How Facebook Reels Can Grow Your Overall Engagement

This was originally posted on April 26, 2023 and was updated on June 19, 2023

Facebook might not be at the top of your social media marketing priority list these days, but a little shift in your Reels strategy could change that.

According to first-quarter data for 2023, Facebook had 200 million daily active users (DAU) in North America alone and over 2 billion DAU worldwide. Facebook had 2.9 billion monthly active users worldwide as of January 2023. That’s more monthly users than any other social media platform.

The bulk of Facebook’s users fall between 18 and 44 years old, with the biggest age range being 25-34.

Because of its massive user base and Meta’s love of Reels, reviving your Facebook Reels strategy could be a one-way ticket to skyrocketing reach and building brand awareness in 2023.

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What are Facebook Reels

Facebook Reels are pretty much the same as they are on Instagram– short, often trend-based videos that use a blend of unique editing tricks, sounds, and filters to connect with viewers.

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• Talk about Reels and Facebook and how they perform. For example, many people watch videos/ Reels on Facebook (what audience/ mention demographics).

How to Create Facebook Reels

#1 Open the Reels Tab

Open the Facebook app then tap the “Menu” icon on the bottom right of your screen. Next, tap the “Reels'' icon. This is where you can create and view Facebook Reels.

#2 Add Media

Tap the “Camera” icon on the upper right corner of the Reels newsfeed. From here, you can record directly or upload pre-recorded video clips from your camera roll.

#3 Edit

Use the Reels editor to combine your video clips, photos, text, effects, sounds, and filters to create a highly engaging short-form video.

#4 Add a Caption and Hashtags.

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.

#5 Share

Click “Share Reel” to make your Facebook Reel public to your audience, both old and new.

How Facebook Reels Can Help Grow Your Business

January 2023 data shows the average Facebook post gets .07% engagement. Here are Facebook’s global engagement rates broken down by post type:

• Image/photo posts: 0.12%
• Status posts: 0.11%
• Video posts: 0.8%
• Link posts: 0.3%

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While photo posts and plain text statuses are winning, video still yields an above-average engagement rate.

These stats refer to all videos, not Reels specifically. Shortform video is designed to be highly engaging. Everything about Reels– from their length to their filters to the way they are presented in a dedicated feed– makes them more engaging than a regular Facebook video.

The more engagement you get, the more signals the Facebook algorithm has to fuel its recommendations. That means one highly engaging piece of content could be the boost you need to get eyeballs on the rest of your content.

How to Revive Your Facebook Strategy By Repurposing Instagram Reels

#1 Make Your Short-form Video Content

You’re probably already making short-form content for Instagram Reels or TikTok, which makes this easy. If not, now’s the time to get started. When algorithms launch a new feature, they support users who utilize it. Posting short videos on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and even Pinterest can fast-track your social media success.

#2 Save Without the Watermark

If you use a third-party editing app or create your edit on TikTok, be sure to save your video without a watermark. This will keep the algorithm from flagging your video as a repost. Users may also feel more compelled to engage with content that looks and feels at home on the platform. You can remove the watermark with a third-party app or by cropping, but bypassing this step by saving your video without one will make your life much easier.

#3 Build Out Your Content Calendar

Facebook Reels should get you plenty of engagement, but they don’t have to make up your entire content calendar. Photo posts and plain text statuses are also highly engaging on Facebook.

Build out your content calendar with a mix of Reels and other formats so that the algorithm has plenty of content to recommend to users who engage with your videos.

#4 Post Your Facebook Reels

The best part of this strategy is how easy it is. If you’re already posting Instagram Reels, you’ll be prompted with the option to share them on Facebook as well.

If you are using PLANOLY to plan and schedule your content, you can post your Reels to both Facebook and Instagram in a single click using our multi-channel content planner.

All the Instagram Reel features you know and love work for Facebook, too. Seamlessly upload your video content, plan, organize, and auto-post your Reels to both platforms. Click here to get started.