Since hitting the scene in August of 2020, Instagram reels are an increasingly popular way of sharing your online content–with the added bonus that they can often easily be converted to TikTok videos. However, did you know that there are certain characteristics that tend to make up a high-performing reel?
Let’s take a look at the best length for Instagram reels–and other ways you can prep your content for possible viral status!
How Long Are Instagram Reels?
Instagram reels offer the creator a range of recording time to work with, spanning up to 90 seconds. However, it’s generally accepted that most audience members aren’t likely to want to stick around for a longer video–no matter how compelling your content is.
In fact, our global attention spans are diminishing quite a bit–at just over 8 seconds long, as of the latest research. That’s why it’s generally best to keep your Instagram reels on the short side rather than taking the opposite approach.
What is The Ideal Length for Instagram Reels? (2024)
Keeping in mind that our adult audience members are likely to have an attention span under 9 seconds long, the best length for Instagram reels is typically between 7 and 15 seconds long. This is in contrast to TikTok videos, which typically perform best in 2024 between 21-34 seconds long.
Best Instagram Reels Size 🎞️
It’s important to consider when creating your content that Instagram’s reels are going to show up with different dimensions than the “regular” content in your newsfeed.
For example, Instagram Reels are created at an aspect ratio of 9:16 and should be 1080 x 1920 pixels. Adhering to these standards helps you to keep your content focused–without the “good stuff” getting accidentally cropped out. For this reason, when you’re making a reel, it’s generally better to keep any added text close to the middle of the screen.
5 Tips to Boost Your Instagram Reels 🚀
👇 Here are some simple yet effective tips to take your Instagram Reels to the next level!
1. Add Text and Captions
Adding captions to your Instagram reel can be accomplished in two ways: manually, which we don’t recommend, or through Instagram’s caption generator, which leverages technology to scrape the captions from the audio.
Incorporating this step can make your content more accessible to folks who might have visual or auditory impairments and could potentially boost your reach.
2. Leverage Hashtags
Hashtags are essentially like files in the vast filing cabinet of Instagram. If you don’t apply the right hashtag (or worse, toss your content in the bottom of the proverbial drawer without assigning it any hashtag at all), how can you expect folks to find your content?
Hashtags clarify context for the viewer, immediately demonstrating relevance. They can be a great way to draw in users searching for specific content on Instagram, inviting new audience members into your fold.
3. Schedule Your Reels
Scheduling your reels to post in the future is a fantastic way of managing your time while providing every content idea with the best possible opportunity to shine.
Particularly when you do your research on the best times to post reels to Instagram (typically between 9-12 am, Monday- Thursday), you can literally set your content up to go live in your sleep.
Make sure you keep a close eye on Instagram’s insights function so you can see what’s working for you, strategy-wise, and what you need to improve.
4. Boost Your Reels
Boosting a reel essentially boils down to paying Instagram to sidestep the algorithm and put your reel in front of more pairs of eyes. While this can be an effective way of getting more views on Instagram, it should be noted that this is a “pay to play” program–so make sure when you boost a reel that it’s a high-performer and is likely to convert viewers into followers.
It’s also important to note that boosted reels can only contain original or royalty-free audio.
5. Reply to Comments With Reels
Engagement is paramount when it comes to building your audience–so any time you devote to responding to comments is time well spent. However, did you know that you can respond to comments by way of a reel in addition to a simple typed response?
By replying to their comment and selecting the “camera” icon instead of typing, you can film a response with their comment featured automatically within the content of the video!
Next Steps for Gaining Instagram Followers
It’s no secret that growing a following on Instagram–or on any platform, for that matter–requires consistently showing up, creating content, and looking for new ways to better understand your audience. Without assessing the latest analytics and using data to inform your strategy, you might as well be shouting into the void!
And, while there are certain folks on the internet espousing the benefits of focusing on Instagram reels over posts, the truth is you need to create both in order to reach a wider audience and keep growing your platform.
Fortunately for the digital creator, Instagram makes it easy to create a variety of content right within their app. If you’re serious about taking the next step to grow your channel, it’s important to balance research and strategy with actual topic generation and filming. When you’re balancing your time correctly, it’s hard to lose–so remember to explore the app’s many offerings, and have fun!
