If you hate editing your videos, good news

Struggle no more on Instagram Reels

Instagram has updated its Reels templates to simplify the creation process of short-form videos (watch out TikTok). The new "Template Browser" allows users to search for templates by categories, including trending and recommended. When using a template, elements like audio, clip number and duration, and AR effects are automatically added, and in the near future, automatic text and transitions will be included (though users can customize these elements). This announcement comes a month after Instagram introduced the feature to download Reels, a capability TikTok has offered for years.

So what does this mean for you? If creating or editing your videos has seemed daunting, and you’ve been scared to learn a tool like CapCut or Premiere, this may be a great time to start experimenting. This also tells us that if Instagram is investing more into how creators can make short-form video, it’s getting even more priority.

🎥 What's Trending

Trying to pair a video with a viral song can feel a lot like playing the stock market- in order for you to be successful, you need to time it just right. And in this case, posting a video with a viral sound led to a second video with the original audio- which did over 33 million views. Here’s why:

This video was prompted by a comment from a viewer of the original ‘trending audio’ video, saying, “I need to hear the original sound.” The video opens on that comment, immediately creating curiosity and getting us to ask, “What is the original sound? And why does this video need it?” Then, with such a strong payoff (who doesn’t want to watch a twirling goat?) it’s no wonder this video has almost half-a-million shares and saves.

Your takeaway: How can you get the viewer to ask in the first 3-seconds, “What’s going on here?” If you can get their buy-in, you’ve got them. This creator did it through a compelling title card and compelling payoff. How can you mimic that formula?