The Makings of a Reel

ALISHA WILKINS: Okay!

So welcome to today's
sort of social media training.

This actually came about
because of a staff assistant.

She wanted to join in
on a brainstorming session

of how I do this kind of stuff,
and I said, "Okay!"

So I thought, let's just have
everybody come in and see

kind of how I go about finding sounds,
making Reels.

I have two topics today
that I kind of have on my mind.

And there's two ways that I approach this.

So I either approach it with,

I have this subject
that I need to make a Reel on.

So today it's either,

"How to Ditch the Holiday Debt,"
or today's actually National Milk Day.

Or, I just scroll,

and I find a trending sound
that could work for us.

So those are kind of
the two mindsets that I'm in.

I don't have anything planned here,

so this is going to be
as raw as it possibly could be.

Just showing the process.

I really hope
that my algorithm keeps my Reels

that come up on my screen appropriate, ha!

But, yeah, I'm just going to go ahead
and share my phone screen,

so you guys can see...

And it might seem a little boring
for you to sit here and watch me scroll,

but when I--when people say,
"How do I--how do you get ideas?"

And I'm like, "I scroll."

That's literally it.
So, if everybody--

You can see my phone, right?

You see, "Early Bird Discount?"
'Kay.

So what I'm going to do is
I'm going to go to Reels,

and I'm going to listen...

Can you guys hear my phone?

No? 'Kay. I'm gonna stop that.

Let's...

Try it one more time.

I didn't check a box.

Share sound...

There we go.

There we go.

Now, can you hear it?
[Seems Like Forever by Cecily]

Perfect.
[Worst Comes to Worst by Dilated Peoples]

So, like I said, I'm just--

I have those two topics in mind.

I have Milk Day or Ditch Holiday Debt,
and I'm just going to scroll.

And it might be kind of boring,
but this kind of how I go about it.

So you see on the bottom-left,

there's that arrow
that says it's trending.

So I kind of look at that
sometimes too, like,

"Okay, is this a trending sound
I could use?"

[Worst Comes to Worst
by Dilated Peoples resumes]

[Bright, upbeat music]

[music restarts]

[No One's Ready by Austin Millz]

[Roslyn by Bon Iver]

Here's one of my favorite
Reel influencers.

If you're looking for it.

[I'll Be Around by Austin Millz]

ONSCREEN: I have to tell you a secret.

ALISHA: Okay.

So this one would be fun to do
"How to Ditch Holiday Debt."

ONSCREEN: I have to tell you a secret.

ALISHA: So I would just click
on the bottom-right...

And it shows us all the audio.

This one's kind of a--

ONSCREEN: 'Kay, bye!

ALISHA: It's been used a lot.
So if I don't know,

I would just save it at the top-right.

Just bookmark it
and s-- come back to it if I can.

[simple piano version of "Heart and Soul"
by Frank Loesser and Hoagy Carmichael]

[drums]

[Worst Comes to Worst by Dilated Peoples]

This is now the second time
I've heard this sound,

So I'm like,
"Okay. Well maybe,

we need to look at it," but it--

[inaudible]
[Planetarium from La La Land]

[Planetarium from La La Land]

>> --you're ever sad,
just go snowboarding.

You'll quickly realize
that your physical health

is in much worse con-

[Riptide (ambient cover)
by Pop Goes Ambient]

[simple piano music]

>> I wanna post a Reel today,
but I don't have much time.

So, here's what I'm working on.

ALISHA: Okay. This would be fun
if you're like,

an agent out in the field.

Or if you're cooking something
for a project.

Or researching something...
[inaudible] ... I think.

[As It Was by Harry Styles,
covered by PREP]

ONSCREEN: I'm okay!

No I'm not.

ALISHA: That would be good
for holiday debt.

So I'm just going to do that one.

Um, so then I'd hit the camera icon.

This might be kind of delayed,
because we got a weird--

So, at this point I would film it.

So, I don't know how it's going to work
with me sharing my screen,

but we're going to try it out.

So.

I'm gonna actually get some props.

Wait, I don't even have any invoices
or bills up here.

I have no paper.

This is where the beauty
of working from home is, is I can--

And usually, I would try to film this
with like a plain background,

so not the stuff behind me.

But today, since I'm connected
with my phone, I can't move.

So then I would film it—let's see.

I would click the timer
so I don't have to...

Alright.

Here we go...

Let's try this.

You guys are gonna see
how funny I look.

I don't know
if the sound's gonna go or not, but.

ALISHA: It didn't work.

Use audio.

There it goes.

>> I'm okay!

No I'm not.

ALISHA: 'Kay.

[countdown jingle]

>> I'm okay!

No I'm not.

ALISHA: Ugh!
See, I messed up. But!

[chuckles]
>> I'm okay!

ALISHA: Oh, Woo!

That was...really embarrassing
to have you guys all watch

I would probably do that like,
seven times.

'Kay?

I'm gonna just, uh...

turn it off.

The sound.

So once you get your lip-syncing there,

if you're doing a lip-sync,
then I would just add like, the caption.

So it'd be like,

[slowly]
"When your credit cards come due."

Oh my goodness.

"...your holiday spending
credit cards come due."

And then I put my tip in the caption.

So I'm gonna just save that one as a draft
and keep going and see if I can find--

[American Beauty by Thomas Newman]

>> [laughing]
This is wha--

[Uptempo dance music]

>> Uhh, can this be a thing?
ALISHA: Trying to find

things you don't have to listen to.

>> [crickets chirping]

ALISHA: Heh. That's a funny one.
I haven't seen that one for a while.

Just crickets, and you sitting.
You wouldn't have to lip-sync it.

>> That's a great question!

I've been wondering that myself.

[slow piano]

>> Probably when you're not looking,
you'll find someone!

Who reads the same books
or listens to the same music

or likes to--

[herewego by jinsang]

>> I feel like that's actually--

[applause and cheering]

This would be one that you
don't want to...uh...lip-sync to.

Maybe if I wasn't gonna...[inaudible]
...pour out like, a glass of milk...

as if we're applauding milk for all the...
[inaudible]...National Milk Day.

[ringing ping, hip-hop beat]

[flowing piano]

This is a super popular, like,
aesthetic sound.

That if you wanted, you can use template,

and just add in media from your own.

So like...

I could go to videos,
and let's say I was like,

"I'm gonna..."

We'll just add some cute pictures
of my baby for a second...

Then it makes it for you.

So you can see it's loading.
[flowing piano]

[flowing piano]

So if you had a variety of clips
from an event

or like a feel,
or like--if you we're like--

[music stops]

Um...

If you had stuff from a garden,

like B-roll, kind of, you know.
Or of a sunset, you could do that.

You can also put images in here.

So, I'll just go to my images.

And we'll just put this one
of my cutie baby in.

[piano continues]
So then--Oh, that's a video.

[piano continues]

[piano stops]
We want a picture.

But these are all--

There we go. We'll do that one.

[Piano resumes] So then it
just has the picture for that long.

So if you didn't have a bunch of B-roll...

Okay!

So then what I would do at that point,
once I've kind of found my sound,

I would come over to drafts...

and I would just edit the Reel.

I'd edit the cover.

There's two ways you can do covers.

You can--err, I guess
there's multiple ways you can do covers.

You can either use a still-shot

from the actual video
by dragging it here on the bottom.

You can add from the camera roll.

So it would be like,

let's add this cute picture
of myself as the cover.

And then over here, it'll show
what would look like on your grid,

if you have, like,
a way you want it cropped.

Another way that I found
that I really like

is actually to go back
and act like you're gonna make a Story.

And take a selfie or, like,
use your prop or whatever.

So it's like,

Meh, I can't do this one-handed.

Boop! And then just like,

So that would be my cover photo.

And then say like,

"How to ditch holiday debt."

And then save that to my camera roll.

So when I go back in
and I'm editing the cover...

ONSCREEN: --kay!

ALISHA: I have basically the same thing,
but I ha--

I can control my facial expressions
a little bit better, [chuckles]

than when I'm, like, doing it live.

So then I could go and change

to what it would look like
on my profile grid.

So!

I know that was a little bit crazy.

But that's kind of where I start
when I'm looking for Reels,

is it honestly starts with scrolling
with kind of an idea in mind.

Or by noticing a trend.

A huge trend
that is up-and-coming is gonna be...

There's--I've noticed Reel--
I should say this:

I've noticed Reel trends start on TikTok.

So if they're popular on TikTok,

then about a week-and-a-half later,
they're popular on Instagram.

So let me see if I can find an example.

And I kind of said this before,

but the best way to know
is by scrolling.

By setting aside time
to scroll and not--

not just jumping on,
"I'm gonna make a Reel,"

and then getting off.

So, spending time in the app,
learning things.

[flowing piano]

So, let me see if I can find one.

[Jump in the Line by Lord Kitchener,
covered by Harry Belafonte]

>> This day--
ALISHA: He's also really good.

If you're looking for somebody
to follow for ideas.

[calypso picks up]

ONSCREEN: This day is bananas. B-A--

[Every Second by Mina Okabe]

OFFSCREEN: Do you feel awesome?
CHILD'S VOICE: Yeah!

>> You're going to want one of these.
ALISHA: This is a good one.

SPEAKER 2: What does it help with?

SPEAKER 1: Everything.

[Palace by ADTurnUp]

[My Tears are Becoming a Sea by M83]

ONSCREEN: My life is good.
[ALISHA chuckles]

Really good.

ALISHA: That would be
a really funny one for like,

"I'm becoming a master gardener",

or, "I joined 4-H,"

Or, "I learned how to can chicken."

Y'know, [imitating Reel] My life is good.
Really good.

This's one of my favorite movies.

ONSCREEN: --I understand, but I'm not s--

ALISHA: Let's see.

[Jazzy barotone sax]

This is an easy one, too.

And then you, blink, blink!

When somebody says something dumb,

Like...

I never...

I never acid test my tomatoes!

Or, I...

Someone thinks that I...

spend time outside--
I dunno, something health-wise.

[Dream by The Pied Pipers]

[Riptide (ambient cover)
by Pop Goes Ambient]

ONSCREEN: This is a dream

that I have had since lunch
and I am not giving up--

ALISHA: Office quotes
tend to be really trendy right now.

I'm a huge Office nerd.

I've probably watched it
ten times at least.

It's probably--anyway.

[We Will Rock You by Queen]

[You Can Fly from Peter Pan,
covered by A Covering]

Cute little music one.

ONSCREEN: [overlapping] Don't do it.
Don't do it. Do not do it.

ALISHA: This... [inaudible]...about

[inaudible] ...really...

ONSCREEN: I don't know if y'all know
but we gon' win.

[Dreamy music]

[Of My Dreams by Sean Angus Watson]

This is--This is an easy video format
that's popular.

Is just like a little--
You can make this in Canva.

Just a little text box
over a video as it like, plays.

So maybe it's a tour of your office.

Maybe it's a pretty B-roll of, um...

Like a garden
or a scenic area in your county.

That kind of thing.

Here's an ad for me.

ONSCREEN: [shushing]

[whispering]
Stop trying to tell me what to do.

ALISHA: [inaudible]
>> I don't listen.

ALISHA: That's a good one.

[simple piano version of "Heart and Soul"
by Frank Loesser and Hoagy Carmichael]

This is a TikTok sound.

I don't dance really well.

Also, I don't feel like
my house has great lighting [inaudible]

[Anymore by Pawns or Kings]

Uh...

[Escapism by RAYE]

ONSCREEN: It's really beyond words.

ALISHA: Yeah! It's Michael.
He is everywhere.

>> So what do you do around here?

>> Like, what would you say that your j--

[huephoria by Septober]
ALISHA: Anyway!

So that's kind of--

Really, it's about scrolling and learning

and then being okay
about looking a little ridiculous

like I did for you guys.

It probably--
So I made this.

Just to give you context, I made this Reel
for my own personal business last night,

and it took me
probably six takes to get this right.

ONSCREEN ALISHA: I promised other people
that I'd be on my worst behavior.

ZOOM CALL ALISHA: So I had to
lip-sync, I had to change stuff, anyway.

Six times.

But as you do it more,
you get better at it.

So I'm going to stop my screen...

right here.

Um...

Yeah.
Was that helpful?

I don't know,
to kind of see where I go...?

I-It's about learning what works for you.

It's about getting in and exploring
and figuring out what your audience needs.

Spending time on social media,
looking at your followers.

What are they posting about?

Looking at your messages,
seeing what are they about,

and then using that
to fit to your content.

2023 is going to be about vulnerability
and authenticity in social media.

The Instagram content report also says

that people are gonna be looking
for brands that embrace sustainability.

So showing how your brand...

um...

can promote those kind of things.

That people are very concerned
about the environment.

They're concerned about upcycling clothes,
especially the younger generation.

Like the Gen Z kind of population.

Another thing to think about is...

—and I kind of explained this to somebody
that Reels are like the--

the spine or the back of a book.

So if you're in a book store,
and you have all these books to look at.

Reels are kind of like,
what captures people's attention

and bring them in.

But then if they open your book,
or if they open to your profile,

and they don't immediately
know what you're about,

or have no desire to follow you,
they're going to put your book back.

So like, that was a really great start.

And the back of the book
or your Reel was awesome,

but they're not following through.

So Reels aren't necessarily...

uh...

successful unless your other grid stuff

immediately promotes
what you're wanting them to get out of it.

So, um, I'm glad Kylee.
[chuckles]

It is super hard to know
where to start with Reels.

Like, what do I even do?

There are reels you can do
that are just about tips

and just put like,
a little background music behind it.

And those are also really,
really good to do.

If you have like,
a specific thing you wanna share

and you can't find a sound or a,

something to...

match with it.

So, for instance, if I was doing...

uh...

the Ditch Holiday Debt Reel

as just like,

a little video, I would just film it
all on my phone

and then just kind of,
make sure I add the captions.

See if I can find an example.
This might be better with an example.

I haven't done one of these
for Extension for a while.

I'm just thinking off the top of my head,
one that I've done.

Or another for, again,
a different brand that I help with.

Let me see if I can find one actually.

So this is one that Sheridan did.

I took a bigger clip
and I turned it into this.

So you could do something like this
and just pair it with some audio.

ONSCREEN: --ng, is a plastic dome.

This should just go right down over
whatever system you're using.

And this will help to keep moisture...
ALISHA: Just a little tip,

from somebody that...
[inaudible]...on your phone.

Or you could do something...

Let's see.

Like this is one.

ONSCREEN: Are you planning
to can food this summer

but not sure if you should use
a water bath canner

or a pressure canner?
ALISHA: Just a quick, she filmed it,

and then I just put a little vlog sound
on the--on the bottom

to make it
a little bit more entertaining, so.

Anyway.

Stop that share...

>> My name's Jenna. I work for USU Ext--

ALISHA: 'Kay!

Well, are there any questions about that?

Anything that you guys
are struggling with?

I wanted this to be more of just...

come with me while I make a Reel.
[chuckles]

Without having to lip-sync ten times
in front of everybody,

'cause my husband makes fun of me enough,

I don't need everybody else
to make fun of me, [chuckling] so.

'Kay.

Well, um,

I will record this.

[chuckling]

I watch Reels at work to get ideas.

Jayc--I watch it on USU Extensions profile
to get ideas for that.

Or if I need to switch--

Like sometimes, other profiles,
I'll get different videos just--

And then if I like the sound,
I send a message

to Extension, so I can make it.

Just make sure
that you're not on your phone

when people come in.

Clearly, if you're like,

front office staff, like, it needs to be

when you're not--

And then if somebody does come in,
or you answer the phone,

obviously put your phone down.

But!
[chuckling]

It helps, so.

Anyway, I hope you guys have a great day,
and I will send out this recording later.

So, thanks!