What Are Instagram Reels?

Instagram Reels are short-form, vertical videos (up to 15 minutes long) designed to entertain, educate, or inspire your audience. Reels can appear on your Feed, the Reels tab, and Explore, giving you a powerful way to reach new viewers and boost engagement.

Using SocialBee’s Instagram Reels scheduler, you can plan, organize, and publish Reels automatically, saving time and helping you maintain a consistent posting rhythm.

“Reels are one of the best ways to reach new audiences on Instagram. Focus on creating engaging, entertaining content that keeps people watching until the end.”, says Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram.

👉 For more Instagram tips & step-by-step guides, see the following articles, useful if you want to share multiple content formats, like Instagram carousels or Stories.

• Schedule & publish Instagram single-image posts
• Schedule & publish Instagram multi-photo (carousel) posts
• Schedule & publish Instagram Stories
• How to add an Instagram location to your post
• Add Instagram collaborators to your post
• Instagram grid planner

Posting Reels on Different Types of Instagram Profiles

The way you can post Instagram Reels depends on your profile type connected to SocialBee.

• Instagram Business Profile: Instagram Reels can be published directly through SocialBee.
• Instagram Creator & Personal Profiles: Instagram Reels are published via Reminders, meaning you’ll receive a notification to manually publish the Reels through the SocialBee mobile app.

Requirements for Scheduling Instagram Reels

Before scheduling your Reels, make sure your account and media meet Instagram’s requirements. 

Unlike older versions of Instagram’s API, you no longer need to connect your Instagram Business Profile to a Facebook Page to enable direct publishing. Learn more about it here.

Supported Media Specifications

To ensure your Reels get posted successfully, your media must meet the following requirements:

• File Type: MP4 or MOV
• Resolution: 1080 × 1920 px or greater (vertical 9:16 aspect ratio)
• Reel File Compression: H.264, square pixels, progressive, fixed frame rate
• Audio: AAC audio at 128kbps+
• Frame Rate: Minimum 30 FPS
• Duration: Up to 15 minutes (to be able to do direct posting on Instagram Business profiles)
• Thumbnail: Upload a video thumbnail (cover image) that matches your grid aesthetic.

⚠️ Instagram Reels Advanced Settings:

• Collaborative Reels can be published directly from SocialBee, learn more here.
• Stickers, filters, trending sounds, or music from Instagram’s library can only be added when publishing via reminders using the SocialBee mobile app.

⏱️ Pro Tip: While Instagram allows Reels up to 15 minutes, shorter Reels (under 90 seconds) generally perform better and can be published faster.

How to Schedule Instagram Reels for Business Profiles (Direct Publishing)

1. Connect your Instagram accounts to SocialBee from the dashboard or the accounts tab here.
2. Create a Post: In SocialBee, open the Post Editor and select your connected Instagram Business profile.
3. Choose Your Reels Destination: Click Customize for each profile and select one of the two options from the dropdown. For most brands and creators, selecting Feed & Reel is recommended to maximize visibility and reach. Use Reel only when you want to maintain a specific aesthetic or layout on your grid.
   1. Feed & Reel: This option helps your content reach more of your followers and boosts engagement directly from your profile grid.
   2. Reel: This option keeps your profile grid curated while still making the Reel discoverable through the Reels and Explore tabs.
4. Upload Media: Add vertical videos (9:16 format, up to 15 minutes). You can also include captions, hashtags, and emojis.
5. Schedule and Publish: Pick the date and time for your Reel or add it to a content category in your posting schedule. See our recommendations for the best posting times for Instagram Reels here.
6. Save your post as “Approved” for automatic publishing.

⚠️ If a post doesn't match the requirements for direct posting, it will default to being published via reminders through our SocialBee mobile app. Download the mobile app here. 

How to Schedule Instagram Reels for Creator & Personal Profiles (Publishing via Reminders)

If your media doesn’t meet Instagram Reels format requirements, or you’re posting to an Instagram Creator or Personal Profile, your Reels will be published via Reminders instead.

In this case, you’ll receive a push notification from the SocialBee mobile app. When it’s time to post, simply tap the notification and follow the prompts to finish publishing your Reels in the Instagram app.

📱 Publish Your Instagram Reels from iOS

1. Make sure you’re logged in to the correct Instagram account.
2. Open the push notification from the SocialBee app, or find your Reels under Content in the mobile app.
3. Select Reels and tap Post Now.
4. Confirm your Instagram profile and tap OK.
5. You’ll be redirected to the Instagram app with the Reels text copied to your clipboard.
6. Select Reels as the post type.
7. Edit your Reels as desired, adding text, stickers, music, polls, etc.
8. Tap Share to publish.

📲 Learn how to use the SocialBee mobile app to post your Reels via reminders →

📱 Publish Your Instagram Reels from Android (via Reminders)

1. Make sure you’re logged in to the correct Instagram account.
2. Open the push notification from the SocialBee app, or find your Reels under Content in the app.
3. Select the Reels and tap Post Now.
4. Confirm your Instagram profile and tap OK.
5. You’ll be redirected to the Instagram app. Tap the + (new post) icon.
6. Select Reels as the post type.
7. Choose your Reels' media, which will have been saved to your gallery.
8. Edit your Reels with text, stickers, music, polls, etc.
9. Tap Share to publish.

📲 Learn how to use the SocialBee mobile app to post your Reels via reminders →

Using SocialBee’s Instagram Grid Planner to Preview Reels

SocialBee’s Instagram Grid Planner lets you preview how your scheduled Reels will appear on your profile, helping you maintain a cohesive, well-curated Instagram feed.

Want your Reels to blend perfectly with your other Instagram posts? Use SocialBee to upload a custom thumbnail to your Reels and align your new post with your overall profile style.

👉 Here's how to set Reels thumbnails in SocialBee.

Best Practices for Instagram Reels

• Start strong: Hook viewers in the first 3 seconds.
• Use captions: Many users watch without sound.
• Keep it short: Reels under 90 seconds tend to perform best.
• Add a call-to-action: Encourage follows, comments, or link clicks.
• Leverage trends: Use popular sounds or challenges when relevant.
• Post consistently: Aim for at least 3-5 Reels per week.
• Optimize your cover image: Keep branding clear and recognizable.
• Tag collaborators or partners: This increases reach.
• Analyze performance: Review reach, plays, and engagement to improve your content.

Instagram Reels Content Ideas

Struggling with content creation for your Reels? Check out these simple-to-implement Reels ideas:

• Quick tutorials: Share bite-sized “how-to” or step-by-step tips.
• Behind-the-scenes clips: Show how your product or content comes together.
• Before-and-after transformations: Great for design, beauty, or fitness brands.
• Customer testimonials: Let your audience speak for you.
• Trend participation: Join a popular trend or remix it with your brand’s spin.
• Day-in-the-life videos: Humanize your brand with relatable content.
• Product highlights: Showcase features or benefits through short demos.
• Teasers or sneak peeks: Build anticipation for launches or announcements.
• Team moments: Introduce your staff, workplace culture, or fun moments.
• Educational bites: Share industry insights or “Did You Know?” facts.
• Challenge responses: Participate in hashtag challenges relevant to your niche.
• Community spotlights: Feature customers or collaborators using your products.
• Time-lapse or process videos: Condense long processes into short, satisfying clips.
• FAQ Reels: Answer common questions visually for faster comprehension.
• Motivational or storytelling Reels: Share quotes, experiences, or customer success stories.
   

Best Posting Times for Instagram Reels

Maximize engagement by posting when your audience is most active.

Weekdays (Monday-Friday):

• Morning: 8 AM -10 AM
• Midday: 12 PM - 2 PM
• Evening: 6 PM - 8 PM

Weekends (Saturday–Sunday):

• Late Morning: 10 AM - 12 PM
• Afternoon: 4 PM - 6 PM

Additional Tips:

• Avoid posting very late at night (after 11 PM), as early engagement typically drops.
• Experiment with posting frequency and timing; the algorithm rewards consistency.
• Re-share high-performing Reels to your Feed and Stories to extend their reach.
• Engage quickly after posting; respond to comments and DMs to signal activity to Instagram.
• By bulk-scheduling your Reels in advance, you can maintain a consistent posting rhythm and ensure your audience always sees fresh, up-to-date content.
• Cross-promote Reels on other platforms (like TikTok or YouTube Shorts) for extra visibility.
• Use Reels Insights to identify when your followers are most active, these times may differ by region or audience type.