Discover how to create a Reel on Instagram with this step-by-step guide. Perfect for beginners looking to grow reach and engagement.
Instagram Reels have become the preferred way to share videos on the platform, given their higher engagement rate (0.5%) than standard posts (0.45%). They can help you unlock new audiences or cater to a niche following to build a community around your brand.
This article covers how to create a Reel on Instagram. We’ll also highlight best practices for optimizing your Reels and common pitfalls to avoid.
Once you share the Reels on your Instagram, we recommend embedding them on your website (for businesses) or personal blog to reach a wider audience.
Our SociableKIT widget streamlines the integration process so you can set up your Instagram Reel feed within two minutes. The widget also supports advanced customizations and lets you personalize the embed’s appearance to match your website theme.
Create a SociableKIT widget today and curate an engaging Instagram Reel feed for your audience.
What is a Reel on Instagram?
Instagram defines Reels simply as short-form videos you can share with your friends and community on the platform.
The videos can be between 15 seconds and three minutes long. The Reels you post on your Instagram account will be available to everyone unless you set your account to private.
Instagram Post vs. Story vs. Reel
Some people confuse Instagram posts, Reels, and Stories. While they can all be in video format, they differ in application. For example, Reels are three minutes long, Stories can be up to 60 seconds, and Instagram in-feed video posts are capped at one hour.
Let’s see how Reels compare to Instagram Stories and posts in the table below:
| Attribute | Instagram Post | Instagram Story | Instagram Reels |
| Visibility and Discoverability | Highly discoverable only if the account is not set to ‘private.’ | Limited to your followers unless other users open your profile. | They can be seen by all Instagram users, which makes them easily discoverable. |
| Format | Can be images, carousels, or videos. | Can be images or videos. | Are mainly videos |
| Shelf Life | Permanent unless deleted. | Available for only 24 hours. | Permanent unless removed. |
| Download Access | Users can save the photos and videos to an Instagram folder — the content is only accessible via the platform. | Not available for download. | Instagram users can download and share your Reels as long as the account is set to public. |
| Length | The videos can be up to 60 minutes long. | Up to 60 seconds. | Between 15 seconds and three minutes. |
Benefits of Using Instagram Reels
Instagram Reels provide a user-friendly way to share content with your followers and target audience.
Below are the key advantages of using Instagram Reels on your business page:
- Reach a Wider Audience: Instagram Reels from public accounts appear on a dedicated Explore section where users (including those not following your profile) can interact with the content.
- Build Social Proof: Instagram Reels that showcase your products, premises, workflows, or team help establish your business as credible and trustworthy. This encourages potential customers to trust your business and order your products.
- Lead Generation and Conversion: Instagram Reels showcasing user-generated content (UGC) with shoppable links help generate interest in your products. High-intent shoppers might make their purchase decisions while watching your Reels, resulting in successful sales.
- Build a Community: Adding Instagram hashtags to your Reels helps you target a niche audience you can nurture into a loyal following. Also, you can repost your followers’ Reels to make them feel appreciated, increasing brand loyalty.
How to Create a Reel on Instagram
Here’s a simple guide for recording Reels on Instagram:
- Log in to your Instagram account and go to your profile.
- Click the + icon at the top (for Android) or bottom (for iOS) of your screen.
- Select the Reel option.
- Tap the camera icon to start recording. Alternatively, you can tap your camera roll to upload a video from your gallery.
- Go to the Reels tool menu to edit the clip or add audio and visual effects. Click Done when finished.
- Click the ➡️icon to create a custom cover or pick one from your gallery.
- Tap Share to post the Reel.
Instagram Reel Size
Here are the recommended specifications for Instagram Reels:
- Video Length: Between 15 seconds and three minutes.
- Aspect Ratio: Between 1.91:1 and 9:16.
- Frame Rate: 30 FPS.
- Resolution: 720 pixels.
Instagram Reel Cover Size
Your Instagram Reel cover photo should be a minimum of 420px by 654px (or 1:1.55 ratio). However, you can increase the cover size to 1080 pixels x 1920 pixels, translating to a 9:16 aspect ratio.
Best Time to Post a Reel on Instagram
According to a recent study, the optimal time to publish Instagram Reels is Monday through Thursday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. You will notice that engagement rates on your Reels increase steadily from 10 a.m. and peak between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., which coincides with the lunch break.
Surprisingly, Saturday is the worst day to share Instagram Reels. A possible explanation is that most people break their weekday cycle (work or school) on weekends, spending less time on their phones.
Pro Tip: Besides posting during optimal times, you can embed Instagram Reels on your website or personal blog to reach a wider audience.
Use our SociableKIT’s built-in Instagram Reels embed code generator to create and customize the feed for your website. Also, our widget has an automatic and manual moderation feature that you can use to filter which Reels appear on the feed.
Sign up for SociableKIT and join thousands of creators who use our widget to showcase Instagram Reels on their websites and personal blogs.
Ways to Use, Control, and Optimize Instagram Reels
New to Instagram Reels? Here’s a crash course on the most essential things to know about using the Reels feature on Instagram:
How to Save Instagram Reels
Here’s how to save Instagram Reels:
- Open the Reel you want to save.
- Click on the three dots.
- Select the Save option. This adds the Instagram Reel to your saved posts.
How to Share a Reel on Instagram
Follow these steps to share an Instagram Reel:
- Go to your profile and select the Reel you want to share.
- Tap and hold on to the Reel to open the options.
- Click on the Share option to share the Reel on your Instagram story or send it to specific followers.
How to See Liked Reels on Instagram
Use this simple guide to access your liked Instagram Reels:
- Log in to your Instagram account and go to your profile.
- Click on the three lines at the top right (mobile app)or bottom left (for desktop) of your screen and select Your activity.
- Select the option to filter content by type and choose Reels. Your liked Reels should appear on the screen.
How to Repost Reels on Instagram
This option is only available on the Instagram mobile app. To repost a Reel:
- Log in to Instagram.
- Find the Reel you want to reshare and click on the repost 🔁icon.
- Select Add a Thought if you want to include a separate caption for the Instagram Reel.
- Tap Add to complete the process. The Reel will appear in the Repost section on your Instagram profile.
How to See Instagram Reels History
Instagram doesn’t let you see your Reel’s history unless you interact with the post by commenting on or liking it.
If you have liked or commented, the process is pretty much the same as the one outlined above on accessing your liked Reels.
How to Pause an Instagram Reel
Pausing an Instagram Reel functions the same as pausing a WhatsApp video status. You only need to place your finger on the screen. The video will pause till you lift your finger off.
How to Mute Instagram Reels
To mute an Instagram Reel:
- Find the Instagram Reel you want to watch.
- Tap on the Reel to mute the audio. You can unmute the Reel by tapping the screen again.
How to Remove Suggested Reels on Instagram
Follow our step-by-step guide to help you clear suggested Reels:
- Log in to your Instagram account.
- Go to the Reels section and find the suggested videos you want to remove.
- Tap on the three dots at the bottom to view the options.
- Tap Not interested and select one of the reasons you want the Reel removed.
How to Monetize Instagram Reels
Below are effective ways to help you monetize your Instagram Reels:
- Affiliate Marketing: Promote products on your Reels, then include an affiliate link in the description. Viewers can use the link to buy the products, which earns you a commission.
- Brand Collaboration: Once you grow your Instagram following, you can become a brand influencer, where you can use Reels to promote products to a niche audience.
- Shoppable Reels: Ecommerce owners can add product tags to Instagram Reels to generate leads and drive sales.
- Instagram Gifts: Fans (followers and non-followers) can gift their favorite creators through Instagram Reels, which Meta pays when the amount reaches $25.
Mistakes to Avoid While Creating Instagram Reels
Here are common pitfalls content creators make with Instagram Reels and ways to avoid them:
- No Hook: Failing to start your Reel with an attention grabber causes viewers to drop off immaturely. Include a strong hook that gives people a reason to continue watching the Reel. For example, you could start your Reel with, “The best advice I have ever received about…”
- Missing CTA Statements: Omitting CTA statements results in missed opportunities to guide your audience’s next step. Even when sharing a Reel for entertainment, include a CTA, asking your followers to share their experiences in the comment section.
- Sharing Low-Quality Videos: Blurry videos or those with inaudible audio and unreadable captions will cause viewers to scroll to the next Reel. Record high-quality Reels with clear audio to give your viewers an immersive experience.
- Reels Too Short or Long: Excessively short Reels might not be enough to pass the desired message, while extended clips might cause viewers to drop off. Limit your Reels to between 30 and 60 seconds to maximize engagement.
- Overlooking Accessibility: Not including captions locks out users with hearing impairments. Include readable captions to make your Instagram Reels accessible to a larger audience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Below are answers to commonly asked questions about creating Reels on Instagram:
How Long Can a Reel Be on Instagram?
An Instagram Reel can be between 15 seconds and three minutes long. It all depends on your preference or the size of the content you want to cover.
Can You See Who Viewed Your Reels on Instagram?
No. Unfortunately, you cannot see who viewed your Reels on Instagram.
However, you can access your engagement statistics, like the number of views, likes, and comments.
Can You Disable Reels on Instagram?
No. You cannot disable Reels on Instagram, as they have a dedicated tab on the app. The only way to avoid watching Reels on Instagram is by not selecting that tab.
How to Create an Instagram Reel with Multiple Photos?
Here’s a simple guide to creating an Instagram Reel with multiple photos:
- Go to your Instagram profile.
- Tap the + icon to create content and select the Reel option.
- Tap the camera roll to open your gallery and select the photos you want to turn into an Instagram Reel.
- Open the tool menu to add audio and visual effects. Click Done when finished.
- Tap the ➡️icon and select Edit Cover to create a custom cover for the Reel.
- Finally, tap Share to post the Reel.
Conclusion
Instagram Reels can help you engage your target audience effectively and create a community for your brand. The tips highlighted in this guide should help you curate the content and post the Reels at optimal times to maximize engagement.
We also recommend showcasing the Reels on your website or personal blog for social proof or to direct traffic to your Instagram profile.
Our SociableKIT no-code widget simplifies the embedding process, even for beginners. To maximize engagement, you can place the Instagram feed anywhere on your website, including the header, footer, and sidebar.
Create a SociableKIT widget today and share engaging Instagram Reels on your website!