How He Grew from 20k to 150k Followers on Instagram Using Reels

HOW HE GREW FROM 20K TO 150K FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM USING REELS

GUEST-STARRING Jerome

In today’s highly digitized world, it’s more important than ever to incorporate short-form videos into your content strategy.

Short-form videos aren’t just easier to consume but they’re more entertaining to watch and are more likely to be shared. When done right, it can result in virality and propel you to success. If you’re new to social media content - or creating videos in general, you might be at a loss for where to begin. Fortunately, we’ll be tapping the expertise of @jerometraveller to help you get started today!

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Jerome may have started his Instagram account with very limited photography knowledge - but today he’s an expert at all things visual. Below, he shares his secrets to mastering short-form videos that keep others coming back for more.

1. Always start with a great story line

All great videos serve a purpose and have a beginning, middle and end. That purpose can be to share new and unique knowledge, to entertain, or to educate. As you prepare to film your video, make sure that purpose is clear and valuable.

With attention spans getting shorter and shorter, Jerome recommends starting your introduction with a hook point to grab someone's attention. Then, lead into a climax that drives people to binge the rest of your content.

One of the ways he achieves this is with a signature introduction, where he uses the wide-angle selfie mode on his iPhone and speaks directly to the camera. His audience knows that this is his cue that something interesting is going down.

2. Planning ahead is key

The best types of videos are those that look the most effortless. However, the most effortless videos require thoughtful planning. That means having a clear vision for how your video will unfold before you begin filming. You should know what you’ll be talking about, how the frames will look, and what types of transitions you’ll use.

Jerome believes that varying the angles and framing of your videos is essential to increasing your engagement. Keep your clips short and fast-paced so you can entice a viewer to watch through to the end. He likes to use a mix of selfies, timelapses, stills, and different perspectives and vantage points to keep his content interesting.

3. Understand who you’re creating for

So many creators forget that the stories they share aren’t just about them. It needs to have a human element that draws others in. To do this successfully, you need to first understand what people want to consume on social media - and this can vary depending on your audience’s demographics, age group, and lifestyle preferences.

Jerome's best advice is to create content that nurtures your existing audience - find out what it is they want to watch and learn. You can then experiment with trending concepts and techniques that will capture a new audience too.

4. Ride the wave of trends - but with your own unique spin

Although Jerome is a fan of original content, he also knows that putting your own spin on the hottest social media trends is what gets you that explosive overnight growth. So, keep an eye out on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube for trending concepts - but don’t blatantly copy someone else. Be intentional about how you can put your own angle on it and apply it to your niche.

5. Stay curious and eager to learn

Mastering photography and videography isn't something that happens overnight. In fact, it can take a long time to develop your style, so it’s crucial that you’re patient - and, above all, resourceful.

Jerome learned everything he knows today on YouTube, and says it’s crucial to have a network of aspiring creators you can turn to as well as professional creators that you look up to. You can use their content as a frame of reference and benchmark for where you want to be. As you’re consuming content, make note of the different styles, pacing, angles, and composition they use to keep you engaged. You can then apply those lessons to your own content.

Creating engaging short-form videos requires time and effort. However, with a plan in place and a little creativity, you can capitalize on its ability to explode your following and transform your career as a creator.