What I Learned from Making My First How-to Instagram Reels

Written By Sarah Beth Rosa
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How-to make an iced matcha coffee latte using a Vitamix blender

Watch the Reels

Now that Instagram is prioritizing video and Reels, I’m upping my Reels game!

I’ve attempted a few “How-to” Reels before without success. Find below my tips for what not to do and what to do when making Instagram Reels.

Here’s What Not to do When Making an Instagram Reels Video

  • Not setting the timer correctly (for the amount of time I needed to complete the Reels)

  • Not recording the video clips first and relying on the Instagram app to record video (then losing the Reels due to app issues)

  • The Instagram app crashing while I was adding text to my Reels

But, today, I was determined to push through the hiccups. And I did! Find below my tips on how to create How-to Reels.

9 Steps to Making a “How-To” Instagram Reels Video

  1. First, imagine the final outcome that you want so you can think about all the individual video clips you will need to capture.

  2. Shoot individual video clips of each step to stitch together in Reels.

  3. Upload each video. Make sure not to miss any! (I’ve done that and had to restart. 😞)

  4. Choose the ideal music for the vibe you want.

    • This may take a while. It’s taken me up over a half-hour to find optimal music. This happens because the search functionality for Reels music is glitchy and doesn’t always work.

  5. Add text within Reels. Place each blurb where you want it to show up in the final video.

    • Similar to choosing music in Reels, adding text is also glitchy. Once you add text, you can only view it in the final form once you save the Reels as a draft and then go back into the Reels to edit it. See what I mean via Katie Steckly’s video titled “How I make my Instagram Reels | ULTIMATE Guide to Growing with Reels!” here.

  6. Write caption copy. (I do this in my Notes app, then copy + paste it into Instagram.)

  7. Preview your Reels and double-check for accuracy, spelling errors, etc.

  8. Post.

  9. Check back for engagement and comments. Engage with your fans!

As far as engagement, I noticed that most views happened within the first 30-minutes (about 680 views). I received a few new followers too!

Watch my “How-to make an Iced Matcha Coffee Latte” Reels here.

Sarah Beth Rosa