✳ PLAYBOOK · TEACH · INSTAGRAM REELS
YouTube tutorial on Instagram Reels
Produce a long-form YouTube tutorial that walks viewers through a topic step by step.
What to produce
- Long-form YouTube tutorial - 16:9, 600s
- Companion 60s clip - 9:16, 60s
Recommended inputs
- Long-form recording + slides + voiceover
Platform-specific guidance
- Hook
- Lead with motion; Reels favours strong visual hooks.
- Aspect
- 9:16
- Duration
- 60s
- Captions
- Burned-in recommended
- Reframe 16:9 to 9:16
- Yes
- Safe-zone overlay
- Apply before upload
- Caption guidance
- Burned-in lower-thirds; Reels tolerates heavy captions.
Workflow
- Outline the tutorial: Cap at 6-8 main sections.
- Record section-by-section: Use chapters in the upload.
- Companion short: Cut one strong section into a 60s clip. (Workflow)
- Upload long + short: Long as 16:9; companion as Shorts. (Export preset)
- Reframe for Instagram Reels: 16:9 to 9:16 reframe; subject tracking. (Reframe)
- Apply platform safe-zone overlay: Use the Instagram Reels safe-zone overlay so subjects stay visible. (Safe-zone)
Pitfalls to avoid
- Tutorial that never resolves
- Missing chapters
Tools and presets
Frequently asked
How do I make a youtube tutorial for Instagram Reels?
Outline the tutorial; Record section-by-section; Companion short; Upload long + short.
What aspect ratio should I use on Instagram Reels?
Use 9:16 (Instagram Reels's safe native ratio).
Do I need burned-in captions on Instagram Reels?
Yes - Instagram Reels feeds are predominantly muted, so burned-in captions are essential.
Which export preset should I pick?
Instagram Reels's SAFE_DEFAULT preset is documented at /tools/export/instagram-reels/reel.
Sources
YouTube Help - Creator playbooks (verified 2026-09-18) - HubSpot content types overview (verified 2026-09-18)