How To Use B-Roll Content Clips In Instagram Reels
How do I use B-roll Content Clips for Instagram Reels?
B-roll footage is useful, inspiring, and fun, but I see so many accounts using their clips just once and never repurposing them to their fullest potential. As a brand photographer who offers short-form videos, I'd hate for you to miss out! If you have been wondering how to use B-roll clips for Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts or even LinkedIn, this guide is for you.
What are b-roll video clips?
These are short, usually candid-style videos that look like we are getting a peep at you in the midst of your day. You could be working at your desk, making a coffee, flipping through a favourite magazine… These clips are doing especially well as stand-alone videos on Instagram Reels, but I've also seen them getting used on TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and LinkedIn, which is really pushing video content at the moment. Here’s an example of one of my fave B-roll clips I've been using this past year.
I love them because you can use them as “long photos”, as somebody who doesn't like talking to the camera, or incorporate them into chatty videos where you need the keep the audience’s attention. I've noticed my longer videos are much more engaging now that I add B-roll in regularly… there’s more on how I do this below.
Why are B-roll clips so impactful right now?
I say right now, but the truth is that this style of video has been huge the last couple of years! Most major social media platforms are pushing short-form video, and I've found B-roll content clips were the ingredient that made it easier for me to show up as an introverted brand owner. I love using them as a low-stakes way to create video content, with as little faff as possible, or to enhance longer clips when I’m feeling brave. If you are keen to step into short-form video but don't know where to start, B-roll clips are a great place to begin and it’s where I grew my confidence on Reels.
What ways can I use B-roll on Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, or LinkedIn?
I've got you! B-roll video is versatile and almost infinitely reusable… Let’s dive into my favourite ways to use B-roll videos in my content.
b-roll video background, big lessons in text in the foreground
This is my favourite way to make a quick Reel and it feels like the evolution of the classic Instagram text post! Choose just one video, clip it to be short and sweet, then overlay some lessons or insights on top. Find a trending or complimentary audio and share some value!
You can see this in action here.
Combine three or more clips with a thoughtful text overlay
Similar to the above, instead of using one B-roll content clip, why not combine a couple? This is a great way to reuse B-roll clips in a way that’s still fresh and interesting to your audience but requires minimal extra work from you. Try an inspiring quote with your thoughts on it in the caption, or a longer paragraph of thoughts – you can see me doing this here.
create a clip compilation to tell your brand story
Let’s find some clips that illustrate your journey as a gentle founder, and combine them!
These can really help create a narrative around your brand, helping your audience feel they are on a journey with you. I post these a couple of times a month to help my audience feel like they are part of my team and seeing me grow as a brand owner! Here's an example on my Instagram.
use b-roll content clips to break up a chatty video
I love the connection of a video where I get to talk straight to camera, but I don't want folks to tune out while I chat… Enter B-roll content clips! I love to add in clips from my work to keep the viewer’s attention even in a video that’s a couple of minutes long. I suggest using clips that tap into the theme of what you are talking about where possible so that you aren't distracting the viewer’s focus but are instead enhancing it.
Here's me doing this as an example.
post a short clip with a hook to the caption
Another one for my Instagram Reels-phobes, this is a classic text post in a slightly different format. I like to keep the text minimal on-screen, with something to hook the viewer’s attention, then post “Here 👇🏻” in the first line of the caption to prompt them to read it.
A great option to dip your toes in if you are new to Reels – here’s an example from my Instagram.
Use b-roll clips to support vlogs of your day
One of my most popular pieces of recurring content are my mini vlogs, and B-roll is so handy to have when telling these stories! I film my day as I go, but sometimes a clip didn't turn out how I planned! This is when I get to fall back on my B-roll library to help finish my vlog.
Here’s an example from this summer!
There you go my loves!
I hope this comes in handy for uplevelling your video content, with lots of ideas on how to use B-roll clips for Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, or maybe LinkedIn.
If you would love a creative hand capturing B-roll footage for you, don't miss the waitlist for my short-form video service, Content Clips!
In the meantime, lots of love and happy Wednesday,
Anna xxx
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