How to make Reels

To make a Reel, write down what you'll say first, film vertically (9:16, ideally 1080 x 1920) with the main line in the first second, cut everything that adds no new information, add on-screen text and post with a caption that includes the topic's keyword. You can do it all on your phone, in about 30 minutes once you get the rhythm.

What you need

A phone. The rear camera is usually better than the front one.
Window light facing you. A window behind you leaves your face dark.
Clean sound. Record close to the phone, away from fans and traffic. If you can only buy one thing, buy a lavalier mic: bad audio drives people away faster than simple visuals.
A phone stand at eye level.

The right settings

Setting	Use
Aspect ratio	9:16, vertical
Resolution	1080 x 1920. Instagram says low-resolution reels are made less visible
Length	The shortest that delivers the content. To be recommended, 3 minutes or less
Frame rate	30 fps covers almost everything
Safe area	Keep text in the center, away from the edges where the buttons and caption sit

Full example: a 30-second Reel

A fictional example from a bike shop. Notice that every block has a time and the image changes along with the words.

Time	Voiceover	Image and on-screen text
0 to 3 s	"This noise on your bike costs $15 now or a new chain later."	Close-up of the squeaking chain. Text: CHAIN NOISE?
3 to 7 s	"If it squeaks when you pedal hard, pay attention."	Cut to the pedal stroke
7 to 22 s	"Run your finger along a link. If it comes up black and dry, it needs oil. Wipe it with a rag, one drop per link, spin the pedal and wipe off the excess."	Three cuts, one per action. Text: 1 WIPE, 2 ONE DROP, 3 REMOVE EXCESS
22 to 27 s	"Done. Hear the difference."	Pedal spinning in silence
27 to 30 s	"Save this for next month."	Text: SAVE THIS

Want more templates? The video script guide has five.

Film without freezing up

Film in blocks. If you mess up, redo only that block.
Start talking a second after you hit record and cut that second in the edit.
Look at the lens, not at yourself on the screen.
Film the hook three times, with different energy, and choose in the edit.
Shoot B-roll: hands at work, the product, the space. It saves any cut.

Edit

The Instagram editor and Edits, Instagram's own app, handle the basics. What makes the difference:

Cut the silence at the start. The video opens on the first syllable.
Cut breaths and repetitions. Nobody misses them.
Change the shot every few seconds with a cut, a zoom or new text.
Add subtitles: the add subtitles tool does it with nothing to install.
Watch it on mute. If the meaning gets lost, you need more text.
End right after the last piece of information.

Post

Cover: with the topic written and centered, so it reads in the grid.
Caption: use the word someone would search for, because Instagram says keywords in your caption help you get found in Search. Add what the video didn't say, without repeating the voiceover.
Hashtags: up to 5, and specific. Instagram announced a limit of 5.
Audio: if you use music, keep it under your voice.
Unsure about a video? If the Trial option shows up for you, use trial reels: the video goes to non-followers first and stays off your grid. After about 24 hours you see the numbers and decide whether to share it with everyone.

After you post

Open the reel's insights and check average watch time and follows. Compare average watch time with the length: a 30-second video with a 4-second average has a problem at the start. See how to get past the first seconds.

What sinks a Reel before it starts

Instagram names these cases as reasons to make a reel less visible:

Low resolution.
Another app's watermark. If the video came from TikTok, export the original file.
Muted video.
Borders around the image, like a horizontal video dropped into a vertical frame.
Video that's mostly text.
Video that has already been posted on Instagram.

Recap: how to make a Reel in 7 steps

Pick a real question from your audience. No topic? See video ideas.
Write the hook in 12 words or fewer. The hook generator gives you a starting point and the hook analyzer shows where to improve.
Write the payoff as bullet points and a single ask at the end.
Film vertically, with light facing you, block by block.
Cut silences and add on-screen text and subtitles.
Post with a readable cover and a keyword in the caption.
After 24 hours, read average watch time and note what to repeat.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to be on camera?

No. Hands at work, a phone screen, the product and voiceover all work. What holds attention is clear information at the start. A face helps build trust, so it's worth testing in some videos.

Can I make Reels with photos?

Yes. Use movement and quick cuts and talk over them. For monetization, though, Instagram's policy rules out videos that are mainly still images played in succession.

What is the best length?

The shortest that delivers the whole idea. To be eligible for recommendations, Instagram says 3 minutes or less.

Can I repost my TikTok video to Reels?

Yes, as long as there's no watermark. Export the original file instead of downloading it from TikTok.

How do I add subtitles to a Reel?

Use the add subtitles tool or the editor you already use, and review the text before posting: auto captions get proper names wrong.

How many Reels should I post per week?

Instagram doesn't give a number. Start with what you can keep up for 3 months. Two or three thought-out videos beat seven rushed ones.

Keep reading

Sources

All checked on November 5, 2026. Platform rules change without notice: if your app shows something different, trust your app.

Already filmed it? See inside the video.

Paste your Reel link into Tavea to get the hook score, a second-by-second timeline and the likely drop-off point. Your first 2 analyses are free, no card needed.

Analyze a video for free

Updated November 5, 2026.