Since the launch of YouTube in 2005 and the proliferation of high speed internet not long before that, video content has steadily grown to dominate consumption on the world wide web. According to data-analysis from Yaguara, more than 80% of all consumable content is video, and 73% of all viewers prefer short-form video. Each day, Reels alone gets 200+ billion plays…and that number is growing. Add in YouTube shorts, TikTok, and it should be no surprise that people love consuming short-form video content, which is what makes it such a great medium to advertise through.
Take some time to watch our Director of Paid Social Creative, Kylie Sheehan breakdown methods to supercharge your Reels with Rohith Bhatia, Global Business and Product Marketing at Meta. In this video you’ll learn Meta’s best practices for Reels, alongside Logical Position’s unique approach to harnessing short-form video to drive business outcomes.
Meta’s Best Practices for Reels
If you’re reading this blog, it’s safe to assume you’ve caught yourself at one point or another consuming short-form video. Whether it’s through suggested content in your feed or from a trusted friend, there are some common themes to make your content stick.
Entertaining
Reels ads are successful when they are able to build a genuine emotional connection with the audience. By incorporating a combination of music, visual effects, and storytelling techniques, we can create ads that truly resonate with people on a deeper level. The goal is not just to sell a product or service, but create an experience that elicits a range of emotions and leaves a lasting impact.
Digestible
Reels ads are best when they are clear, engaging, and easy to understand. By combining pace, value, and clear communication, you can really captivate and connect with your audience. So, get creative and let your message shine through in a way that resonates with your target demographic!
Relatable
It’s always great when Reels ads are able to connect to individuals on a personal level. Sharing stories that they can instantly relate to, featuring people who feel like them, and using visuals and styles that they’re familiar with can make all the difference.
Technical Considerations
Vertical Video — Long gone are the days of horizontal recordings. In order to fully optimize the user experience and earn increased viewership, ensure you’re taking up all the available real estate. To do that, format your Reels to 9:16 vertical videos.
Abide by “Safe Zones” — It’s vital to make sure important information doesn’t get covered by captions and share buttons, particularly for boosted content. In this case the safe zone is 1010 pixels wide by 1280 tall, with a 220 pixel bumper atop the video and 420 pixels below. These dimensions, however, are subject to change. Verify current specs on Meta’s website or reference the attached diagram during your editing process.
Sound On — Design for sound on and off. Most users watch Reels with sound on and videos with sound have shown a higher positive response. That being said, some viewers still watch Reels without sound, so videos should work without sound as well (for example, using captions to supplement voiceovers).
Logical Position’s Unique Approach to Reels:
Our creative team takes careful consideration to research brands and their target audience. This allows us to fine tune the messaging to our clients’ audience to deliver content that will be the most relatable and impactful to the viewer.
With over 8000 clients and 800 employees, our team is dedicated to staying on top of trends to ensure our ads are eye-catching and entertaining. We understand the importance of grabbing a user’s attention within the first few seconds and maintaining engagement with relevant messaging. Our team of copywriters are experts in writing entertaining hooks that pair with thumb-stopping designs from our team of creative content engineers.
We design with sound on, but we make sure to highlight bite-sized text in captions so ads are digestible, and easy to understand with or without sound. And of course, we follow Meta’s best practices for designing at 9:16 and staying within safe zones to ensure no important information gets cut off.
Let’s get Reel
There are tactics to get the most out of your Reels content, but the barrier to entry is low. Content doesn’t always need to be overly polished to connect with users, and in some cases, it can be more impactful. So if you haven’t experimented with Reels yet, it’s time to get started…and when you’re ready to fully amplify your brand through Reels, reach out to our team to get started on your social advertising journey and explore new ways to reach new customers.
