Facebook Reels are short video clips that users can create and share on Facebook. Reels gained a lot of popularity after Facebook introduced the feature in an attempt to compete with other social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram that already had short-form video features. However, many users have noticed that after an initial spike, the views on their Reels drop significantly or stop entirely. There are several potential reasons why Facebook Reels may stop getting views.
Your Reel doesn’t fit the audience
One of the main reasons Facebook Reels stop getting views is because it doesn’t align with the interests of your audience or followers. When you create a Reel, it will be shown primarily to your existing followers at first. If the content does not match what they want to see, they may not interact with it much. For example, if you have a predominantly female audience who engages with your fashion and beauty content, but then you post a Reel about sports or gaming, it likely won’t get much traction.
Consider who your audience is and what they want to see before creating each Reel to maximize its potential reach. Look at the types of content that are consistently getting high engagement from your followers. Align your Reels with those interests for the best chance of being shown to more potential viewers.
Your Reel lacks quality
The other major factor is the overall quality of the Reel. Facebook’s algorithm ranks Reels based on a variety of quality signals. Reels with poor video quality, lighting, editing, or other issues can cause the algorithm to start showing it to fewer people.
Additionally, Reels with text that is hard to read, awkward transitions, or random clip compilations may also get ranked lower over time. Spending time to make high-quality, well-edited Reels with a cohesive theme and clear messaging is key to keeping viewers interested and engaged through the whole clip.
High-quality sound can also help a Reel perform better. Using popular music, trends, hashtags, mentioning accounts, and deploying other best practices for creating engaging Reels also helps them get seen by more potential viewers in your niche.
Your Reel doesn’t use best practices
Using the right strategies with your Facebook Reels gives them the best chance of being shown to a wider audience. Here are some best practices to follow:
– Use optimal video length – 15-30 seconds is the recommended length for Reels. Too short and there’s no time to provide value. Too long and viewers lose interest.
– Leverage popular music and audio – Reels with trending sounds and music tend to get more engagement. Use sounds relevant to your niche.
– Consider vertical orientation – Vertical videos take up more screen space on mobile. Most Reels viewership comes from mobile users.
– Use relevant hashtags – Include up to 10 niche-related hashtags so your Reels appear in those discovery feeds. Mix specific and general hashtags.
– Tag other accounts – Mentioning other accounts can help increase visibility as their followers may engage with your Reel too.
– Post at optimal times – Analyze when your audience is most active online and post Reels during those high traffic time periods.
– Encourage engagement – Ask questions, run polls, etc to get more comments and shares on your Reels which signal value to the algorithm.
Your Reel isn’t optimized for discovery
Facebook wants to show Reels to users who are most likely to enjoy the content. Reels that aren’t optimized for discovery can struggle to gain traction. Here are some tips:
– Strong opening hook – The first 3 seconds should instantly capture attention and make viewers want to continue watching.
– Focused niche – Keep your niche and target audience narrow so your content appeals specifically to certain groups.
– Appealing thumbnail – The thumbnail image needs to stand out in the feed and entice people to click. Use bright colors and compelling imagery.
– Vertical orientation – Vertical Reels take advantage of the mobile feed. Always film Reels holding your phone upright.
– Use captions – Well-placed text can keep people watching and understanding your clips. But don’t block the main action.
– Interactive elements – Encourage viewers to engage by asking questions, running polls, prompting comments, etc. This signals to the algorithm the content is resonating.
You posted at the wrong time
Posting your Facebook Reels when your audience isn’t online or active on Facebook can hinder how much reach and engagement it picks up early on. Analyze when your target audience tends to be most active on Facebook and aim to post your Reels during those high traffic time periods.
In general, late afternoons and evenings tend to see higher Facebook usage, while weekends can garner more views depending on your niche. You can use Facebook Analytics to determine when your posts typically get the most reach and plan your Reel posting schedule around those peak times. Consistently posting at less-than-ideal times may prevent your Reels from being seen by as many potential viewers.
Your Reel isn’t getting many reactions
How Facebook users interact with your Reels can directly impact how many views it receives. If you aren’t getting many likes, comments, shares or other reactions on your Reels, Facebook’s algorithm may stop showing it to more viewers.
Aim to create content for your Reels that will elicit an emotional reaction and engagement from your target audience. Ask questions to spark discussion, create polls to get votes, use stickers to prompt interactions, tie into trending topics, etc. Quality content tailored to your audience should organically drive more reactions and signal to Facebook the Reel is resonating.
You used banned content or tactics
Facebook has rules against certain types of content and tactics to artificially inflate views. If you violate Facebook’s policies, your Reel can be taken down or have its reach suppressed. Avoid these banned approaches:
– Misleading or false content
– Hate speech, bullying, or harassment
– Violence, gore, or nudity
– Buying fake views or engagement
– Misusing hashtags or mentions
– Infringing on copyrights
– Coordinating cross-posting among accounts
Stick to creating authentic, quality Reels that provide value to viewers. Relying on shady tactics or questionable content often backfires in restricted reach and penalties from Facebook.
Your account lacks authority
Facebook wants to show Reels from accounts it deems authoritative, trustworthy, and creating engaging content. Accounts with little posting history, low engagement, or that are brand new have a harder time having their Reels shown to the masses.
Building up your account authority takes time. Consistently post quality content, engage with your audience, share your expertise, and leverage other best practices. The higher your authority, the more Facebook will trust your account and surface your Reels to more potential viewers.
Your viewers don’t finish your Reel
A major metric Facebook analyzes is watch time and completion rate. If viewers commonly stop watching your Reels before the end, Facebook sees that as a signal the content isn’t resonating. In turn, future Reels may reach a smaller audience.
Grab attention upfront with a strong opening hook. Use edits, text, interactive elements, compelling visuals, and other tactics to keep people interested and watching the whole way through your Reels. Quickly evolving content that feels disconnected or lacks a clear narrative can cause viewers to lose interest fast.
Analyze your completion rate in the Facebook Reels analytics to determine how captivating your content is to viewers.
Your Reels aren’t well promoted
While Facebook’s algorithm does surface Reels to viewers, you can also amplify reach through promotion. Having an inactive or small social media presence limits how many people organically see your Reels.
Promoting your Reels across your other social media channels brings in viewers from beyond just your Facebook following. Run Facebook or Instagram ads to them to reach very targeted audiences. Collaborate with others in your niche to access their followings. Pitch your Reels to publications or websites to leverage their platforms. Reels that rely solely on Facebook’s algorithm face challenges reaching their full potential.
You’re using Facebook Reels incorrectly
Some creators simply aren’t using Facebook Reels as intended. They repurpose content not designed specifically for Reels or don’t take full advantage of all the creative tools and features. This improper use of Reels leads to lower engagement and restricted reach from the algorithm.
Follow Facebook’s best practices for creating Reels focused on short-form, vertical, visually captivating content. Take the time to add text, effects, stickers, polls, and leverage the multi-clip option. Check what types of Reels are thriving in your niche and model what works. Using Reels incorrectly can starve your potential reach.
Your niche is too saturated
Certain evergreen niches like cooking, fitness, and travel have a very high volume of Reels content. This makes it extremely competitive to gain visibility. Meanwhile, smaller niches see less content volume allowing each Reel potentially more opportunity to take off.
If your Reels target a saturated market, find ways to provide a novel spin and stand out from masses of similar content. Hyper-target an underserved sub-niche. Collaborate with others to cross-promote. Lean into trends and topics going viral to ride the wave of interest. Avoiding niches with an over-abundance of Reels can ease the challenge of breaking through.
You lack a distinct creative identity
Successful Reels creators have a very distinct style and creative identity. This allows their content to instantly stand out from competitors. Without a clear identity in your Reels, you blend into all the rest lacking distinction.
Analyze the most successful Reels creators in your niche. Define specific on-brand elements to incorporate into all your content like color schemes, editing techniques, content themes, etc. Look for what makes your perspective or approach novel. Craft Reels around your unique identity to avoid feeling generic. Distinctive Reels perform better in crowded niches.
Your Reels strategy needs reassessment
If you’ve diligently tried implementing best practices but your Reels still struggle, it may be time to reassess your overall strategy.
– Who exactly is your target audience? Get ultra-clear on who you create content for.
– What value do your Reels provide the viewer? Entertain them? Educate them? Inspire them?
– What engages your audience most based on their comments and past views?
– When and how frequently should you be posting Reels?
– Where else can you promote your Reels beyond Facebook?
– How can you encourage viewers to engage with your Reels?
– Are you using relevant hashtags, sounds, mentions, etc?
Constantly evaluate what’s working and what’s not. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different approaches. Be willing to shift your strategy if needed. Closely track analytics to inform your efforts. Refocusing your process could reveal ways to revitalize your Reel results.
Conclusion
Facebook Reels losing traction and views can be frustrating, but identifying the root causes allows creators to course-correct. Ensure your content fits your audience, is high-quality, follows best practices, is optimized for discovery, resonates emotionally, and defines your unique identity and perspective. Promote Reels across platforms, focus on underserved niches, and constantly re-evaluate your approach. With the right strategy tailored to your audience, Facebook Reels can deliver lasting visibility and engagement.