Instagram reels are short, entertaining videos that users can create and share on Instagram. As of August 2020, Facebook has started integrating Instagram reels into its platform to provide Facebook users access to reels content. Here is a guide on how to enable and use Instagram reels on Facebook:
What are Instagram Reels?
Instagram reels are 15-30 seconds short form videos that play in a loop similar to TikTok. Users can record and edit these short multi-clip videos with audio, effects, filters etc. and share them with their followers on Instagram. Some key features of Instagram reels include:
- Multi-clip videos up to 30 seconds
- Creative editing tools like timers, countdowns, speed control etc.
- AR effects and filters
- Aligning videos and adjusting video speed
- Adding audio and music to reels
- Sharing reels on Explore page to access larger audience
Reels provide a way for Instagram creators to express their creativity, entertain their audience, and reach new users organically. It is also a way for brands to experiment with short video content and viral marketing campaigns.
Why Has Facebook Integrated Instagram Reels?
Here are some key reasons why Facebook has added support for Instagram reels on its platform:
- Compete with TikTok: TikTok has seen tremendous growth with its short video content. By supporting reels, Facebook aims to capitalize on the short video trend.
- Engage younger audiences: Younger generations are more active on apps like Instagram and TikTok. Reels can help Facebook engage with this demographic.
- Provide new creative options: Reels open up new creative avenues for video content on Facebook.
- Drive traffic to Instagram: Facebook owns Instagram, and reels may get more users to sign-up and stay active on Instagram.
- Monetization opportunities: Facebook can potentially share advertising revenue from reels content.
The addition of reels allows Facebook to retain and grow its user base, tap into viral short video content, and explore new monetization options. For individual creators, it expands their reach and presents opportunities to go viral on Facebook.
How to Find Instagram Reels on Facebook
Facebook has made reels accessible across different parts of its app on iOS and Android devices. Here are the main ways you can find Instagram reels on Facebook currently:
- In News Feed – Reels from Instagram pages you follow and other public content may appear in your regular news feed stream.
- Pages and Profiles – Instagram reels can appear on Facebook pages and individual profiles that have linked their Instagram accounts.
- Reels Tab – There is a dedicated Reels tab in the shortcut bar at the bottom where you can discover new reels content.
- Groups – Public Instagram reels may get shared within Facebook groups as well.
- Watch Tab – The Watch tab has a Reels section featuring curated reels.
So whether you are browsing your news feed, visiting a profile, exploring groups or simply discovering video content – you can encounter Instagram reels seamlessly within the Facebook app.
Steps to Share Instagram Reels on Facebook
If you have created a fun reel on Instagram, you can easily cross-post it on Facebook to share it with more people. Here are the steps:
- Open the Instagram app and go to the reel you want to share.
- Tap on the three-dot menu button on the reel.
- Select the “Share to” option.
- Choose “Share to Facebook” and add the reel to your Facebook story, page or feed.
- You can also choose to send it directly to a Facebook friend.
The reel will now be shared on your connected Facebook account as native reels content. The original audio and editing will be carried over from Instagram to Facebook.
How to Cross-Post Facebook Videos as Reels
You can not only share Instagram reels on Facebook, but also cross-post your Facebook videos as reels on Instagram. Here is how to do it:
- Go to the video you want to share on your Facebook account.
- Tap on the three-dot menu button next to the video post.
- Select “Share as Reel” from the menu.
- Pick the Instagram account you want to share it to.
- The video will be added as a new reel on your Instagram account.
The Facebook video will be cropped to a 9:16 aspect ratio fitting the reels vertical format. This provides a quick way to repurpose your Facebook video content as reels.
Benefits of Sharing Reels Between Facebook and Instagram
Here are some of the benefits of cross-posting reels between Facebook and Instagram accounts:
- Reach wider audiences across both platforms
- Save time creating unique content for each platform
- Leverage the content that performs best
- Expose your brand or profile to new people
- Tap into different demographics and interests
- Increase content visibility through hashtags and discoverability
- Higher potential for going viral due to expanded reach
Strategically sharing reels can help grow your following, engagement and conversions across Facebook and Instagram. But it is important to evaluate performance and only re-share your top-quality reels that resonate most with each platform’s audience.
Tips for Reels Content Strategy
Here are some useful tips to make the most of reels on Facebook and Instagram as part of your content plan:
- Study Facebook and Instagram analytics to identify best-performing reels
- Tailor content for each platform – creative, captions, hashtags etc.
- Maintain a consistent posting schedule for both platforms
- Re-share top-performing reels to reach new audiences
- Leverage trends and challenges popular on both platforms
- Collaborate with influencers active on Facebook and Instagram
- Promote your best reels through ads to boost visibility
- Analyze reels performance and refine your approach accordingly
By coordinating your reels strategy across Facebook and Instagram, you can maximize content reach and effectively engage your target audiences on both platforms.
Facebook Reels VS. Instagram Reels
While reels functionality is similar on Facebook and Instagram, here are some key differences between the platforms:
| Facebook Reels | Instagram Reels |
|---|---|
| Discover reels primarily in Watch and Reels tabs | Dedicated reels feed showcases popular and followed reels |
| Facebook-first video editing tools | Instagram-specific AR effects and editing options |
| Ability to cross-post Instagram reels | Option to share reels directly to Facebook story/feed |
| Stronger emphasis on monetization | Focused more on creativity and trends |
These differences stem from the varying demographics and use cases on Facebook versus Instagram. But the core reels experience remains similar, enabling seamless sharing between the two platforms.
Pros and Cons of Reels for Businesses
For businesses and creators, integrating reels into Facebook and Instagram strategies has both advantages and disadvantages:
Pros:
- Engage younger Instagram audiences on Facebook
- Viral potential to reach large new audiences
- Built-in editing tools make content creation easy
- Monetization via ad revenue sharing (Facebook)
- Current popularity of short video content format
- Metrics to analyze reels performance and engagement
Cons:
- Additional resource investment for dedicated reels content
- Risk of inappropriate use via remixes or duets
- Little control once reels content is published
- Uncertain longevity as a popular content format
- Limited monetization options compared to feed/stories
The pros seem to outweigh the cons for most brands provided they implement reels as part of an integrated strategy. With proper planning and oversight, reels offer a promising new content marketing channel.
Conclusion
Instagram reels integration makes short-form vertical video content ubiquitous across Facebook and Instagram. For individual creators and brands, reels provide a valuable channel for expressing creativity, engaging mobile-first audiences, and expanding reach.
When incorporated into the social strategy with clear goals, tailored content and strong cross-platform coordination, reels become a powerful new format. Their instant accessibility and native integration across apps allow for seamless consumption and sharing.
As the platforms build on their reels products with more features, distributions and monetization options, reels have the potential to open up significant new opportunities. The space promises to see ongoing evolution and innovation that creators can capitalize on for both engagement and business growth.