Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. Not Everything Has to Be a Reel

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know it’s all about reels right now. TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts. Quick cuts, trending audio, the endless scroll. I am a sucker for them!!! The wisdom of the moment says if you’re not cranking out video content, you’re irrelevant

BUT, I have a small subset of friends who may indulge in the occasional YouTube Short, but would rather sink into a 500-word commentary. Some would rather linger over a single photograph, letting it tell its story in silence. They’re not the majority, but they exist—and more importantly, they matter.

More Than Just Numbers

The internet is obsessed with scale. We’re taught to measure everything in views, likes, and follower counts. Bigger numbers equal bigger influence, right? But not every form of influence works that way. Think about the last time you came across a piece of writing or an image that stopped you in your tracks. Chances are, it wasn’t because it had millions of views. It resonated because it was exactly what you needed in that moment.

People Have Preferences

That’s the beauty of the internet right now: it’s a buffet. Yes, reels dominate the main stage, but off to the side are where words and still images thrive. Not everyone wants to keep up with the frantic pace of the feed. Some people want to read. Some people want to think. Some people want to look, without needing a voiceover to tell them what they’re looking at.

Some assume that if they don’t appeal to millions, they won’t matter. But that’s not how preference works. People are picky, sometimes deliciously so. Some want to binge thirty-second dance clips, others want long essays, others want black-and-white portraits that remind them of their grandfather’s photo albums. Different formats scratch different itches.

The Power of Small Audiences

If you’re a creator, the question isn’t “What’s the trend?” It’s “Who do I want to talk to?” Maybe your work will never pull in a million views on TikTok, but maybe it does light up that small group of friends who show up every time you post. That’s not failure—that’s connection.

And those smaller audiences? They’re often more loyal, more thoughtful, and more willing to support you in the long run. A thousand people who genuinely care about your work are worth more than a hundred thousand who barely remember it after swiping past.

Redefining Success

So yes, the pressure to produce reels is real. The numbers are tempting. But I want to remember there’s still an audience for the quiet commentary, the thoughtful photograph, the slower pace. It may not look like much next to the viral juggernauts, but it’s enough. More than enough.

Sometimes success isn’t about chasing the biggest crowd. It’s about showing up in whatever format makes sense for them.