Do you ever feel like you’re re-inventing the wheel every time you make an Instagram Reel?
Deciding how long each clip should be and what to include in each section.
Working out timings before you hit ‘record’ so it all fits with the music/sound effects. Then fiddling around with the clips you recorded to make sure it’s just right.
All of which means making a 30-second video could take you hours.
If any of this sounds familiar, you’ll want to hear all about this new Instagram feature which is being rolled out over the coming months: Instagram Reels Templates.
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Do you ever feel like you're reinventing the wheel every time you make an Instagram real deciding how long each clip should be and what to include in each section, working out the timings before you hit record. So it all fits with the music or sound effects having to record sessions multiple times because it doesn't then fiddling around with the kids you recorded to make sure it's just right.
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All of which means making a 30-second video could potentially take you hours. If any of this sounds familiar, you'll want to hear all about this new Instagram feature, which is being rolled out over the coming months. And I'm recording this at the end of May, 2022. So what is this new feature? I feel like we need a drum roll here. It's Instagram Reels templates as ever.
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Instagram seems to be following in the footsteps of tick-tock, which has has templates for some time. So this is how it works, or certainly this is my take on it. When you are watching reels, a prompt will appear in the bottom left just above the creators profile picture, which will allow you to use their template. The prompt actually says use template.
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And what this allows you to do is to drop your own images or video clips into that template. So if they've used a trending sound or they've used a voice effect, and it's working really, really well, you will know exactly how long your clips need to be to get them to come into time with the music or the sound effects. And what you're also seeing,
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I think is an example of good practice. Cause one of the hardest things to do with video is to get the timing, right? And the pace, right? A lot of new Instagram reels creators, you'll find that their videos are a bit long. They just need to be a bit pacier. And I think a really good thing about this is that it is modeling good practice.
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You see a good video and you can actually see how it's being put together, how long each clip is. And if you pay attention to that, it's actually a really useful learning tool about how to make engaging videos. If you're finding it hard to envisage what this will look like on your own Instagram account, I have added some pictures onto the blog post that goes alongside this episode.
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And I'll link to that in the show notes. But if you can't do that right now, basically what happens is you click on use template that takes you through to another screen where all the clips are displayed along the bottom, just like in your own reel. And it lists out how long each of those sections is. And you can scroll through and popping your own photos or videos along the bottom,
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really easy to use. So when will this feature be rolled out? According to Instagram, this feature is currently being tested with a small group of creators. I do actually have access to it as of the end of May, 2022. And I'd love to know if you have it too. So do get in touch on Instagram and let me I'm at Janet Murray,
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UK. So are there any downsides to Instagram Reels templates? Well, yes, there are a few. When I first heard about Instagram Reels templates and started reading around about it, I got the impression that you could use your own previous reels as templates, and that would really work for me because, and you might know this already. If you're a regular listener to the podcast,
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I'm a big fan of templates. And I actually give my clients templates for creating reels, literally fill in the gaps, scripts that you can write out before you record. It really makes the process easier. And I have those templates for all different types of wheels. So that could potentially work really well for me, because for example, if I knew I was doing a behind the scenes video,
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I could just pick out one of my old templates and dropping images and photos and videos. And I imagine it could probably make the process even quicker, but it turns out that the reason I can't find any templates on my own rails or certainly this is my theory is that they're only available for real, with multiple clips that have been edited together within Instagram,
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inside the app. I typically make my reels in TikTok just because I find it easier to use. I screen record my drafts, add in talk. Then I add captions using a tool called cap wing before bringing them over to Instagram. Sometimes I also do some additional editing with an app called InShot. So definitely not made in the app, which probably explains why I can't find any templates for my own wheels,
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but knowing that I can template my Reels and rinse and repeat video formats, that work might actually make me more likely to create Instagram rules inside the app. So it's not necessarily a bad thing, but another concern I do have, and this was highlighted in an article in social media today. I'll link to that one in the show notes for this episode is that this could stifle creativity.
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The social media today article highlights the risks for copying other creators content and recommends making sure you don't copy frame for frame. So you don't do exactly what they do in every single clip. You bring in some of your own clips of different lens, different types of content, and that you always attribute credit where relevant and personally, if you do have access to this feature already,
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and you are going to use other creators templates, I would recommend tacking them in just to be on the safe side. But aside from that, I do worry about templates, stifling creativity on the platform. Although there isn't any evidence of that in tech top, which I think is a really, really creative space. I do think this could be a danger on Instagram,
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particularly for the business community. I feel like when I'm talking to business owners on Instagram about content, there's this feeling that people just want to get it done rather than be creative. And that's why I think the risks of copying and also just reduced creativity could be more of a problem on Instagram. If you want to know more about upcoming Instagram changes and updates,
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do you check out my podcast episode, Instagram updates for March you'll love. And if you're looking for ideas for your own Instagram reels, check out for Instagram reels, anyone can create and how to find trending sounds or effects for Instagram reels, which I've mentioned already. I'll link to both of those in the show notes. And I do publish an episode pretty much every month about Instagram updates.
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So do you make sure you subscribe to the Courageous Content Podcast so you don't miss an episode. I hope you found that useful as ever I do love hearing from you, especially when I'm talking about new content updates, new features. So do connect with me on Instagram and tell me what you thought about this episode. And let me know whether you have access to this feature too.
