Instagram Reels: 5 Important Takeaways And Trends For Marketers

Arga Dwi Ihsanul

Thursday, Aug 06, 2020 | 09:18 am

Instagram

Today, Instagram introduced Reels, “a new way to create and discover short, entertaining videos on Instagram”. At first glance, there appear to be many similarities to TikTok, with some important nuances. And while access is limited, the hype building around this new feature has raised some interesting questions for marketers and creators alike.

1. High Engagement Rates on Both Platforms
Reels are arriving on the scene the built-in clout of Instagram, which has largely remained the most popular social media platform for Millennials and Gen Z. Because of Instagram’s existing reach, brands will likely see high engagement rates with Reels. This also isn’t the first time that an Instagram feature has mirrored another platform’s functionality.

But TikTok has grown significantly over the past few years, with one of the highest engagement rates of social media platforms. Engagement rates aside, it’s important to note that people use these social apps differently – and for different purposes. Because of this, Reels feels more like an addition of tools to flesh out Instagram stories and video feed posts rather than an actual TikTok competitor.

2. The Creator Community Will Define the Future
Community is at the core of every successful social platform. Features can be recreated and tweaked but recreating a community is challenging and takes time. TikTok’s soaring popularity over the past few years has very little to do with the uniqueness of its feature-set alone, and more to do with the immensely engaged community of creators that have thrived on the platform. In particular, one area where TikTok really excels is the variety and diversity of its creator base because the platform is built for discovery.

3) For You Page to Inspire Improvements to Explore
TikTok’s algorithm has changed the way people consume and find content. TikTok’s ‘For You Page’ and ‘Discover’ is noticeably different from Instagram’s Explore feature. As a lot of the trends around short-form video converge and functionality differs less and less, the ability to find new and relevant content will translate to the stickiness of the user-base.

For Instagram to attract the same diverse and extensive creator community, discoverability needs to be a priority in the platform. Changes to Instagram’s Explore feature could also create new opportunities for brands and creators to be discovered which will drive greater adoption.

4) Content Reach: Repurpose and Re-Share Content
Instagram has always looked to keep users on the platform, and Reels appear to be no different. While this content can be shared with other platforms as an Instagram post, it doesn’t appear that Instagram will allow the same download and export feature that is unique to TikTok, at least right now. This functionality helped with the virality of the platform as consumers shared TikTok videos on other social platforms and communication channels.

5) The Macro Content Trend
Rather than looking at the two platforms at-odds with each other, taking a step back reveals the macro trend: short-form, relatable, and less-produced videos have an exorbitantly valuable place in a brand’s story. While there will always be a time and place for content with high production value, there is also time and place for authentic and relevant content.