A How-To Guide Batching Reels Like a Pro Using ClickUp! (In 4 Steps!)
It’s no secret that Reels are singlehandedly one of the most important tools you need to have in your business tool-belt if you want to see growth on Instagram and your company.
They will help you gain the exposure you need for your biz and have your ideal clients take even more interest in the type of content you post and the services you provide.
Take it from me… I grew approximately 200 followers per month when I finally started using Reels (and I wasn’t even posting as consistently as I could have been).
In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to make sure you’re getting the most out of Reels by planning and batching ahead of time.
And I know that Reels can seem overwhelming at first if you’ve never made them before…which is why I’m going to walk you through how you can batch them efficiently by using ClickUp.
Here Are 4 Steps to Start Batching Reels Like a Pro
When you hear people like me say that you need to get on Reels asap, you might be thinking one of two things:
- I don’t even know where to start
- I bet it’s a lot of work to batch Reels together
But it’s actually not! Not if you have everything prepped and planned prior to hitting ‘record’.
This is your *sign* that it’s time to start cranking out your video content!
With ClickUp, you can easily plan and organize your videos and batch them for a week or month at a time, saving you precious time, energy, and, well…your sanity.
Let’s get started.
Step 1: Set up Your ClickUp Account and Space Prep
Create your ClickUp account. Visit their site and make a FREE account by clicking on the “Sign up” button in the top right-hand corner of your screen (if you’re reading this on mobile, go here).
Create a space. I recommend creating a “Social Media” or “Content” space. Think of this space as the main hub for your social content.
Create a video folder. You’re going to add a “Video” folder under that space. This folder will hold all of your ideas for videos (Reels, TikToks, Lives, Instagram TV, YouTube etc.).
Manage your statuses. Once you’re in the Video folder, you need to manage your statuses. I like to categorize them in this way to make it easy for me to look at:
- Brainstorm
- Next to film
- Filming + Editing
- Caption Written
- Graphics Created
- Ready to Post
- Posted
Having multiple statuses for the Reel to move through will help you know exactly where everything is in the production process, from brainstorming to posting.
Check out my Reels Planning Template for how I set this up:
Create custom fields. At this time, I only use the “Short Text” custom field, and I label it “SOUND.” This is where I type out which sound I’m going to use for a reel after I save the audio in my Instagram app.
Alternatively, you can copy and paste the Reel URL that you’re referencing into this SOUND section. That way when it’s time to film, all you have to do is go to the ClickUp mobile app, click the link, and it will bring you directly to the sound you want.
This option is super helpful if you’re a Social Media Manager assisting a client with content ideas.
Brainstorm your ideas. Now it’s time to put all your ideas in the Brainstorm section/status. I also use the “tag” feature to mark whether a video idea is going to be made for a “Reel,” “IGTV,” “Live”, or “TikTok”.
Step 2: Look For Reels Trends and Audio
See what trends are happening. Now that your Reels space is all set up, you’ll want to check out what Reels are popular. Instead of mindlessly scrolling, start to pay attention to what trends or sounds keep popping up on your feed.
Let yourself get creative and think of ways you can make it your own for your niche!
I highly recommend joining Laura Bitoiu’s “Reels Report” membership where you get sent four trending Reels audios and prompt ideas straight to your inbox every Monday morning.
Something to keep in mind, as well, is that trends typically originate on TikTok and then slowly make their way over to Instagram a few weeks later.
Save the audio. Select the bottom right sound/album icon and then SAVE AUDIO to save a song’s audio. This audio will now be in your “Saved Sounds” folder, where you’ll find it when you’re ready to film.
Write out your description for each Reel. Within each task description, I like to map out the general concept of the reel. For example, my unique take on the trend and the text I want to overlay on the video. I also write my captions in this space too.
PRO TIP: Write out a few ideas if you’re not exactly sure what you want to do with a Reel just yet! I have found that jotting down a few different directions helps me narrow down the most effective one.
Step 3: Schedule a day to film
Schedule a day to film your Reels. You’ll want to take time out of your week to do this. For example, if you like filming Reels on the weekends because that’s when you have free time to do so, do it! Or maybe you have better light in your room and higher energy on a weekday morning, do whatever works for you!
For reference, I block off 2 hours on Saturday (maybe once or twice a month) to batch my Reels. I’ve gotten faster at them over time so I can knock out about 7-10 Reels in that time.
PRO TIP: You don’t need to start with the crazy transitions and special effects. Get your feet wet by trying a short lip-sync video or a simple one where you’re pointing to text on the screen.
Here’s a link to my tripod and ring light that I use for filming if you’re in the market for some equipment!
Step 4: Batch Reels and Post
Now that you’ve brainstormed your Reels for the entire month, it’s time to start batching like a pro!
Here’s what I do:
Create a Reel. Get on the Instagram app, and select the audio button for the sound you want to use. Remember, where you saved which audio sound you want to use in the ClickUp? This is where it comes in handy because you know EXACTLY what sound you’re looking for.
Save the Reel. After you’re done filming your Reel, tap Save to drafts.
PRO TIP: Remember to also download the video because Instagram sometimes glitches! I know so many people who have lost their drafts of reels and that would suck if it happens to you. So make sure to hit that download button!
Batch the Reels. Now let’s start batching those Reels! You’ll continue this process until you have a good amount of Reels recorded, saved, and downloaded.
And in ClickUp, you’ll move your status from Next to Film to Filming and Editing.
When I’m batching my Reels, I love to use this time to edit. I put the text to overlay, do any quick effects, and write the captions. And then figure out which Reels I want to post.
Again, I’m moving the video titles in ClickUp, updating the statuses as I do these tasks. This helps you keep track of everything and where you are in the process.
PRO TIP: I personally don’t have a formula for posting specific reels on specific days. I post whichever ones I can edit and get ready first to post.
Post Reels when ready! This is the last step! Make sure Reels get posted at the time your target audience is watching.
And if you need extra help in all things Reels, check out this video from my girl Millie literally telling you a simple, easy-to-follow guide on filming Reels.
And that’s it! I hope this was helpful. I promise if you streamline and organize your Reels batching system, your consistent and valuable content will be reaching so many more people than you ever thought possible.
And as you keep practicing this and getting more efficient with your Reels, you’ll be batching 10-20 videos in no time.
If you’re a visual person, check out my Reels Batching System here.
In fact, to make it even easier for you, make sure you [[grab my customizable template]] and you’ll start cranking out your content like never before.
And if you’re still feeling confused and lost, shoot me a DM about setting up a 60-minute strategy call so we can go through this together and brainstorm your Reels for the month!
Did you find this system helpful? Do you have a Reels strategy in place or are you posting once in a blue moon?
Let me know in the comments!
