| By Aashish Pahwain Digital Marketing Guides|Reader DisclosureDisclosure: Our content is reader-supported. This means we may earn a commission if you click on some of our links.
Instagram isn’t your usual ecommerce platform; it is a visual-first one. Your customers don’t visit Instagram with an intention similar to that of a search engine but to get inspired, entertained or connect with their loved ones.
As a business, this presents both a great opportunity and a challenge. On one hand, it allows you to reach and engage with potential customers more personally. On the other hand, it can be difficult to stand out among the millions of other creators, taking up users’ time and attention.
To help your business stand out on Instagram, one effective strategy is creating engaging content in reels. Reels are short, 15-to-90-second videos that allow you to capture the attention of viewers and use the same to redirect them to your website, or simply increase your brand visibility.
Here are some creative Instagram reel ideas for businesses to help you not only stand out but to develop your entire marketing funnel.
Just showcasing your product and its features isn’t attention-worthy. Instagram may not even boost such kind of content organically. But if you make an interesting how-to video focusing on –
Problem that your customer has
Agitation of the problem
Solution that your product offers
How to use it for best results
All this, without being salesy can help you reach a wider audience organically.
For example, this reel by Humane AI is just a creative how-to product showcase video that combines problems and showcases how Humane can solve them in a disruptive manner using just voice. It garnered over 300,000 views organically and tons of shares and saves.
Know that Instagram favours engagement. If your content makes people share or save it without being boring, then Instagram will boost it to more and more users.
Here are some tips on how to create interesting and engaging product-oriented how-to videos:
Make them personal – the audience should be able to relate to them
Be creative with the format – try using stop motion, time-lapse, or adding graphics to make it visually appealing
Use storytelling elements – create a narrative around your product and make it interesting for viewers to watch till the end.
Behind The Scenes Reels
As much as people don’t want to see the actual product, many love to see behind the scenes of how a product is made. This helps create a sense of transparency and trust with your audience.
For example, the brand – Dreamy Moons- released this behind-the-scenes reel of what they’re coming up with within the coming week. It was a highly personal reel where the founder came and unboxed the first package herself.
This reel garnered over 95,000 views organically and increased the brand’s engagement with its audience. It gave people a sneak peek into what’s coming next and created excitement for the upcoming launch.
The brand often follows up with more behind-the-scenes reels, showing the process of creating their products and giving their audience a glimpse into their brand’s story. This keeps the audience engaged and creates a strong sense of connection between the brand and its followers.
Here are some tips on creating behind-the-scenes reels for your business:
Take it to the personal level – share the people behind your product or brand, their stories, and their process.
Showcasing your team’s hard work and dedication can create a sense of appreciation from your audience.
Have fun with it – keep the tone light and humorous, making it more relatable for your audience.
Don’t be afraid to show mistakes or setbacks – this portrays authenticity and vulnerability, which can resonate with viewers.
Share any interesting anecdotes or stories related to your brand or products.
And know that Instagram isn’t always serious – so don’t be afraid to incorporate humour and light-heartedness into your reels.
User Generated Reels
Encouraging your audience to create reels showcasing your products or brand is a proven way to increase brand awareness and reach. It not only shows the love and support your customers have for your brand but also creates a sense of community among them. Moreover, it makes your customers your evangelist, promoting your brand to their followers.
And it doesn’t take much effort or resources. You can just guarantee a free product or a special discount for users who tag you and create reels featuring your brand. This not only promotes your products but also creates a buzz among your target audience.
Here are some ideas for user-generated reels:
Create a hashtag challenge – encourage your audience to create reels using a specific hashtag related to your brand or products.
Host a contest – reward the best user-created reel featuring your product or brand with a prize.
Collaborate with influencers or micro-influencers – work with them to create reels featuring your products and share them with their followers.
Once you have a few user-generated videos, convert them into a creative reel compilation and post it on your Instagram page. Not only will it add more diverse content to your feed, but it will also showcase the love and support of your customers for your brand.
Here’s an example of a brand that successfully used user-generated reels to promote its products – GoPro. It posts UGC content regularly and creates a round-off reel featuring the best user-generated content every year.
Here’s one of their round-up reels that garnered over a million views –
Know that UGC isn’t for all types of businesses. But if your products or services have a visual appeal and can be showcased creatively, UGC reels are worth exploring.
Moreover, you don’t even need an experienced video editor to compile such videos, just search for a free no watermark video editor on the internet and you’ll find plenty of options.
Here are some tips to keep in mind while using user-generated reels for your business:
Encourage creativity – don’t limit your users to a specific format or style, let them have creative freedom.
Provide clear guidelines and instructions – make sure your users know what kind of content you’re looking for and how they can participate in your UGC campaign.
Engage with the creators – show appreciation for their efforts by reposting their reels on your page or featuring them in your stories. This will encourage more users to participate and build a stronger community around your brand.
Keep it authentic – don’t edit the user-generated reels too much, let the creators’ personalities shine through and keep the content authentic.
Use relevant hashtags – this will make it easier for your audience to find and engage with your UGC content.
Bloopers Reels
We’ve all seen those funny bloopers at the end of movies or TV shows, so why not incorporate them into your reels? These can be a great way to show your business’s more human and relatable side, while also giving your audience a good laugh.
While bloopers are great for creator-centric brands like movie studios, TV networks, or even sports-oriented brands, you’d need to use them cautiously for sensitive businesses. For example, a bloopers reel might not be suitable for a financial services firm.
Here’s an example of a blooper reel for a personal brand account – Michelle C. Smith – w
Bloopers are a great way to show that even businesses have a fun and light-hearted side, which is preferred on social media platforms like Instagram.
Here’s what you can do to incorporate bloopers into your Instagram reel ideas for business:
Collect funny outtakes – while filming content for your reels, make sure to save any funny or unplanned moments that happen. These could be used later to create a blooper reel.
Be creative with editing – you can add sound effects, slow-motion or speed up the footage, and even add captions or graphics to make the bloopers funnier and more engaging.
Use it as a behind-the-scenes look – bloopers can also provide a sneak peek into your creative process and the people behind your brand. This adds a personal touch and helps build a stronger connection with your audience.
Remember, when incorporating bloopers into your Instagram reels, always keep in mind your brand’s image and what would be appropriate for your audience.
Join Trends
Don’t be an orthodox marketer when it comes to Instagram marketing. Embrace the latest trends and join in on the fun. This will help you stay relevant and increase your reach as the platform’s algorithm often favors trendy content.
For example, the Indian brand Zomato has garnered over 900k followers all because of their creative and trendy reels. They often use popular songs, challenges, and even viral memes to create entertaining content that resonates with their audience.
Here’s one, for example, that shows how they used the “never let them know your next move” trend –
Here’s how you can find and join popular trends on Instagram:
Explore the “Reels” tab – this section of Instagram will show you some of the most popular and trending reels from around the world. You can also filter by hashtags to find content related to your niche.
Check out the explore page – similar to the Reels tab, the explore page shows you personalised content based on your interests and the accounts you follow. Watch for any trending hashtags or challenges, and join in on the fun!
Follow other brands and creators in your niche – keep up with what your competitors are doing and learn from them. You can also collaborate with them to create duos or group reels, which can help increase your reach even further.
Use a social listening tool – social listening tools allow you to monitor what people are saying about your brand or any specific keywords/hashtags. You can also use these tools to discover trending hashtags and challenges on Instagram.
Remember, it’s important to put your own unique spin on a trend or challenge, instead of just copying someone else’s content. This will help you stand out and create original content that your audience will love.
Educate Your Audience
Social media today is a mess of misinformation and clickbait. So why not use your Instagram reel to educate your audience regarding things they care about in your niche?
For example, if you’re a beauty brand, instead of developing a product showcase reel, create a reel that educates your audience on various side effects of using certain ingredients. Or you can even create a reel on what works best for what skin type.
You can also use the reel feature to showcase your expertise in a particular field. For instance, if you’re a fitness coach, create reels with quick workout tips or debunk common health myths. This will help establish yourself as an authority in your niche and provide value to your audience.
This could be your best top-of-the-funnel content, as it will attract new followers who are interested in your niche and might not have heard of your brand before.
Once they are engaged, you can then use your other content to showcase your products or services and convert them into customers.
Here’s an example of how Marriot Hotels uses the platform to educate its target audience on various related topics –
If you plan on creating educational reels, ensure:
They are relevant: Your content should be related to your niche or industry and align with your brand values.
They are engaging: Make sure to use interesting visuals, animations, or catchy music to make the information more appealing.
They are concise: Reels have a maximum length of 90 seconds, so be creative and deliver valuable content within that time frame.
They provide value: Your reels should aim to educate your audience, not just promote your products or services. This will help build trust and credibility with your followers.
Listicles
Listicles work best on Instagram when it comes to providing quick, easy-to-digest information. You can use reels to create listicles related to your business or industry. For example, if you’re a fashion brand, you can create a reel showcasing the “Top 10 Fashion Trends for This Season” or “5 Must-Have Wardrobe Essentials.”
Not only does this type of content provide value to your followers, but it also allows you to showcase your products organically and creatively.
Listicles work best for tours, travel, beauty, fashion, and food industries. However, you can apply this format to any business or industry with some creativity.
Here’s an example how Vietnam Travelers, a brand by AHotel, uses listicles to engage their followers
Listicles could be a great way to get into the Instagram algorithm’s good books, as they tend to perform well and attract engagement. If you’re new to creating reels, experiment with this format and see how your audience responds.
Reels As Comment Replies
Instagram even lets you reply to comments using video. This feature can be quite useful for businesses, as it allows you to personalise your replies and engage with your followers more creatively.
For example, if someone asks a question about one of your products or services, you can reply with a quick how-to video showcasing the product’s features and benefits. Or, if a follower shares their experience using your product, you can reply with a client endorsement video reel.
Using the comment reply feature for reels also adds variety to your content and makes your brand stand out among other businesses on Instagram. It shows that you not only care about engaging with your followers but are also willing to go the extra mile to do so in an entertaining manner.
You can even add humour to your comment replies, making them more memorable and share-worthy. Here’s an example of how a band used the same –
While there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to using Instagram reels for businesses, the key is to experiment with different ideas and formats. Keep track of your engagement and see what works best for your brand.
Remember, Instagram’s algorithm prioritizes informative, engaging, and entertaining content – so make sure you tick all three boxes with your reels! With these tips in mind, start creating compelling reels for your business and watch your followers grow.
A startup consultant, digital marketer, traveller, and philomath. Aashish has worked with over 20 startups and successfully helped them ideate, raise money, and succeed. When not working, he can be found hiking, camping, and stargazing.
