If you’ve dipped your toe into Reels and TikToks here and there, and are *finally* ready to take the plunge into all things video, you’ve come to the right place. We’re sharing some quick tips on how to maximize your content for greater engagement - let’s dive in! 

1. Use trending audio: Probably one of the easiest ways to work with the algorithm is to incorporate trending audio and sounds into your videos, as it’ll push your content to people who have already engaged with the trend, thereby helping you tap into new audiences. 

2. Captions: Including closed captions in your videos makes them more accessible, and encourages people to stop their scroll, especially when they can’t have sound on.

3. Time: Keep it short and snappy; Hootsuite recommends sticking to 7-15 seconds for Reels, while Wired reports that the most successful TikToks run 21-34 seconds long.

4. Features: Both apps offer a variety of features, including text, filters and camera effects. Use them to differentiate your content from other accounts, and try out different features to see what your audience interacts with most. 

5. Cater To Your Niche: It’s unlikely that every trend will work for your brand, so choose wisely! Your audience is watching and now more than ever, are expecting the companies they follow to stick to their brand values and be authentic. Know what your target audience likes, and give them what they want! 

6. Offer Value: Speaking of giving your audience what they want, make sure you’re providing value in everything you do. What’s the purpose of your video? Are you just hopping on another trend? Videos that are educational (for ex. how to videos) and humorous, both of which offer the audience something, tend to do very well. 

7. Hashtags: Keep keywords top of mind when adding captions and hashtags to your videos; people will use Instagram and TikTok as a search engine and having the right keywords will help get your content noticed. *Tip: keep an eye on trending hashtags and use them when you can

8. Shoot Vertically: Both apps support and cater to vertical video. It offers viewers a full-screen immersive experience, so be sure to keep this in mind when shooting your content! 

9. Create Content In-App: When you can, create your content directly in the apps themselves, and always ensure you don’t post anything on another platform that’s watermarked from another.

10. Post Consistently: Posting consistently and frequently helps increase your overall reach, and eventually, engagement. Establish a posting schedule that works for you and just stay the course! Not every video will be a hit, but it’ll all add up in the end.  

Instagram Reels and TikTok are great ways to showcase your brand, introduce products and services, and widen your reach. New users are joining these apps every day and the trends change weekly; there is unlimited opportunity to make a splash and create something memorable.

Got the video basics down but need help staying on top of trending audio? Check out our newest subscription service, ReelTok here. ReelTok delivers 4 trending audio links for Reels and 4 for TikTok to your email every week, and also includes tips on how to adapt the trends to work for your brand.