In August 2020, Instagram launched a new feature called “Reels”. The word is translated from English as “coil, drum”. Users now have the ability to create short videos with various effects directly in the app. In Russia, this video format became available in the summer of 2021. How does the algorithm of the new service work and is it possible to earn money on Reels on Instagram?
What is Reels?
Reels is a service on Instagram that allows users to create their own short videos up to 60 seconds long and watch others’. It’s a new format for promotion that allows for increasing reach and the number of followers for free. The advantage of Reels is that videos are more likely to appear in the “Explore” section faster than posts, resulting in significantly more views.
Instagram offers many tools for creating original videos, including access to audio tracks from the library, the ability to upload your own sound, voiceovers, masks, effects, filters, volume control, speed selection, retouching, merging two videos into one, and shooting with a timer delay.
The main goal of Reels is to entertain users, but it’s not the only one. Commercial accounts use the new format to promote their products and services. If a video is watched to the end or even re-watched several times, Instagram’s algorithm will automatically promote it, resulting in more users seeing the video and increasing reach.
Will Instagram pay authors?
In order to attract more users to the new Instagram format, the platform plans to launch a bonus program. Creators will receive monetary rewards for unique content, and it is also important to achieve certain statistical indicators.
To become a participant in the program, one must pass a selection process. Instagram will pay those users whose original reels receive a higher number of views. The company plans to create a special service in the near future where all the conditions of the bonus program and information about payments will be described.
Mark Zuckerberg announced that he has allocated $1 billion to reward American creators of excellent short videos.
Through these incentive methods, Instagram is increasing its audience and competing with other social networks. It is unknown when payment for views of reels will become available to Russian users.
How else to earn on rails
Social networks have long become a platform for promoting goods and services, as well as a tool for increasing financial income. Bloggers and business accounts have already included the new format in their sponsored content and earned their first income on reels. Since this is a new feature, it is still unclear how much to pay for an advertising video.
The short video format is becoming increasingly popular and effective content, so in the future it may become the most expensive.
For commercial accounts, reels are a space for non-intrusive loyal advertising and a free way to increase coverage. Engaging interesting content makes the videos popular, and more potential customers will see them. You don’t need professional equipment or a large budget to shoot viral videos. The camera on a regular smartphone is perfect for creating quality content.
To earn money on social networks using reels, the following effects should be applied during editing:
- creative transitions;
- before and after photos;
- mood-style videos;
- interesting educational videos;
- the process of creating a video, behind the scenes;
- funny videos;
- product reviews;
- a compilation of something in line with the blog’s theme.
Reels is a new format that not everyone is using yet. The main thing is to shoot interesting engaging videos to trendy music without violating Instagram’s policies. This will help you easily get into recommendations and, accordingly, increase coverage, views, and subscribers.