If you’re not using Instagram Reels, this is the sign you’ve been waiting for — DO IT! Not only are Instagram Reels available to everyone, but they boost organic reach and discovery which is followed by a higher engagement rate, and as a result, you’ll receive new followers. Within a short span of time, some Instagram Reels videos have already garnered more than 8 million views and a 13% higher engagement rate than other forms of content on Instagram. Check out our top Instagram Reels tips below.

Watch what’s trending and put your own unique spin on it.
Develop a strategy for your Instagram Reels and batch shoot content to save yourself time.
Use a ring light and a tripod to make filming both seamless and more professional.
Our favorite app for editing Instagram Reels and building out transitions is InShot.
When choosing music for your Instagram Reels, make sure you’re following copyright guidelines.
Have fun with filters.
Add dynamic text that comes and goes for further explanation within your Instagram Reels for those that watch with the sound off. And when doing so — think square! If you plan on sharing your Reel on your profile, you’ll need to think inside the Instagram square because once it’s posted to your profile, the video will be cut into a square.
When in doubt, save in drafts for additional editing.
After finalizing your Instagram Reel, always save the video to your camera roll so you can repurpose the content on your social networks of choice.
In terms of posting to Instagram, only add a cover photo if it’s a graphic overlay that explains what your Instagram Reel is about. Otherwise, the last thing you want to do is add a stock photo that will make it blend in with the rest of the content on your grid.
Captions count. Don’t disregard a caption because the video takes centerstage... remember you are publishing this to your feed, too!
On the same note, don’t forget to include hashtags with Instagram Reels.
Stats indicate that between 3 and 4 pm is the best time range to post.
Finally, don’t forget to share all of your Instagram Reels to stories for optimal reach.

Are you determined to make 2021 the year you finally take control of your brand’s social media calendar? While building out a social media calendar may seem intimidating at first due to the amount of time and energy that will initially need to be invested, doing so will greatly ease your burden and save you ample time in the long run.

Find out the steps we recommend, as well as our top tips, to mastering your social media calendar in the new year.

Step One: Figure out what is the goal of your social media marketing on each network.

Step Two: Determine the types of content that will help you reach that goal.

Step Three: Decide how often to post and on which networks.

Step Four: Now, it’s time to plan.

Step Five: Implement your social media calendar flawlessly with scheduling tools.

Now that you have actionable steps to take in order to build out your social media calendar, find out how to perfect your strategy with our top tips below…

Tip One: Don’t try to reinvent the wheel each week. The less complicated you make it, the more likely you are to stick to it. Choose weekly content buckets for your social media calendar and use them as a guided outline when creating posts each week.

Tip Two: When creating your weekly schedule, also source relevant, trending hashtags to match your content so you’re not in a rush to find them in the moment when you go to post each day.

Tip Three: Look at previous content from the past month or even the same time last year to see what type of content is resonating best with your audience. Use this as a guide and continue to implement this type of content into your social media calendar. For example, look at which holiday content performed best last year and emulate it.

Tip Four: When planning out your social media calendar, look ahead for upcoming social holidays and determine how you can work them into your content.

Tip Five: Include giveaways in your upcoming social media calendar. Planning these out in advance now only ensures that if you’re looking to partner with other brands that you can fit into their schedule, but it also allows you to schedule them around upcoming holidays.

Tip Six: Check out the social media accounts of brands that you admire both in and out of your industry. Consider why you gravitate toward their accounts. What are they doing well? What isn’t working for them? Do they evoke a certain feeling or portray a certain message that you want your followers to see or feel when they visit your social channels?

Tip Seven: Automate your social media calendar when and where possible. If you don’t have the bandwidth to manually publish during your account’s optimal hours, look into scheduling software. This ensures you’re staying consistent with your content calendar and showing up for your audience.

Planoly - Free scheduling for 1 Instagram account, but you need to have a Facebook Business page connected
Hootsuite - Free scheduling of up to 30 posts per month
UNUM - Allows you to plan out your content with images and copy, but you manually publish. This is a great option if you want to batch create your content but still prefer to publish the posts manually.

Oak Street Social