Beyond the fact that it's completely free (and doesn't add watermarks), we've already explained in several articles that using it can help with your reach (according to the platform's CEO himself), and we've also shown you some tricks to get started in this tutorial we made on YouTube. Of course, everyone has their own preferences; there are thousands of equally (or even more) good video editing tools you can use, many of which also have desktop versions. Unlike Edits, which is still under development. However, if you want to delve into the wonderful world of editing and don't know where to begin, Instagram has shared some tips based on the experience of various creators they asked to learn how to get the most out of the platform's features. Let's talk about the famous "hook." You're probably tired of hearing about the "hook." (Thanks for reading this in the voice of the aliens from Toy Story) Currently, this is one of the most important parts of any video (and really, any content) you're going to publish. Because it's what makes people stay. This hook is what your video editing should revolve around. After all, if that doesn't work, the rest of the video won't either. It could be a phrase that impacts the viewer or an eye-catching visual effect. How do you know if it worked? Once you've published your reel, you can go to the statistics section and scroll down to the "Time people have watched your reel" section. If the first 3 seconds have a high percentage and then the curve remains stable (even if it dips slightly), then your hook worked. Edit to the rhythm of the audio Yes, you read that right. It's no longer just about adding a song you like or that's trending. What makes the difference is how you use that song to give meaning to your video. The great thing is that you can add markers in Edits to mark where the song's rhythm breaks and cut clips right there so the video "follows the beat." Text in videos is more important than you think. Subtitles, text overlays, and visual cues help viewers better understand your video's content. Adding stickers or subtle text effects at the right moments can make all the difference. Use Edits' insights. To find out if your reel performed well, these metrics will be your best friends: Watch time Skip rate Save rate Share rate These will help you determine if your video performed well or if you need to change something about your editing. As I mentioned before, the first few seconds of the reel are the most important. If you see the watch time drop drastically after 4 seconds, there are things to improve. On the other hand, if saves are high but shares are low, the content might be valuable, but not interesting enough to share. Be consistent. Okay, this is the typical advice everyone gives you, but it really works. In many of his Q&A sessions, Mosseri encourages creators to post regularly. However, he always emphasizes that to avoid burnout, you have to find the content that works for you specifically and replicate it at times that allow you to maintain a healthy relationship with the social network. The great thing about Edits is that it has that "all-in-one" philosophy, which saves you time. You don't have to constantly switch between apps to finish a single video. You can publish directly from the app, and it has an inspiration tab that lets you see what's trending. You don't need to be a film director to make a good video; you just need a good script, good editing, and above all, to know what interests your audience. Without knowing that last part, you're lost.