How to Make Reels on Instagram Quickly & Easily

In this article we’re going to show you how to make reels on Instagram quickly and easily! 

Having a video presence on social media is absolutely crucial for the success of your business, especially if you’re in the B2C space. 

Think about it: 

How can people buy from you if they can’t find you?! 

And this isn’t just conjecture. There’s proof to back this up. 

So, now that you have your ‘why’, let’s figure out the ‘how’. Here’s how to create Reels on Instagram quickly and easily. 

What is an Instagram Reel?

An Instagram Reel is a short form video that can be created, edited, and shared directly within the app. 

The great thing about Reels is that everything you need to create an amazing video is right there in one place. You can upload or record your footage, and then Instagram allows you to add music, special effects, text, and other creative elements. You can also cut clips down, add transitions, and more – it’s a super powerful tool for making engaging videos. 

Should I use Reels to market my business?

A resounding YES. But allow us to explain why. First, let’s look at the facts…

Tons of people watch and engage with Reels every day, and they enjoy doing so. For businesses, this is a great way to increase brand awareness and build connections with potential customers. 

However, it’s important to understand the tone of Instagram – and social media in general. You don’t want to be overly salesy. You want your Reels to blend in with the rest of the content on the platform. Here’s an example from ROOBBA, a home furnishing company: 

This relaxed video simply shows a family enjoying a peaceful Sunday at home, exactly the type of content your family and friends might share on social media. The slight difference is that this Reel puts a spotlight on some of ROOBBA’s products, increasing brand awareness and sparking interest in potential customers. 

How do you make a Reel on Instagram?

If you’ve never posted to Instagram before then we can understand that it can be a little daunting – especially to create a Reel because there’s a lot of editing options available. Allow us to break it down for you. 

To make a Reel on Instagram you first need to click the plus button from your home screen: 

Then scroll over to Reel along the bottom of the screen:

Select the clips you want to use in your video: 

Instagram will suggest some background music, or you can select your own: 

From there you can add text, stickers, filters, and more. Click ‘edit video’ to see the full editing suite: 

Here, you can move your clips around, cut them down, and just generally make sure that your video flows perfectly: 

You can also add transitions: 

A voiceover: 

And text (or auto-generated captions):

When you’re happy with your video you can add a caption and some hashtags (to help people find your Reel). 

Then simply hit share! 

Quick Instagram Reel ideas for businesses

Okay, it’s time for us to reel off (pun intended!) some different types of videos that you can quickly and easily share on Instagram Reels to promote your business. Here are 5 ideas to get you started…

1. Showcase your products

Instagram Reels is like your online shop window, so make sure people can see what you have to offer! 

Product videos often do better on Instagram (and social media in general) when they’re not overly salesy, so try to find unique and subtle ways to feature your products in videos. Here’s an example from Origin Global: 

This Reel isn’t necessarily about the products from a practical point of view (for example, how much they cost or what they’re made of), it’s all from the POV of how these products make consumers feel. 

POV videos like this one are actually really trendy on Instagram right now, so try to think of a couple of different POVs you could use when showcasing your products! 

2. Fun tutorials

Your Instagram Reels can almost act as a little ‘try before you buy’ for any potential customers. A fun tutorial will allow you to show people exactly how to best use your product or service so that their expectations are managed and you have happy, loyal customers. 

Here’s a simple example: 

This video shows viewers exactly how to use this product in a step-by-step fashion. No voiceover or text on screen is needed, just a catchy soundtrack. 

3. Behind-the-scenes

Behind-the-scenes content is the perfect candidate for Instagram Reels. For starters, it’s quick and easy to make. Additionally, it gives your audience a little peek behind the curtain and this can help to humanise your brand and show off your personality. 

Here’s an example: 

This simple order packing video highlights some of the brand’s key products and also shows viewers that there’s a person behind-the-scenes doing this, not a robot in a factory. This can help to generate brand loyalty among your customers. 

4. Hop on trends

Hopping on trends is a great way to give your Reel the best chance of spreading like wildfire on Instagram. New trends come around all the time and it’s important to take note of them and see how you can apply them to your business. 

Here’s an example from VEED: 

This video plays off a hilarious trend that’s everywhere on Instagram right now which is translating marketing content for a Gen Z audience. 

5. UGC

UGC stands for user-generated content. It’s such a powerful tool for Instagram Reels and there are many reasons why. 

You can encourage your existing loyal customers to create UGC by creating competitions or simply asking them! 

UGC also extends to influencer marketing, which is very popular on Instagram and across social media in general. 

Influencers are people with large followings on social media, and influencer marketing is successful because their followers feel a true connection and affinity with them, which generates trust. 

Here’s an example from Cadbury: 

If you have the budget, it’s a great idea to utilise both customer UGC and influencer generated content. 

How to quickly increase Instagram Reels output

1. Batch them

Consistency is a huge factor in social media success. It not only sends signals to your audience that you’re available to engage with, it also sends signals to the Instagram algorithm that you’re someone who uses the app regularly. 

But posting every day, or even multiple times a day, can be draining and time-consuming, especially if unforeseen tasks pop up (as they are bound to do!) and your social media work has to take a backseat. 

The best way to make sure you don’t miss a posting day is to batch your Instagram Reels and save them as drafts.

Set a day to make a lot of Reels and then replenish this before you run out!

2. Repurpose content

If you insist on making every Instagram Reel from scratch, you’re going to make your life a lot harder than it needs to be! 

Social media content is fast-moving so, while it needs to be professional-looking and engaging, it doesn’t have to be a work of art. 

You can absolutely repurpose your existing videos, like explainer videos, product demos, and anything else you have to hand. 

But you can also repurpose the clips from your Reels. For example, clips from a product demo could be cut together to make a product highlights reel. 

3. Outsource

If you don’t have any time spare to make Instagram Reels, don’t panic. After all, it’s a big investment and if you’re already busy at work you probably don’t want to spend additional time making social media videos. 

If this sounds like you, outsourcing is probably the best option. You can outsource your social media videos to an external agency, like Wyzowl. This also gives you the added peace of mind that your videos will be of a high quality and made especially for the platform you’re posting them on.

Final thoughts

If your business already has a presence on social media, then use it! And if you don’t, you really need to get one. 

Most consumers will take a look at a brand’s social profiles before making a purchase, even if it’s just to check that they are legitimate, so posting Reels will help you to maintain an online presence, resulting in more sales in the long run. 

Need some inspiration? We’ve got you covered: 10 Brands That Are Rocking Instagram Video.