What is Instagram Reels?

We already know Reels, the new Instagram functionality with which, according to them, you will have "a new way of creating and discovering short and fun videos on Instagram." In other words, more or less what you have been doing with TikTok, but without having to leave the social network par excellence until now (at least for those of us who were not born after 2000...).

With Reels you will be able to record and edit videos with one or more clips of a maximum of 15 seconds, taking advantage of different creative tools with which to surprise your community. Altering the speed, with audio effects, with filters...

In addition to sharing the reels that you create with your followers, if you have a public account, you will be able to place them (Mark Zuckerberg and his beloved algorithm through) in the new Reels section of "Explore". This will make your publications achieve a much greater reach and bring you closer to users who until then did not know you. Who knows, maybe your time has come and you finally manage to become a TikToker. In Reeler, sorry!

How can you create your first reel?

Creating reels is quite simple and intuitive, like using the vast majority of the features that Instagram develops. Next, you will see how you can start right now to create your first reels.

Keep in mind that you will be able to create your reel by recording it in a series of different clips (it can also be just one of a maximum of 15 seconds) or by using videos from your phone's own gallery (as in stories). 

The first thing you should do (obviously) is open the Instagram app. Once there, open the Instagram camera as if you were going to upload a regular story and select the "Reels" option at the bottom of the screen (now you will be able to choose between "Live", "Story" or "Reels ”). 

You will be able to record your first clip by holding down the record button, which you will find at the bottom of the screen (like in stories). At the top of the screen you will see an indicator that will guide you on how long you have been recording and how much you have left to reach the limit (good, if brief, twice as good. Or not...). Release the record button to end each clip.

As I was saying, you can choose between different creative tools that open on the left side of your screen and that will help you create your most original reel. Some of the tools you will find are:

Audio: You can find the perfect song for the reel you're creating in the Instagram library and use it, just like when you introduce a song when uploading a story. Also, if you share a reel directly with your original audio (that is, without using an audio from the Instagram gallery) and you have a public account, this audio is attributed to you as the author and other users can create reels with it.

Alignment: Allows you to statically display the final frame of your last clip (as a watermark) before starting the next one. Thus, you will be able to achieve less forced transitions, in different scenarios or with more people.

Timer and countdown: This tool will allow you to create your reels without having to hold the phone in your hand. Set the timer, place your phone in a good place, press record and, after the countdown, action!

AR effects: You can choose between the filters that you have stored in your camera and with which you usually upload your stories. You can also choose an alternative from the Instagram library.

Speed: Allows you to increase or decrease the speed of the video (or part of it) or the audio that you use when creating your reel.

Now that you know what Reels are and how you can start creating your own, it's time to get started. We only ask you one thing, do not use TikTok to create your Reels and then upload them to Instagram, which is very ugly and Mark can end up getting angry. Enjoy creating!