Instagram Reels in 2024: The Ultimate Guide to All Your Reel Questions

You're an Instagram pro, but are you making the most of Reels? In 2024, these short videos can do wonders for your profile. Whether you want to up your content game, boost a business – or just have fun – this is where it's at.

Unlike Instagram Stories, which can disappear within 24 hours, Reels can significantly boost your social media strategy. But with constant updates and new features dropping regularly, it can be hard to keep up. That's where our ultimate guide comes in. 

We'll walk you through everything you need to know about Reels so that by the time you've finished reading, all your burning questions will be answered. That way, you can create brilliant content that gets out there like never before. Let's go!

What Are Instagram Reels?

Instagram app Reels are short video clips that aim to entertain, educate, or inspire people. And they've become very popular on the platform.

While Instagram Stories disappear after a day and IGTV offers longer content, Reels last between 15 seconds and 15 minutes and stay on your profile – giving you a more lasting way to show off your skills!

They're like Instagram's version of TikTok videos, bursting with music, special effects, and editing tools to make your posts really pop.

And if you're using them for personal branding – or business purposes – they could be pure gold. They are boosting visibility, helping you reach new audiences, and allowing lots of scope for creativity, too.

How Does the Instagram Reels Algorithm Work in 2024?

In 2024, the Instagram Reels algorithm is more intelligent than before and aims to show you the most engaging content when you open up the app. But how does the algorithm go about doing this? Here's what we know so far:

Content

The algorithm loves it when you love a piece of content. If there are accounts that you often interact with – such as by liking, commenting, or sharing their posts – then Reels from those accounts will be prioritized for you.

For example, if you're always hitting double tap on beauty tutorials or fitness tips, expect to see more of them. The algorithm simply personalizes your feed so that it reflects your interests.

Timing

The algorithm takes into account the timing of when a Reel is posted and how quickly it starts getting engagement. If lots of people like and comment on your Reel right after you post it, Instagram will be more likely to push it avoidance to more people.

Quality

Instagram also cares about quality – they want their app to look good! That means high-resolution, original Reels may getshown to more people than those that look grainy or like they were recycled from another app.

Engagement Metrics

Of course, all those likes, comments, shares, and saves count for something, too. The more interactions your Reel gets – especially in the first few hours – the higher it's likely to rank on the algorithm, and the more people will see it.

How to Download Instagram Reels in 2024

In the latest update of Instagram in 2024, you can easily download Instagram Reels. To save interesting clips directly to your device, just follow these simple steps:

• Open Instagram and find the Reel you want to download.
• Tap on the paper airplane icon – this means "Share."
• When the menu pops up, select "Save" and wait a few seconds... done! The Reel will now be available for offline viewing on your phone or tablet's camera roll.

There are a couple of caveats, though. You can only save Reels from public accounts, and once you do save one, there will be an Instagram watermark on it. Oh, also, if there's copyrighted music in any given saved Reel, you won't get that audio.

The Best Time to Post Instagram Reels

Determining the ideal time to post Reels isn't a universal matter. It depends on the people you want to reach and the type of content you are sharing.

Having said that, figures from Hootsuite's 2024 study propose that between 9 AM and 12 PM from Monday to Thursday could be prime posting time for Reels. However, don't take their word as gospel – check your own Reels Insights to see when your audience is most active.

By taking this data-focused approach, you can find out exactly when will give you maximum engagement levels. Use scheduling tools in tandem so that your posts go up automatically at those times (meaning more impact with less effort!).

How Long Can Instagram Reels Be?

If you want to get creative on Instagram, you can make an Instagram Reel for anywhere from 15 to 90 seconds. But maybe you wanna go shorter or way longer than that –– like three seconds or up to 15 minutes long. In that case, use a third-party scheduling tool like Hootsuite to post your Reel.

The truth is the editing options within Instagram itself can be a little clunky (unless you're some kind of nimble-fingered editing wizard). So, it might be best to edit your video with another app before uploading it.

To keep people watching, aim for something between seven and 15 seconds long. These types of Reels are quick, punchy,and tend to perform well in terms of engagement!

Instagram Reels Sizes and Dimensions

When creating content for Instagram Reels, aim for a resolution of 1080×1920 pixels and an aspect ratio of 9:16. This is the perfect size for these video posts as they appear in the Reels feed.

However – and it's a big however – when Reels appear on the main feed, they are cropped to a 4:5 aspect ratio. Thismeans some of your content may be lost (cut off). To mitigate this, try to keep important elements (like text) towards the center of your composition when you're editing.

If you want to resize or reformat your video content so that it fits perfectly and nothing important gets trimmed out – sharpness-wise or content-wise – consider using tools such as Canva or InShot. They're perfect for editing Reels!

How to Share a Reel on Instagram

Sharing a Reel on Instagram is easy! Tap the paper airplane icon at the bottom of the Reel. Send it through direct messages, or share it to your "Story." You can also send it via WhatsApp, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or Snapchat—or post it on Threads.

If you're running an ad or doing a collab, sharing your Reels will help them gain more visibility and engagement. Cross-promote on other platforms, too. For example, post teasers or previews on TikTok or Pinterest to drive traffic back to your Instagram profile.

Other Instagram Reels Tips for 2024

Now that you know the basics, it's time to up your Instagram Reels game with these tips and tricks:

Adding Captions

Make your Reels more accessible by adding captions manually using the text editor—or save time by using Instagram's caption-generating tool.

Tap the sticker button in the top-right corner, select "Captions," and let Instagram do its thing. You can make any necessary tweaks by tapping on any word or editing it directly.

Boosting Reels

Get your content seen by more people! Turn your Reel into an ad by tapping the three dots (...) on a published Reel and selecting "Boost Reel." From there, choose your goal, audience, budget, and duration for how long you want to run it.

Keep in mind: if your Reel uses copyrighted music, you won't be able to boost it. So stick with original tunes or tracks from the app's library, which are free to use!

Scheduling Reels

Maximize engagement by scheduling your Reels for the optimal time. Planning ahead and posting when your audience is most active is a breeze with scheduling tools – keep your content consistent without the hassle.

Using Great Hashtags

To get your Reels seen by more people, use hashtags: they work with the algorithm to extend reach. Tools such as hashtag generators can help you find the best tags for your content.

Replying with a Reel

Create buzz! Increase interaction by responding to comments with a Reel. Simply choose the comment you want to respond to, tap the camera icon (bottom right), and make a Reel. You'll notice the original comment appears as a sticker on its own!

Splitting Clips

To add more excitement to your Reels, divide clips and eliminate parts that aren't interesting. Open the Reels editor, select "Edit video," then move the play head to the desired split point and tap "Split." Remove any unneeded sections so your content remains tight.

Using Reels Templates

Want to save effort? Try Instagram Reel templates. When you open the editor, tap "Templates" to see popular options chosen for you. Pick one and select your clips. Instagram will take care of trimming them so they fit the template's audio automatically – making everything much easier for you!

Conclusion

So there you have it: the complete manual for dominating Instagram Reels this year! Now you know how the algorithm works, how to create Reels, and how to share, schedule, and promote them.

Don't be afraid to try out new trends, tools, or features either – keeping your posts interesting and engaging will go far. And make sure you stay on top of any changes on Instagram by checking in regularly for updates. Above all, keep experimenting and having fun with your creativity – good luck!