How to Post Instagram Reels

Ready to master one of the most powerful features on Instagram for organic growth? This guide gives you the complete breakdown of how to post Instagram Reels, from opening the camera and editing your first clip to writing the perfect caption. We'll cover the step-by-step technical process and the strategies you need to create Reels that capture attention.

What Are Instagram Reels (And Why Should You Care)?

Instagram Reels are short, entertaining vertical videos, typically set to music or other audio, that can be up to 90 seconds long. Think of them as Instagram's answer to TikTok. They have their own dedicated tab, a prominent place in the Explore page, and the algorithm absolutely loves them. For creators, marketers, and brands, this means one thing: massive organic reach.

Unlike feed posts or Stories, which are primarily shown to your existing followers, Reels are designed to be discovered by new audiences. Posting Reels regularly is one of the most effective ways to grow your account, build brand awareness, and connect with a community that hasn't found you yet. They are your ticket to appearing in front of thousands - or even millions - of potential new followers.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Posting an Instagram Reel

Creating your first Reel can feel a little intimidating with all the buttons and options. Let's walk through the entire process, step by step, so you can post with confidence.

Step 1: Open the Reels Camera

There are a few ways to get started. You can either:

• Tap the plus icon (+) at the bottom center of the navigation bar and select "Reel."
• Swipe right from your main feed to open the camera, and then select "Reel" from the options at the bottom.
• Go to the Reels tab (the video clapper icon) and tap the camera icon in the top right corner.

Step 2: Record Your Content or Upload from Your Camera Roll

Once you're in the Reels editor, you have two main options: record video clips directly in the app or upload pre-recorded videos and photos from your phone.

To Record Directly in the App:
Simply press and hold the large record button at the bottom center of the screen to start recording a clip. Release it to stop. You can record multiple short clips that will be automatically stitched together.

To Upload from Your Phone:
Tap the blue plus icon in the bottom left corner to access your phone's photo library. From there, you can select one or more videos and photos to add to your Reel timeline.

Step 3: Use the Built-in Creative Tools (Optional but Recommended)

Before and during filming, you can use the creative tools on the left sidebar to add some polish to your video.

• Audio: Tap the music note icon to search Instagram’s music library or use original audio from another Reel. Hopping on a trending sound is a great way to boost visibility.
• Length: Set the maximum length of your Reel (15, 30, 60, or 90 seconds).
• Speed: Speed up or slow down your video clip for creative effect (e.g., time-lapses or slow-motion shots).
• Layout: Create a video collage by recording different clips in various sections of the screen.
• Timer: Set a countdown before recording starts, which is helpful if you need to be hands-free to get into position.
• Align Tool: This appears after you've recorded your first clip. It shows you a transparent overlay of the last frame, making it easy to line up your next shot for seamless transitions.
• Effects and Filters: Swipe left on the record button to browse and apply AR filters and effects.

After you've recorded or uploaded your clips, tap "Next."

Step 4: Edit Your Reel

Welcome to the editing studio! This is where you bring your Reel to life. You'll see your clips on a timeline at the bottom, and a new set of tools at the top.

• Add Audio: If you haven't already, you can add a song, voiceover, or sound effects here.
• Add Text: Tap the "Aa" icon to add on-screen text. You can change the font, color, background, and, most importantly, set the duration. Tap the text bubble on the timeline to control exactly when the text appears and disappears. This is great for storytelling or highlighting key points.
• Add Stickers: Use stickers like GIFs, polls, quizzes, or the automated captions sticker, which generates on-screen text from the audio in your video.
• Add Effects: Add extra AR filters and effects to the edited clip here.
• Edit Clips: Tap "Edit Clips" in the bottom left to enter the full timeline editor. Here you can reorder clips, trim their length, or add transitions between them for a smoother viewing experience.

Once you are happy with your edits, tap "Next" again.

Step 5: Write Your Caption and Finalize Settings

This is the final screen before you share your masterpiece. Don't rush this part, a great Reel can fail without the right details here.

Write a Compelling Caption & Add Hashtags

Your caption should add context or value to your video. You can tell a story, ask a question to encourage comments, or provide a clear call to action (like "Follow for more tips!"). Break up long text to make it easy to read. After your caption, add relevant hashtags. A good strategy is to use a mix:

• Broad hashtags: (e.g., #socialmediamarketing)
• Niche hashtags: more specific to your content (e.g., #brandingtipsforsmallbusiness)
• Trending hashtags: when relevant to your video

Edit Your Cover Image

Tap "Edit cover" on the video thumbnail. Here, you can select a frame from your video or upload a custom cover photo from your camera roll. A compelling cover image can be the difference between someone scrolling past or tapping to watch.

Tag People and Add a Location

If you collaborated with other accounts or are featuring people in your Reel, tag them. If the location is relevant, add that too, as it can help your Reel appear in location-specific searches.

Add Topics

Instagram now lets you add up to three topics to help them understand what your Reel is about and show it to the right audience. Choose categories that accurately describe your content.

Advanced Settings

At the very bottom, you'll see "Advanced settings." Tapping this allows you to schedule your Reel to be posted later, which is a fantastic feature for content planning.

Step 6: Share Your Reel!

When everything is perfect, simply hit the "Share" button. Your Reel will be published to the Reels tab on your profile and, if you chose to, will also appear on your main profile grid. Congratulations, you did it!

Pro Tips for Creating Reels That Get Seen

Knowing how to post is only half the battle. Here are some strategies to make sure your Reels are effective and work hard for your brand.

1. Hook Your Viewer in the First 3 Seconds

Attention spans are short. Your Reel needs an immediate hook to stop the scroll. Start with a bold statement, a surprising visual, or a question a viewer wants an answer to.

Examples of strong hooks:

• "You're making this common marketing mistake..."
• "Here are 3 tools that saved me 10 hours last week."
• A visually interesting transition or a clip that sparks curiosity.

2. Use Trending Audio Wisely

Using trending songs or audio clips is a direct line to the algorithm. When people tap on an audio clip to see other videos using it, yours will appear in that discovery feed. Just make sure the trend fits your brand's voice and message - don't force it.

To find trending audio, look for the arrow icon next to the audio name on Reels in your feed. You can also save sounds you like to use later.

3. Provide Value Or Entertainment

Every Reel should answer one question for the viewer: "What's in it for me?" Successful Reels are usually either educational (solving a problem, teaching a skill) or entertaining (funny, relatable, inspiring). Aim squarely for one of those categories, and your audience will be more likely to save, share, and follow.

4. Keep it Short and Punchy

While Reels can be up to 90 seconds long, most of the top-performing ones are much shorter, usually between 7 and 15 seconds. This makes them highly re-watchable, which signals to the algorithm that people are enjoying your content. Get straight to the point and cut out any fluff.

Final Thoughts

Creating and posting Instagram Reels is a learnable skill that can deliver tremendous results for growing your audience and building a recognizable brand. By following these steps and incorporating these best practices, you have everything you need to start making Reels that stop the scroll, engage viewers, and drive real growth.

At Postbase, we understand that managing a consistent video content strategy across multiple platforms is demanding. We built our social media management tool with short-form video at its core because we were tired of legacy platforms that treated Reels and TikToks as an afterthought. Our visual calendar lets you plan and schedule your entire video lineup stress-free, ensuring your content goes live exactly when it should, every single time.