Reels have become an integral part of the Instagram ecosystem since arriving on the platform in 2020. It’s been difficult to grow organically on the platform if you only post still images, which means many creators have turned to this feature to reach more people.
Reels are an easy way to get your profile in front of more people. However, many people associate this with the need to act silly on camera – and if you’re not prepared to do so, that’s totally understandable.
Luckily, you don’t need to be dancing, singing, or pointing at the camera to enjoy success and have fun with Instagram Reels. Below is a selection of unique ideas that you should try.
1. Quick Tips
Regardless of the platform you use, the primary way you will grow in the long term is by providing value to your audience. Instagram Reels gives you a way to do that in a fraction of the time it would take to read a long caption.
When creating your reel, think about something that bothers many people in your area. Then, provide some actionable tips they can implement right away. For example, if you are a photographer or filmmaker, you can show people how to do white balance properly.
If you regularly write blog posts or publish YouTube videos, you can reuse these for IG Reels so they’re digestible for your audience. Then, you can direct people to those particular websites to drive traffic elsewhere.
2. Travel Recommendations
Travel has become more accessible, and people are always on the lookout for exotic destinations that aren’t often visited. And even if they’re going somewhere “touristy,” people want suggestions from others that will enhance their experience.
We’ve already discussed the benefits of photography in your hometown, but creating a Reel about where you live can also help grow your audience. As a starting point, you can provide unique insights for hidden gems—or list the top things people shouldn’t do while traveling.
If you’ve recently traveled elsewhere or frequently visit certain parts of the world, you can also create a Reel that gives useful advice. Again, you can reuse these elsewhere in articles or videos to diversify and grow your traffic.
3. Trip Summary
Many people use social media because they want to feel like they are living the life of their favorite creators. If you’re planning a trip in the near future, you might also want to think about how you can summarize the adventure on your Instagram page.
One idea for the above is to create a quick reel that shows some of the highlights of your trip. You don’t need to go into depth with this; It’s great to take short videos on your smartphone and compile them on Instagram.
Of course, you can take things the extra mile. For example, if you’re a videographer, you should consider taking videos with your camera before putting them together in your favorite video editing software. While not necessary, it will make you stand out.
4. Behind the Scenes to Your Creative Quest
Many people will use Instagram to publish the finished product of their work. There’s nothing wrong with that as long as you’re not doing it to brag – but people are interested in the whole creative process.
When you’re starting out as a creator, it’s a little discouraging when you see someone publishing this amazing piece of art that you doubt you can emulate. But in most cases, it’s easier than you think; As someone trying to build an audience, it is your duty to show them that.
Before publishing the final piece on Instagram, consider creating a quick reel to show how you got to the end result. For example, you can walk through your editing process or bring people along when you’re out for a photoshoot.
By showing a behind-the-scenes look at your work, you’ll feel more accessible to your audience. In such a situation, your connection with your followers will be deeper.
5. Showcasing Before and Afters for Projects You’ve Completed
Every good story starts with a problem and ends with a solution. And with Instagram Reels, you have the opportunity to showcase it in seconds.
Whether you’re a professional or your creative pursuits are just a hobby, a promising idea for creating reels is to show before and after projects you’ve completed.
You do not need to do much for this. A short video showing the mess you had to clean up at the beginning of your storyboard — followed by the new interior space you designed or the movie you created — will do wonders.
As with the previous tip, showing a before and after will make you less rude to your audience. Plus, it encourages others to get out and start creating.