Reels 101: The Ultimate Guide for 2025
Welcome to Reels 101 ♡
Video content has come a long way from the introduction of moving gifs and 6-second vines. There’s one thing we do know: Engaging, short-form video content isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. They’re still taking every social platform by storm.
And it’s no surprise that users interact with Reels more than static content! There are more opportunities to make your content engaging and win the hearts of your audience through audio, funny memes, and much more.
By now, you’ve probably dabbled in Instagram Reels before, but now we’re jumping all the way in!
Don’t worry, we’ll hold your hand through it with a guide to some best practices and upcoming Reel trends for 2025.
How to Make Your Reels Pop
Think of the brand or influencer Reels you’ve seen that really captivated you.
Behind nearly every one of those videos (and every other piece of high-performing brand content) is a well-thought-out strategy. Strategy gives purpose to each Reel, instead of throwing them at a wall to see what sticks.
Are you implementing a Reel strategy? Curious what it would look like?
Well, that’s why we’re here.
A Reels strategy looks very similar to the strategy you use for your other content types. It’s centered around your:
Target audience’s needs and wants
Brand mission
Content Pillars
To round out your Reels strategy, you’ll want to add some trending elements. Stay up to date with trending templates, audios, and reel formats that you believe will resonate with your audience. (We’ll get into this more later).
Peep The Impact
Reels aren’t just fun pieces of content to include in your social strategy. They can make a serious impact on your social presence and really boost that brand awareness.
According to Influencer Marketing Hub, Instagram users collectively watch 17.6 million hours of Reels every day. Reels also rank the highest in terms of estimated reach when compared to other content types; around 33.8% higher.
This isn’t just true for large accounts.
Statista reports that accounts with 500-2,000 followers see an average reach of 152%, with larger accounts at around 76%. It’s safe to say that no matter your brand niche or audience size, Reels present an opportunity too good to pass up.
Reels 101: Class Is In Session
At long last, your intro to Reels 101 and guide to creating scroll-stopping Reels in 2025.
#1. Embracing Authenticity
The facades are falling off in 2025. Authenticity and transparency are your golden ticket to success with Reels.
Authenticity builds trust with your users. And in 2025, platforms like Instagram and TikTok have stated that authentic content will be favored by the algorithm. Meaning tapping into that kind of content will be crucial for growing those KPIs.
What does this look like?
Show behind-the-scenes moments. Sprinkle in casual, unfiltered moments for your brand and the team behind it. Spotlight your team and what makes each member unique.
Using Reels to give your audience an unfiltered view of you and your brand communicates trust and credibility that can’t be bought.
#2: It’s Story Time
The best Reels are small but mighty.
Reels, though short, are best utilized when they tell your brand’s story. This is where your strategy comes in! Asking yourself these questions can help get the most use out of each reel you post.
From quick day-in-the-life snippets to mini-tutorials, a well-crafted narrative grabs attention and keeps users locked into your reel from start to finish.
#3: Take Notes From Vine: Keep It Short & Sweet
Okay, don’t actually take notes from a deceased social platform. But Vine was onto something.
Part of what made the platform so popular was the short-form video content. The amount of storytelling and communicating that had to happen in 6-7 seconds gave users the perfect, bite-sized content to interact with and be entertained by.
Reels can be longer than 6 seconds, but brevity is key. Users typically stop watching after about 8-10 seconds. So keeping your Reels short is crucial for maintaining your audience’s attention.
Every second counts, so reel them in with a hook and deliver your message with impact. Remember, less is more!
#4: Tap Into Trending Audios
Instagram has no shortage of trending audio adaptable for every niche.
Incorporating trending audios into your Reels does a few things:
Tells the algorithm to show your reel to more users
Offers familiarity to viewers, making it more likely they’ll continue watching or engage
It shows up on the page when someone clicks on that audio to see other Reels using it
Scroll through your explore page, Reels page, and even the TikTok ‘For You’ page to find the newest audio your audience is engaging with.
#5: Use Closed Captions
Closed captions are an incredible and often underutilized tool when it comes to Reels.
First, they make your Reels accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing users that may see your reel. And inclusivity is important when reaching broader audiences and communicating your brand’s values.
Second, many users have their sound off while scrolling through their feeds. So if your reel doesn’t have closed captions, it lowers the likelihood that it’ll stop their scroll. Captions ensure your message gets across even before they tap for sound.
#6: Harness User-Generated Content
Just like Reels, user-generated content is here to stay.
Your audience is a goldmine of creativity. Resharing reels created by your audience strengthens your relationship with your community while adding a diverse and authentic touch to your content.
A great place to start sourcing UGC? That little tab on your Instagram profile with all your tagged photos
As an added bonus, when you repost UGC, it encourages other users to create and post their own content for your brand. Don’t forget to tag and/or ask permission to share and strengthen that relationship!
#7: Keep That Strategy Fresh and Relevant
If you learned nothing else from Reels 101, at least take this away with you:
An effective Reels strategy is a relevant one.
The social media landscape evolves, and so should your strategy. If your approach to Instagram Reels is outdated, your audience will know–trust us.
Regularly reassess and tweak your approach. Experiment with new formats, styles, and trends to keep your Reels fresh and your audience engaged.
Lights, Camera, Action!
Now’s the time to take everything you learned from Reels 101 and put it into action.
And for some expert help with fine-tuning your Reels strategy, you’re in the right place.
Enter: Scott Social, your boutique social media marketing agency, based in Phoenix. We’re a fully equipped team of video editors, social media managers, copywriters, and graphic designers committed to leveling up your social game.
We specialize in everything from expertly assembled Reels strategies to growing brand credibility through heartfelt community management.
Connect with us to get started and let's turn your social presence into your brand’s biggest flex.
WRITTEN BY:
Victoria
Copywriter + Social Media Strategist