Everything You Need to Know about Facebook Reels
Facebook Reels. Have you heard about them? We shouldn’t be too surprised that Facebook added Reels to its platform because everyone is LOVING short-form content. In this post, we’ll cover what Facebook Reels are and how you should be using them to grow your business. This is everything you need to know about Facebook Reels!
One thing we know for sure is that social media platforms reward early adopters. So, if you start using Facebook Reels now then your videos will get shared and highlighted more than they will if you started doing them later after more people have started using them too.
If you’re thinking, “Great, just another way I have to start promoting my business.” don’t lose hope just yet. Facebook Reels are actually really easy to make and post! It is just a few extra steps, but thankfully no extra work of creating content is needed–especially if you are already creating Instagram Reels and/or TikTok videos.
What are Facebook Reels?
Facebook Reels are short 30-second videos. They are very similar to Instagram Reels or TikTok videos. You can find these Facebook Reels in your Facebook app (it can only be accessed through the app as of right now). At the top of your home page, you will see a Reels feed right next to your Stories feed.
Once you click on your Reels feed you will be able to see Reels other people have posted and this will also be how you upload your own Reels.
When you go to post a Facebook Reel it allows you to choose who can see your Reel. This is actually a really cool feature that is exclusive to Facebook. You have three options when it comes to who can view your Reels. They are the public, your family and friends, and you can even exclude specific people from seeing your Reels.
How Instagram Reels and Facebook Reels Work Together
Right now, on Instagram, you can choose your Reels to show up on Facebook as well. However, there are a few limitations to doing it this way.
Limitation #1: People can see your Instagram Reels on Facebook, but they cannot comment on them unless they are in the Instagram app.
This could hurt your engagement in a huge way because most likely people will not be willing to transfer to the Instagram app just to comment. Plus, you run into the problem if Facebook users do not have an Instagram account.
You can tell which videos originated on Facebook vs. Instagram by a watermark that will be at the bottom of a Reel. If the Reel has a little Instagram icon in the bottom corner of the video, that means the Reel originated on Instagram and was posted over to Facebook.
Limitation #2: If you look at your Analytics, you will be able to see how many people viewed your Reel on Facebook, but you will not be able to see which specific users viewed it.
I personally like to see who viewed my Reels because it helps me know what type of people are taking the time to look at my content and helps me get to know my audience better. (That way I can create more content that they will want to see.)
Why You Should Be Using Facebook Reels
If you’re already creating Reels for Instagram and/or videos for TikTok, you might as well be posting them to Facebook too. It would be interesting to see how many views you get on each platform, and which one performs best for you.
I’m going to be testing these new Facebook Reels out for my business over the next month or so. We don’t have a lot of data to show which one will perform better, so I’m just going to do my own experiment!
If you want to test it out too, all you have to do is download your Instagram Reel and then upload it to Facebook. I recommend taking off the watermark on your video. It’s really easy to do:
- When you’re watching your Reel, click on the three buttons and click “copy link.”
- Go to snapinsta.app and paste the link there.
- Download it to your phone and then upload it to Facebook.
Doing these 3 quick steps will make your Instagram Reel look like a fresh new video and will not have any watermarks on it when you post it as a Facebook Reel.
Best Business Strategies for Using Facebook Reels
Facebook is a whole new market! It has a LOT of people on it. Looking at this from a business standpoint, you’re going to be able to reach new people and reach them in a way that you can’t on any other social media platform.
There will be a little bit of a shock factor when using Facebook Reels because people aren’t used to seeing this type of content on Facebook. This is one of several reasons it’s a really good idea to start using Facebook Reels sooner rather than later.
What Kind of Content to Create for Facebook Reels
Just like any other content, you are going to try the 4 E’s:
- Educate
- Entertain
- Engage
- Encourage
How can you do one of these in a short-term video? Well, it depends on your niche. For me, I am going to spend a lot of time educating so I can become that authority people can come to and trust when wanting answers about growing a successful biz or using Instagram and other platforms to do it.
I recommend using trending audio when creating Facebook Reels (or Reels in general). It’s also a good idea to use transitions or some type of visual appeal that helps keep people engaged. (I have tutorial videos on my Instagram account here on how to use both of these features.)
The shorter the video, the better. About 7-second videos are working really well on Instagram to where people are watching them over and over again. (Every view counts!)
Everything You Need to Know about Facebook Reels
Alright, that’s everything you need to know about Facebook Reels. Remember, social media rewards early adopters. I can’t wait to see your new Facebook Reels! And if you’re wanting some help on Instagram Reels, check out this post on 3 easy Reels you can do today.
If you follow me on Instagram @iammichellegifford, I have several helpful videos that teach you how to make Reels plus tons of other helpful tips to help you grow your biz. And, if you’re ready to take your business to the next level, join my Money Makers Coaching Group! I promise you’ll see amazing results after joining. And we just make running a business way more fun. I hope to see you there!
Take a look at these blog posts about Instagram Reels you may be interested in:
You said...