How to post brilliant Instagram Reels in eight easy steps.

If you’re here because you just googled ‘How do I post Instagram Reels’, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Instagram invested a great deal into marketing and uptake of Reels. On launch day, most user’s feeds were saturated with celebrities and influencers debuting their first clips. But while you couldn’t miss the launch of the new content style, you can be forgiven for having missed how to create one yourself.

So, what are Instagram Reels?

This is how the platform introduces them: “Reels invites you to create fun videos to share with your friends or anyone on Instagram. Record and edit 15-second multi-clip videos with audio, effects, and new creative tools.”

Sound a little familiar? They should. Instagram has openly admitted to having taken inspiration from popular short video app, TikTok. Instagram director of product management, Robby Stein, acknowledged the forerunner when he told TechCrunch “I think Musically before TikTok, and TikTok deserve a ton of credit for popularizing this format”. TikTok might have launched the format, but Instagram is now ready for its a piece of the pie.

Whether you’re a seasoned TikTok-er or this is all new to you, we’ve created this handy guide to help you create your own Instagram Reels. We’ve broken it down into eight easy steps to get you creating viral-ready Reels that your audience is going to love.

Step One: Open Instagram

This will have to be the mobile version as you aren’t able to create content on the browser version of Instagram.

Step Two: Tap the create button

Tap the + (plus) icon at the bottom of the screen, or swipe right from your main feed. This opens the create screen where you can choose the type of content you want to make.

Step Three: Select Reels from the content options

At the bottom of the create screen, swipe across the content type options until you see “Reel”. Tap it to enter the Reels camera. Note: the options shown may vary slightly depending on your account type and the version of the app you have installed.

Step Four: Record or upload your clip

Now it’s go time! Tap the video record button in the lower middle of the screen to start recording the first part of your Reel. You can also choose pre-recorded clips from your camera roll by tapping the box in the bottom left-hand corner.

Step Five: Edit your Reel

By selecting the options down the left edge, you can choose to time your clips, change their speeds and add those all-important effects. You can record multiple clips up until the time limit (shown on the screen’s top edge) of fifteen seconds is reached. You can also add audio to your Reel and choose from the extensive in-app library. You can add audio (music or voiceover), text overlays, stickers, effects and transitions. Note that audio is now a significant ranking factor – using trending audio can increase reach

Step Six: Review

By clicking the right-hand arrow button, you can review your Reel so far and decide whether it’s ready to publish. This stage is where you get the option to add text, stickers and drawings to your Reel, similar to an Instagram Story.

When you’re happy with your Reel, press the white arrow button again to progress to the next screen.

Step Seven: Add a cover image and caption

On this page, there are a few things you need to do. First up, pick your cover image. This is how your Reel will appear at first-glance or as a tile, so it’s worth choosing a strong, on-brand still frame rather than the default first frame. Then you need to craft a caption. Unlike on regular posts, long captions don’t appear to work as well here, so try and keep it snappy.

The effectiveness of hashtags on Instagram Reels isn’t yet clear. Some posts go viral using zero tags, some do so with all thirty. Popular use would suggest that using around five relevant hashtags is a good starting strategy.

Step Eight: Share

You can share to your Reels tab and feed, or share only to Reels without it appearing on your main grid. You can also share to your Story after posting.

Should my business be posting Instagram Reels?

As with any recent feature on social media, there are clear benefits to getting involved early.

The market is less saturated – Just like you, most users and brands are still trying to figure out what Instagram Reels is and how to use it. This means that there’s a smaller amount of content available to Instagram users. Which gives your Reel potentially higher reach and engagement rates, because simply, there’s currently less for it to compete with.

Grab the spotlight – Taking the time to research trends and get to know the format could make Instagram Reels the moment to shine your brand has been looking for. The accounts that are mastering this brand-new format are the ones standing out right now. If you want your business to appear innovative and industry-leading, it’s worth being at the front of the pack for platform updates like this.

But it’s important to stay on brand. If your target audience isn’t primarily Instagram users, then there’s little point creating an account just to post some Instagram Reels. Your effort and time would probably be better rewarded creating content where your audience is already active. But if you’re targeting a younger demographic, Instagram activity can be key. Incorporating Instagram reels into your posting strategy will help you to reap the rewards listed above.

Are Instagram Reels the new TikTok?

TikTok has over 800 million users worldwide, and despite several controversies and banning issues, their numbers are still on the rise. TikTok currently one of the most popular apps on the planet. It’s hard to imagine the app losing this status as a result of Instagram Reels.

However, long-term Instagram fans will remember a similar situation from 2016 when the platform released its Story function. This was again deemed to be a direct copy, this time from competitor Snapchat. Snapchat reported a decline in user growth rate slow soon after Instagram Stories launched. The app also reportedly lost three million users in the next quarter, its first decline ever. Only time and user opinion will tell whether TikTok is set for a similar fate.

Tips for better Instagram Reels

• Use trending audio to boost reach
• Keep the first 2 seconds attention-grabbing scrollers decide very quickly
• Post consistently: the algorithm rewards regular Reels output
• Use on-screen text so the content makes sense without sound
• Optimise your caption with relevant keywords – Instagram now indexes captions

Frequently asked questions about Instagram Reels

How long can Instagram Reels be?

Instagram Reels can be up to 90 seconds long for most accounts. Some accounts may have access to longer formats. The optimal length for engagement is typically between 15 and 30 seconds — long enough to be useful, short enough to keep viewers watching.

Do Instagram Reels help your account reach new people?

Yes. Reels are shown in the dedicated Reels tab and can appear in the Explore page, making them one of the best formats for reaching people who do not already follow you. This is especially valuable for businesses trying to grow their audience organically.

Can businesses use Instagram Reels?

Absolutely. Business accounts can create and post Reels the same way as personal accounts. Many brands use Reels to show behind-the-scenes content, product demos, team introductions, quick tips, and topical commentary. The format rewards personality and creativity over polished production.

Do Instagram Reels have to appear on your main profile grid?

No. When you share a Reel you can choose whether to also share it to your main feed (where it appears on your grid) or only to the Reels tab. If you want to keep your grid looking curated, you can post Reels without them appearing there.

 

You can also Contact Us if you want more information on how Instagram and its features could help your business.