With Reels on the rise (hello, Instagram is no longer a photo-sharing app, remember?), itās important for us to know what weāre getting ourselves into. And honestly? Some of these statistics may surprise you, but thatās what social media is all about, isnāt it? If you arenāt already sold on the importance of utilizing Reels to maximize your Instagram presence, this list of facts and stats might (and should!) convince you. This feature is more than just an easy way to post short videos to your profile, and itās time we embrace it with open arms. š Starting with the followingā¦
User Increase
Two years ago, Reels were released in Brazil as āCenas.ā Following the release, Brazil saw Instagram users increase by 4.34%. Other countries got on board and saw similar results (i.e., a 3.5% increase in average time spent on Instagram in India). Additionally, according to Conviva, the NFL has seen a 67% increase in engagement between Reels and traditional videos on Instagram. Since Reels are undoubtedly boosting Instagram usage, itās a no-brainer to use them to promote yourself or your brand.
Marketing Plan Increase
According to Marketing Charts and Start Up Bonsai, 70% of marketers stated they plan to increase their activity on Instagram: more than plans for any other app. Since Reels are booming, itās the perfect time to jump right in and use them to catapult any brandās Instagram engagement.
Need some help with coming up with some quality ideas for your Instagram Reels?
Click here for some of our favorite Instagram Reels ideas.
Videos Over Photos
Adam Mosseri, the director of Instagram, has recently made comments that the app is no longer primarily for photo sharing (boooooooo!) By promoting video features, Instagram aims to engage younger users and compete effectively with TikTok. So, if we want to make the most of the app, using Reels is the way to go.
Better for Brands
Markerly, an influencer marketing agency, conducted a study on brands and celebs and determined that while celebs and influencers do better on TikTok, brands see far more success on Instagram Reels.
Co-founder of Markerly,
Justin Kline says that audiences want brands to entertain them on social media and the added addition of Reels to create some spicy personality to your overall brand strategy will be an effective way for brands to increase their engagement and awareness on social.
Run Time
Reels can run for up to 60 seconds (and they should be up to 90 in the near future), which gives you plenty of time to promote yourself or your brand via video content without the dreaded fear of losing your audience. This is allowing Instagram to compete with TikTok (as we well know!), as well as allowing users to capitalize on opportunities to reach their audience in a way that is short, sweet, and effective.
Just the way we like it.
Simplicity is Popular
The most viewed Instagram Reel to date has a whopping 239 million views, and it does so without dialogue or narration of any kind. The Reel was posted by Instagram sensation Khaby Lame, and it features him checking multiple times that his iron is turned off: a worry to which we can all relate. This reminds us that the most effective Reels donāt have to be the flashiest. Sometimes simplicity is key!
Video Engagement Increase
According to Instagram for Business, 91% of active Instagram users claim to watch videos on the app at least once a week. As a social media manager or a marketer of any kind, this figure is extremely promising for brand engagement via Reels.
Fastest-Growing Feature
In the past year, users have been searching for Instagram Reels more frequently than Instagram Stories for the first time, which is HUGE. And according to Instagram, this trend is predicted to continue moving in this direction, which is yet another reason brands and personal platforms should be adding Reels to their marketing/engagement plans.
Impending Updates
Instagram is constantly evolving, especially where Reels are concerned. In the near future, automatic caption stickers and montage options are set to debut on this feature, increasing opportunities for creative, accessible content.
One of the biggest features (that we believe TikTok will soon be trying to figure out how to implement on their own platform) is Reels Templates. You can now easily create a Reel based on a previous template that a creator has made. Learn how to do this by
clicking here.
Ad Reach
According to Hootsuite, Instagram Reels ads, on average, reach approximately 10.9% of the total population (13+). So if you werenāt previously convinced to boost your usage of Reels for your brand, this might do the trick. As the feature becomes more popular, these numbers are only expected to increase, so itās time to get filming and create. those. Reels.