On this page
- You know you should make Reels but you have no idea what to film
- Why a few simple Reels beat a feed nobody sees
- The quick answer is one idea per Reel
- Ideas that show your work
- Ideas that answer the questions customers keep asking
- Ideas that feel local to Dorset
- Ideas that build trust
- Ideas by type of business
- If you hate being on camera
- How to film and edit without it taking over your week
- Too much to fit in? I can make them for you
- Questions about Reels for a small business
- Want me to make them for you
What should a small business film for Instagram Reels? One idea per Reel, filmed on your phone, with plain light and text on the screen. Start with before and afters, behind the scenes or the questions customers ask you every week.
You have probably been told you should be making Reels, and then you picked up your phone and had no idea what to point it at. That is normal. This guide gives you ideas you can use this week, a simple way to film them and a way to hand it over if it is all too much.
You don’t need to be good on camera. You need one clear idea, a steady phone and a few words on the screen.
You know you should make Reels but you have no idea what to film
You hold the phone up and your mind goes blank. You don’t know what is interesting about your business, you don’t want to be on camera and you don’t have time to edit. All of that is fair.
The good news is that you already have plenty to film. You do it every day, and it just doesn’t feel like content to you. If you’d rather have someone do this for you, my short-form video service does exactly that.
Why a few simple Reels beat a feed nobody sees
Reels can reach people who don’t follow you yet, which a normal photo post often can’t. They also make your page look active. A customer who checks you out sees recent video and thinks you are open and busy.
You don’t need dozens. A few simple Reels a month, kept up for a few months, do more than a burst of effort followed by silence.
The quick answer is one idea per Reel
Pick one idea. Film it on your phone in plain daylight. Put a few words on the screen, so it makes sense with the sound off. Keep it short.
That is the whole recipe. Everything below is a list of ideas to fill it.
In short:
- One idea per Reel.
- Plain light and a steady phone.
- Words on the screen and a short caption.
Ideas that show your work
These come from what you already do. Try one of each over a month.
Before and after
Anything that looks different when it is finished makes a good one. Film the start, then the end, and cut them together.
- A tidy garden, a clean kitchen or a fresh coat of paint
- A haircut, a treatment room set up or a table laid for service
- A room cleared, a van loaded or a window cleaned
Behind the scenes
People like seeing how things are done. Film one step in the process.
- Prepping the day’s food or setting up for the first customer
- Mixing a colour, measuring a worktop or packing an order
- Your tools laid out before a job
A day in the life
Film a few short clips through an ordinary day and string them together. It doesn’t have to be exciting. The ordinary bits are the interesting ones to someone outside your business.
Ideas that answer the questions customers keep asking
What do customers ask you every week? Each answer is a Reel waiting to be filmed.
Common questions
Choose one question and answer it in a short video, or with text on the screen. How long does it take? How much does it cost? What should I bring?
Myths and mistakes
Say what people often get wrong. “Most people think…” followed by the real answer works well.
Quick tips
One useful tip, in a few seconds. It shows you know your stuff and gives people a reason to follow you.
Ideas that feel local to Dorset
Make it feel like your patch. Mention the town, show a local landmark behind you or tie a Reel to the weather, the season or a local event. Short clips also make good photos and videos for your Google listing, which I cover in my guide to Google Business Profile for local enquiries. Not sure Instagram is the right platform? Read Facebook or Instagram for a small business.
- Poole Quay on a quiet morning, or a harbour view from your window
- Bournemouth seafront at the weekend, or a wet Tuesday in winter
- Christchurch High Street, or the Quay and Mudeford on a sunny afternoon
- A local event, a busy bank holiday or the first warm day
Ideas that build trust
Trust grows when people see who is behind the business. A few easy ones:
- Meet the team. Each person says their name and what they do, in a few seconds.
- Customer thanks. Show a kind message or review, with the customer’s permission.
- Something new. A new product, service or opening time.
Ideas by type of business
Here are a few ideas for each type. Each has its own page with more.
Trades
A before and after, a quick warning sign to look out for and a day on a job. See social media for trades.
Cafes and restaurants
The pour, the plate and the room before opening. See social media for cafes and restaurants.
Clinics and wellbeing
Meet the team, what to expect at a first visit and a calm tour of reception. Keep the wording careful and general. See social media for clinics and wellbeing practices.
Shops
New in, a close up of one product and a local event you are joining.
If you hate being on camera
You don’t have to be in the Reel. Film your hands, your tools, the food or the finished job, and put the words on the screen. Many of the best small business Reels have no face in them at all. My guide to faceless business videos shows how.
How to film and edit without it taking over your week
You need a phone, daylight and steady hands. Rest your phone against something if you can, so it doesn’t wobble. Film in short clips, and put a few words on the screen at the start so people know what they are watching.
Choose a clean cover picture and write a short caption. Then post it. You don’t need any special kit, and the longer you wait for perfect, the fewer Reels you will make. My guide to Reels, Shorts and longer videos covers the YouTube question, and my guide to how often to post shows a rhythm you can keep up.
Keep most Reels short. Instagram says it recommends Reels of three minutes or less to people who don’t follow you yet, and most of these ideas work in under a minute. The rules change, so check Instagram’s own help pages before you rely on a number.
Too much to fit in? I can make them for you
If this is too much to fit around your week, I can make them for you. You send me clips and photos, I plan the Reels and edit them, and you approve everything before it goes live. If I use AI to help, I tell you. See how my short-form video service works, and how I handle your Instagram.
Questions about Reels for a small business
How long should a Reel be?
Keep most of them short and to the point. Instagram says it recommends Reels of three minutes or less to people who don’t follow you yet, but most of these ideas work in under a minute. Check Instagram’s help pages for the current limits.
Do I need to be on camera?
No. You can show your hands, your tools, your food or your finished work, with text on the screen. See my guide to faceless business videos.
How much time will it take?
A simple Reel can be filmed in a few minutes, and a few a month is a realistic start. My guide to how often to post gives a realistic rhythm.
What does it cost to have someone make them?
My packages start from £250 a month. See my pricing page for what each one includes.
Will I see them first if you make them?
Yes. You approve everything before it goes live.
Do I have to sign a long contract?
No. It runs month to month, with 30 days notice to stop.
Will Reels bring in customers?
I can’t promise that. Reels can put you in front of people who don’t follow you yet, and an active page looks open for business.
Will Reels suit my type of business?
Yes. This guide has ideas for trades, cafes and restaurants, clinics and shops.
Want me to make them for you
Tell me about your business and what you would like people to see. I will tell you what I would film first. There is no pressure and no sales pitch.
