Instagram Reels Changes in 2022

It's officially 2022! If you need a new year's resolution for your business' marketing plan, we highly recommend putting a focus on using Instagram Reels. Last year, Instagram announced that their algorithm is going to promote and push their native short form video content. As we step into what this year has in store for us, Instagram's CEO Adam Mosseri recently took to Twitter to announce that he wants to "double down" on all Reels has to offer. When asked about what this means, he replied that he wishes to "consolidate all of our video products around Reels and continue to grow that product." Knowing this, if you haven't shifted your social media marketing strategy to include Instagram Reels, it's time you did!

What Changes Can We Expect to See to Instagram Reels in 2022?

Instagram has made some pretty big changes over the last six months. Not only did they overhaul the way their algorithm works, but they also eradicated IGTV, forcing all longer-form content to be housed in the main feed. They removed a lot of features from their platform recently, but what they've really been doing is making room to roll out new features. Below are just a few examples of what Instagram is focusing on, which will affect how Reels works too:

Reels Monetization

One of the key pillars Instagram is focusing on in 2022 is messaging and transparency. This will be a balancing act, with their new monetization features for Reels. To better compete with YouTube and TikTok, Instagram is trying to capitalize on top talent by offering them a reward to use Reels to counteract influencer complaints on how hard it is to get content seen by their following. A lot of accounts feel forced into giveaways and they don't want to create Reels on their own. In response, Instagram's monetization program is available to those with a creator account with a significant following.

These creators are paid a bonus dependent on how many plays the video loop receives. There is a maximum to how much can be made, but studies have shown that you can make anywhere from $100 to $10,000 if you're lucky. For example, Maddy Corbin with 52,000 followers on Instagram was offered up to $1,000 from Instagram for her Reel.

Parental Controls

This feature is looking to be added in March to give users more control over their experience. They will also expand on features like sensitive content controls and the ability to hide like counts. The highly discussed Instagram Kids app is still on hold for safety concerns, but something to keep in mind for the future.

Chronological Feed

After years of begging, Instagram is finally bringing back the option to sort your feed in chronological order! This means you can view your feed in algorithmic order, letting the platform decide what to show you based on your past interests, or in reverse chronological order.

So - What Changes Should You Be Making?

As the platform grows, it's imperative for you to grow with it, not against it. Although Reels is still relatively new, we've learned a lot about what Instagram likes and doesn't like in their videos. Stay away from these Reels mistakes!

· Posting Low-Quality Footage: You don't need a DSLR camera to film an Instagram Reel. Just make sure that your footage is stable, bright, and pleasing to the eye to catch and keep everyone's attention span.

· Missing Value In Your Videos: Feel free to play off of fun trends! But you don't have to dance to get your point across. Make your Reels easy to digest and entertaining at the same time.

· No Background Music: The best way to increase your impressions and engagement is to make sure you use a trending sound on Reels. They aren't always the same as what is trending on TikTok, so it's best to do a little research before you decide on an idea. Look out for ↗️ sign in the Reels tab to know what music is trending & make that reel!

· Too Much Text: Keep both the text in your video and the text in your caption short and simple. Let the video speak for itself and save longer captions for a carousel post. Don't forget to include your call-to-action!

· Too Many Hashtags: Be intentional about how you tag your posts. We recommend using 8-15 specific and broad hashtags to really maximize your audience.

How to Increase Your Reels Views:

Make Sure You Pick a Strong Thumbnail

We want to make sure you catch your audience's eye to keep them from scrolling away from your footage, especially if you're appearing on the Explore page of someone who doesn't follow you. This can be a quote or talking point that the viewer finds intriguing before they've even watched your reel.

Share Your Reel to Both Your Feed and Story

This will increase the visibility of your post, as it will be promoted on multiple different sources. Share it to your stories for those who only check there and include a few different polls or questions to make this more interactive for your followers! This will also give you a good sense of what they respond to best.

Do you want to start posting to Instagram Reels? If you don't know where to start, we're here to help you, every step of the way. Schedule a consultation with one of our team members today to learn more about how to take social into sales!