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Real Talk About Reels
Real Talk About Reels
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Last summer the Internet collectively scoffed as Instagram introduced Reels, its blatant ripoff of the video format that has made TikTok so popular. Today, however, no one is laughing at the Reels format. In fact, for brands looking to grow their reach, it may be the #1 format that they should be paying attention to.
Let's take a look at what we know about Reels:
- Introduced in August 2020
- 20 of the 30 NBA franchises regularly post Reels
- NFL teams that post Reels get 67% greater engagement than they do on regular videos
- Instagram is recommending Reels content more than any other format of post
- Reels were recently added to the Explore tab in a prominent way
*For more Reels stats & info, follow @ReelsTips
It's clear that Instagram sees Reels as its big opportunity to do the two things it cares about most: Attract attention and get people engaging with content. Just this month we learned that creators are being offered incentive bonuses for creating Reels that hit certain levels of reach. Specifically, Instagram is reaching out to accounts with a history of creating high-quality content and offering them anywhere from $500-$10,000 per month for publishing Reels that get millions of views.
At a time when it feels like Instagram has never been more important as a business tool, and a time that has never been more challenging to break through, it sure seems like Reels is the format we should all be embracing.
The team over at Later has put together a straightforward guide for any business that's looking to start creating Reels content.
And, just in case you can use a bit of relatable-inspiration, here are a few brands that may not seem obvious Reels publishers, yet seem to be gaining traction:
- Discount grocery chain @RealCanadianSuperstore
- Recruitment firm @eleveneleventalent
- Online learning platform @SkillShare
- Cannabis accessories brand @OhaiLife
Would you eat a Kyle Scheele Meal?
The Internet is undefeated - this is just the latest example.
TikTok-er, Kyle Scheele, noticed something strange about in-store signage: The people who actually work there never seem to have any idea what's being displayed or why. So Kyle took it upon himself to test out his theory.
He started by printing out a life-sized poster of himself playing a pizza-guitar with the headline "The Kyle Scheele Meal" then placed it in his local convenience store. Of course there was no such meal available, but that didn't seem to matter as the staff didn't blink an eye as he installed his creation, and even thanked him as he walked out the door.
Not only did the signage stay up, but people caught wind of the display and the store was suddenly filled with people snapping photos with the nonsensical ad.
What did management do? They embraced it, and actually created the combo, which consisted of two slices of pizza placed on top of each other, and a Red Bull. The pivot cost them next to nothing, and it's currently one of the hottest stories on TikTok.
Now, few of us will ever be blessed with a 9-foot cardboard ad driving strangers into our location from the Internet, but each of us has the opportunity to have a bit of fun with our guests and their content. When opportunities to engage do arise, will we click like and move on? Or will we embrace it, even if it doesn't fit neatly into our marketing plans?
Written by Conner Galway, Junction Consulting
