How to Create Your Very First Instagram Reel (+ Templates to Help You Get Started!)
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably noticed by now that Reels are taking the online biz world by storm.
^ Olivia Benson proooobably wasn’t referring to the ‘gram here but the sentiment still fits 😉
But, as with anything new and shiny in the marketing world, creating your first Instagram Reel can feel kinda intimidating and overwhelming.
That’s why we created the Eva Instagram Reels Canva Templates!
Because we want to make creating scroll-stopping, share-worthy, viral-quality Reels easier than hitting the on button on your Nespresso machine each morning 😉
I know that I personally waited a few months to post my first Reel — and even then, my team had to urge me on to just try the dang thing before I finally did it 😂
If you’re feeling nervous about creating your first Reel, don’t sweat it, love. Here’s some need-to-know info on how YOU can use Instagram Reels to grow your reach + impact online...
What are Instagram Reels?
Instagram Reels are short videos — usually 15 to 30 seconds long — usually set to music or some other kind of fun audio. Instagram launched Reels in August 2020 in response to TikTok, another social media platform that made this style of videos popular.
Reels are published to your Instagram account under a separate tab (just like your IGTV videos or tagged photos), but you can also share them directly to your feed and stories. There’s also a dedicated, explore-style Reels feed on Instagram, where you can get more eyes on your videos!
You can find Instagram’s guide to creating Reels here.
Why are Instagram Reels important?
The Insta algorithm gods 🙏🏼 are favoring video content more than ever these days, and creating Reels gives you a better chance of getting your a-may-zing content seen by your followers (and potential NEW followers!)
Right now, Reels are the best type of content to be posting if you want to:
- Get more engagement from your existing followers
- Get your brand + content in front of a cold audience (aka people who aren’t following you yet)
- Create share-able, viral-worthy Instagram content
3 Tips for Creating Better Instagram Reels
TIP 1: Use Instagram’s built-in music
When you record a Reel, you have the option to either use the audio from your video clips or to pair your clips with music from Instagram’s library. Using Instagram’s built-in music feature typically gives you a bigger reach.
Play the song in the background as you plan out your video. Or, if you’re feeling stuck for inspiration, you can search the song on Instagram to see how others are using it in their Reels!
BONUS TIP: Scroll through the Reels Explore feed to see what audio or music is trending. If you find something that fits your Reel idea, click on the audio clip at the bottom of the video, then click “Use Audio” on the next page. You can also “Save Audio” for later!
TIP 2: Use on-screen subtitles
Just like with Instagram stories, it’s important to caption your Reels. You can even use the slider feature to make the words appear at different times throughout the video.
Many people are scrolling through Instagram with their phone on silent, and prefer to read than listen. Captioning a 15-30 second Reel doesn’t take much time and can have a huge payoff because you’re making your content more accessible and enjoyable for all viewers.
TIP 3: Create a strong intro
Did you know you only have about 3 seconds to grab a viewer’s attention before they swipe on your Reel? That’s harsher than a dating profile, am I right?! 😂
To make sure they stick around, create a strong intro for your Reel. You can use an attention-grabbing “headline” (aka the first text box on your video), a fun transition, or an eye-catching graphic.
The most important thing you can do when it comes to creating Instagram Reels is to just start! Have fun, be creative, and approach this as an experiment.
Don’t worry about making your first Reel look perfect. You’ll only get better with time. You’ve got this, love 😉
Ready to start creating your own Instagram Reels?
It’s no secret that creating Instagram Reels is one of the easiest and fastest ways to boost your following and engagement on the ‘gram. But... what if you don’t want to do a point-and-dance video, but still want to share viral-worthy Reel content?
That’s exactly where our Instagram Reels template collection comes in.
With these easy-to-customize, feed-approved templates, you can create share-worthy Instagram Reels that look polished and professional — without even having to brush your hair or change out of your leisurewear if you don’t want to 😉
You can get immediate access to our Eva Instagram Reels template in the Shop for just $29....
OR you can join The Canva Template Shop Membership today for just $49 and get access to this new template and 550+ existing templates — plus exclusive trainings, workshops, and more!
