Instagram Reels: 10 tips to make your videos successful

Discover This Series of Tips to Make Quality Instagram Reels

Instagram launched the Reels format in 2020 in France to compete with TikTok. Since then, this short video format (up to 90 seconds) has become extremely popular among content creators on the platform. Here are 10 tips to help you create Reels that perform well on Instagram!

Instagram Reels: 10 tips to make your videos successful

1. Use Popular Music

A great video always has a catchy soundtrack! Instagram simplifies finding trending sounds. If you have a professional account, follow these steps:

1. Go to your profile and click on the Professional Dashboard under your bio.
2. In the Tips and Resources section, click on Popular Audios.
3. Browse through a list of music, click on the sound you like, and view Reels that use that song.

For regular accounts, check out our detailed guide on finding popular music.

Tip: When you come across a Reel with music you like, click on the song’s name at the bottom and save it. You can easily use the audio later by going to Templates > Recordings.

2. Rely on a Reel Template

Need inspiration? Instagram offers reel templates that you can quickly edit with your own media to create a video that looks great. Follow these steps:

1. Open Instagram and click the “+” button at the bottom, then select Reel.
2. Press Templates and pick a template.
3. Replace the template videos with your content, and hit Next.

Your video will be automatically generated. You can further edit it with filters, stickers, or rearranging clips. Once done, click Next to add a caption and hit Share.

3. Shoot Video Sequences Easily

To efficiently record your video sequences, use these two options:

• Timer: Set a countdown (3 or 10 seconds) before recording by pressing the clock symbol at the top right.
• Gesture Control: Start or stop recording by simply raising your hand. Enable this by clicking the down arrow (⌄) on the side menu and selecting Gesture Control.

4. Use the Green Background Option

Instagram’s green screen feature lets you replace your background with any image. It’s for storytelling videos. Here’s how to use it:

1. Click the “+” button at the bottom and select Reel.
2. Press Camera, click the down arrow (⌄), and select Green Background.
3. Choose an image from Instagram or your camera roll, then start recording your Reel.

5. Align for Seamless Transitions

The Align function helps smooth transitions between two clips, perfect for outfit changes or before/after effects. To use it:

1. Record your first sequence.
2. Click the down arrow (⌄), select Align, and adjust the next clip to match the first for a seamless transition.

6. Save Your Reel as a Draft

If you want to finish editing your Reel later, Instagram allows you to save it as a draft. Here’s how:

1. After recording, click Save Draft.
2. Find your drafts in the Reels tab on your profile or when creating a new Reel.

Note: If you uninstall Instagram, your drafts will be lost.

7. Add a Poll to Your Reel

To boost engagement, use Instagram’s poll feature in your Reels. Here’s how to add a poll:

1. Create and edit your Reel.
2. On the final editing screen, click Poll, add your question, and customize up to 4 answer options.
3. Click OK to add the poll and publish your Reel.

8. Change the Cover Photo of Your Reel

To change the cover photo of your Reel, follow these steps:

1. After editing, Instagram will show you a preview of your Reel with its cover.
2. Click Edit Cover to select an image from your video or upload one from your camera roll.
3. You can also crop the cover for the feed view by selecting Profile Grid and adjusting the position.

9. Publish a Reel in High Quality

Instagram compresses visuals to save storage, but you can override this and upload in high quality. To publish your Reel in the best resolution:

1. After formatting your video, click Advanced Settings.
2. Toggle Import at the Best Resolution to ensure your content is published in the best quality.

10. Download an Instagram Reel

To download your published reel or someone else’s (if they’ve enabled downloads):

1. Go to the Reel, click the Share icon (paper airplane), and select Download.
2. Since November 2023, you can also download Reels from other accounts, provided the creator allows it.