Increase Your Instagram Reels Watch-Time: 5 Tips For Real Estate Professionals
If you think that the amount of views or shares is the biggest indicator of a successful post, think again! WATCH TIME is where you can really gauge if your content is resonating with your followers, so you can stop worrying about vanity metrics.
Today, let’s take a look at how we can increase your Reel watch times and discover how to increase audience retention and capture the attention of your viewers, resulting in wider reach and engagement.
How?
By grabbing attention from the get-go with a strong hook within the first few seconds of your video.
The first 1-3 seconds of your Reel are crucial. You must grab attention and build curiosity right from the start. Use a strong verbal hook that begins immediately at zero seconds and lasts for at least three seconds. This initial hook can greatly increase your audience retention and increase the likelihood of your content being recommended to a broader audience.
Make your videos scroll-stopping by incorporating descriptive text titles. Like a YouTube thumbnail, this engaging element instantly communicates the essence of your video.
Instagram is a visual platform which means your Reel will need to be visually appealing as users scroll through their feeds. Maximize your video's discoverability by including a descriptive text title directly on the video itself. This acts as a visual pattern interruption, serving as a snapshot of what your video is about and encouraging viewers to pause and engage.
INCLUDE VISUAL PATTERN INTERRUPTIONS
Keep your viewers' brains engaged with visual pattern interruptions. Explore techniques like changing camera angles, incorporating voiceovers, and utilizing jump cuts to maintain visual interest.
ADD CLOSED CAPTIONING OR SUBTITLES
Enhance accessibility and boost engagement by adding closed captioning or subtitles. Enable viewers to consume your content even without sound, thereby increasing watch time and overall engagement.
This accommodates viewers who prefer consuming content with the sound off and caters to those with hearing impairments. Whether on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok, most platforms allow you to add closed captions directly within the app, making it a seamless process.
Set watch time expectations for your audience.
By teasing the number of valuable insights or tips you'll share, you encourage viewers to stay tuned until the very end.
For instance, if you're sharing insights about common mistakes in real estate, inform viewers that you'll be covering three specific mistakes. This creates anticipation and encourages viewers to stay engaged until the end, ultimately increasing your overall watch time.
By implementing these five tips— you’ll be able to optimize your Instagram content strategy for meaningful engagement and maximize your exposure.