Instagram Reels, which allow users to create, view, and share short, fast video clips comparable to TikTok videos and YouTube shorts, are one of the most popular content formats on the social networking site. Instagram Reels are most effective when they are longer. If you want to know how long your Instagram Reels should be, here’s what you need to know:
- Most Reels do best with a duration of 7-15 seconds.
- 30-60 sec. For some viewers, reels are the way to go.
- Put all 90 seconds to good use with information-packed Reels.
Years into implementing Instagram Reels, the company has made the video-centric feature a top priority as it competes with other industry heavyweights like TikTok. The standard Instagram photo post doesn’t leave much room for imagination, but reels do.
Like other social media networks, Instagram has its own rules and guidelines that determine which user posts will go viral. The popularity of Instagram Reels may exponentially improve your account’s interaction with users. If you want your Reels to get the attention they deserve, you need to take into account factors like their length.
What’s the Deal with Instagram Reels Being So Short?
There doesn’t appear to be much correlation between video duration and viewer engagement. When it comes to social media, though, video length is crucial.
The whole point of social media is speedy information intake. Because of this, tweets can only be 140 characters long, and catchy memes are more likely to be shared on Facebook than lengthy articles. Videos on YouTube with the possibility to become viral are those that provide viewers with the information they seek in a concise manner. Similar to how short and memorable songs do well on Spotify, snappy and catchy TikToks do well on the site.
The same holds true for Instagram Reels. Most people are more likely to watch, enjoy, comment on, and share shorter videos that get to to the point. They are simple to view as people are paging through their feeds. Giving your Reels a better chance of getting views and comments can also help them rise in the Instagram algorithm, which takes user interaction into account when deciding where to place posts.
The Optimal Length of an Instagram Reel
There is no hard and fast rule for how long an Instagram Reel should be in order to maximise interaction, but a large body of evidence suggests that between between 7 and 15 seconds works best. With such a short window of opportunity, it’s crucial to give careful consideration to the content’s approach.
The simplest approach to accomplish this is to make effective use of the video’s opening three seconds. In that short amount of time, most viewers will decide whether or not they want to keep watching your Reel. You only only a few seconds to grab the attention of your audience and convince them that your Reel is worth watching.
When you have more material than can reasonably be compressed into 15 seconds or fewer, you are free to use the entire 90 seconds of allowed time to create Instagram Reels. It’s possible that anywhere from sixty to ninety seconds is ideal, depending on the material you’re presenting. Try with different Instagram Reel lengths to see what resonates most with your target audience.
There Are Other Methods to Increase Engagement With Instagram Reels
Increase interest in your Instagram Reels by following these additional steps.
Create Fresh Instagram Posts
The concept of adding TikToks to Instagram Reels is intriguing. Instagram’s algorithm devalues videos that have the TikTok watermark. To maximise your video’s exposure, don’t just repost your TikToks; instead, utilise Instagram’s built-in editing features to compile your clips into a whole new Reel.
Maintain a Consistent Stream of Posts This is especially important for Instagram Reels. Even if it’s just once or twice a week, try to stick to a regular plan for publishing new Reels. An increase in organic engagement may occur as your audience learns when to anticipate new material from you and when to seek for that content. Having an Instagram content schedule might help you stay organised and on track.
Look for Patterns on Instagram
Participate in Instagram trends if and only if they make sense for your target audience and industry. If you want your Reel to go viral, you should study the substance of popular similar videos and model yours after them.
Raise Participation Rates with Instagram Reels
Although there is no universally accepted rule for the optimal duration of an Instagram Reel to maximise audience engagement, 7 to 15 seconds is the sweet spot for most Instagram Reels. It’s possible that a Reel’s audience would be most interested in watching it if it lasted 15 seconds, 30 seconds, or 60 seconds instead of the maximum 90 seconds. It’s fine to experiment with different durations to see what works best for your audience.
Hashtags, much as they do for Instagram photo postings, may boost the reach of Instagram Reels, so be sure to carefully incorporate them into your video. Learn more about how to include Instagram Reels into your overall Instagram strategy by reading our comprehensive guide on Instagram Reels. Remember to embed the Instagram Follow Button on your site so that visitors may easily follow you on Instagram.
