Ads on Reels Best Practices: Get More Money on Facebook
This 2024 and Beyond…
Facebook Reels present a huge opportunity for content creators to reach new audiences and make money. As Facebook’s fastest-growing content format, Reels can help you inform, engage, and entertain your fans in quick, digestible videos.
Prioritize reels first because this format competes with vertical videos on other platforms like YouTube Shorts and TikTok. X, Tumblr, Reddit, Mastodon, and even Pinterest are also gearing towards vertical forms of videos.
With the launch of Ads on Reels, eligible creators can now monetize their Reels content directly on Facebook through in-feed sponsored ads. This allows you to earn from the content you create while providing value to your viewers. And the best part is you don’t need to show your face if you are camera-shy (Faceless Content or Meaningfully Enhanced Content).
And this is not the only reason, Medium writers can also benefit from this by driving Facebook readers to your Medium articles. For me, I am using Facebook reels to drive traffic to my website and it gives me revenue shares. And guess what, I do the “Faceless Content”.
It’s a win-win.
To start making the most of Facebook Reels, follow these best practices for creating engaging Reels content, qualifying for monetization, and implementing Ads on Reels.
Craft Reels That Capture Attention
The key to successful Reels is capturing attention quickly. The magic number is the first 3 seconds. The attention span of Facebook users or of humans in short-form vertical videos is only 15 seconds. So, you must grab the attention in the first 3 seconds for them to watch your video for 15 seconds. Once they reach the 15 seconds, they are more likely to finish your reel.
So, the bottom line is to hook them throughout your video. Ideally, you have just 15–30 seconds to intrigue viewers and make them want to see more.
If you fail to hook your audience within the first 3 seconds, it’s likely that your content will merely end up in the archives of your Reels Library.
Now, you must keep the following tips in mind when creating compelling Reels:
Hook Viewers Immediately
Your opening clip is crucial. I repeat! Hook them. A hook is a sound, laughter, a headline, an emotion, a dance move, showing your best-cooked food, or a combination.
Come up with an eye-catching visual or make a bold statement to grab focus right away. Strategically use such as effects, music (sound design), or text for extra impact.
Tell a Story
Structure your Reel to have a beginning, middle, and end. Build up to a surprise or climax to reward continued viewing. Use transitions between clips to progress the narrative.
Show Off Your Skills
Let your personality and talents shine through. Show behind-the-scenes moments, highlight your wins, and flaunt your specialty skills to give fans something unique.
Jump on Trends and Challenges Using Keywords
Stay on top of popular Reels trends and challenges. You can use Google Trends and the Facebook search bar to search for keywords.
However, the keywords in the search bar and Google Trends have high competition. Our key is to get high-volume and low-competition keywords.
There is no way to know if these keywords possess these requirements in the search bar alone. One hack is to use those Long-Tail Keywords.
You can utilize tools to learn this such as Keyword Tool, Keyword Everywhere, or WordTracker. I emphasize these a lot in my ebook.
Put your own spin on them to tap into what’s resonating with audiences right now.
Avoid engagement bait
This is where too many content creators will be confused. Do we ask for engagement? Like asking viewers to follow us, to share our content, to like our posts, or to incentivize shares? Are we going to include CTAs in the end for a better engagement?
I know CTAs are so important for the viewers to know what to do after they watch your Reels. Of course, this will increase the INITIAL ENGAGEMENT.
However, in monetized content, this strategy will actually decrease your organic reach once the initial engagement (through CTAs) is consumed. The AI of Meta will not suggest your content for a long period.
I have experimented with a year of content comparing the organic reach and engagement of Facebook Reels with or without CTAs. Those Reels with CTAs gained only 50k-100k views and lasted for a month in the suggested feed; while those content without CTAs garnered 200k-800k (and even 1M+) views and lasted for 4–6 months. I can still see notifications that my non-followers are engaging with the Reels I posted 4–6 months ago.
I know this is not yet proven because 1 year is not enough to know the real trend because the algorithm changes every day. You can try this at your own risk. I also crafted the proper technique to include CTAs in “monetized” content in my e-book.
It is true that if you include CTAs in the end, your engagement will increase. But what Facebook is asking is organic engagement because if viewers resonate with your content they will like it, comment on it, and share it even without asking them to.
Qualify for Facebook Reels Monetization
To start earning from Reels, you’ll need to meet Facebook’s monetization eligibility requirements. Here’s what’s required:
- 5,000+ followers on your Facebook Page/Profile
- 60,000+ total 1-minute views in the last 60 days
- 5+ eligible videos uploaded in the last 60 days that are not Reels (Long-form)
Continuing to produce engaging content and growing your audience are the best ways to hit these benchmarks.
Avoid the Follow-for-follow strategy. This will skyrocket your followers, but later on, confuse the “Meta Detectors” because Facebook’s algorithm is based on the user’s interest and not on a mixture of niches.
Plus, you need to track your progress in Facebook Analytics to see how close you are to qualifying. Once approved, you can enable Ads on Reels as an invitation-only scheme. You can also write an appeal to Meta Support Pro if you meet the criteria.
Implement Ads on Reels for Maximum Revenue
Once you’re accepted for monetization, it’s time to start earning. Follow best practices to implement Ads on Reels seamlessly:
Longer Reels= Higher Revenue
As much as possible, craft content that is long (but less than 60 seconds). But be sure to hook the viewer from start to end.
Monitor Performance
Analyze performance using Facebook Analytics in Meta Business Suite to see viewer drop-off rates, completion percentages, and earnings. Refine underperforming content and repurpose those that are viral.
Respect the Viewing Experience
Avoid too much self-promotion, and prioritize content value over revenue. Plus, avoid affiliate links in the description.
Disclose Sponsorships Transparently
If you accept brand sponsorships, use #sponsored tags to denote paid partnerships clearly. Being upfront preserves audience trust.
Continuously Improve Your Reels Content
The Reels landscape is constantly shifting as new trends emerge. Stay ahead of the curve with these tactics:
React to Feedback
Notice which Reels get the most engagement. Make more content like your best-performing videos. Listen to viewer comments for inspiration too.
Vary Your Content
Challenge yourself with different Reels themes like comedy skits, tutorials, reaction videos, and more. See what resonates then develop those genres further. Apply the JK5 method. I discussed this method thoroughly in my ebook and how it is applied in monetized content.
Collaborate on Reels
Work with other creators to make collaborative Reels. Cross-promote to each other’s audiences for wider reach. Duets and Stiches can also help content spread.
Optimize for Mobile
Most Reels viewing happens on mobile. Optimize shots for vertical orientation. Add text overlays and audio for clarity without headphones.
Promote Your Best Reels
Share stand-out Reels across Facebook and Instagram. Re-promote top-performing Reels periodically to maximize their lifespan.
The Future Looks Bright for Monetized Reels
As Reels rise in popularity, the opportunities for creators will continue multiplying. Succeeding with Facebook Reels now can pay dividends for your page down the road.
By crafting captivating short-form videos, qualifying for and implementing Ads on Reels, and constantly improving your content, you can engage new audiences and meaningfully monetize your work.
Reels represent the future of social entertainment. Establish yourself as an early Reels creator to build invaluable expertise. With strategic preparation and persistence, earning through Reels on Facebook can become a pillar of your income (aside from Medium).
Final Thoughts
Facebook Reels present a major chance to increase your reach and revenue. By mastering short-form videos tailored for the vertical feed, creators can thrive in the emerging Reels ecosystem.
As Facebook rolls out monetization options like Ads on Reels, the potential for direct earnings will grow. Consistent experimentation, optimization based on data, and dedication to the craft will be required to find success.
Creators able to adapt their content strategies to capitalize on emerging formats like Reels will gain a competitive edge. Start integrating Reels into your broader social strategy today to get ahead.
Read This: How to Monetize Facebook Reels Without Showing Your Face
FAQs
How many Reels should I post per day or week?
Ideally, and what Facebook recommends is to post 3–5 high-quality Reels per week. You can increase frequency to 1 per day as you build expertise.
This is to maximize your earnings. And as your audience demands more content, you can post 4–6 reels per day (I am sticking to this posting schedule). Big influencers and content creators are posting 5–8 reels per day on average.
However, your page or profile needs to breath.
Do not worry about flooding and spamming your audience because the Facebook algorithm will only suggest content based on the user’s interests.
Plus, Meta has developed the “see less or see more like this” feature in the user’s feed.
What’s the best time to post Reels?
My answer is to experiment and use the analytics. Meta Business Suite will give you the best time once you have enough data.
Post when they are most likely holding their phone. Post when your target audience is most active, like mid-morning for at-home parents, after-lunch for busy workers, or evenings for teens. Use Facebook Analytics to identify your followers’ peak hours.
Should I reuse Reels from Instagram?
Repurposing Instagram Reels on Facebook is fine, but create original content tailored to each platform when possible. Unique content performs best. You can also use the cross-posting method in Business Suite.
How do I get more views on my Reels?
Do this formula:
SEO + Quality Content +Adherence to Monetization Guidelines
Use strong hooks upfront, jump on trends, aim for organic engagement, tag related accounts, promote Reels widely, and make content search-friendly with keywords.
What’s better — educational or entertainment Reels?
You can use both and it depends on your niche. Know that people are using their platforms for two reasons: to be entertained and to solve a problem. So, offer a mix, and pay attention to which style performs better. This will vary across topics and audiences.
