Facebook Reels are short videos that can be created and shared directly within the Facebook app. Reels have become increasingly popular, with some reels getting millions or even billions of views. For individuals or businesses looking to increase their reach and engagement on Facebook, creating viral Reels can be a highly effective strategy. But what does it take for a Facebook Reel to get high views and go viral? Here are some key tips:
Make engaging content
The most fundamental rule of creating a high-performing Reel is to make content that captures viewers’ attention. Look at trends related to your niche and make videos about topics that are popular and compelling. Use interesting visuals, effects, music, and text overlay. Tell a story in your Reel that elicits an emotional reaction from viewers or teaches them something new. Engaging content that entertains, informs, inspires or resonates with people emotionally is the best bet for getting lots of views.
Optimize hashtags
Strategic use of hashtags is critical for discovery of your Reels. Identify hashtags that are relevant to your content and widely used on Facebook. The hashtags #reels, #reelsinstagram, #reelitfeelit, #reelsindia are very popular. Include a mix of both generic and niche hashtags in your captions to increase reach. Tools like RiteTag can help you find trending hashtags to use. Stay on top of changing hashtag popularity and continuously optimize your hashtags for best results.
Leverage trends
Making Reels based on trending audios, songs, challenges or topics can help boost views quickly. Keep an eye out for emerging trends related to your niche. Hopping on a trend early when it is gaining momentum can lead your Reel to go viral. Tools like Trendogram and Trendsmap track the latest trends across social media. You can ride trends while also showing your brand personality.
Cross-promote aggressively
To maximize reach, aggressively cross-promote your Reels across channels. Share each reel multiple times on your Facebook Page, Instagram feed, Instagram Stories, YouTube Community tab, website, email newsletter and so on. Run ads to your best-performing Reels to gain more views. Collaborate with others to be featured in their Reels and Stories. Promote your Reels heavily immediately after posting, when the algorithm is still testing them.
Engage with viewers
Actively respond to comments, like comments, and react to increase engagement on your Reels. The high engagement signals to the algorithm your content is interesting. Facebook will then show your Reels to more new viewers. Go live and interact with your audience around trending Reels. Collaboration Reels with influencers in your industry is another great way to access their audiences.
Post at optimal times
The time of day and day of week when you post makes a difference. After analyzing when your audience is most active online, test posting at different times and see what performs best. Typically late afternoons and evenings get good engagement. Posting several times a week to stay top of mind also helps rather than posting infrequently. Maintain a consistent posting schedule for the algorithm.
Use power editing tools
Leverage Facebook’s own editing tools like Reels composer, Reels remix, Voice effects, AR effects, and more. Use trending audio, songs and effects that viewers are likely searching for and reacting to. Tools like InShot, Splice, CapCut and VivaVideo offer advanced editing options to make professional-grade Reels that stand out. Great editing plays a key role in creating viral Reel content.
Analyze data and iterate
Analyze metrics and engagement data to see what content style and strategy works for your audience. Pay attention to viewer retention, likes, comments, saves and reshares. Make iterative improvements in your videos based on such data to create content that keeps viewers watching till the end and interacting more. Continuously test what thumbnails, captions, visuals, audios and effects perform best.
How the Facebook Reels algorithm works
Understanding how the Facebook Reels algorithm works can help you create higher quality reels that get shown to more people. Here are some key facts on the Reels algorithm:
Engagement optimization
The algorithm’s main priority is pushing content that drives the most engagement. Reels generating likes, comments, reshares and follows will rank better. The more people engage with your reels, the more it signals people find it interesting so it gets surfaced more by Facebook.
Watch time optimization
Reels that lead viewers to watch for longer periods repeatedly tend to perform better. The algorithm rewards reels that keep people watching till the end. This means reels should be made tightly and engagingly within the 30 or 60 seconds limit.
Personalization
Based on interests and behavior data, the Reels feed shows different content to different viewers. The diversity of content you see depends on which creators you actively engage with. Your feed evolves based on how you interact over time.
Creator suggestions
Facebook suggests creators you may like and should follow based on creators your connections follow and content you view. The more you view reels of certain creators, the more reels from them you will be shown.
Hashtag performance
How well your reel performs on a hashtag also impacts reach. If your reel frequently gets engagement on a hashtag, it will appear more there. Optimize hashtags specifically for Reels, not just IG hashtags.
Recirculation
Top-performing reels can keep getting additional views long after being posted as Facebook recirculates evergreen viral hits. This creates a snowball effect for reels that do well early on.
Creator reputation
Established creators with good posting history and engagement tend to rank better. For businesses, having an authentic presence that follows Terms of Service helps build reputation over time.
Tips for optimizing your Reels content
Here are some more specific tips for optimizing your Reels to maximize views and engagement:
Use popular audios and effects
Leverage viral audios, songs and effects that are commonly searched for. Tools like Reel Backtracks show trending options. Align effects and transitions with beat drops in the audio.
Keep caption concise
Write clear, catchy captions using emojis, tags and calls to action. Include questions to spark discussion. Keep key info at the beginning as the caption gets truncated.
Respond to comments
Reply to comments and engage with viewers. Heart or react to comments. This signals authenticity and helps the Reel get pushed more by algorithm.
Use text overlay strategically
Overlay text highlights key moments and ideas. Use fonts and colors that stand out and are easy to read quickly. Insert text strategically in time with visuals.
Feature people’s faces
Viewers connect more with human faces and emotions. For businesses, show real employees, customers or brand ambassadors using your product.
Leverage Facebook Stories
Cross-post your Reels to Facebook Stories for added visibility before non-followers. Optimize Story tags and placements.
Remix popular reels
Reposting trending Reels with a new twist can help increase viewership. Give credit to original creator.
Collaborate with influencers
Work with influencers in your niche to co-create Reels and tap into their follower base. Offer value and actively engage.
Use dynamic animations and graphics
Animated text, graphics and effects grab more attention. Use templates, stickers and drawings to make professional, high-quality Reels.
Post consistently
Post Reels frequently and consistently to stay top of mind. Analyze competitors and leaders in your niche and aim to post at or above their frequency.
Monitor Your Performance
Check Reels Insights and Facebook Analytics to identify your top-performing Reels. Analyze them to uncover what content style, strategy and optimization worked.
Ways to promote your Reels
Besides optimizing the content itself, you can take various actions to proactively promote your Reels for more visibility:
Run ads
Run Facebook and Instagram ads driving to your best performing Reels to gain more views rapidly. Make Reels posts and run traffic ad campaigns.
Re-share old performing Reels
Repost your previously highest-engagement Reels regularly to take advantage of existing traction. Spacing out shares avoids fatigue.
Re-share others’ Reels of you
Reshare user generated Reels where you are tagged or mentioned to access new audiences organically.
Share previews as feed posts
Post short Reels clip previews on Instagram feed directing people to view full Reel on Facebook.
Promote on Instagram Stories
Cross-promote new Reels on Instagram Stories via swipe up links, tags and mentions. Add location and hashtag stickers.
Send email newsletters
Embed Reels in email newsletters and link to them from email copy. Segment and target relevant customer groups.
Run an AR effect promotion
Offer a special AR effect and ask viewers to create Reels using it. Feature user generated content.
Do social media takeovers
Partner with influencers and brand ambassadors to have them share Reels during a takeover event.
Promote at events or locations
Play Reels on screens at physical venues and events. Offer QR code to link people directly to Reels.
Cross-promote other content
Create Reels that drive to long-form video content, blogs, events and offers to capture more email addresses.
Add links
Include links to landing pages, online stores or contests in Reels captions to drive traffic and conversions.
Run an Instagram Reels Challenge
Launch a branded challenge on Insta and cross-promote entries as Facebook Reels. Encourage user generated content.
Partner with online influencers
Work with influencers in your niche to have them create and share own Reels about your brand with their following.
Leverage employees
Encourage employees to post fun and authentic Reels that showcase your workplace culture and brand.
Key metrics to track for Reels
To understand what’s working, track these key Reels metrics in Facebook Analytics, Facebook Publisher Suite, or third-party analytics tools:
Views
Total number of times your reels have been viewed. Aim for steadily increasing.
Avg Watch Time
Average view duration per reel. Look for high avg watch time.
Completion Rate
Percentage of reel plays watched to 95-100% completion. Benchmark for your niche.
Audience Retention
View drop-off rate showing how engaging reels are. Optimizing increases retention.
Likes, Comments, Shares
Engagement indicators. Compare against competitors.
Saves
How many viewers bookmark your reels to watch again later. Rising saves are good.
Traffic Sources
Where views come from – Hashtag Challenges, Accounts Recommended, Explore etc. Tells what strategies work.
Audience Demographics
Details on follower age groups, gender, locations and languages helps refine targeting.
Device Types
Percent of views on mobile vs desktop. Mobile views dominate for Reels.
Analyzing such metrics will reveal what content and promotion tactics achieve the best results. You can then double down on what converts and make continual optimization.
| Metric | Benchmark Target |
|---|---|
| Views | Over 100k per reel |
| Avg Watch Time | Over 20 seconds |
| Completion Rate | Over 70% |
Conclusion
Succeeding with Facebook Reels requires an effective combination of compelling and optimized video content, promotion across channels, and analytical refinement based on data. Focus on driving high engagement, leveraging trends, and building creator reputation over the long-term. With a strategic approach, any brand or influencer can build an audience and get significant views on Facebook Reels.