It’s no secret that Instagram is moving towards becoming a video content platform.
Adam Mosseri, the Head of Instagram, has even announced himself that Instagram is no longer a photo sharing platform.
The data agrees. According to Sprout Social, 91% of active Instagram users watch videos on a weekly basis, while 66% of consumers found short-form video to be the most engaging format of in-feed social media content. It’s no wonder why video has become such a powerful growth driver for brands on Instagram.
It’s common knowledge that in today’s social media landscape, posting regular video content is one way for creators and brands to grow their following and engagement on Instagram. Whether you aim to expand brand reach or increase audience size, video content can help your account reach the feeds of both your followers and new viewers.
It’s also no secret to social media managers that video content creation can be extremely time consuming. It involves:
- Conceptualizing, scripting and planning
- Capturing video footage
- Cutting and arranging clips
- Editing sounds, transitions, and effects
- Adding on-screen captions
- Writing post copy
- The list goes on…
Video content production is complex, time-consuming, expensive, and, well, difficult. Let’s face it–video content production consumes more resources to produce than our standard static images.
This is a challenge for social media managers–individual creators and businesses alike–whose brands have a strong presence on Instagram and rely on the platform to connect with the audience they’ve worked so hard to build.
Fortunately, we’ve learned from experience. Not every video can or needs to be an in-depth tutorial on educational content or a professionally produced storytelling experience.
How can we create branded video content that’s as simple as a static post but just as impactful as a video format?
The answer? Low-lift reels.
These reels require minimum effort to produce but pack maximum impact by capturing Instagram’s video-preferred algorithm.
Here are 4 ideas for easy-to-create, original reels that can be created on your iPhone and within the Instagram app (and ranked by effort level).
1. Classic photo montage
Effort level – 🏃
- Choose multiple photos (20 to 30) and upload to Instagram reels editor
- Select a trending song or audio
- Use sync feature and allow the app to create a short video montage using your photos. Done!
2. Still scene
Effort level – 🏃🏃
- Choose a scene, outside or inside and frame with your iPhone camera
- Set up your iPhone using a tripod or prop, or hold phone still and record 15-30 seconds of a scene
- Attach a trending sound and voilà!
- Optional: add a word or quote in the middle of your frame in a font that feels aligned with your brand
- Ideas for this concept: snow floating down outside, eagle eye view of a crowded space, waves crashing onto a beach, or a hand grabbing a coffee mug from out of frame
3. Time lapse
Effort level – 🏃🏃🏃
Use the time lapse setting on your iPhone to film yourself doing a task from start to finish. Couple it with a trending sound and use captions to provide context. Be sure to consider how the content fits within the greater story of your brand.
Timelapse video ideas for personal brand:
- Doing makeup
- Cooking or baking
- Art creation
- Cleaning
- Working out
Timelapse video ideas for businesses:
- Designing or building something
- Organizational tasks
- Working at desk
- Meetings or presentations
4. Before and after
Effort level – 🏃🏃🏃🏃
Getting ready for a formal event? About to clean your house or build something? Document it for an engaging yet low effort reel using this classic approach.
- Capture your before footage: film yourself in a mirror or using a tripod or take before footage of your project
- Bonus: try a quick transition by jumping or swoosh the camera to the side
- Transition into footage of the final product, interacting with the camera or filming angles of (or reactions to!) your finalized product.
- Add before and after clips to reels editor, optionally adding a trending audio and video captions for context. There you have it!
Tip for all low-lift reels:
Use a trending audio sound to boost discoverability. If you manage a business account, that’s ok! Instagram has an entire library of copyright-free music to use, and yes–those sounds are often trending too!
Now happy creating!
Signal Harbour 
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