If you're a fan of racing, you know that it's not just about speed and competition; it's also about the thrill of the sport, the adrenaline rush, and the excitement of watching drivers push their vehicles to the limit. And if you're a race track or a team looking to reach a wider audience and grow your following, then Instagram Reels is a tool that you can't afford to ignore. See what we did there?
For those not familiar, Instagram Reels are short, vertical videos that can be up to 90 seconds long if recorded in the app or 15 minutes long if uploaded as a pre-shot video though we recommend you don’t max out that time frame, save the long productions for YouTube (They have a place just not here) A reel is often a quick look into the bigger picture and you don’t need to get all fancy with either. By utilizing Instagram’s native editing tools, audio tracks, and filters you can create some bangers that are perfect for showcasing exciting moments from a race or promoting upcoming events at your track; even showcasing your products on cars at races and racetracks.
Whether you’re a driver, a track, a part’s supplier, or a sponsor you can leverage Instagram Reels to reach a wider audience and engage with your fans in so many new ways. Here are some tips for using Instagram Reels to promote what you’re offering:
HIGHLIGHT THE EXCITING STUFF.
One of the best ways to use Instagram Reels is to showcase the best moments from your events. Whether it's a close finish, a dramatic crash, a record-breaking lap time, or a packed house, highlight the most memorable (or controversial) parts to give your followers a taste of the action, it also helps get those who missed an event to come out to the next one with the supper successful motivator- FOMO. You can also use Reels to give your fans a behind-the-scenes look at bloopers, set-up, tear-down, and just what goes on before the lights go out kind of thing. People like it when they feel like they can relate.
USE TRENDING SOUNDS AND HASHTAGS.
Just like on TikTok, everyone’s new favorite place to be, Instagram Reels are often discovered through trending sounds and hashtags. Keep an eye out for popular sounds and hashtags that fit with what you’re filming so you can incorporate them into your Reels. Don’t pick something heavy for a slow-mow shot or something off-beat with what’s happening in the video. Users can quickly identify when something doesn’t match up and are not likely to watch past that point. If you want to increase your chances of being discovered and shared on IG, do a little research into what the people want before choosing your audio and hashtags.
SHARING IS CARING.
Get out there and make some friends. Collaborating with other drivers, events or businesses is a great way to double up on your reach and exposure. If you have a sponsorship contract, dedicated fans, or partnerships with people who are also making content you want to get in on that action. Shares, tags, mentions- they all work in your favor and can help you tap into their followers to grow your own network. Depending on what area of motorsports you operate in there’s likely going to be some organic overlap but it doesn’t hurt to sweep the corners and collect the outliers or break into new demographics.
SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION.
Did you know you can use cool reels as ads and promo content? Because you can and we recommend ya give it a go. Throw up a highlight reel of the drivers who will be competing, showcase the track itself, and give your followers a taste of what they can expect from the event. This can help increase ticket sales and get more people excited about attending your events, especially if what you’re giving is fun to watch or elicits some sort of emotion.
UGC IS YOUR FREE FREIND.
Use your platforms to encourage your fans to create and share their own Reels featuring your track, team, products, services, whatever. It’s simple to ask, you do almost none of the work and it has a track record for bumping up those engagement numbers and building a community around your brand. If you’re feeling really proactive you can even create a branded hashtag that fans can use to share their Reels and feature the best ones on your own Instagram account.
FINAL THOUGHTS?
Instagram Reels is a powerful tool and should be used in every social media strategy. The more dramatic the better but the goal should always be to share exciting announcements, moments, or upcoming events. There are layers to making successful reels but starting with high-quality content, using trending sounds and relevant hashtags, collaborating with others, and optimizing UGC, you can grow your brand and enrich its community. If you’re still not convinced or simply just don’t have the time to manage it, Wildlives Media has put together one of the most talented groups of automotive marketers in North America and are happy to share our collective knowledge to help your brand reach the next level.
