go for it! It doesn’t have to be complicated. For example, you can add a trending song to a video of you making your product.
The brand features its products in a trend video
Experiment with Different Types of Content
Not all Reels have to be serious—try mixing things up! You can make fun behind-the-scenes footage, customer testimonials, product demonstrations, or anything else you can think of. Only once you start posting will you discover what your audience reacts the best to.
To Sum Up
If you are looking for ways to reach new audiences, then consider using Instagram Reels. Creating engaging Reels is a great way to promote your business and get people interested in what you have to offer.
By following the tips in this blog post, you can start creating engaging Reels that will help promote your business on Instagram. Just remember to keep it short and sweet, enable Instagram Shopping, and experiment with different types of content until you find what works best for you and your business.