If it was not already clear that Instagram wanted its userbase to utilize its Reels feature, their announcement on Thursday left no doubt. Starting in the next few weeks, all video content under 15 minutes posted to IG will be shared as a Reel and located under your profile’s Reels tab. This transition will not affect older videos already posted to the platform.
“Since reels offer a more immersive and entertaining way to watch and create videos on Instagram, we’re bringing these creative tools and the full-screen experience to your video posts, too,” Instagram stated in a blog post.
This change comes alongside IG’s announcement of new collaborative, remix, and templates for Reels, further solidifying their commitment to the video-sharing format.
If you are a real estate agent currently posting videos to IG, now may be an excellent time to reconsider your marketing efforts. Reels are at their best when they are shorter in length, vertically formatted, and contain music. Consider moving away from horizontal or square videos, as they will not show as well after this change goes into effect.
With this change and the emergence of TikTok, it’s time to adapt your listing video shoots to accommodate being viewed vertically on a cellphone, if you have not already. Not only is this good practice for your marketing efforts, but it will also show home sellers you are evolving with an ever-changing social media landscape – putting their homes in the best position to be seen by potential home buyers.
We see this change as a good thing overall. It narrows the type of content posted to Instagram, allowing you to really tailor your marketing to the platform you are posting to – giving your audience a clear expectation of what they can expect from you on each social media.
But what do you think? Do you like this change? Have you been using Instagram Reels in marketing efforts? Let us know by following us on social media.
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