What is Facebook video Service?

Facebook video is a feature on the social media platform that allows users to upload, share, and view videos. It was first introduced in 2007 and has become an increasingly popular way for people and pages to share video content on Facebook.

How does Facebook video work?

Uploading and sharing videos on Facebook is easy and straightforward. Users can upload videos directly from their mobile device or computer. The following are the main ways to upload videos on Facebook:

Mobile app – Users can upload videos taken directly from their phone’s camera roll using the Facebook mobile app. The app has an option to upload photos and videos.

Desktop site – On the desktop site, users can upload videos by clicking on the “Photo/Video” option in the status update box. They can then select a video file from their computer to upload.
Facebook Live – This allows users to live stream video in real-time to their Facebook page or profile. The video can then be saved and shared after the live broadcast.

The video formats and sizes supported on Facebook include MP4, MOV, AVI, and MPEG4. The maximum file size for uploading regular videos is 4GB while for Facebook Live videos it is 6GB. Videos longer than 240 minutes cannot be uploaded.

When sharing a video, users have the option to add a description, tags, location, and set the privacy settings. Videos can be shared publicly, with friends only, or with a custom list. Users can also share the video in Facebook groups and on pages if they manage them.

What can you do with Facebook videos?

Here are some of the most popular ways people use Facebook video features:

Upload personal videos – Share family moments, travel adventures, funny clips etc. to your profile timeline.

Go Live – Broadcast live events, performances, discussions, Q&As and more to your followers.
Promote business/brand – Create engaging video content to promote products, events, offers etc.
Share across groups – Upload videos into relevant Facebook groups to reach targeted audiences.

Curate playlists – Organize your videos into playlists around topics, events, trips etc.

Videos uploaded to Facebook inherit the same privacy settings as set by the user for their profile or page. Users can limit who can see or find the videos based on the audience they want to reach.

Benefits of using Facebook for video

Here are some of the key advantages of sharing videos on Facebook:

Reach large audiences – With over 2 billion monthly active users, Facebook provides access to a huge viewer base for videos.
Familiar platform – People already spend a lot of time scrolling through Facebook, so more likely to stumble across videos.
Engagement – Videos often get higher engagement in the form of likes, comments, shares than plain text/image posts.

Mobile optimized – Facebook’s infrastructure and algorithms are designed for mobile video, where most of their viewership comes from.
Revenue opportunities – Popular videos and creators can leverage Facebook’s creator monetization tools to earn money.

Types of videos on Facebook

Users upload all kinds of videos on Facebook. Some of the most common categories include:

Entertainment – Funny videos, movie clips, stunts, music videos etc.
Personal/Family – Birthdays, weddings, vacations, everyday life moments.
Animals & Pets – Cute animal videos are hugely popular on Facebook.

Sports & Gaming – Highlights, fails and commentary videos related to sports or gaming.
How-to/DIY – Tutorial videos to teach viewers new skills and projects.
News & Current Affairs – Videos reporting latest news events and developments.

Brand/Business – Promotional videos showcasing products, services or company culture.

The more entertaining, helpful, informative or emotional a video is, the more likely it is to resonate with viewers on Facebook. Both amateur creators and professional media companies find Facebook effective for video content marketing.

Facebook Live

Facebook Live allows real-time broadcasting of videos to Facebook. Users can go Live from their profile, page or group to let followers view and engage with a live video stream.

Some features of Facebook Live include:

Real-time comments and reactions – Viewers can comment, react and interact with the broadcaster during the live video.
Live effects and filters – Fun frames, stickers and effects to enhance the broadcast.

Crossposting – The Live video can be streamed simultaneously across a Page and Profile or in Groups.
Save video – The live broadcast can be stored on the user’s timeline for later viewing after it ends.
Analytics – Insights on views, engagement and audience demographics for the Live video.

Facebook Live is commonly used for events, announcements, Q&As, behind-the-scenes footage, tutorials, discussions and more interactive content formats.

Facebook Video Advertising

Facebook offers advertising formats that let marketers promote videos and target users based on demographics, interests, behaviors and more. Some options include:

In-Stream Video Ads – Video ads that play before, during or after other videos on Facebook. They can be skippable or non-skippable.

Instagram Reels Ads – 15 or 30 second video ads on Instagram Reels, similar to ads on TikTok.
Messenger Ad Videos – Short video ads that can be shared through Facebook Messenger.
Facebook Story Ads – Video ads in full screen vertical format for mobile News Feed.

Facebook advertising tools allow marketers to target their video campaigns, track views/clicks, and measure effectiveness. Videos can help grab user attention and increase brand awareness.

Facebook Video Statistics

Here are some key statistics and facts around Facebook videos:

Over 8 billion video views per day on Facebook

500+ million users watch Facebook videos on a daily basis
64% of people say Facebook videos help them make buying decisions
Videos receive 135% more organic reach than photo posts

100 million hours are spent watching Facebook Live broadcasts per day
Posts with videos get 3x more engagement than non-video posts

As these numbers highlight, video has become a hugely popular and engaging format on Facebook. Both individual creators and brands have recognized the power of videos for reaching and connecting with Facebook audiences.

Tips for using Facebook Video effectively

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of Facebook video:

Optimize videos for sound off viewing – Many people scroll Facebook videos with the sound off so use captions.
Shorter videos work best – Try to keep videos under 2 minutes for maximum retention.

Use attention-grabbing preview image – Choose a compelling thumbnail image to represent your video.
Post consistently – Aim for regular video posting to build subscribers and visibility.
Try Facebook Live – Go live for events, Q&As, updates to engage your audience in real-time.

Promote videos – Share videos across your other social networks and via paid ads.
Analyze performance – Use Facebook Insights to track video metrics and fine-tune strategy.

Facebook Video Terms & Policies

Here are some key Facebook rules and guidelines around posting videos:

Copyright – Do not share videos that infringe on copyrights. Get permission when using other content.
Nudity – Videos containing adult/sexual nudity are not allowed.
Violence – Graphic violence is prohibited. Exception for violence that raises awareness.

Harmful content – Videos promoting self-harm, dangerous acts are not allowed.
Misinformation – Videos containing false news/health claims will be removed.
Retention – Longer videos may require a retention period before monetization.

Community standards – Ensure videos comply with Facebook’s community standards policies.

Violating the guidelines can lead to video removal or account restrictions. Check the latest Facebook video policies for creators.

Conclusion

Facebook video provides an immensely popular platform for users to share video content to engage massive audiences. From personalized videos to Live broadcasts and advertising, video dominates much of the Facebook experience today. Understanding best practices and policies is key for creating effective and compliant video content on Facebook.