Recipe for Reels: A Beginner’s Guide to Instagram’s Favorite Format

Show Notes

Talking Head Video Tips

Filming tips for businesses
Backdrop setup advice: hiring a stylist or finding a friend
Casual settings like a car for better lighting and sound quality
Keep reels short (90 seconds to a minute)

Editing Tips

Using Capcut to edit out pauses and make content concise
Adding captions and on-screen text for better engagement
Importance of captions since 92% of users watch without sound

Equipment Recommendations

iPhone with cinematic mode for professional-quality videos
Tripods and gimbals for stability
Osmo Pocket as an all-in-one shooting and editing solution

Creating Trending Content

Using trending sounds to fit video mood
Adding 7 to 10 seconds of b-roll or photos during editing
Creating cover slides with Canva
Importance of hashtags (3 to 5 relevant ones)

Engagement Strategies

Use a library of B-roll footage for quick reel creation
Plan shoots with a b-roll shot list (close-up, medium, wide shots)
Showcasing people for better engagement
Shot movement options: panning, tilting, following shots, timelapse, slow motion

Content Strategy

Define the purpose and strategy for using Instagram (followers, local presence, website traffic)
Different strategies for each goal

Carrie Rollwagen

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