How to Master Instagram Reels for your Beauty Business
Have you tried Instagram’s Reels yet? It is a content format that lets you create and discover short yet entertaining videos to share with your friends (and anyone else) on the platform. Think Tiktok, but one explicitly catering to brands and businesses. With it, you can showcase your products and services in the same manner as a real reel. We give you the top reasons why you should jump in on this new feature right away.
What is an IG Reel?
Instagram Reels was first launched in Brazil back in late 2019. It gives its users the ability to create, share, and watch fun short-form videos, complete with audio and music. These videos run for 15 and 30 seconds options and join the platform’s growing content creation functions (see: Stories, Live, IGTV, photography, and video).
Reels can be found right on its dedicated feed in the Explore page tab. All you have to do is tap the first reel you see at the top to gain access to the Reels feed. You will be able to see all the popular and trending Reels from there.
To date, Instagram Reels is available for both iOs and Android users in over fifty countries, including the US, the UK, Canada, Japan, and Australia. The feature was created in direct response to consumer’s growing demand for short-form video content.
“Instagram is where millions of Australians come every day to express themselves and be entertained”, says Will Easton, Facebook’s managing director in Australia and New Zealand. For brands and businesses, he adds, “Whether you are a creator with a passion for sharing or a business with a story to tell, our new Reels format empowers your creativity and helps you reach new audiences on a global stage.”
How Do I Create A Reel?
Creating an Instagram Reel is not as tricky as it looks. The feature already provides you with several video editing tools such as audio, text, special effects, stickers, speed controls, countdowns, AR effects, align tools, and a timer.
It even lets you edit and form a full video out of multiple video clips. You can also tweak who gets to see your reels, filter the comments, and restrict viewing via its privacy and safety features.
If you think they are the same as Stories, we do not blame you. But the fundamental differences of Reels from Stories are the following:
Reels’ broad array of editing tools;
How they can be shared in both the Explore and Stories sections (as well as a dedicated section in your profile, like IGTV);
And how others can use your original audio (a.k.a. The sounds you record on your video) in their reels (attributed to you, of course).
Now that is settled, here is how you can get started on creating your first reel:
Open the Instagram Stories camera and choose Reels.
From here, you should see all the editing tools on the left of your screen. You have the option to record your reels in a series of clips, all at once, or via video uploads from your gallery.
To record your first clip, just press and hold the capture button.
There is a progress indicator just at the top of your screen that comes up as you record. To end each clip, simply stop recording.
Once you are satisfied with your reel, just hit the share button. You will be able to change the coverage from here and add captions, hashtags, and user tags.
Suppose you want to take a break from editing, no worries. You can always save a draft of your reel and come back to it later.
After sharing, you will see it go live on the separated Reels tab on your profile. It is where your followers and your potential audience can see all the reels you have made public.
From here, you will also see your reel’s likes, comments, and the number of times it has been viewed.
Whether you have your business page as a public or private account, you can share these reels to your Stories, your close friends, and via direct message. However, doing so will make the reel similar to a regular Story wherein it will disappear after 24 hours. It will also not appear on your profile or the Reels tab in Explore.
What are the Benefits?
There are quite a few benefits of why your beauty business should try out Reels. These include the following:
If you have a new product or service you want to highlight, you can use Reels to increase engagement with your current and target audience.
We love fiddling with the slow-motion and speed up effects to make offers look more exciting.
You get to showcase your beauty business personality by creating fun and authentic content. Even if it is as simple as getting ready while using your own products, talking about your brand story, and showing your salons, space, and any aspect of your business to your audience, it lets you connect with your followers creatively. You can highlight your brand.
Using Reels is an excellent opportunity to show off some before and after looks! This is great for makeup, brow or lash transformations.
You can educate your followers and give quick tutorials.
You can use a Green Screen so you can set up your background. Check out our latest reel showing you how to use this here :
If you need a bit of inspiration and entertainment, Instagram has “Featured” reels you can check out to see some original content from other users and businesses like you. And if your reel ends up being featured, you will be notified in the app.
Who’s Doing It?
Still in doubt? Check out these larger beauty brands and how they are glamming up their Insta game.
A mix between high level product videography and real model application of why you need this skincare brand in your life.
Everyone wants to know if an at home tanning product will turn orange or streaky and these reels are showing that you can have 100% buyer confidence .
Flower Beauty and Revlon
These two beauty giants upped their Reel game by collaborating with Instagram influencers to promote their products.
Kudos to this beauty brand for reusing their TikTok videos for Reels.
Because Reels can be seen by those who do not follow you (yet), you can showcase your products creatively like what Elf did.
This brand even uses Reels to announce its sales and exclusive deals!
Don’t be put off by their large following - I want to share with you some of our smaller beauty businesses that have been rocking reels in their beauty business.
The Takeaway
Beautypreneurs should take full advantage of Instagram’s Reel feature to level up their digital marketing game. From product promotions to audience engagements, there are so many creative ways Instagram Reels can be beneficial for you.
