Instagram Reels is hot right now. The question today is, should I be using Instagram Reels to market my business?
Instagram is back copying another popular social networking app, TikTok. Instagram Reels is their new in-app platform, and it gives users a new way to create, edit, and discover videos in 15 or 30-second bite-size pieces. TikTok gives you 60 seconds. I'm just going to predict right now that the 60 seconds is coming.
It's just as addicting as the app that it's copycatting, so be prepared, it can be a time-suck, so I'm going to give you some general rules to follow, all right? So the big question is, how can you use Reels to market your business? And just like everything else you create for your website and social media, the rules of content strategy and creation apply here. You want to be the authority in your industry. If you're already providing valuable content that is serving your [inaudible 00:01:31], that should be the goal of your Instagram Reels. Remember that 80/20 rule. I don't think I talk about that enough with you, guys. Basically what that means is 80% of what you put out should be serving your audience and educational and inspiring, and 20% of the time you should be selling.
The thought behind this is when you're serving, serving, serving, serving, serving, and serving, you're giving everybody a taste of what it's like to work with you. So when you go into saying, "Hey, I have this amazing offer," people want to work with you. So that's the 80/20 rule. I think I need to talk a little bit about that more as we go along. But if you're serving, serving, serving, and serve more, I can't remember who said that, you are going to attract people to work with you when you put that 20% selling up. All right, and so when you serve it's like you're selling. You're putting yourself out there, you're telling people what it's like to work with you.
The other thing that I like to tell people is think evergreen, and this rule applies to TikTok too. People are viewing Reel videos inside the app, in its own feed, so the likelihood it's going to be viewed past the publish date is really, really high. So make content that can live on and on and on and on versus creating timely content. One strategy I've seen people do is two evergreen and one trending every day. I think that's a little too much in the beginning. But if you want to create one video every day, make sure that it's not timely and it can be relevant a year from now. That's the one thing I'll say.
You also want to show your personality. Trending songs or dances that serve your audience are key here. Showing your quirky side, this is the place to do it. What's the best way to get started with Reels? All right, so one thing that I like to do is I like to spend 15 minutes just viewing what's out there and take note of what other people are doing. It's okay to take ideas and make them your own, because you are you. I saw somebody the other day posted a video saying, "Stop. Stop copying other people." And let's just say, there's not an original idea out there. And so let's just throw it out window. So spend 15 minutes a day just looking at it and thinking about what inspiring educational content that's evergreen you can create your audience will love. Yes, I realize that's vague.
Most importantly, this is an app to have fun with and to show your fun side, so go have fun with it.
Shannon Hinderberger is a social media and digital marketing coach who lives in Bend, Oregon. She works with small business owners on how to grow their business using simple digital marketing strategies so they’re less overwhelmed, get results & save time.
She has over 20 years in the online marketing space and loves helping business owners make an impact in their business