You may have heard – Facebook Reels is now playing in over 150 countries around the globe. Now available on iOS and Android, the possibilities are now almost endless to the shorts you can create on this exciting new format and the money you can potentially earn through it.
What are Facebook Reels?
Facebook Reels (also known as Meta Reels) are the new trend in music on the social media platform. The “shorts” consist of music, audio, special effects, stickers, and much more. Reels can be found in Groups or News Feed. You can like, comment on them, share, and follow.
On That Note…
Reels is a musician’s dream come true when your video is tight, and your marketing is right. The more creative and engaging your Reels are, the more they’ll be noticed.
You can use your own audio with a short clip video and some added special effects to “reel” in your audience and capture new fans. That is…if you’re talented like that.
Reels are designed to be fun and entertaining. You can add in text overlays, AR effects, captions, and a slew of other features. Edit and trim the clips and you’re ready to rock. Create them on the Facebook app or on your mobile device. Share them directly to you fan’s News Feed. You can also attract new audiences through a dedicated section of Reels devoted to people who are unfamiliar with your music.
Here’s What You Get
Audio: This is where it gets good. Although you can add a song from the music library on Facebook, if you’re a musician, you want to showcase your own music. Your original music can then be used by the community on Facebook to create their Reels which really gets your audio some recognition.
Effects: There are special affect options you can select to record multiple clips in mere minutes.
Speed: You’ll have the ability to speed up or show down your audio or video while you record.
Timer: The hands-free timer allows you to record a clip without having to hold or click anything.
Engaging Your Audience
It’s not enough just to post anymore. Effectively engaging your audience is what will get you the results you are looking for. Make your viewers feel like they are part of your shorts by making them relatable. Adding that personal touch and standing out from the crowd is everything.
Establishing Your Reel Audience
Some of the best ways to interact your Facebook Reel audience include:
Sharing your Reel. You can share your completed short, add hashtags and a description, and even tag your friends and fans.
Attract new audiences and reach your followers: Grow your community when you make your music discoverable in News Feed to new followers as well as your established fans.
Select a default audience. The Reel-to-Reel default audience is anyone over 18 that happens to be in the public community. To select a pre-set audience, simply change the settings. You can always leave it set to public or change it to friends or the friends except option.
Recommend: You can recommend Reels on Facebook and on Instagram which is like free self-advertising. Who says you can’t toot your own horn?
See the Stats. For Reels created on Facebook, you can see the number of plays and shares it has gotten. When playing your music videos, viewers can see a list of the other shorts you have out.
Getting Reely Creative
If you’re not a professional (and maybe not even a good amateur), it may be well worth your time to invest in an expert to produce and manage your shorts. With over a billion daily users, utilizing the Facebook audience is an opportunity waiting to happen.
If you have a video that’s working for you on another platform, you can always apply the method. Fresh content is always best though. It’s nice to know the option is there. You can even import them and change them up a bit. Be sure not to cause your followers to feel cheated though.
Finding a managing marketing service to post your music at just the right time to just the right audience is invaluable. Keeping up with algorithms set the pace and determine how visible your music is just as it does for online creative content exposure.
Optimizing your Reels is like optimizing anything else in your marketing strategy – the more you know, the further you’ll go. Most musicians don’t have time to spend countless hours figuring out all the ever-changing details. Sometimes, it’s best left to the pros.
Not on Facebook?
If you’re not on Facebook and you’re a music artist, first off-shame on you. Seriously, it’s a mecca for musicians. All kidding aside, oddly enough – you don’t have to have a Facebook account to share a Facebook Reel. Anyone on Facebook can create and post on Reels with your original music. If you do use your account or someone else’s, your account information isn’t public.
When your short is uploading, you’ll be asked if you want to share it on Instagram too. Why not? The more exposure, the better. Right? Plus, if a views watches your video on both platforms, it counts twice.
Make Big Bucks
About a year ago, Facebook Reels announced they were investing $1 billion in Facebook creators through this year. Reels Play is one of the products of the investment.
Reels Play is available to those who have reached 1000 views and beyond over a 30-day period. Available by invitation only, the new bonus program allows you to earn money for the Reels you share as long as you own the music which gives both up-and-coming and established musicians an upper edge.
In addition to Reels Play, exposure on Facebook Reels can lead to other avenues of revenues. Followers turn into fans. Fans buy your music and merchandise.
In the digital age in which we live, it’s imperative to take advantage of all the modes available to you as a music artist.