Consistent action creates mastery – not the other way around. But the downfall of consistency? Running out of ideas! If you feel like you’ve stretched your creativity a little too thin, this post is for you. I’m about to share 12 Ideas For Instagram Reels When You’re in a Creative Rut.
Trust me – they’re easy and can be filmed every single day.
12 Ideas For Instagram Reels When You’re in a Creative Rut
If you ever find yourself strapped for short-form video content, bookmark this post immediately. To keep up with your Instagram posting schedule, you need a reliable bank of ideas that you can fall back on when you most need them.
The 12 Instagram Reels Ideas I share in this post are evergreen – meaning they’ll always be relevant no matter when you create and post them.
Best of all, they’re easy to film and create. So you can get your post in, even if you don’t have anything planned for the day.
(Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.)
Introduce Yourself
Or re-introduce yourself. This is a great idea, especially if you’ve grown your following since the last time you introduced yourself.
There are several ways to do this:
- String together a bunch of old clips of you with a voiceover introducing yourself.
- Record a talking head video.
- Use a trending audio specifically for introductions (this isn’t as reliable since it requires the trend to be relevant).
Once you have this done, go ahead and use Instagram’s Pin feature to pin it to the top of your grid. That way, new followers will always be able to learn more about you.
Behind-The-Scenes of Your Business
Pulling back the curtains and giving your followers a peek behind the scenes is a great way to build trust and relatability.
Whether you’re writing copy, scheduling your social media posts for the week, or prepping for an exciting course launch…
Sharing it with your audience will bridge the gap and form a more intimate relationship between your business and your audience.
Feel free to film some timelapse videos of your work process, or include several angles of you hard at work. You can also add a voiceover explaining the process, or simply add text on screen to describe what you’re working on.
Here are some behind-the-scenes Reels examples for different niches:
- Fitness – follow along as I film my new workout video
- Online course creator/coach – plan my social media strategy with me
- Food – come grocery shopping with me for a new recipe
- Service provider – prep for an onboarding call with me
“Day in the Life” Vlog
Perfect for business owners, coaches, course creators, and influencers/bloggers alike. This timeless content idea is fun to watch (and fun to create).
What you don’t want to do here is turn it into a behind-the-scenes Reel. So here’s the major difference:
- Behind-the-scenes: specifics into your business and process
- Day in the life: take your followers through your daily routine
Don’t overthink this! You could even break this up into your morning routine, lunch break, or night routine. Whatever you choose to film, these vlogs are meant to offer a snippet into your day-to-day life.
“Real Side” of your business
Consider this the “Instagram vs. Reality” post – just in short-form video.
This is where you want to get candid and real about what goes into your success. Whether that’s the painstaking lengths you went through to achieve a swoon-worthy travel shot… or maybe it’s what it looks like to deal with difficult clients.
Here are some ideas across different industries to get you started:
- Service providers: The many hats you wear in your business besides the service you provide
- Food: How long it takes to film one 10-minute YouTube recipe video
- Travel: What travel days really consist of (the unglamorous side of it)
- Fitness: Days where you’re not feeling motivated to workout
Share something that not many people consider when it comes to your niche as long as you’re comfortable with it.
Before and After transformations
Before and After reels are great for gaining traction and increasing engagement.
Why? Because people can’t help but stay for the transformation!
People are naturally curious, so they want to know what happens after. This isn’t just for weight loss and fitness goals… Before and afters could include:
- Room transformations and home decor
- Life working at a 9-5 vs. full-time online course creator
- Creating a content calendar from scratch to fully filled out
Answer FAQs
This quick and easy content idea increases engagement while positioning yourself as an authority in your industry.
There are several ways to do this:
- Use the “reply to” feature on Reels to respond to a comment
- Comb through your DMs and pick one of the most commonly asked questions to answer
- Look at your comments and answer some of the most frequently asked questions
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know that looking at your DMs and comments is one of my favorite ways to create content. It’s also a fantastic (and foolproof) way to ideate the most profitable topic for your online course.
B-Roll Clips to Set a Vibe
Really strapped for time? Or maybe you’re in a creative rut with no end in sight?
String together some B-roll footage into a simple Reel like the one above, simply for the vibes. The key here is picking an audio clip that fits the aesthetic and mood.
Listicles and Round Ups
This is your permission to create a Reel that has nothing to do with your business. However, if you want to create a roundup related to your niche, be my guest!
Creating a listicle or roundup is a quick and easy way to stay consistent with your Reels content, especially if you’re in a creative rut.
Here are some ideas to try out:
- A roundup of your favorite podcasts
- Favorite places to eat in the city you’re currently in
- Must-have summer beauty products
- Best self-help books you’ve read
Hop on a Trend
Hopping on a trend is a great way to grow your audience using Reels. But it will require a bit of research on your end.
Spend some time scrolling through Instagram and TikTok. Take note of what trends you’re currently noticing. Then, think about how to best adapt it to your expertise and niche.
The only disclaimer to this is that trends expire pretty quickly. While it is a powerful content idea to fall back on, it’s only effective if the trend is currently relevant.
Repurposes Top Performing Content
Did you catch my blog post all about repurposing content like a pro?
Repurposing your top-performing content into a Reel is a great way to serve your audience something you know they already love.
For instance, you’ve created a carousel about the 5 budgeting hacks for travelers. It receives lots of likes, shares, saves, and comments.
You can repurpose it into a Reel in several ways:
- A talking head where you share the same 5 budgeting hacks
- A listicle/roundup of the same hacks
Tips and Tricks for Quick Wins
As an expert in your niche (or maybe someone who’s just very passionate about it), I know you have a tip or 10 to share!
If you’re in a pinch for content ideas, posting a quick tip or trick is a great idea.
This gives your audience valuable information to help them achieve a win. Plus, the creative ways you can spin this in are endless.
Film a talking head, screenshot your notes app, and slap it on top of some B-roll… As long as you’re sharing a quick and easy tip/trick to help your audience, it’s a win.
Tease Upcoming Macro Content
Last but not least, teasing upcoming macro content is a great way to promote your other marketing efforts, but to also fill up your Reels content calendar.
Tease upcoming podcasts, YouTube videos, or blog posts by either resharing soundbites, clips, or by using one of the above Reels ideas to promote your blog post.
Bookmark This Post if You’re in a Creative Rut!
The best part about these Reels ideas is that you can use them whenever you want.
That means in addition to your regular Reels content, these ideas can be executed to boost visibility and engagement, or maybe to give yourself a little break after months of intense planning.
These Reels ideas are timeless (with the exception of the specific trend you choose), so save this post and refer to it whenever you find yourself in a creative rut.
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