The Instagram reel cover is the image that acts as a thumbnail for your reel. When your reel is displayed on the home feed, your account’s feed, and on the explore page, the Instagram reel cover is shown.
When a user clicks on the reel to view it, the cover gets removed and the video is played instantly.
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Why should you even think of an Instagram reel cover?
If you don’t choose a reel cover, Instagram chooses one automatically from the reel video you’re posting
And more often than not, it is not the best choice.
Now that Instagram has introduced this feature using which you can upload any image as the reel cover and even change the cover on a reel you posted before, why not make the best out of it?
Purpose of an Instagram reel cover
- To briefly describe the content of the video
- Look attractive enough to make users click on the video >> boost your views!
- Maintain the overall aesthetic theme of your Instagram profile/feed
- Create a sense of urgency, and make the viewer interested in what’s coming next
How to create an Instagram reel cover
Your reel cover can be anything ranging from a simple good picture related to the video you’re posting or it can be like an infographic.
If you’re sharing or talking about a topic in your video, put that as text on your Instagram reel cover so that people know what they can expect from the reel even before playing it.
Because on your Instagram profile feed, they can only see the cover and not the video being played.
Instagram Reels always perform best when they’re shared to your profile grid, but they might not be the best visual fit for your Instagram aesthetic.
Also Read: 10 EASY Reels Ideas For Photographers
Instagram reel cover examples
Also Read: 6 Things You MUST Do For High-Quality Instagram Reels
Let’s start creating a reel cover
The size of an Instagram reel cover is 1080×1920 pixels and in a 9:16 ratio.
The simplest kind of cover is a good-quality picture.
You can get creative and design covers that have texts, emojis, and exciting design elements on them.
Canva has a great collection of ready-to-use Instagram reel covers templates, check it out here.
Although, the quickest way to make a cover with text and emojis on it is right on the Instagram app!
Simply open Instagram and head to the section where you create a new Instagram story.
Either choose ‘create’ to get a solid colored background or import a photo from your phone’s gallery and start typing out text, and drawing on it.
In the end, remember to save the story to your phone instead of posting it.
Quick note: While creating the cover, remember that only a 1:1 area in the center of your 1080×1920 pixels cover will be visible on your profile’s feed.
Try to put the most important elements of your design in this 1:1 area itself.
Some other apps you can use to edit attractive reel covers are PicsArt, Unfold, and Storyluxe.
Time to put the cover to use!
When you reach the final step while posting your reel, the ‘edit cover’ option will appear on the screen.
Click on it and tap on ‘add on camera roll’ written at the bottom to upload your reel cover.
You can also adjust the position of the reel cover on the profile grid.
How to add a cover to a reel you posted before
- Open the reel from the reels tab
- Click the three dots on the right-hand side of the screen and select ‘edit’
- Go to “Cover” on the reel preview image
- Select a cover from your phone. The feature to adjust a reel cover for a profile grid isn’t available for a previously published reel.
Also Read: VN Video Editing App: Top 5 Features That I Love
