At Pure Gallus Social, we’ve been consistently creating reels for the past 18 months, and we have learnt a LOT doing it!
Since they were introduced, Instagram Reels have been an amazing way for brands and businesses to market themselves, allowing a creative, visual experience beyond the standard grid post. During our time using reels, we have amassed over 12 million views, and here are our top takeaways from the process…
Be Patient
Due to the reach capacity of reels, performance metrics cannot properly be assessed until weeks after posting. As the reels explore tab constantly pushes content, it can take weeks for your reel to gain traction; so try not to get too bogged down with the insight statistics. We recommend tracking your reels after a month to gauge success. So, be patient, good things come to those who wait…
Use a CTA
How do you expect your audience to react to your content if you don’t give them instruction? A clear call to action at the end of the reel encourages your audience to engage with your content for longer, thus increasing the watch time and consequently encouraging the algorithm to push your reel to more accounts. A clear ‘check out the caption for more details’ or ‘save this for next time’ gives your community direct instruction and communicates the intention of your content.
Be Imperfectly Perfect
Remember, success isn’t linear and is not a static rise to the top. It is totally normal to have tips in views. Much like life, content is full of the highs and the lows. Don’t get too distracted by the numbers, and instead look at overall trends rather than individual performance. Consistency in result is impossible, as life isn’t consistent. Instead, concentrate on creating value packed content, and try not to focus on getting the ‘perfect’ result.
There is always going to someone that doesn’t like you, and that’s okay…
We often say that ‘if you make content for “everyone”, you make content for no one’, and that rings true when creating reels. People will always have opinions, and sometimes they’ll differ to yours and that is okay. At the end of the day, this is Instagram, so try not to take things personally. Your clan will stay, and anyone else can sashay away.
Strategy is Everything
We couldn’t pride ourselves on our content strategy expertise without reiterating that strategy is INTEGRAL to success with reels. If you have a clearly defined content strategy, this will form the basis of your reels marketing; regardless of any trends. It is important not to get bogged down with trends. Trends are the cherry on top, not the crux of your strategy.
Want to learn how to see reels success for your business? Why not join us for our upcoming masterclass ‘The Reel Appeal’; we’ll take a deep dive into the wonderful world of reels, sharing our best kept secrets so you’ll never feel on the heels of reels again! Buy a ticket now!
