Stuck in a Content Rut? How to make a remix reel on Instagram

Social media content is relentless… and we should know, we have worked in this industry for over 10 years. If you’ve been posting the same style of Reels and watching your engagement slowly flatline, or you don’t have tons of original footage, you might be stuck in a rut.

The good news? You don’t always need to start from scratch. The solution lies in a simple, underutilised feature that allows you to repurpose, react, and redefine content: Remixing Reels.

Remixing has been around for a while, but few brands fully leverage it to shake up their content calendar. Here are the two key ways you can use it to your advantage, starting today.

How to make a remix reel on Instagram

1. Breathe New Life into Your Own Archive

Your old content is a valuable asset, especially if you can get it in front of a new audience or update it for relevance. Remixing your own older Reels is the perfect way to repurpose and create something fresh without the headache of a brand-new shoot.

How to Remix Your Own Content on Instagram:

  • Add Fresh Text & Graphics: Update the on-screen text to reflect a current trend or new perspective.
  • Change the Sound: Swap out the old audio for a trending sound to boost discoverability.
  • Include New Footage: Add a new introductory clip or a concluding thought to give the original video context.

By changing just one element, you bring the Reel back to life and give the algorithm a reason to share it with new segments of your audience who may have missed it the first time around.

2. Leverage Other Brands, Trends, and Memes

Remixing isn’t just for your own library; it’s a powerful tool for community engagement and trend participation. By remixing Reels from other relevant brands, or simply hopping on a meme, you instantly gain context and relevance without having to invent the concept.

This is where you showcase your brand’s personality and expertise.

Strategic Ways to Remix Others’ Content on Instagram:

  • Reaction Videos: Film your reaction to a funny or surprising video. This works brilliantly for lighthearted or relatable content.
  • Offer Commentary/Perspective: Use a dual-screen Remix (the original video plays alongside yours) to offer your expert take or clarification on a topic in their video.
  • Add a Continuation: Take a clip that ends abruptly and provide a continuation or a suggested “what happens next” from your brand’s point of view.

This strategy ensures you are participating in the broader conversation on Instagram, establishing your voice, and showing up where your target audience is already spending time.

Not Sure How to Remix? It’s a Piece of Cake!

The process is incredibly straightforward, meaning you can stop procrastinating and start creating.

  1. Find the Reel you want to remix (it must be a public Reel that has enabled Remixing).
  2. Click on the three dots (…) at the bottom right of the Reel.
  3. Select the ‘Remix’ option near the top of the menu.
  4. Make your changes (record your video, add text, adjust sound).
  5. Publish the new Reel as your own!
  6. Remember to be polite and credit the original Reel in your comments.
How to make a remix reel on Instagram

Ready to Stop Guessing and Start Growing?

Remixing is a great tactical win, but if your social media efforts still feel like a struggle, it’s usually a sign that your foundation needs checking. Are you posting at the optimal time? Are your profiles set up for best performance?

The quickest way to fix the struggle is with expert clarity.

Stop letting your best content go unseen. Book our Fixed-Fee Social Media Audit (starting from £199). We’ll review up to 6 platforms, evaluate content gaps, and suggest an optimal posting schedule so you can be confident every post counts.

Get Your Social Media Audit and End the Content Rut Today!

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