In 2020, the rave was all stories and now in 2021-2022 every social media guru cannot stop talking about reels. The truth is that video always works and has a greater impact than stagnant pictures. We have already established this fact so let us not even haggle about that. But let’s dive in even more- Reels, Stories, and Videos, do they work?
Since I started using videos consistently in 2016, my engagement and clients have increased at least by 50% and I continue to use and encourage my clients to incorporate video into their marketing strategies.
Video allows you to engage with your audience in a faster way to build know, like, and trust. People want to ‘see’ not just read about what is happening. Hence the popularity of platforms like Youtube. People want to see and listen as they learn about new products and services and if you are going LIVE then your audience also gets a chance to engage with you in real-time. Which is a HUGE bonus.
Then there were stories
Stories took video to another level. And while it started on Snapchat, stories can now be found on almost all social media channels. Some platforms allow you to keep stories for over 24 hours but many just allow you to keep them for a short time.
A story is a snapshot of your business. It is a way to tease your audience about your offers and show them behind the scenes of your business and your life. It is an additional way to connect and it can be a mix of videos, images, questions, motivations, etc.
According to Sprout Social, ‘ While feeds are carefully curated, social media stories tend to be more spontaneous. For brands, this can mean showcasing smartphone-captured behind-the-scenes footage, company announcements, and more.’
The beauty of stories is that you can mix up the content format and give your audience so much in such a short space of time. This is the thing that I love most about stories. The content can be a total mix of information but still have so much impact on your audience.
You can share:
Polls
Behind the scenes and showcase your business
Links to external sources
Videos
Memes and pictures
And now we have reels
Reels took off in the latter half of 2020 and really saw its growth in 2021 even though many territories like the Caribbean only got true access to it in the latter part of 2021. Like many entrepreneurs, I jumped on the trend to test its impact of it on my message and my audience. And I have been pleasantly surprised.
Reels are a great video message platform that helps you teach your audience in unique ways. Since starting using reels just 2 weeks ago, I have experienced a 40% spike in my followers and engagement. This is huge for just a 2-week run.
With my reels, I usually pre-record my videos and have a specific schedule for when they are shown to my audience. Some persons share reels that are more fun and dynamic but most entrepreneurs I have seen are sharing reels as a way to educate and inspire their audience into action.
The functionality of the reels is also very fluid. With so many tools available to fine-tune your message for your audience. Filters, music, and pop-ups add exciting dimensions to your video and keep your audience engaged. All reels do not have to look or sound alike.
Many entrepreneurs also post their reels in their stories and then share them on their feeds as well. This gives the reel an even longer life span because, with the speed of social media, it is quite easy for a reel, a story, or a post feed to not be seen.
For your business, whether you choose video, story, or reels, you will see a shift in your visibility and engagement. Determining which one you spend more time on is determined by your goal, your business, and your audience. It is never a one-size-fits-all.
If you are still struggling with deciding which one works for your business or how to create content for each, then it is time to jump on a FREE consult for us to take it up a notch
We have been in this business of helping other businesses exceed, grow and breakthrough new markets for quite a number of years and there are a few key things that we have learnt along the way. Some of them include:
1. Always keep learning
Reading and educating yourself is key to your success. You never know too much. There is always a new way, a better way, a more unconventional way. How can you help your clients if you yourself are not educated about the products and services that are available on the market.
So many of us hide behind our computers under the pretense that if we post often on social media and engage in enough discussions with people in groups on Facebook, LinkedIn or Google + then our businesses will grow and we will dominate the market.
