Reels are short, entertaining videos that can be shared on Facebook. Reels allow users to create 15-60 second multi-clip videos using audio, effects, and creative tools. Reels have become widely popular on Facebook because they are easy to make and fun to watch. Users can share reels to their own profile, friends, groups, or public pages on Facebook. Reels appear in Facebook feeds, profiles, groups and on the Reels tab. This article will provide an overview of how and where you can share reels on Facebook.
Sharing Reels to Your Facebook Profile
The most basic way to share a reel is to your own Facebook profile. When you create a reel using the Facebook app, you have the option to post it directly to your profile where all your friends and followers can view it. Reels shared to your profile appear at the top of your followers’ News Feeds as well as on your profile on the Reels tab.
To share a reel to your profile:
- Open the Facebook app and tap Reels at the bottom
- Record your reel using creative tools, audio, effects etc.
- Once your reel is complete, tap Next
- Add a caption or hashtags if desired
- Tap Share
- Tap Share to Profile
Your reel will now be posted to your profile for all your friends and followers to see. People viewing your profile can watch your reel by going to your Reels tab.
Adjusting privacy settings
When you share a reel to your profile, it is viewable by all your friends and public followers by default. However, you can customize the privacy of your reel by tapping the audience selector that appears when you share it. Options include:
- Public: Anyone can see your reel
- Friends: Only your Facebook friends can see your reel
- Specific friends: Select individual friends who can view the reel
- Only me: Keep your reel private so only you can view it
Select the desired audience before posting your reel to customize who can watch it.
Sharing Reels to Friends
In addition to your own profile, you can share Facebook reels directly to friends. This allows you to target specific people who you think will enjoy your reel. When you share a reel to friends, it will appear prominently on top of their News Feed.
Follow these steps:
- Create your reel in the Facebook app
- Tap Next after completing your reel
- Tap Share
- Tap Share to Friends
- Select the friends you want to share the reel with
- Tap Share
Your selected friends will receive a notification that you have shared a reel with them. They can then watch the full reel from their News Feed or profile.
Share to Close Friends
You also have the option to share reels with your Close Friends list on Facebook. Your Close Friends are specific people you have added who can view more personal posts. To share a reel to Close Friends:
- Create a reel
- Tap Share
- Tap Share to Close Friends
This will share the reel only with people on your Close Friends list.
Sharing Reels to Groups
Facebook Groups allow users with shared interests to interact in a more private forum than the News Feed. As a member of various groups, you can share your reels directly into groups for other like-minded members to enjoy.
To share a reel to a group:
- Create a reel
- Tap Share
- Tap Share to Group
- Select the group(s) you want to share the reel in
- Tap Share
Group members who scroll through their News Feed will see your shared reel. It will also appear under the Reels tab in the group itself. This allows you to target a very specific audience that is likely to appreciate the content.
Adjust Group Privacy Settings
When sharing a reel to a group, be mindful of the group’s privacy settings. Some groups are private and content is only visible to members. Others are public so anyone can see posts. Check the group’s privacy status before sharing a reel to control who can view it.
Sharing Reels to Facebook Pages
Facebook Pages allow businesses, brands, organizations and public figures to have a presence on Facebook. As a page admin or editor, you can share reels directly to your Facebook Page where all your followers can see it.
To share a reel to a Facebook Page:
- Create a reel
- Tap Share
- Tap Share to Page
- Select the page you want to share it to
- Tap Share
The reel will be posted on the Page’s feed. Followers who visit the Page can watch the reel from the feed or the Reels tab. Reels can help businesses and brands showcase products, highlight events, or share announcements in entertaining bite-sized videos.
Boosting Page Reels
As a page admin, you also have the option to boost reels shared to your page. Boosting pays to promote the reel so it reaches more of your current and potential followers. To boost a page reel:
- Tap the Boost button after sharing reel to page
- Select promotion objective and audience
- Set budget and duration
- Tap Boost to promote reel
Boosting can be an effective way for brands and public figures to gain expanded reach and engagement on reels.
Cross-Posting Reels to Instagram
Facebook owns Instagram, so it conveniently allows you to cross-post your Facebook reels over to Instagram as well. Your Facebook reels will appear as standard Instagram Reels when shared this way.
To cross-post a Facebook reel to Instagram:
- Create a reel on Facebook
- Tap Share
- Tap Share to Instagram
- The reel will now appear as an Instagram Reel on your connected account
This allows your reels to reach both your Facebook and Instagram audiences for expanded visibility.
Interacting with Reels
In addition to sharing your own reels, you can also view, react, comment and share other people’s reels on Facebook. Here are some ways to engage with reels:
- News Feed – Scroll through your News Feed to discover reels shared by friends, pages, and groups you follow. Swipe up to watch the full reel.
- Reels Tab – Tap the Reels tab on profiles and pages to only view reels. Like, comment and share reels from here.
- Notifications – Tap notifications when friends tag or mention you in their reels to watch and react.
- Audio – Use a song or audio from another reel to make your own reel.
- Effects – Tap the screen to browse AR effects and try them in your own reels.
Engaging with other people’s reels helps boost their visibility in the Facebook algorithm so more reels you enjoy may appear in your feed.
Reels Insights
As a page admin or profile user, you can view insights on the performance of reels you have shared to Facebook. Reels insights help you see total views, comments, shares, followers gained, and more for each of your reels.
To access reels insights:
- Go to your Page or Profile
- Tap Reels in the left menu
- Tap any reel cover image
- Scroll down to view Reel Insights
Analyzing the insights can help you strategize what types of reels resonate best with your audience. You may tweak your content approach to create reels that are more engaging.
Sample Reels Insights
| Metric | Sample Data |
|---|---|
| Reach | 1,563 people |
| Views | 1,234 |
| Shares | 24 |
| Comments | 46 |
| Followers | +118 |
Best Practices for Sharing Reels
When creating and sharing reels on Facebook, follow these tips for the best results:
- Use popular music or trending audios familiar to your audience
- Take advantage of current events, holidays, or trends for timely topics
- Adjust timing and effects to match the beat and mood of the audio
- Use hashtags and tag people/pages to help your reel be discovered
- Cross-promote by sharing your Instagram reels to Facebook as well
- Analyze insights to guide your reel content strategy
- Share a consistent mix of entertaining and informative reels
- Reply to comments and engage with your viewers
Following best practices for sharing reels will help maximize your views, engagement, followers, and overall reach on Facebook.
Troubleshooting Reels
Here are some common troubleshooting issues and fixes for Facebook reels:
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Can’t find the Reels option | Update the Facebook app to the latest version with Reels enabled |
| Reel is not posting | Check internet connection. Close and reopen the app. |
| Music unavailable for use | The song may be restricted. Try using another audio clip. |
| Reel has no views | Patience. It takes time for reels to be shown to more viewers. |
| Followers can’t see reel | Check your privacy settings. Boost the reel to reach more people. |
Conclusion
Facebook Reels provide a popular new format to create entertaining short videos for the Facebook community. Users can share reels to their own profiles, friends, groups, and pages to distribute to the desired audience. Analyzing reels insights helps assess performance and finetune your approach for higher reach and engagement. Following Facebook best practices for reels gives your videos the greatest chance of being viewed, shared, and appreciated widely across the platform. With the proper strategy, reels offer a fun new way for businesses, organizations and everyday users to creatively connect with the Facebook community.