Have you heard that Reels is going Facebook global? Let’s talk about what that means for you and your business! Reels is Instagram’s fastest growing content format which no doubt is helping to attract and keep U.S. users on the platform for an average of 29 minutes per day. With more than 2 billion active users worldwide, that is a lot of content being consumed daily.  

Studies have shown that users spend half their time on Facebook and Instagram watching videos, prompting Meta to expand Reels from Instagram to Facebook as well. All you need to do is scroll through your newsfeed on Facebook and you will see that most of the video content being shared and engaged with is video. By tapping into this content trend, you can really expand your reach and grow your following. 

What are Reels and Why are They on Facebook? 

If you aren’t already using Reels on Instagram, they are fun, short form videos with a wide range of editing tools to create an entertaining content experience. What is more, they offer unique potential for creators to monetize their content. For businesses, they attract, entertain and even retain an engaged audience interested in a product or service. You can find Reels on Facebook in the Newsfeed and in Watch and Groups. Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, even recently announced that video content is receiving the most engagement on all platforms — not to mention Facebook. Facebook's newsfeed is almost entirely made up of videos these days which is why Facebook's Reels expansion is a natural next step. 

Now that you know what Reels are and where to find them on Facebook, let’s look at how to create them and more importantly, why you should. 

How to Create Facebook Reels

Easy as 1,2,3… 4!

Let’s look at how to create and post Reels on Facebook in three easy steps. 

Step 1:  Open the Facebook app, tap the “Menu” icon on the bottom right of your screen. Then tap the “Reels” icon on the menu. Here is where you can create and view Reels. 

Step 2: Tap the “Camera” icon on the upper right of the Reels newsfeed. From here, you can record directly or upload an already recorded video from your video library on your phone. You can even put together a series of photos and add text overlay, effects and sound to make it your own. 

Step 3: When you are ready to share, click, “Next.” Write a relevant and engaging caption. Don’t forget to add hashtags to increase your video’s discoverability.

Step 4: Then tap “Share Reel.” 

To see what the end result can look like, check out this popular Reel made by Kurt Tocci with his cat Zeus titled, “what it's like having a cat 😸👑 #comedy #funny #humor #cat #pet #catsofinstagram #reels.” As you can see, it’s short, entertaining and has you wanting to come back for the next video. 

How Facebook Reels Can Help Grow Your Business

#1 Return on Creative Investment

We understand that while Reels are fun, businesses are on Facebook to attract and retain an engaged audience that is interested in purchasing their product or service. The underlying goal is increasing profit. To ensure that you have a positive ROI from your social media content, keep these two factors in mind. 

#2 Facebook Reels Increase Discoverability

Speak to YOUR Audience. The largest audience on Facebook is between the ages of 25-34 and 70% of users are on the app daily. While it’s important to know the statistics, it’s more important to know your own audience to make sure the content speaks to them. Additionally, with Facebook rolling our Reels to a global audience, you may start to reach people who will never be able to purchase from you. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t connect with them and convert them into a brand fan. After all, they may be able to purchase from you one day and in the meantime, they can increase your popularity and brand awareness is powerful!

#3 Facebook's Demographics 

Don’t Ignore the Spending Power. Research shows that Facebook’s audience is highly educated and has disposable income. Yes, creativity should lead in your Reels but it’s okay to consider the potential they have to get a sale as well. There are creative ways to entertain and promote simultaneously. 

The constantly changing social media content landscape can be overwhelming, especially for small businesses running everything on their own. Just when you got Stories down, in came Reels. You may be asking yourself if it is really worth trying something new. The answer is, “Yes!” 

While both can be made up of photos or video, whereas Stories are a 24-hour collection of experiences, Reels are a quick one-shot clip. Think of Stories as a way to share your bigger brand picture with more information. Reels on the other hand are your “commercials” in an effort to reach people and introduce them to your brand. Creating fun, short videos and utilizing the awesome editing features for Reels will reach a wider audience and expose them to your brand. Once they are following along with you, they can watch your stories and see your posts. 

If keeping up with it all further overwhelms you, let PLANOLY’s Reels Planner help. Trust us, the hardest part is getting started. From there, it’s all fun and sales!