How to make Instagram Reels with AI
Reels are short vertical videos that Instagram shows to people who don't follow you yet, which makes them a good way for a brand to reach new customers. AI tools can help you make the video and write the caption. This guide covers planning the Reel, making it, adding subtitles and text, and what to check before you post.
Plan one idea per Reel
A Reel works best when it shows one thing clearly. Decide what you want a viewer to remember before you make it, and build the video around that.
- Show it working: the product being used, start to finish.
- Before and after: the problem, then the result with the product.
- Details: close-ups of the material, the finish or a feature.
- Offer: a launch, a sale or a new colour, with what it means for the viewer.
Make the first seconds count
People decide quickly whether to keep watching. Open with the product, the result or a question, not a logo or a slow intro. Keep each shot short and make sure the product is easy to see on a phone.
Use the vertical format
Reels fill the phone screen in 9:16 vertical. Keep the product and any text away from the very top and bottom, where Instagram places the caption, buttons and profile name. Check Instagram's current specifications if you need exact sizes and lengths.
Add subtitles and a caption
Many people watch Reels with the sound off, so subtitles help when someone is speaking. The caption under the Reel can add the details, a question for comments and a few relevant hashtags.
How to do it in Qevio
In Qevio's AI Video Generator you describe the Reel, or attach a JPG, PNG or WebP image up to 10 MB to use as the first frame on models that support image-to-video. Pick 9:16 vertical and a length of 5, 10, 15, 20 or 30 seconds (which lengths are available depends on the model). Fast mode is useful for quick drafts, and Product Ad mode is designed to keep your product accurate and central.
For a video with speech, the Subtitles video tool listens to it and adds timed subtitles, in the spoken language or one of 12 others. Name Instagram in your prompt in the AI Caption & Hashtag Generator and it writes the caption, hashtags and a call to action. To make the video, images and text together from one prompt, use the AI Campaign Generator. You see the credit estimate before anything runs.
What to do outside Qevio
Qevio doesn't post to Instagram for you. Download the video, create a new Reel in the Instagram app, paste in the caption and add music or a cover image there if you want them.
Check before you post
Watch the Reel on your phone the way a new viewer would.
- The product is clear in the first seconds.
- Nothing in the video looks odd or differs from your real product.
- Text and subtitles aren't hidden behind Instagram's buttons.
- Every claim in the video and caption is true.
- The caption has one clear next step.
Questions
What format should an Instagram Reel be?
Reels are vertical, in a 9:16 ratio. Qevio's AI Video Generator makes 9:16 vertical clips of 5 to 30 seconds, depending on the model. Check Instagram's current specifications for exact sizes.
Can I turn a product photo into a Reel?
Yes. Attach a JPG, PNG or WebP image up to 10 MB in Qevio's AI Video Generator and use it as the first frame on models that support image-to-video.
Does Qevio post Reels to Instagram?
No. You download the video and post the Reel from the Instagram app yourself.