Although Instagram Reels have been with us for some time now, it’s only now that business owners are starting to think about how this could benefit them and is it something they want to add into their content marketing plan. Not only that, sometimes it can be a confusing decision between Stories & Reels. So with that in mind… What are the differences between Instagram Reels & Stories?

First up, you’ll find both of these in the same section of Instagram, so both are easy to access… Alongside Live also.

Stories last 24hrs

The main difference is the longevity of Reels Vs Stories…Instagram Stories only last 24 hours (unless saved to a highlight). So they are very much there to serve as a behind the scenes ‘story telling’ tool.

Reels on the other hand stay present on your dedicated Reel feed indefinitely. So that message can always be viewed and right now Reels are still being shown on the explore page for a number of days.

Execution

Most of the tools are similar, in that there is music options, gifs, texts on both… So you might be thinking I could just post that as a Story. But it’s the execution and essence of Reels that’s different.

Stories, although 15 seconds in length, have inherently being used to story tell… So you can be there for 4-5 Stories listening or reading about something.

Reels on the other hand are largely used to convey a message in a quick & concise manner (and in a creative way). Making businesses think more creatively and when it comes to being quick in execution… I find there isn’t time to think about much else beyond executing the message. Which I quite like. It almost leads you in a more natural direction and lets you ‘just be you’.

If you’re looking for the dimensions for Reels cover images, you can find that here.

Discoverability

When it comes to Reels, they are currently being featured on the explore page, Stories aren’t! So it’s a really strong way to get people to discover your account in the first place. Excellent for topping up that buying cycle in your business!

Stories, although can be discovered via hashtags, it’s less likely. This format is more for those who are already following you… So great for nurturing people in your buying cycle.

Shareability

Stories can be difficult to share. Sometimes you need to screen record something if you really want to share it… Which let’s face it, people just won’t do.

Reels though… Super easy to share! Which again aids discoverability on the platform and keeps that buying cycle topped up!

So which one is your favourite execution? I love both, but really enjoying Reels. You can find me on @contentclarity on Instagram.