Over the past few years, Instagram has been emphasizing its video strategy, and in July 2022, it announced that all new videos under 15 minutes will be shared as Instagram Reels. Consumers find short-form videos 2.5x more engaging than long-form videos, making Reels the most engaging type of in-feed social content. This presents a great opportunity for brands to get creative and boost their engagement. Here are common Instagram Reel ideas for all types of brands broken down by industry to help improve your video strategy.
For retail and Fashion Brands
For retail and fashion brands, showcasing products in an attractive way comes naturally. Record clips of popular products and include more information about the product and designer. If you offer a service, take followers through the process and show the end results with a happy customer. Brainstorm destinations or situations to showcase your inventory and help customers envision themselves using your product.
A post shared by Alexis Gaines (@hairbylex321)
For Inventories
Step into your imagination and create scenarios to showcase your inventory. Brainstorming destinations or situations for your inventory could help customers envision themselves using your product, especially if they’re shopping with intention.
A post shared by Solo Stove (@solostove)
In the Reel above, Solo Stove shows a group of friends enjoying a girls night in. The video features the Solo Stove Mesa, which the friends use to make s’mores and other treats. Setting the scene for your customers is a great avenue to demonstrate your products outside of what might typically come to mind.
Give your engagement a boost by creating a social media contest fueled by video.
MeUndies collaborated with creators like Lauren-Ashley Beck to promote their social media contest, #GetSpookywithMe. In the video, Beck shows off her pajamas for a spooky date night inside. The TV host and former Survivor cast member sets the scene with fresh baked cookies, Halloween decorations and more.
A post shared by MeUndies (@meundies)
Note how the underwear and loungewear brand included all the contest details in the caption. Branded challenges like this engage your audience beyond typical call-to-actions such as likes, comments and shares.
Customers are more likely to buy from brands that align with their personal values—it’s 74% more important to consumers than it was in 2021, according to data from The Sprout Social Index™.
Sharing facts about issues your company cares about is an easy, effective way to present your brand values.
For Influencers
Collaborating with influencers can lead to major wins for your brand, but finding the right influencer for your business and audience is key. Using social media contests fueled by video can also engage your audience beyond typical call-to-actions. Share facts about issues your company cares about to present your brand values.
A post shared by Grove Collaborative (@grovecollaborative)
In early October 2022, Krystal announced the release of their new Side Chik chicken slider. The fast-food brand partnered with influencer Brittany Renner to let customers know they aren’t trying to replace your favorite Southern-style chicken sandwich, they just want to be your Side Chik.
A post shared by Brittany Renner (@bundleofbrittany)
Krystal is headquartered in metro Atlanta, a city known for its entertainment industry. The Side Chik is the first new menu item since rapper 2 Chainz became Krystal’s head of creative marketing. But why add in Renner? Along with her fitness content, Renner gained notoriety for her relationships with rappers and athletes—an aspect of her life that she isn’t shy about talking about. In other words, the brand embraced its connection to Atlanta culture to launch the sandwich.
For Educational Institutions
For colleges and universities, create content that feeds alumni's nostalgia and gets prospective students excited about coming to campus. Showcase campus and town tours to connect with alumni and prospective students. Provide resources during stressful times, such as midterms and finals week, to help students ease their minds.
Collaborating can lead to major wins for your brand. But in order for these types of partnerships to be successful, you have to find the right influencers for your business and audience. And Krystal’s clever, tongue in cheek video is a prime example of getting it right.
Feed alumni’s nostalgia with content that makes them reminisce about their college days.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill walks viewers through the Tar Heels’ famous murals and prompts alumni to comment with their favorite masterpiece:
A post shared by UNC-Chapel Hill (@uncchapelhill)
Campus and town tours are a great way to connect with alumni, but they’re also great for getting prospective students excited about coming to campus. This Reel from the University of Georgia not only showcases a beautiful campus, but a student tour guide provides information about why each location is so central to the Dawg Nation:
A post shared by University of Georgia (@universityofga)
Speaking of the University of Georgia, the institution definitely knows how to tell a great story. In this Reel, the university highlights the unique journey of third-year student, Hayden Swank. With crisp voiceover and picturesque shots, the Reel emulates a documentary.
A post shared by University of Georgia (@universityofga)
Its high production quality paired with authentic storytelling makes the Reel a standout, but it’s also a great way to feature current students to prospective students who are still deciding where to continue their education.
This idea also uses a social media contest, but instead of the brand choosing the winner, followers vote for their favorite pieces of content.
For example, Indiana University encouraged students to post their best photos and/or videos of campus during the fall. In the caption, IU explains students will vote for their favorite photos and videos on Instagram. Along with IU gear—and we all know college students love freebies—winners get to be featured on the university’s social media.
A post shared by Indiana University (@iubloomington)
This technique engages current students over a longer period of time. It also creates a way for prospective students to see some beautiful campus photos and envision themselves there.
It goes without saying that midterms and finals week are very stressful for college students. Help your student body ease their minds by providing resources, such as free meditation or study snacks.
Arizona State University encouraged students to practice daily mindfulness and self-reflection for #SelfImprovementMonth.
A post shared by ASU Online (@asuonline)
Notice how they point to ASU’s Mindfulness Center Instagram page to provide students with more resources.
For B2B brands
B2B brands can create Reels by getting their audience pumped up for an upcoming event, showcasing the company's values and culture, using animation to showcase new updates and features, using time lapses to hook viewers, and sharing tips related to the industry.
Contrary to popular belief, you can use Instagram for B2B brands. Here’s how you can create Reels for your B2B company:
Get your audience pumped up for an upcoming event. Atlanta-based creative agency Chemistry used this technique to promote a workshop for professionals in digital advertising, public relations and media production.
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The Reel below features their chief creative officer, Chris Breen, talking about the agency’s clients and sharing his thoughts on the industry.
A post shared by Cam Kirk Studios (@camkirkstudios)
Chemistry’s video generates interest by previewing the type of valuable thought leadership professionals are looking for within their industry.
Chemistry also uses Reels to showcase the agency’s values and culture. In this video, we’re greeted by Odie for “Dogsplaining with Chemistry.” The adorable pup and friends are seen in the office as Odie explains a core component of Chemistry’s values and culture:
A post shared by Chemistry (@visitthelab)
In other words, think outside the box when it comes to illustrating your brand’s culture and values. Chemistry has a dog-friendly office and the Reel itself proves to be another example of the type of creativity the agency produces.
Use animation to showcase new updates and features for your product. Instagram Reels are lush with videos using strictly photo and video, so animation can help freshen your brand’s feed.
Zoom used animation to announce Zoom Team Chat:
A post shared by Zoom (@zoom)
Your animations don’t have to be complex or super detailed. Notice how the animation is simplified, but still mimics what the new feature looks like. In fact, the simpler the animation, the better because they are easier to digest. However, just like editing, animating can take a lot of time and resources so make it easy on your team!
Use time lapses to hook viewers within seconds. Time lapses are easy to shoot and edit, lowering the lift for your brand’s creative and social teams. You’ve probably seen time lapses for cooking videos or murals, but this particular Instagram Reel idea is great for brands with niche audiences too.
Inventables, a computer numerical control (CNC) brand, used a time lapse to promote the launch of their 3D carving:
A post shared by Inventables, Inc. (@inventables)
By showing a piece with intricate details within a short time frame, Inventables illustrates the level of sophistication their product offers.
Videos are all about visuals, but brands can also lean on sound-driven Reels. When used appropriately, B2B brands can capitalize on trending sounds. For example, Inventables used the “Go Little Rockstar” trend to demonstrate how a small bit can be used to build an impressive sign:
A post shared by Neon LED by Steveston Creative ⚡️🇨🇦 (@stevestoncreative)
The sound is definitely the star of the show, but the caption is the supporting actor in this scenario because it complements the Reel so well. In the caption copy, Inventables includes two call to action prompts and answers a FAQ. It also captures a story about the featured drill bit in the video. When your brand uses a trending sound in a Reel, consider how you can continue to engage your audience in the caption.
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Sharing tips related to your industry shows your brand is aware and gives an opportunity to provide thought leadership.
ClickUp, a project management platform, use their #WorkBestie series to share productivity tips.
For example, in this Reel, Work Bestie talks about the dos and don’t of creating a meeting:
A post shared by ClickUp (@clickup)
Talking head series are very popular and a great way to showcase your brand’s personality and voice.
Holidays are when we connect with our loved ones and create memories. B2B brands can make the most of holiday marketing with festive Reels.
The feature management platform LaunchDarkly posted a Halloween-themed Reel. The post features a jack-o’-lantern animation with LaunchDarkly’s logo on the pumpkin:
A post shared by LaunchDarkly (@launchdarkly)
Reels like these are another easy way to show off your brand’s personality. Plus, it creates a path for your customer to engage on topics they already enjoy talking about.
Instagram Reels Ideas For Government Agencies
Government agencies and nonprofit organizations can use Reels to provide coverage of past events, share #relatable content, and place the spotlight on frontline responders. Even the healthcare industry can benefit from using Instagram Reels by posting light-hearted content to lift spirits and honor daily contributions.
Government agencies and nonprofit organizations can also use Reels in creative ways. Here’s some inspiration:
Keep your audience up to date by providing coverage of past events. Your followers who attended will enjoy reminiscing and you’ll make others excited for the next event.
Green City Market posted a recap of their annual Chef BBQ festival, featuring dishes, vendor tables and more:
A post shared by Green City Market (@greencitymarket)
Reel recaps like this one could even lead to more donations and/or funding because it provides memorable visuals to what your brand does.
Some of the best social media memes are based on #relatable content. Have you ever purchased in-flight wifi to chat with your friends and family, only to get zero responses?
Well, the travel app, Hopper posted about it:
A post shared by Hopper (@hopper)
Customers are looking for brand authenticity on social, so relatable content resonates with many people.
Even the healthcare industry can benefit from using Instagram Reels. Here are a few of our favorite ideas:
Place the spotlight on frontline responders who are making a difference. The Grady Health System posted a slideshow of paramedics to celebrate #EMSWeek:
A post shared by Grady Health System (@gradyhealth)
GHS also reposted an old music video featuring paramedics and other frontline partners:
A post shared by Grady Health System (@gradyhealth)
Healthcare professionals face severe challenges every day, so posting light-hearted content like this helps lift their spirits and honor their daily contributions. Besides, who doesn’t love some hometown spirit a-la hit songs?
Along with trending sounds, ASMR videos on Instagram are very popular. The pet insurance brand Figo (yes, we’re counting our furry friends in the healthcare space) used ASMR in the Reel below as a call to action:
A post shared by Figo Pet Insurance (@figopet)
As you can see, several people commented with their vote for the best ASMR sound. This Instagram Reel idea is another great example of taking advantage of captions to funnel social traffic to your brand’s website.
With this list of Instagram Reel ideas, start brainstorming for your brand and get inspired to create more Reels that’ll make your feed stand out.
In summary, Instagram Reels present a great opportunity for brands to get creative and boost engagement. Use these Reel ideas to brainstorm and inspire more Reels that will make your feed stand out.
