What Is a Reel on Facebook: The Ultimate Guide

Facebook Reels might not be as popular as TikTok videos and Instagram Reels, but they really can become powerful tools in the arsenal of content creators and businesses. 

What are the benefits of Facebook Reels? Over 617 million people watch Reels on Facebook, so it's a great channel if you want to expand your reach. Also, more than 60% of the audience is male, and most of the viewers are between 25 and 34 years old. That's completely different from what we're used to seeing on Instagram and TikTok.

Keep reading to find out more about Facebook Reels and how you can make the most of them.

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The Basics

Facebook Reels are short-form vertical videos that let users create and share engaging content with their audience. You'll find these videos in a few different places on the platform, like in your Feed, on Facebook Watch, and in the dedicated Reels section. 

Since Facebook rolled out Reels globally in February 2022, they've become an important part of the Facebook experience in answer to the growing popularity of TikTok.

Facebook Reel Dimensions and Other Key Characteristics

Facebook Reels have got some specific technical requirements and features that make them stand out from the crowd when it comes to other content formats on the platform.

• File Format: MP4 or MOV
• Resolution: Recommended 1080 x 1920 pixels
• Maximum Facebook Reels Size: 4GB
• Aspect Ratio: 9:16 (vertical format)
• Video Quality: At least 720p

Length and Duration

You can make a Reel anywhere from 3 to 90 seconds long, which gives you plenty of time to get your message across and keep people engaged with what you've got to say. 

And, unlike your regular Stories that disappear after 24 hours, Reels stay on your profile permanently, unless you manually delete them.

Quick Tip:Want to grab attention fast? Start your Reel with a striking visual or key point in the first 3 seconds. Use captions to ensure your message lands, even if viewers watch without sound.

How to Create a Reel on Facebook

Creating from the Feed

1. To get started, just open the Facebook mobile app and look for the Reels section at the top of your feed, right next to Stories. You should see a "Create" button that usually shows up with a "+."
2. Once you hit Create, you'll get a few options to choose from:

• Record a new Reel directly in the app
• Upload existing content from your device
• Import content from your camera roll

3. When you're recording straight in the app, you've got a whole bunch of creative tools at your fingertips. The interface lets you play with:

• Setting video length (3 to 90 seconds)
• Adjusting speed settings
• Adding music or original audio
• Applying effects and filters
• Using the timer function for hands-free recording

Lifehack: save time by creating reusable templates for Reels using third-party video editing tools like CapCut. This helps you maintain a consistent style and speed up content creation.

Creating from the Reels Tab

A key difference between Reel and post on Facebook is that you can create Reels directly from the Reels tab:

1. Navigate to the Menu tab.
2. Select "Reels" from the available options.
3. Tap the camera icon or "Create" button.
4. Follow the same creation process as above.

Advanced Features You Can Take Advantage of

Audio Options

Facebook has got you covered when it comes to audio for your Reels. You can:

• Choose from Facebook's music library
• Use original audio from other Reels
• Record your own voiceover
• Add multiple audio tracks
• Adjust audio mixing levels

The platform is always adding new songs and sound effects to keep your content up-to-date and engaging.

Different Visual Effects

Now that you know the answer to the question “What is a Reel on Facebook?”, you can start using the built-in editing tools to make your Reels look even better:

Post-Production Editing

Once you've recorded or uploaded your content, you can then choose from a few different options for post-production on the platform.

1. Trimming and Sequencing

• Adjust clip length
• Rearrange multiple clips
• Add transitions between segments
• Remove unwanted portions

2. Enhancement Features

• Adjust brightness and contrast
• Apply color filters
• Stabilize shaky footage
• Add or remove audio

3. Final Touches

• Write engaging captions
• Add relevant hashtags
• Tag other accounts
• Set cover image
• Choose audience settings

Quick Tip: Always optimize captions with searchable keywords and hashtags to improve the discoverability of your Reels.

Publishing Your Reel

Before you hit the publish button, you'll need to make a few key decisions.

1. Think about who you're trying to reach with your content:

• Public: Available to everyone on Facebook
• Friends: Only visible to your Facebook friends
• Custom: Select specific audiences

2. Next, you'll want to decide how to distribute your Reel:

• Share to your Feed
• Post to your Stories
• Cross-post to Instagram Reels (that is in case your accounts are connected)

3. Set up some extra options:

• Allow people to remix your Reel
• Enable or disable comments
• Choose whether to allow sharing

Lifehack: Cross-posting your Facebook Reels to Instagram is a great way to maximize reach and save time. Make sure your accounts are linked for a seamless process.

What Is the Point of Facebook Reels for Groups?

Facebook Reels for Groups is a great way to boost community engagement and connection in Facebook groups. By letting members share short, vertical videos, Reels makes the group experience more dynamic and interactive than traditional text or photo posts. This encourages members to spend more time participating in group activities.

There are a few key steps to keep in mind when creating Reels for groups:

Direct Creation Within Groups

1. Navigate to your Facebook Group.
2. Look for the "Create" button at the top of the Group feed.
3. Select "Reel" from the content options.
4. Follow the standard Reel creation process.
5. Choose your Group as the sharing destination.

Sharing Existing Reels to Groups

If you've already created a Reel, you can share it to your Group by:

1. Opening the existing Reel.
2. Tapping the share button.
3. Selecting "Share to Group".
4. Choosing the appropriate Group.
5. Adding an optional message for Group context.

Can You Watch Facebook Reels Without an Account Within Groups?

Just a heads-up: You can't watch Facebook Reels without an account. Unlike on TikTok and Instagram Reels, where you can see some content without logging in, you have to sign up for Facebook to view Reels. This is part of Facebook's overall plan to keep content on its own platform and encourage users to register.

If someone tries to access Facebook Reels without being logged in, they'll get a prompt asking if they want to sign in with a current account or create a new one. 

If you have a direct link to a specific Reel, you'll need to log in to Facebook before you can view it. This is different from some other types of Facebook content that might be visible to everyone even if they don't have an account.

Group-Specific Considerations

When you're putting together Reels for groups, it's important to keep a few key things in mind:

Group Rules and Guidelines

Before you hit that "Post" button, just make sure that your Reel is in line with the following:

• Group-specific content guidelines
• Community standards
• Posting frequency limits
• Content relevance requirements

Privacy Settings

It's really important to get to grips with the privacy implications as well.

• Public Groups: Reels may be visible to anyone
• Private Groups: Reels are only visible to group members
• Secret Groups: Additional privacy protections apply

Facebook Reels vs Videos

Reels vs. Regular Video Posts

Both formats let you share video content, but there are a few key differences:

1. Format and Presentation:
   • Reels: Vertical 9:16 format, optimized for mobile viewing
   • Regular Videos: More flexible in terms of aspect ratios and orientations
2. Discovery Features:
   • Reels: Benefit from dedicated discovery features and may appear in the Reels feed
   • Regular Videos: Primarily shown to followers and through standard sharing
3. Editing Capabilities:
   • Reels: Built-in editing tools, effects, and music options
   • Regular Videos: Basic trimming and filtering options

Reels vs. Stories

• Duration: Stories can now be 120 seconds long, while Reels can be up to 90 seconds.
• Permanence: Any stories you add to the site will disappear after 24 hours, but the Reels you create are there forever.
• Purpose: Stories are great for quick, informal updates, while Reels are perfect for more polished, engaging content.
• Reach: Reels can get more eyes on them because they're posted on their very own Reels feed.

Quick Tip: Use Reels for polished content to attract new followers and Stories for behind-the-scenes updates or time-sensitive promotions.

Facebook Reel vs Post

• Format: Regular posts can include any type of media, like text, photos, and videos in different formats. Reels, on the other hand, are specifically vertical videos.
• Engagement: Reels tend to get more engagement because they're promoted using an algorithm.
• Discovery: Reels are more likely to reach non-followers through the Reels feed.
• Features: With Reels, you've got a wider range of creative tools and editing options at your disposal.

The Facebook Reels Algorithm

Facebook's Reels algorithm is pretty similar to other short-form video recommendation systems in that it puts engagement signals front and center when deciding what content to show users. 

• The system looks at a few different things, like how long people watch a Reel, how many people finish watching (the completion rate), and things like likes, comments, and shares (engagement actions).
• The algorithm also looks at what people tend to watch. So if someone watches a lot of cooking videos or pet content, they'll see more of that in their feed. 
• Another important factor is how often users engage with specific creators. When they do, it shows they're interested and increases the chances of getting more recommendations from that account.
• How fresh the content is makes a big difference. Newer Reels usually get priority in the distribution system. 
• Audio trends play a part too. When a sound or music clip becomes really popular, Reels using that audio may get distributed much more widely. 
• The system also considers other things like video resolution, stability, and text overlay clarity.
• Geographic relevance and language matching help ensure content reaches appropriate audiences. 
• On top of that, the algorithm keeps an eye on negative signals—things like "not interested" selections or quick skips—and adjusts its recommendations based on that.

How Content Is Distributed

The algorithm distributes Reels through various channels:

• Primary Feed
• Dedicated Reels section
• Facebook Watch
• Suggested content

Are Facebook Reels Private? 

You can adjust the privacy settings on Facebook Reels to suit your needs, as they are controlled by the same settings you use for your other posts.

• Public: Anyone on Facebook can see your Reels
• Friends: Only your Facebook friends can view your Reels
• Custom: You can choose specific audiences

How Long Do Reels Last on Facebook? 

Facebook Reels are going to stick around on your profile until you manually delete them. They don't disappear automatically, like Stories do.

But their visibility on Facebook changes over time. When you first post a Reel, it gets a lot of exposure on users' feeds and in the Reels section for the first 24-48 hours. After that, the Facebook algorithm shows more recent content, so the reach naturally decreases. But Reels can still receive views if people visit your profile, share them, or if they keep getting a lot of engagement.

Do You Get Paid for Reels on Facebook?

Facebook has a bunch of ways for creators and businesses to make money from Reels content. Understanding these options can help you come up with a solid monetization strategy for your Reels content.

Reels Play Bonus Program

What is the difference between a Story and a Reel on Facebook? Apart from the length limit, another difference is the fact that you can easily monetize the latter through the Reels Play Bonus Program. 

To qualify for the program, creators must meet specific eligibility requirements. 

• First things first: you need to have at least 1,000 followers on your Facebook account.
• Also, your account needs to be in good standing with no community guidelines violations in the past 90 days.
• Plus, you have to be located in an eligible country where the program is available.

Do bear in mind that at the moment only a select group of creators have been invited to join the program but this might change in the future. 

How are Reels chosen on Facebook and how does the platform determine how much you’ll earn? 

The Reels Play Bonus Program is based on how well your reels perform over a 30-day period, which determines how much you earn. The following factors are taken into consideration:

• How many times your Reels are played during this period. Facebook counts plays differently from views. A play is counted when a viewer watches your Reel for at least one millisecond. To impact your bonus earnings, meaningful engagement requires longer watch times.
• Performance metrics are really important when it comes to your earnings. Facebook looks at lots of things, like watch time, completion rates, and audience retention, to see how engaged people are with the content you create. If people are engaging with your content more, you'll likely get a better bonus opportunity. 
• The platform also looks at how unique your content is. Original Reels often get more engagement than recycled content from other platforms, so they tend to perform better. 

Business Applications

Are Facebook Reels paid? Though not every creator can currently enter the Bonus Program, anyone can take advantage of some other business opportunities. 

• Brand partnerships are a big moneymaker for creators on Reels. More and more businesses are on the lookout for folks who know what they're talking about to spread the word about their products or services through short-form videos. To get those brand partnerships, creators should make sure their brand looks consistent across all their content and that their Reels have high engagement rates.
• Product showcases on Facebook are a great way to get your business or creation in the spotlight! The vertical video format is perfect for showing off what your product can do, how to use it, and even comparing it to similar products or how it's evolved over time. You can also use the shopping features on Facebook to make your Reels shoppable, so your customers can buy your products directly from your page. 
• Another amazing use for Reels is lead generation. You can use it to create content that shows off your expertise or products, which can get interested viewers to your website, email list, or other conversion points. And the best part is the answer to the question “Who gets to see your Reels on Facebook?”. It's the only format on Facebook that can get recommended to users outside of your friends circle, which is great for finding new followers. 

Create Professional Reels Easily with BigMotion

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If you're a content creator, business owner, or social media manager, BigMotion's AI video creation platform can help you produce professional quality Reels 10x faster than traditional methods. 

Try it free today and get a taste of the future of content creation!