How can Instagram reel ads be used for a business?

Instagram reels have been introduced globally in mid-2020, as an answer to TikTok’s popularity which mimics the algorithm of TikTok. Within no time Instagram reels have gained immense popularity on social media platforms. Before reels were introduced, Instagram has always been a valuable platform for both businesses and marketers. After introducing this innovative content platform called Reels, it started to create more new opportunities like offering reach and discoverability benefits to the audience.

Wondering what Instagram reels and reel ads are?

Let us give a peek into both categories and explain to you what exactly they are.

First, we will start with Instagram reels. Reels are basically a mashup of stories and In-feed posts, where the users can like, share, and add comments just like how they do it on feed posts and can expand the caption and read full-length content.

This feature on Instagram has earned tremendous popularity that Instagram has created a Reels tab in the app, and when the users click on this, they will see the reels based on the content that they have interacted with earlier.

Now, we will talk about Reel ads. Brands started to further capitalise on this popular format called Reel ads, where it is much like the same story and In-feed ads but are shown in between non-sponsored reel content.

These Reel ads will loop and can be up to 30 seconds long which are marked as sponsored. The users can see these ads in the same place as the content of the organic reel are present and brands can reach the audience who don’t follow them.

Tips for great Instagram Reel Ads

With this new ad format, let us look at a few tips that are used for creating effective Instagram reel ads.

1. Reviewing competitors: Marketers will make a note of the content of the reels that the audience is mostly engaging with and review the competitors’ reel ads to know what kind of creative reels they are creating. This will give an idea of how to craft an engaging Ad that reaches well in the Reels world.

2. Allowing reel insights: Instagram insights will enable businesses to understand the performance of the Ads on Instagram in a much better way. Based on the numbers collected on the insights, marketers can determine which type of reel content is working well for the business and which is not.

3. Keeping it engaging: Marketers have a maximum time of 30 seconds to grab the attention of the user and on Instagram, the users keep scrolling to the next reel if they don’t find the first 30 seconds to be interesting. So, marketers will pick the best bits of the product or service and create an ad that would highlight the creative side of the brand.

How are Instagram reel ads used for a business?

There are a few best practices that will help in creating engaging reel ads for a business.

1. Following reel trends: Marketers will always ensure to jump into the trends that are recurring time and again on the reel trends. Some trends might be seasonal, and the marketers can encash this exceptional chance by promoting the product or service in a timely manner. Following the reel trends will help marketers to prove to the audience that they understand their likes and their values.

2. Provide helpful tips and information: Offering helpful and valuable information can never go wrong. Marketers will thus focus on this excellent strategy, where they create reel ads that provide helpful tips which will benefit the audience in some way. It could be a series of reels that will guide the audience, provide DIY videos to help the customers and provide tips for any other problems.

3. Sharing insider content: It is important to make the users feel that they really know about your business. This can be done by sharing insider content that explains “How the product or the service is done or made” or “Behind the scenes” videos. By providing such reels, users will get the feeling that they own the brand and will also stay loyal for a long time.

4. Telling stories: Stories bring a huge impact on how the users perceive the brand and build trust in the long run. Marketers will make a connection with the audience by sharing any stories through reel ads that capture the audience's attention and build rapport with them.

5. Conveying exclusive deals and upcoming events: Who doesn’t love hearing about deals and offers, so yes, marketers can create reel ads that show any discounted sale offers that the brand is running or collaborate with any of the other brands and reach a larger audience. Any upcoming events or training sessions that are hosted by the brand can also be created, where it stimulates curiosity and pulls in new followers to the brand’s Instagram page.

Concluding, we see reels as a great way for the audience to discover the latest content on Instagram, and reel ads are the best fit for it. It is a great avenue to showcase the brand’s creativity and brands of any size can take the advantage of this creative format and earn the attention of the audience.