Should You Stop Using Instagram Reels Trending Audio?

Should you stop using Instagram reels trending audio? People have asked me this question over and over again lately, so I wanted to address it head-on. Maybe you’ve noticed they are not as popular as they used to be, or as effective in growing your audience. We will tackle this question in this post along with 7 tips to using trending audio the right way.

 

 

Whether you’re referring to TikTok, reels, or other video content, is trending audio worth it? I know this is something many of you are wondering and I’m so glad you’re researching it to figure it out. That shows you are doing the work to make sure you’re spending your time in the most effective way to grow your business and online influence. 

It is true that Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, said that Instagram will be prioritizing original content over reposted content. What this means is that they are pushing content from the original creators rather than from an account that is reposting the same content but did not originate it. 

So, it’s true originality is a great skill to have and improve in your content creation. However, Adam’s comment is not directed toward trending audio. It is more directed to the accounts that are only reposting content from other creators rather than any of their own. 

With that being said, trending audio is alive and well and people are using it to grow every single day. I definitely recommend using it as part of your strategy because it’s a great and easy way to grow your biz and help you get discovered.

 

 

7 Tips to Using Trending Audio the Right Way

 

Trending Audio Tip #1: Get on trend early.

The best way to get the most impact from getting on a trending audio is to be one of the first adopters. If you’re scrolling through Instagram and you hear a trending audio 10 or 15 times and you’ve only been on the app for a couple of minutes then you’re probably too late to the game. 

There’s a quick way you can check to see how many people have used the trending audio. Just click on the audio link in one of the reels you hear it in and it’ll take you to a new screen. There, it’ll show you how many people have used it. 

If it’s past 100 thousand then it’s probably not worth it to create a reel using it. The magic range is anything between 30-50 thousand. If the trending audio has only been used within that range, then jump on that trending audio!

Biz Pro Tip: Stay true to your brand when choosing which trending audios to use. There are a lot out there that may annoy you and if it does then chances are it will annoy your audience as well. It’s usually best to stay true to your brand rather than jumping on every single trend. Pick and choose the trending audios that get you excited and would love to share with your people. 

 

Trending Audio Tip #2: Look for the trending arrow.

If you click on the audio at the bottom of the reel, and it shows an arrow pointing up, that means this audio is on the rise. Any time you see that arrow, consider using that audio in your own reel. (As long as you like the sound of it ;))

 

 

Trending Audio Tip #3: Keep it short.

Reels and TikTok videos that are doing the best are under 7 seconds. There is a big reason for this–people will watch them over and over again and you don’t have to keep people’s attention for very long.

The best way to catch people’s attention is to move within the first 2-3 seconds of your video and continue to move every 3 seconds. The movement will keep your audience engaged. 

The movement could be switching the camera angle, zooming in/out, adding text to the screen, etc. And be sure to cut out any dead space throughout the video, even if it’s just a second! This will 100 percent help keep the retention of your viewers. 

 

Trending Audio Tip #4: Use audio that fits your brand. 

I lightly touched on this in the biz pro tip, but choose trending audio that fits your brand. Listen to your audience and what their needs/wants are and go from there. If you see a trending dance video that you feel like you HAVE to do because it’s trending, you actually don’t have to do it. Stay on brand and post content that YOUR audience would want to see. As long as your content is engaging, entertaining, or educating then you’re on the right track. 

 

Trending Audio Tip #5: Diversify your content. 

Do not ONLY use trending audio. Make sure you have a good amount of your own content for your reels too. Posting reels where you are talking to your audience or teaching them something with your expertise is what builds connection and trust with your audience, which is a super important step on their customer journey! 

Creating some talking head videos sets you apart as the expert in your field which is a really big deal. When people can see your face, hear your voice, and experience you teaching them something then it quickly strengthens your relationship with them. Plus, creating a mix of reels will help you gather information on what type of content your audience enjoys the most from you.

 

 

Trending Audio Tip #6: Analyze your data.

After posting a variety of reels (some of your own audio and some with trending audio) for two weeks, look back at your content and analyze your data. Compare your reels and see which ones are performing the best. The ones that have the most views and engagement are the ones you want to keep creating more of.

 

Trending Audio Tip #7: Create content on the edges of your niche. 

Reels and TikTok videos have their own algorithm outside of the rest of the content on their apps. This algorithm is specifically set up to put your video in front of people who do not follow you. Because this is true, it’s a way for you to get discovered by more people who want to follow you. It ALSO means the people watching your reels don’t know you yet. 

Since they don’t know you, create content on the edges of your niche rather than in the center of it. This will help attract more people because it sparks an interest of theirs. If you’re posting things in the center of your niche you may miss out on gaining new followers because they don’t realize you or your products is something they need. If you carefully bring them in with the edge of your niche, you’ll be able to direct them toward the center as they keep viewing your content and get to know you better. 

 

 

Should You Stop Using Instagram Reels Trending Audio?

So, should you stop using Instagram reels trending audio? No, definitely keep using it–just not on every post! These 7 tips to using trending audio the right way will help give you some clarity on your content strategy and you’ll see some amazing results after only a few short weeks. If you want some help on what content to create and the best hooks to use, click HERE to get my FREE guide! And make sure to follow me on Instagram @iammichellegifford to get the best marketing tips and tricks for your biz!