10 Free Instagram Reel Ideas

Yes, small business owners and solopreneurs can also use them for TikTok

So … I started working on a whole other topic for this week, then realized I wouldn’t have it done by my self-inflicted send time. Stay tuned for that mystery topic going out next week, while this week … we’re talking about social media content.

But first! I want to remind you that my introductory pricing for digital marketing consulting and specialized services ends this weekend. Don’t miss out!

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Don’t worry — you won’t have to go to great lengths to get quality content. 🦒 Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

Instagram seems to favor Reels in their algorithm, likely in an effort to compete with TikTok. Here are some ideas you can run with. Some may seem obvious, others may seem daunting.

As small business owners and solopreneurs, you need to harness the power of social media in ways that work for you, your audience and the platform. If you don’t, you’ll stall out and become frustrated with the effort you’re putting in compared to your ROI.

So don’t ignore your social media accounts—even when you’re busy with business—and don’t be afraid to try some videos. (Bonus points if YOU are in them. 😉)

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10 Instagram Reel Ideas

1. Make your product

   1. Show the entire process or just one piece of it

   2. Depending on how involved your process is, this can be a goldmine for content creation!

   3. And no, you don’t have to give away your secrets at any point.

2. Unboxing video

   1. Show a new shipment of supplies

   2. Demonstrate the experience of unboxing your product

3. Interview a customer

   1. Ask them why they like your product over others

   2. Ask them how they use your product

   3. Talk to them about how they found your brand and how long they’ve been a customer

4. Interview a retailer/wholesaler

   1. Discuss why they partnered with you

   2. Ask them how popular your product is at their store

5. Use your product

   1. Go simple and demonstrate on a plain background

   2. Or, go more “vibey” and demonstrate using your product in an ideal location

6. Share your mistakes

   1. Don’t be afraid to show that you’re human … this shows that there are actual humans working behind your brand.

7. Feature your employees

   1. Make this genuine — don’t just ask what their favorite color is and other general info

   2. For example, ask them what they love most about working for your brand or how they use your products

8. Answer frequently asked questions

   1. Do them one at a time or rapid-fire. Or … do a video for each!

   2. Cover FAQs from your website, customer service or comments on social media

   3. Try replying to a comment on a Reel with another Reel

9. Before and after

   1. Show the impact of your product or service

   2. Show how a customer styled your product in their home

10. Show your space

    1. Give a warehouse tour

    2. Go behind the scenes of your office or workspace

    3. Show off your brick and mortar location. Examples: Where do folks park? What does the exterior look like? Are there special instructions to get inside?

Looking for even more ideas? Download my list of 67 Instagram Reels Ideas.

Photo by Eaters Collective on Unsplash

Tips for Easily Creating Content

1. Batch your content

   1. Take a whollllllle bunch of videos at once. (Then you won’t have to film as often.)

2. Take B-roll

   1. Do this more often than you think is necessary. You never know what you may need later on.

   2. Take B-roll footage of the things you don’t think you’ll need

3. Save inspo to an Instagram collection

   1. When you spot content you like and want to recreate, save them to a folder, or “collection,” on Instagram. (Honestly, this is my version of Pinterest.)

4. Create folders in your phone’s photo app

   1. Speaking of folders … be sure to stay organized on your phone

   2. Create folders for various categories of B-roll

5. Re-use 1 video for various features

   1. Play around with your content!

   2. Use the same clip and play with different features — time-lapse, slow motion, voiceover, layering in music, ASMR, etc.

   3. See what you like best and what resonates with your followers

6. Use old content

   1. Yeah. I said it.

   2. Use popular blog posts, a viral-to-you photo or carousel post, a post with lots of engagement, etc. to create a new Reel

Want to dive deeper into creating engaging, short-form video content? Download my guide today.

Need more help?

As a small business owner or solopreneur, I know how hard it can be to create good, quality content. If you need some help, reach out to me! I’d love to partner with you and devise a solid strategy so you to create more video content on social media.

Feel free to schedule a consultation or send me an email.

Take care, birdies! 💙