How to create covers for Instagram Reels

Don't know how to create Instagram Reel covers ? If you want your Instagram Reel to capture your audience's attention, preparing a suitable cover for your video is essential. After all, a well-made cover demonstrates professionalism and your dedication as a content creator to please your followers. When it comes to growing on Instagram, actions like buying likes from real Instagram users , followers, and even views work very well. But, if these strategies aren't accompanied by quality content, which includes editing your Reel videos, the results you expect may not materialize. After all, Instagram users don't just want to consume videos and images in any format. For them, it's also important to know that the content was made with care, well thought out, and planned for the target audience. And believe me: any follower easily notices when your content lacks the quality that indicates care and attention. That's why we prepared this article; keep reading and check out how to create Instagram Reel covers with our tips!

Okay, so why do I need an amazing cover for my reels?

If what we explained above didn't convince you, let's discuss this in more detail before explaining how to create covers for Instagram Reels. Making your videos go viral on Instagram is the dream of most content creators, including brands and companies. After all, Reels are the most popular part of Instagram, where platform users spend most of their time. Therefore, including well-made Reels in your content strategy is fundamental to growing on Instagram . And why is knowing how to create covers for Instagram Reels so important in this context? Because your video won't just appear on Instagram Reels; it will also be displayed on the platform in users' feeds and on the Explore tab. So, by having an amazing cover for your Reel, your chances of people wanting to watch your video increase significantly when it appears in these places on the platform. In other words, the right cover can generate more interest in your video, capturing users' attention and convincing them to learn more about your message. Knowing how to create Instagram Reels covers can also help you produce covers that better represent your brand, positioning it as a more professional brand and conveying the values and personality of your business.

How to create Reels covers on Instagram?

To learn how to create Instagram Reels covers , you need to know the right size for your cover. Because, although Instagram Reels has a 9:16 aspect ratio, with a size of 1080px x 1920px, your video cover is not displayed in that ratio by the platform, but rather in a 1080px x 1080px format, in a 4:5 ratio. You can learn more about this in this post here: what is the Instagram Reels cover size . This means that the usable area, in which you should center the content of your cover, such as text and featured images, is smaller than the display area of the Reels video. Therefore, it is essential to optimize your covers so that all the information you want to see is available in the central part of the image, which will actually be displayed by the social network when it appears in the feed or as a thumbnail in the Instagram explorer. But there are other things you need to know about creating Instagram Reels covers that you need to know, check them out.

1. Add a text title to your Instagram Reels cover.

Of course, images are very important, especially on a platform like Instagram, developed for this type of content. But adding an attractive title to your cover is still a valid and recommended strategy. When thinking about how to create covers for Instagram Reels, remember that you often need to say what you want to say directly, instead of expecting people to understand just from the image. After all, image interpretation is very subjective, and except in a few cases where the image truly speaks for itself, leaving your Reels cover without a title can leave room for misinterpretations of your content. Offering a quick text overview of your video's content, and combining this with other strategies, such as buying Instagram Reels views , can increase the reach of your post, making your video more visible on the platform. And to make your title even more eye-catching, check out these tips:

• Opt for short and clear titles.
• Use an easy-to-read font.
• Keep the text in the center of your cover.
• Use a color that will make your title stand out from the background of the image.

Read also: Children's declaration of love: a list with 27 declarations .

2. Use a clear photo and design elements.

Thinking about how to create Instagram Reel covers involves carefully choosing the image you'll use. The best approach is to ditch any standard photos from your gallery and invest in a cover with well-planned design elements, using colors, shapes, and effects that will grab users' attention. Another important point is image sharpness. Remember that when learning how to create Instagram Reel covers, this cover will also appear in a smaller format on the Instagram explorer, and it needs to be sharp to keep users interested in clicking on your video there as well. Therefore, you need to carefully evaluate the quality and unique features of the image you intend to use as a cover. If you don't know exactly how to create Instagram Reel covers, there are some tools you can use, such as Canva's Instagram Reel cover templates , making it easy to learn how to create Instagram Reel covers in a straightforward way. But if you don't like Canva, there are other tools for this purpose, such as:

• Create Vista , with various customizable cover designs.
• Galilai , a tool for creating Instagram posts.

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3. Focus on your brand's personality and visual identity.

When thinking about how to create covers for Instagram Reels, it's also essential to stay true to your brand's visual identity and image. For example, don't forget to include your logo and details in your color palette, as these elements automatically help users recognize your brand without requiring any further reading or analysis. So, when your followers see your video cover, they won't need much effort to understand that the content is coming from your profile. New users will quickly associate your brand's visual style with your content. And that fact alone can make the difference between your Reel being watched or not. Think of your Reels channel as a direct digital marketing channel for your company, brand, or even personal promotion. By treating each part of your video Reels with strategic care, including knowing how to create Reels covers on Instagram, you're marketing yourself, not just posting another video. Want to shine on Instagram, but it's taking you longer than expected? Try buying Brazilian Instagram followers , and see how your profile quickly gains prominence on the social network!

4. Use an image editor to create and enhance your cover.

The reel cover will be the last element you add to your video. Therefore, when planning how to create reel covers for Instagram, you should consider that this element needs to be created separately and receive special treatment. To do this:

• Choose an image editor, or use tools with ready-made templates.
• Choose your background image carefully.
• Think of a good title and choose a design for it that matches the rest of the image.
• Add design elements, such as your logo or other relevant details, for example, emojis.
• Apply whatever filters you deem necessary to improve your image.
• Save your work when you're finished and download it in high resolution to your phone's gallery.
• Before posting your video to Reel, tap on cover image and upload the image you created. That's it, now you can publish it.

This is important because, although you can edit your reel directly on Instagram, the platform doesn't have a built-in tool to create a cover image; it only allows you to select a specific part of your video to be the cover. Therefore, you need to learn how to create covers for Instagram Reels. And, if you want to edit your reels in a separate editor, check out our selection of free mobile video editors .

What's most important in Instagram Reels videos?

Now that you know how to create covers for Instagram Reels , we've prepared some more tips to help you produce even better content. The truth is, creating a video Reel involves planning and creativity. You need to think about content that is original, authentic, and represents your brand. Check it out.

• A clear concept: before thinking about how to create covers for Instagram Reels, you must define a clear concept for your video. You need to know exactly what message you want to convey and think of a creative idea to work with that concept.
• Invest in visual appeal: the video, however simple the concept, should always have an attractive visual. People need to like what they are seeing . This includes both a well-planned cover, which you can create by learning how to make covers for Instagram Reels, and good planning of each scene presented, considering criteria such as setting, lighting, colors, etc.
• Don't forget the soundtrack : Instagram has many free audio tracks available to use as a soundtrack. Choosing a trending song on Instagram that also matches your video can increase the popularity of your content, causing the Instagram algorithm to recommend it to a larger number of people, and leading users to watch the video for longer.
• Duration and viewing time: the maximum duration for Reels videos is 3 minutes, but you will only receive a view on your video if the user watches it for at least 3 seconds. However, ideally you should always think of triggers to encourage people to watch your content for as long as possible.
• Hashtags : Don't forget to select hashtags relevant to your content. But don't overdo it. The best way to optimize your content is to choose only a few hashtags that are most relevant to expanding your reach and focus on them.

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Make a great first impression with your reels cover!

Learning how to create Instagram Reels covers means learning how to make a good first impression with every video you produce. After all, a cover for your Reels is more than just the opening of your video; it's the user's first contact with that content, and it's also an important element in building your brand identity. An attractive, informative, and user-friendly cover can be the difference between clicking and watching the video, or scrolling past it on the Instagram feed or explore page. Remember that! Did you like the tips? Feel free to leave a comment telling us how you create your Instagram Reels covers. Oh, and before you go, check out our essential Instagram download tools and see how easy it is to download your favorite content from the social network.