It’s become apparent that many brands and accounts are noticing lower engagement rates on their static Instagram posts. If you’ve been struggling with low engagement, you might be asking yourself what to do. In all honesty, Instagram Reels are outshining the static content on social media due to video content becoming more entertaining for users. So if you’re looking for ways to increase your engagement on your Instagram page, you’re going to have to incorporate video content into your plan.
We’re here to help. This blog will discuss why videos perform so well on social media, what Reels are, and how to use Reels to gain more views on Instagram. Keep reading to find out more.
Why Video Content Has More Engagement
Let’s start by exploring why video content is receiving the most engagement on Instagram. Everyone’s probably wondering the same thing: why are photos no longer performing well on a photo-sharing app? Well, one of the reasons is because the Instagram algorithm is solely based on engagement, meaning users drive the content. So when users engage or interact with videos, they are more likely to be prioritized in the algorithm, hence why video content is mostly what you’re seeing these days. Instagram has clearly taken note of video content’s popularity, and is now starting to prioritize video in user feeds. This push is due in part to the competition Instagram has with other video-heavy platforms.
Another reason you’re seeing more videos is because more and more people are catching on to their popularity and are creating videos instead of static photo posts. Even the Head of Instagram expressed that “video is driving an immense amount of growth online for all major platforms.” In a survey done, 68% of people reported that they plan to increase their video usage on Instagram over the next year. Crazy, right!?
What’s So Special About Videos?
While a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth much more. Video content is enticing to users because it can convey a lot of information in just a few short seconds and also communicate a brand’s personality without the need for a big production. Video content is also more relatable than an overly styled, filtered photo, and people desire this type of connection!
While we're on the topic of connection, let’s talk about the social media metric, reach. In terms of social media, reach is defined as the total number of people that see a social media post. When your content captures attention and is shared, it, therefore, reaches more people. That’s another reason why video content performs so well. So why is this?
Everyone is aware that video motion catches the eye and can draw someone in quickly. Videos can also be made almost anywhere, anytime, and are thus a more consistent post type. Yes, photos can be taken anytime and anywhere as well, but it’s a little more difficult to make every setting interesting. In video content, the setting is not as important as the character or story being told. For example, a photo taken in an alley of a dumpster is not likely to grab attention, but a video of a person in an alley doing something on or around a dumpster will make people stop and watch. It’s human to want to know what is going on.
Reels Tips – How to Get More Views
Reels are similar to Stories in the way that they last forever, or until you delete them. In Reels, the content created should be fun and have a long shelf life. If you’re having trouble coming up with content ideas, Planoly released a new Video Planner which is an idea curated weekly by social media experts to provide you with timely video trend recommendations.
We know that you may be reluctant on creating video content for Instagram, but luckily you’re not alone. In recent months, many Instagram users have asked for the app to just be Instagram again – a photo-sharing app. Even Kylie Jenner has made comments about wanting the O.G. Instagram back. Although Instagram has pulled off the “video gas” a little, it’s evident that video content is here to stay; there’s room for both photos and videos on social media. So instead of fighting or rejecting the trend, look at embracing it and still having fun!
It is still important to have static content and video should not completely replace it. A carousel post or meme, for example, still performs well and garners good engagement. If you’re not sure what a carousel post is, it allows you to display up to 10 photos or screens in a sequenced narrative. So in a way, it’s like a video with the use of static content.
Well, there you have it! Despite the popularity of video, static posts can still be an important part of your social media content strategy, but remember to stay true to yourself and your brand!