--- title: Instagram Reels — 6 Ways To Get Ahead On The Latest Social Media Tool description: Instagram finally launched Reels, its TikTok competitor last week. Here are six ways to get ahead of the pack, plus a few recommended Reel-ers to follow. image: https://www.turnerpr.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Screen-Shot-2020-08-10-at-4_32_09-PM-1.png --- 2 min read # 6 Ways To Get Ahead On Instagram Reels [ Connor Howlett ](https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/author/connor-howlett) : August 11, 2020 [social media](https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/tag/social-media) ![6 Ways To Get Ahead On Instagram Reels](https://www.turnerpr.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Screen-Shot-2020-08-10-at-4_32_09-PM-1.png) After a few months of anticipation,  [Instagram finally launched Reels](https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/introducing-instagram-reels-announcement), its TikTok competitor last week. Instagram Reels is indeed a lot like TikTok. It allows users to create 15-second videos set to music or other audio. Also similar to TikTok, the new feature offers a set of editing tools, such as a countdown timer and a way to adjust a video’s speed. Users can make their Reels available to the wider Instagram community through a new space in Explore. [With TikTok’s future still in doubt](https://turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/tiktok-influencer-marketing), Reels offers a way for brands to get in on the short-form video craze within an already well-established app. Instagram is obviously still an enormously popular platform, with nearly 1 billion active users. It’s move into TikTok’s neighborhood is a big one – and it’s time to start getting your Reels in order. Here are six ways to get ahead of the pack, plus a few recommended Reel-ers to follow (and learn from).    1. ## If you’re unsure where to start, re-use content from other mediums There’s nothing wrong with recycling. Use unused TikTok drafts, old IG stories, or vertical video assets that exist elsewhere. Not everything needs to be created within the app. 1. ## Get experimental That said, Reels presents a great opportunity to create unique, original content natively. This won’t affect your page’s grid, since Reels live on their own tab. Don’t be afraid to get weird; the early stages of a platform allow for experimentation and out-of-the-box approaches. 1. ## Use sounds for added reach As we’ve seen with TikTok, adding music helps enhance the full experience on Reels. As an added benefit, Instagram users can search these sounds and see a feed of Reels that used them, similar to how hashtags work. Using sounds on your video could result in the Reel reaching a much wider audience.  1. ## Take advantage of the in-app editing tools Creativity will thrive on Reels. You have the ability to alter the speed of videos, stitch clips together, add textual and graphic overlays, and play around with filters. Test out different features to make your Reels stand out from the crowd. The “Align Effect,” unique to Reels, takes the guesswork out of seamlessly transitioning between video clips. 1. ## Showcase products/experiences Reels’ editing tools make short-form video a unique way of showing off a product, experience, or destination. Lookbook style videos and sleek transitions between clips can provide a fresh perspective for your audience. 1. ## Get started (preferably now!) Influencers are already reporting higher engagement on Instagram Reel content within the first week of launching. Instagram is likely prioritizing Reels in the algorithm to help get the word out. That’s why it’s vital that brands get ahead of the curve NOW and start thinking about how they can use Reels sooner rather than later. ## A Few Reel-ers To Follow - Celebs: Supermodels [Karlie Kloss](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CDjcti_jSWS/?igshid=13dm41en26zng) and [Ashley Graham](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CDkiCUCjagj/?igshid=cswik87hczmm) have already embraced Reels, as has actress [Jessica Alba](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CDc64S4lzm7/?igshid=1p1xwega9y6kr). - Brands: [Louis Vuitton](https://www.instagram.com/louisvuitton/) is all in on Reels, creating stylish and high quality content that is already taking off. Also check out [Sephora France](https://www.instagram.com/sephorafrance/)’s tip-top Reels content, including makeup tutorials and a healthy amount of user-generated content. - Influencers/Creatives: [Karen X](https://www.instagram.com/karenxcheng/)’s Reels are super creative and fun — a good example of how to use the feature. Meanwhile, [Tom Jauncey](https://www.instagram.com/tomjauncey/)’s content shows that Reels works nicely in an inspirational/aspirational travel zone. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![Facebook Goes Meta](https://www.turnerpr.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/socialmedia2021-1-1.png) ](https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/facebook-goes-meta) #### [Facebook Goes Meta](https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/facebook-goes-meta) [Tyler Wilcox](https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/author/tyler-wilcox) : November 05, 2021 A curated collection of can’t-miss news from this week, including 2021 social media trends and more. Sign up to get the TURNER Weekly Download in... [TURNER Weekly Download](https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/tag/turner-weekly-download) [Read More](https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/facebook-goes-meta) [![New Kids On The Social Media Block: Platforms To Watch In 2025](https://www.turnerpr.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Screen%20Shot%202025-01-27%20at%2010_14_13%20AM-3.png) ](https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/social-media-platforms-to-watch-in-2025) #### [New Kids On The Social Media Block: Platforms To Watch In 2025](https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/social-media-platforms-to-watch-in-2025) [Tyler Wilcox](https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/author/tyler-wilcox) : January 27, 2025 The TikTok ban isn’t happening — for now. But the threat of the wildly popular app disappearing, combined with a fraught political atmosphere on... [social media](https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/tag/social-media) [digital communications](https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/tag/digital-communications) [tiktok](https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/tag/tiktok) [Read More](https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/social-media-platforms-to-watch-in-2025) [![How Brands Can Navigate the Politicized Social Media Landscape](https://www.turnerpr.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Screen%20Shot%202025-02-21%20at%202_14_53%20PM.png) ](https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/how-brands-can-navigate-the-politicized-social-media-landscape) #### [How Brands Can Navigate the Politicized Social Media Landscape](https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/how-brands-can-navigate-the-politicized-social-media-landscape) [Emma Abbott](https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/author/emma-abbott) : February 21, 2025 In 2025, brands are no longer just marketing to consumers. They're navigating a complex, often politically charged environment where their presence... [social media](https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/tag/social-media) [digital communications](https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/tag/digital-communications) [content marketing](https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/tag/content-marketing) [Read More](https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/how-brands-can-navigate-the-politicized-social-media-landscape) JavaScript is required for best experience ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Connor Howlett", "url" : "https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/author/connor-howlett" }, "dateModified" : "2025-02-24T14:01:40.184Z", "datePublished" : "2020-08-11T04:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Instagram Reels — 6 Ways To Get Ahead On The Latest Social Media Tool", "image" : [ "https://www.turnerpr.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Screen-Shot-2020-08-10-at-4_32_09-PM-1.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.turnerpr.com/spin-kitchen/instagram-reels", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.turnerpr.com/hubfs/FM_Website_Branding/Logos/Shipyard_Fahlgren_Mortine_G2_Black.png" }, "name" : "The Shipyard Collective (Shipyard, Fahlgren Mortine, TURNER)" } } ```