Instagram Reels are still the #1 organic way to be discovered on the platform in 2023. And with the right strategy, you can use them to increase your followers, views, and engagement – but you have to make them right. We’re breaking down the steps to creating the perfect, optimized Instagram Reel that will help drive success.

FREE RESOURCE: Download our FREE Perfect Instagram Reels Checklist for a step-by-step guide to creating a flawless Instagram Reel, every time. 

Prefer video? Watch the video that inspired this blog post below:

Create and Upload a Short Video (Under 90 Seconds)

Quality matters when it comes to Instagram Reels, so make sure you shoot and upload your video in 4K. To ensure that you're uploading in 4K on Instagram, go to Settings > Account > Data Usage > and toggle on High Quality Uploads. The shorter your video, the better. If your Reel is more aesthetic or inspirational, we recommend keeping it under 10 seconds to encourage replays and engagement.

Create Your Reel in-app

Instagram recommends creating your Reel in-app for the best results. Use the new templates feature to expedite your creation process, leverage trending content, and please the algorithm. You can also upload photos or pre-existing edited videos.

Add an Eye-catching Intro Within the First 3 Seconds

To capture the viewer's attention right away, add an eye-catching intro to your Reel. For entertaining videos, add an interesting effect or transition immediately. For educational or inspirational videos, add a headline or phrase that makes it clear what the video is about.

Add a Scroll-stopping Headline/Title

You want your title to be clear and concise, so that viewers know exactly what they're in for when they scroll to your video. Make sure your text is within the on-screen guides.

Add Burned-in Captions

With only 60% of viewers watching videos with the sound on, it's critical to add burned-in captions to your Reel. Use the CapCut video editing app to transcribe and caption your video in a creative and efficient way.

Add Trending Audio

Adding trending audio to your Reel is key to increasing its reach. You can find trending audio by scrolling through the Reels Explore page and looking for the upward-pointing arrow beside each song. You can also find recommendations under the "For You" tab when you go to add audio. Another option is to follow @creators on Instagram for their weekly trending audio report.

Add a Clear Cover and Position It Correctly

Your cover image should be high-resolution and clearly depict what's in your Reel. You can make a cover image easily in Canva, or use a screenshot from your Reel. Make sure the key part of the cover is visible in a square/1:1 aspect ratio, so it doesn't get cut off in the feed.

Write a Descriptive Caption

Lead with a headline that's keyword-rich and makes it clear what your Reel is about. This will help the algorithm understand the content and serve it to the right people. Learn more about how to create GREAT Instagram captions here.

Add a Call-to-Action to Your Caption

Let people know what to do next after they've watched your video (example to follow you for more tips, or save to refer to later).

Add Up to 3 Topics to Your Instagram Reel

One of the newer features that Instagram has added to help categorize your reel and increase the chances of your content getting discovered by the right person

Add Up to 30 Hashtags

In our tests we've found that 30 hashtags resulted in the best reach on posts, but we would say the priority is making sure those are relevant - you can learn more about what hashtags to use in this video. Pro-tip: If you want to keep your caption clean you can add some spacing and emojis and drop the hashtags after those line breaks.

Share Your Instagram Reel to Your Stories

This will alert your followers to the new post - remember people still end up scrolling through stories more than their feeds so you want to make sure they don't miss your post.

BONUS: Add a Collaborator

We have found a ton of success applying an Instagram collabs strategy for our clients, which involved partnering with other creators or relevant business owners to increase reach and tap into their following - wherever it makes sense add this to your strategy - if you want to know what to look for in a high quality collab partner check out this video: https://youtu.be/60cXtcDi0Ms 

And that's a wrap. By following these steps, you'll be on your way to creating the perfect Instagram Reel in 2023 that is optimized for success and maximum engagement. As always, don't be afraid to experiment and try new things, and remember to have fun. 

Still struggling with your Instagram Reels content and performance? Book a consultation for tailored guidance.