When it comes to marketing, I’m constantly telling agents that there’s no need to start from scratch. The smartest approach is to find what’s already working and make it your own. That’s why I want to share an Instagram reel my social media team recently tested, so you can see exactly how to create it yourself.
Earlier this year, we posted content for three agents on the Acree Brothers Realty Team, the #1 team in Lynchburg, Virginia. Out of all the content we posted, our top post was the same on all three accounts (which is very rare). This one post reached four to five times more accounts than the next highest post.
Why it works
The genius of this idea is that it increases the watch time of your video. The longer people watch, the more Instagram’s algorithm assumes that the content is engaging and valuable. As a result, it will extend your reel’s reach, expanding your brand’s presence.
How it works
Even though the video we created is only five seconds long, our analysis shows that people watched it for about eight seconds.
How to make this reel
There are two parts to crafting this Instagram reel. First, you need to select your hook and film your video.
1. Use this exact ChatGPT prompt to create your hook. If you were a real estate agent wanting to make a post using this line, ‘The one thing that changed my mind about ________,’ what would you use to fill in the blank? Please provide 10 examples with a reason for each one. ChatGPT will return 10 examples specific to real estate. Choose the one that resonates the most with you, preferably something that you can expand on with a personal story or client experience. (More on that in a minute.)
2. Record your video. Shoot a five-second clip that visually connects to your chosen topic. As a way to represent the transition to homeownership, we created a video about why consumers should buy rather than rent and recorded my social media manager unlocking the front door to a home.
3. Edit the length of your video. Open Instagram and click the + button at the bottom center of your screen. Select the video you just recorded, then tap Next. Press and hold the slider at the bottom of your screen, dragging it to shorten your video to five seconds. When the length is correct, tap Next.
Take action
This reel is one of the easiest to create and test using your own Instagram account, so take 10 minutes this week and try it for yourself. Using ChatGPT to suggest your hooks makes the whole process super simple, and once you get the hang of it, you’ll be recording and posting them with ease.
