Complete How-to: What is the length of Instagram video Reels?

If you have a public account on Instagram and use it to reach customers for a business or to work influencer marketing, then you've probably tried your hand at switching on your Instagram camera to create an Instagram reel.

And considering that reels and Instagram stories amount to roughly 1/4 of business sales on the platform, it's a great marketing strategy to use!

However, there are a few things to know about creating reels, and one of those things is how long reels can be. Let's take a look at the answer to that question and more in this guide.

What Are Instagram Reels?

Before we jump into how to make a reel on Instagram, let's talk about the question, "What are Instagram reels?" Instagram reels are short videos that you can post on your Instagram feed.

While there's no specific Instagram reels app, you can simply post these on your Instagram page whenever you want to publish them. We'll get into how to make Instagram reels later.

How Long Can Instagram Reels Be?

Whether you're a social media manager wanting to share a series of clips in a story or you're just an individual wanting to have some fun with reels, you'll need to know how long can Instagram reels be.

Reels are designed to be either 15, 30, or 60 seconds long. By default, any video you make in the reels tab will be 15 seconds long.

The good news is that you can change that setting by tapping on the left side of the screen before you hit the record button. This will let you change the Instagram reel's dimensions to 30 seconds long.

Just remember that once you start recording, you won't be able to change the length of your video. However, you can go back and edit the previous clip before recording a new one to shorten the video and give you more time in your reel.

If you're ever trying to adjust your Instagram reels length and find Instagram reels not working, don't panic! Just close the app and restart it. The program saves your work in a draft so you can go back and edit it.

What Is The Best Length For Instagram Reels?

The next part of our Instagram reels tutorial to be aware of is how to use Instagram reels with an optimal length to capture your audience's attention.

Even though you can publish Instagram reels on the explore page that is up to a minute long, that doesn't mean that you should do so. It's essential to ensure that when you share your reel, it's an optimal length for getting users to click on it.

For the most part, it's best to match the purpose of your reel to the length. Choose a length that helps you get the message across without wasting your viewers' time.

It's also helpful to know that the Instagram videos with the most engagement have an average length of 26 seconds. Keeping your videos to this timeframe can help increase the number of clicks and interactions you get.

How Reels Compare to Other Instagram App Video Clips

Reels aren't the only way to film clips hands-free to share with your followers. You can also use Instagram Stories, IGTV, and regular Instagram videos—all of which have different benefits.

Like reels, you can make and upload videos from your camera roll that is up to one minute long. If you're using IGTV, you can record multi-clip videos that are as long as 15 minutes. And, if you're doing a live stream, you can make videos that are four times that amount of time.

It's also important to note that things are a little different when it comes to Instagram reels vs TikTok. Although you can use most trending songs on Instagram reels 2022 and your TikToks, these videos have distinct features and filters that you can check out. And, they're shorter than TikToks.

How to Make an Instagram Reel

Now that you know how long Instagram reels can be, it's time to make one of your own! Let's take a look at a quick step-by-step process for making Instagram reels.

Step 1: Start a Reel

To start making a real, head to your Instagram profile page. Click on the plus icon in the top corner and choose "reels" as the type of content you want to create.

Step 2: Select Your Media

Next, it's time for you to choose your media. You can upload video clips from your camera roll or record a new video directly from the Instagram app.

Step 3: Edit the Footage

Once you've picked your video clips, it's time to start using Instagram's video editing tools to perfect your video. Crop, scale, or trim the video until it looks the way you want.

You can also add additional clips at this point to create a unique blend of different videos. You can add as many clips as will fill 60 seconds.

Step 4: Add Your Audio and Visual Effects

Now, it's time for you to add audio to your video. You can add audio by simply recording a voiceover, or you can browse the Instagram music library to add some funky tunes to your reel.

You can also add some fun visual effects to your reel. These include GIFs, stickers, filters, text boxes, and more.

Step 5: Add a Caption

Once you're satisfied, navigate to the next screen that will prompt you to write a caption. You can create hashtags during this step and tag any friends or bands that show up in the video.

Just make sure that your hashtags and text adhere to Instagram's guidelines. And make sure that they're relevant to your video's message.

Step 6: Tag Paid Partnerships

Brands, creators, and influencers can tag paid partnerships in their reels by clicking on "additional settings." This will bring up an option to add a paid partnership label for your reel's sponsor.

Step 7: Publish your Reel

The last step of creating a reel is to publish it! Once you're satisfied with the way the video looks, click the "share" button on the bottom of your screen to send it out into the world.

We recommend looking into the best time to post reels on Instagram so that you can catch your audience at a time when they're already browsing.

Make the Perfect Instagram Reels on Your Public Account

With this guide to making Instagram reels for your public account, you'll be ready to get your videos to dominate Instagram's home screen. And, you'll be ready to connect with your followers faster than ever.

Are you ready to transform the way you handle Instagram marketing and outreach? Log in to the app today to access powerful visuals that transform your Instagram videos.

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