Reels N Waves : Big Lessons From The WNW Instagram

This past week, I posted 2 reels on the Instagram of one of my clients, Wheels N Waves Surf Shop. One of them did fairly to poorly (650-ish views), while the other one has reached over 2500 views and counting - which is impressive, considering the size of the account's following. Part of the reel's success was definitely the charisma of my good friend Mitch Tebo (side note - check out the amazing work Mitch does with small businesses through his one of a kind, direct mail marketing organization here). Part of it though was also a few noticeable differences in production, video quality, and content. Today, we'll be examining a couple differences between the two, and the takeaways that result from them.

First off, the video quality is noticeably better in the second video. There's clear lighting, it isn't blurry, and a filter has been applied to make the colors really pop. While split screens can be useful to show similar content (like 2 angles of the same room, for example), it really doesn't work when you're trying to incorporate 2 different frames. This is simply too distracting, and it's best to find a way to transition between them instead of blending. AND - the second reel is formatted for Instagram better. Ideally, when posting on social media, it's best to use content that has been edited to a 9:16 aspect ratio so that it fits smart phone screens. People want the full scope of the content - they don't want any black on their screen.

When it comes down to the actual content of the videos, the second reel gets people excited because it involves action; it's exciting. We were filming on the beach in the midst of a big wave day, whereas for the first reel we were filming in the shop from an angle with blurry light that WNW followers have seen many times before. The solution for replicating this? Go out into new spaces, and find a way to incorporate content with new people. Viewers love interaction and new experiences - if you can show them something it feels like they're missing out on, that will generate engagement. Make vlog style content that makes them feel as though you're talking to them directly, especially because people's attention spans are short. Show them something cool, unique and inspiring that will make them want to leave their comfort bubble and experience what you're offering.