How to Create Video Content for Instagram Quickly and on a Budget
Last week, Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, caused quite the stir when he posted this video on Twitter. While stating the importance of video content, Mosseri said:
"Instagram is no longer a photo-sharing app, or a square photo-sharing app"
Shortly after, the rumors started appearing quickly:
“Only video will do well on Instagram”
“We will now need to create a video for every post if we want to get engagement”
“The algorithm will hide everything that is not video”
NO.
NO.
NO.
Here’s Mosseri Tweet:
Changes are coming to video on Instagram 📺
— Adam Mosseri 😷 (@mosseri) June 30, 2021
At Instagram we’re always trying to build new features that help you get the most out of your experience. Right now we’re focused on four key areas: Creators, Video, Shopping and Messaging. pic.twitter.com/ezFp4hfDpf
Before we go any further, I promise you, you do not have to worry.
You’re already creating more video for Instagram content than you realize:
Instagram Stories are videos (even if you upload a still image to Stories, it will still play like a video
Lives are videos
Reels are videos
Feed posts with GIFs or animated elements are videos
Now, going back to our topic of needing more video content for Instagram, this is nothing new.
We have been talking for a long time about "that good video engagement". It's also no surprise that anyone wanting to grow their Instagram today need to get on Reels (i.e. more video).
How to Create Video Content for Instagram Quickly and on a Budget
If you're a little worried that you need to produce more video content for Instagram but don't know how, don’t have the time or the skills, we got you.
Here are a few easy ways you can turn your posts into videos:
Add an animated GIF to a static post
Add animated elements to your photos
Add a video background to your posts and story graphics (we love using Canva Pro videos or Social Motion Packs for this (pro tip: make the video backgrounds slightly transparent for a more delicate background look).
And here’s the easiest way to add more video content to Instagram:
Create on-camera stories instead of just sharing feed posts and Reels to stories or uploading images and photos (make sure you use the caption sticker)
Use trending Reels audios to create engaging Reels (the lip sync style Reels are the fastest to create!)
Go Live and save your live to IGTV
Now if you need a little more help getting this done…
Here are my 3 favorite resources to create entertaining video content for social media and Instagram, quickly and on a budget - that I use for my own accounts.
1) Our friend Laura's Reels Report membership
Reels do not come naturally to me, so when our Laura from B Squared Social first opened her membership that gives us links to what audios to use and how to use them, I was like...
a weekly email with 4 trending Reels audios that you can open directly in the IG app
a short explanation of how to use them and a few examples
a monthly office hour you can jump in to ask your questions to the Reels Queen herself
a Facebook group for accountability
flexibility to cancel anytime
When I got my first email, I was blown away! I created 3 Reels in 15 minutes -- my first time batching Reels!
It's important to mention that she will send you audios for simple ideas, so they are easy to create - no dancing or 5 changes of clothes required.
2) Our GIFs Speak Louder Than Words Canva templates for Instagram
This set of our signature design of templates is very easy to customize to any type of business or nishe and very effective at getting your audience's attention - and "that good video engagement on Instagram", of course.
This is my go-to style of meme posts to get awareness for a new topic product, course, event or anything I want my audience to engage with, sign up, comment, share, save or click on the link in bio.
Best part, I have used these so many times and it always works!
Ask our member Mary Pendenton:
FUN FACT:
She ended up making over $1k dollars with that one post from this set of templates, that she used to promote her course.
3) Our Canva templates for entire Reels (not just covers!)
Did you know you can make entire Reels in Canva?
Yes, you can. I am not only talking about Reels Covers, the whole entire Reel. And even though that’s not how most people use Reels, I always love how they look.
So of course, after a bunch of tests and wrecking our brains, we created 10 amazing designs of Canva templates for Instagram Reels that you can customize with your colors and text.
I mean, look at these (and that’s only the first clip)!
So if you want to create Reels for your social media clients without being on camera, or just don’t feel like putting on a bra, these templates got your back.
And also, Flick Hashtags...
Don't forget video content also need up to 30 hashtags, even Reels and IGTV (basically everywhere but Instagram Stories).
If you also need to take hashtags off your to-do list, we use and recommend Flick Hashtags.
Hashtags are not an effective way to grow Instagram anymore, but they will still bring you 10-20% more reach. So while I never want to waste time on hashtags, I never skip them.
Get Flick so you're not like...
Now that you’re armed with all these resources, you gave zero excuses not to add video content to Instagram!
Check out the most popular templates from our shop this month
Manu Muraro is the founder of Your Social Team, an Instagram training membership and content shop to help social media managers and Instagram savvy women entrepreneurs to beat the algorithm and grow their organic engagement (yes, even in 2021). This year she also launched Your Template Club, a Canva Template subscription to provide social media managers and Instagram savvy business owners with content template designed for engagement in their inbox.
Born and raised in Brazil, Manu moved to the U.S. in 2000 right out of college to work for Cartoon Network, where she made an award winning career in creative and strategy. In 2017, Manu started Your Social Team with the mission of helping women entrepreneur and social media managers grow engagement and sales through Instagram without the overwhelm.