- Instagram Reels, if you're anything like me,
when someone mentions them, you straight away
think of people dancing to some sort of music,
and you start to cringe and think,
"No thank you, I'm not going to dance
"and post it on Instagram."
Trust me, at first, when this feature got released,
I thought the same thing.
I was like, "I'm not dancing and posting on social media
unless you give me a margarita or five,
and even then, I don't know if I would do it.
The good news is that there's so much more
to Instagram Reels than dancing and you can absolutely
use it without the dancing part, and Reels actually
can be very effective for promoting your handmade products.
So today, we're going to take a look
at how you as a handmade shop owner can use Reels
to connect and engage with your audience on Instagram.
What they are, how they are different
from regular videos, Instagram Stories, IGTV,
and also show you some actual examples
of Instagram Reels from makers who used them effectively
to build a following and connect with their audience
to leave you, I hope, inspired to create your own.
So if you're confused as to what Instagram Reels are
and how to use them to grow your shop,
this is the video for you.
Let's dive in.
(bongo music)
Bonjour, my name is Deb, and I'm the founder
of Tizzit.Co, a membership community for makers
and handmade shop owners, just like your fabulous self.
You can learn more about our community, Tizzit HQ,
by the link below this video, but for now,
let's jump straight into today's conversation,
how to use Instagram Reels
to promote your handmade products.
I won't be giving step-by-step tutorial
of how to make an Instagram Reel,
because there are so many tutorials out there
that show you that, and that's not necessarily
handmade shop-specific.
Instead I want to show you how you can use
Instagram Reels as a creative and effective way
to market your handmade products and connect with
and grow your audience.
Let's start with a quick summary
of what Instagram Reels are.
Basically, a Reel is a 15 to 30-second video clip,
usually with music playing in the background
that can be edited with creative tools like text,
special effects, and stickers.
Of course, some people use them to create funny,
entertaining dance videos, but they are also
a great opportunity to create fun, engaging video content
to share with your followers with no dancing involved.
So now to the next question you might be asking yourself,
how are Reels actually different from IGTV,
Instagram Stories, and Instagram Feed videos?
So let's go through a quick explanation of each.
Instagram Stories appear in the Story Feed
at the top of your screen, and they disappear
after 24 hours.
IGTV videos are one to 15 minutes long
and are good for how-to videos similar
to what you would see on YouTube.
Instagram Feed videos can be up to 60 seconds long
and show in your regular Instagram Feed on your profile.
Instagram Reels are multi-clip videos
with audio, mostly music, but can be voice,
special effect, and creative tools
similar to what you see on TikTok,
and on top of that, Reels have their own feed.
They are very popular right now, which means
they are a great opportunity for handmade shops
to get the products seen by more viewers.
In short, Reels are short but creative videos
meant to entertain the viewer in one way or another,
entertain really being the keyword here.
Now the best way to show you how to use Reels
is to show you how other makers are using Reels,
so I'm going to show you some great examples
across a variety of products
and with a variety of approaches.
First, though, I want to say a big thank you,
thank you so much to everyone who has allowed me
to use their Reels in this video and share
their creative ideas and really nicely made videos
with you guys.
The links to all of their wonderful accounts
will be below this video if you'd like
to go and follow them.
By showing you their Reels, I want you to see
that you can really do different things,
you don't have to be on camera, if you don't want to,
you can just show something that's relaxing
or enjoyable to watch or you can do funny Reels,
anything is possible.
So let's start with some behind the scenes Reels
showing a part of the handmade process.
This first Reel is by Milena, a Tizzit HQ member,
and her shop Manastudio.
This specific Reel was part of a recent launch
for her plant hangers.
She posted a Reel every day for a week,
and her account blew up.
She reached more than 70,000 people with it
and saw a growth of 16% in her account following,
which is not nothing, as she already had a couple
of thousand followers.
♪ My life be like ooh, ahh, ooh ♪
♪ My life be like ooh, ahh, ooh, aah, ooh ♪
♪ Ooh, ahh, ooh, my life be like ♪
♪ Ooh, ahh, ooh, aah, ooh ♪
♪ My life be like ooh, ahh, ooh ♪
Artist Phoebe Gander, whose name I probably
just butchered, sorry Phoebe if I did,
gives a Reel a bit of a creative twist
by segueing from pouring a cup of coffee
to mixing paint to creating a painting then
from the finished painting to enjoying the cup of coffee
after completing her artwork.
It's a simple but well-executed idea
that makes you feel like you spent a bit of time
with her in her studio, which is lovely.
(calm guitar music)
(singer vocalises)
♪ The sun shone high those few summer days ♪
♪ Left us in a soft, white-eyed haze ♪
♪ It shone like gold ♪
♪ But just as the moon, it shall stray ♪
♪ So dawn goes down today ♪
♪ No gold can stay ♪
And a final behind the scenes Reel,
check out this video from Prachi, another Tizzit HQ member
and her shop Prachi Bohemian Art,
where she speeds up a crafting process
to show the creation of an earring from beginning
to end in only six seconds.
Extremely satisfying to watch,
actually I watched it on a loop like 50 times
before I was able to look away from it.
It's a great and fun way to showcase
her products and skills.
(calm piano music)
Next, we move away from the behind the scenes
type of Reels, and we have another Reel by Prachi.
Check out the creative way she showcases
the versatility of her jewellery with a variety of outfits.
(pop music)
♪ Superstar, where you from, how's it going? ♪
♪ I know you got a clue what you're doing ♪
♪ You can play brand new to all the other chicks out here ♪
♪ But I know what you are, what you are, baby ♪
♪ Look at you, getting more than just ♪
And finally, we have this last one by Prachi,
it's a fun preview of a holiday gift
being boxed up for mailing.
It shows the care she puts into her packages
and help increase the perceived value
of her brand and products.
Plus, she repurposed it from TikTok,
very well done, two birds with one stone.
(festive music)
♪ Is you, yeah ♪
♪ I don't want a lot for Christmas ♪
♪ There is just one thing I need ♪
You can also have a little fun with your followers.
Check out this Reel where Phoebe pretends
to be showing you a fashion show
of her weekly outfit planning with humorous credits
typed on the side, it's funny,
it's relatable, and it makes her followers smile
and feel like they are getting to know her,
and probably wanting to just hang out with her.
All the things that will make them remember her
over someone else when buying the next piece of art.
(hip hop music)
And if you're thinking, "Deb, I do not want to be
"on camera, thank you very much,"
then take a look at this Reel from Gabriel
from Apartamento 112 showcasing his products
with a cute soundtrack playing in the background.
It's fun and cute and really memorable.
♪ Salagadoola mechicka boola ♪
♪ Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo ♪
♪ Put them together and what have you got ♪
♪ Bibbidi-bobbidi-Boo ♪
You can even talk in an Instagram Reel.
You don't have to use music.
Check out this Reel where Phoebe
has an imaginary conversation with her inner critic,
that nasty little inner voice we all know all too well,
take a look.
(Phoebe hums)
(knocks)
- No, you can't stay, I'm doing really well without you.
- It's been a long journey.
- I thought I got rid of you.
- Is this how you greet people these days?
That's rude.
- I've been making really good progress.
- Oh, so you've been doing some new work.
I like it.
- Really?
- No, it's disgusting.
Makes me want to be sick in my mouth,
it's so.
- No, don't say it.
- Whimsical.
- No!
- Sold anything lately?
- To be honest, I don't really want to talk to you,
okay, I'm actually busy,
and I'm trying to concentrate.
- I can read between the lines.
(sighs)
It's fine, I have a plan.
We just need to burn it.
- Burn it?
- As you can see, there's a lot you can do
with your Reels based on what you want to do
and showcase and how comfortable you are.
You can do Reels without being on camera at all,
you can be in the video showing one thing or other,
or you can be the star of the Reel and dance
to your heart's content, whatever you like.
Instagram is a huge tool for handmade shop owners
to create product awareness, and increase sales.
You just have to know how to use it.
Look for more resources and more videos
on my channel full of Instagram tips below,
or to dive even deeper, head over to the Tizzit HQ
course library where we have a full course
waiting for you to learn how to use Instagram
to make sales.
All the links will be below.
Thank you so much for watching,
make sure to subscribe, and until next time, au revoir.