What is a reel on Instagram and how to create this content?

Facebook is at it again: taking features from its competitors and pushing them to full power. Instagram reels are short clips trying to stop TikTok’s overwhelming progress and entice more content creators. In this note we tell you everything you need to know about them.

roll on Instagram: what is this

In the second half of 2020, Instagram launched the section rolla section for short videos. “It’s a new way to create and discover short clips,” they said of Facebook (now Meta) when that section was deployed to the platform.

But… what is a Kitchen sink On Instagram? Is it really something new on social media? Or is it a new imitation?

Before we move on to the comparisons, let’s tell you what it is Instagram features roll in five points:

• it is a section integrated into the social networkthat is, it is not a separate application.
• That roll are meager: At the time of publishing this review, Instagram allows you to create it with a maximum duration from 15 to 60 seconds.
• Just like stories, creators can Add and edit effects in the clips. Music is also the protagonist.
• Ideally, the videos are recorded in portraitalthough it is also possible to do this with the screen in landscape mode.
• The section has great popularity on Instagram: Its icon is in the middle position. In “spectator mode” to navigate the roll All you have to do is swipe up on the screen.

roll vs. TikTok: a declared battle on social media

When Instagram launched its rollTikTok was already a machine running at full speed. As a matter of fact, The application of Chinese origin was the most downloaded in 2020 outperforms business giants such as WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube, among others.

Recently, the social network belonged to the Asian ByteDance over 1,000 million active users per monthno doubt an impressive number.

without euphemisms, Instagram roles are clearly an imitation of TikTok videos. With a similar (if not identical) format, it is attempting to halt the advance of its competitor, seducing content creators and thereby retaining advertisers by joining this trend on the networks.

On the other hand, it’s not the first time that Facebook has copied the feature of one of its competitors: didn’t the famous Instagram stories show up on Snapchat?

In truth, this is not an exclusive “sin” of Mark Zuckerberg’s company: Inspiration is the common currency in the applications business. YouTube, for example, also published its own short clips under the name “Shorts”.

Before talking about how to create this content, how true and declared is the Battle between Instagram roll and tiktok?

The following data serve as parameters: a report from Business Insider revealed that Meta operates an incentive program through which it pays up to $35,000 to influencers who post short, high-reach videos. Therefore, it tries to attract more creators and, consequently, more viewers.

How do you roll On Instagram

After reviewing the origins of this short clip section and an obvious lawsuit in the world of mobile applications, we suggest you move towards the most practical facet of roll: How do I create this type of content?

First of all, it is important to repeat this roll It’s a section within Instagram and not a separate app. In this sense, the entire creative process is carried out within the social network, without going to any other tool.

If you’re used to posting on Instagram, you won’t have any major problems. The path is the usual one: you must go to the icon ➕, either in the feed or in your biography and to select “Kitchen sink‘ in the Create section..

These steps will take you to the screen where you will find everything you need Create a short video on Instagram.

On the left are all Editing and customization options:

• the function of adding music (there is a generous library),
• the button to select the duration of 15, 30 or 60 seconds,
• playback speed,
• Editing options such as B. Layouts for collage to share the screen
• a timer that allows you to set a countdown to start recording. To start manually you need to touch the button with the logo of the section highlighted in the lower panel.

Below you will find several effects and also the option to use the phone’s rear camera (front camera is enabled by default). From Instagram they explain that the roll They can be recorded “in a series of clips (one after the other), all together or with videos from the gallery”.

When the video is ready, you can save a draft, change the cover photo, add text, add hashtags, and tag friends on the share screen.

Once published, it will appear in the “roll‘ and when it is shared in the feed it will also appear in your bio. Also, they can behave like a story that is posting Kitchen sink in this section where they disappear after 24 hours.

Publish to roll? On Tiktok? As well as?

Backed by a tech giant like Facebook, the Section roll of Instagram is consolidating as the closest rival for TikTok.

However, Should content creators use a single platform, or is it a matter of choosing between one and the other? Or is it possible (and convenient) to attend both rooms?

The answers are ambiguous: they largely depend on the specifics and preferences of each creator. At this point, however, there are a few parameters to consider.

One of them follows the famous advice: “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”. That means that is a good strategy Post both videos on TikTok and Instagram rollExpansion of stained glass windows and perimeter.

Of course: ideally, it’s convenient in a content strategy create original content for every applicationto engage with the audience of each room, which does not always have the same interests.

Another tactic is to stick with one of the apps Use the full potential of this space. In fact, many influencers go this route and a meta move explains the same search: the American company indicated that its creator incentive program does not apply to those who upload to Instagram roll Clips originating from TikTok.

As a final answer, the appropriate strategy seems to be this: do not “marry” either platform and use them independently. In other words, reap the benefits of roll and those of TikTok, without referring to the same content in both areas, but rather looking for a synergy between them.

We hope this guide to what a Kitchen sink from Instagram is very useful for you! If you have a business, uploading this type of content can help you reach new audiences and expand your potential customer base.

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