How to Make Facebook Reels Go Viral
Published on 08.06.2026 by Chizoba T
In the last few years, we have seen an explosion in the popularity of short-form videos. From TikTok to YouTube Shorts and Reels, videos are now the most popular content formats on different platforms.
A good reel can reach millions of viewers, boosting brand awareness. However, with more creators focusing on short-form content, you need to create outstanding reels to gain the visibility you want. In this article, we guide you on creating Facebook reels that go viral as part of your Facebook video marketing strategy.
What are Facebook Reels?
Facebook Reels are short-form vertical videos up to 90 seconds long, designed for discoverability and entertainment. They were made as competitors to TikTok and YouTube Shorts and feature audio, music, and AR effects. They can appear either in the Feed or in a dedicated Reels tab on the user profile. As of 2026, Facebook Reels were the most popular content format.
Why Facebook Reels are Very Popular
Facebook reels are quite popular for several reasons, such as:
- Highly promoted by the algorithm. The Facebook algorithm now promotes Reels more than other post formats. In fact, reels are usually shown to people who don't follow your Facebook account, making them perfect for Facebook lead ads.
- Preference for short-form content. We live in a fast-paced digital world where people prefer quick, bite-sized content ranging from 3 to 60 seconds that is highly engaging.
- Creative features and tools. Reels feature a lot of built-in tools, such as text overlays, music tracks, filters, and remixing capability to improve the content.
- An immersive full-screen format. Reel formats usually fill the whole screen, so there are no distractions. That means viewers can enjoy the video with no distractions.
- High engagement. When a reel features a strong hook in the first few seconds or encourages high watch time, it gets heavily promoted, increasing its chances of fast, organic growth and making it perfect for social media lead generation for 2026.
- Ease of cross-platform posting. You can repurpose your TikTok or YouTube short into a Facebook Reel, thereby maintaining a steady focus on the platform.
Why Facebook Reels Go Viral
The Facebook algorithm prefers relevant content, holds the viewers' attention, and receives a lot of engagement. That means when your reels send the right signals from the start, the reach of the reel is expanded significantly. An analysis of the reels that went viral revealed this was a result of several reasons, such as:
- A strong hook. When a reel stops people from scrolling, it is promoted further by the Facebook algorithm. On the other hand, if your reel has a weak opening, its reach is curtailed by the Facebook algorithm.
- High replay count and watch time. When people watch your reel to the end or replay it several times, Facebook will give it prominence.
- Captions with keywords. Captions help Facebook understand what your reel is about and, therefore, improve its discoverability in recommendations and search.
- Greater niche targeting. If a reel is made for a specific audience, it performs better compared to a generic one.
- Meaningful comments and shares. When people share your reels, it shows the algorithm that they trust your page. When they comment, it's a sign that they have a real interest in the reel. Therefore, these two factors contribute to a higher real distribution.
- Consistent posts. When you post reels regularly, you will achieve better long-term results than inconsistent uploaders.
Therefore, Facebook will consider these signals when determining whether to push your post further beyond your current followers.
Tips to Boost Reel Views
Here are some top tips to increase the number of views on your reels and make them go viral:
Start With a Hook
If the reel doesn't make viewers pause within the first few seconds, the reach will drop immediately. Remember that the Facebook algorithm will begin by showcasing a reel to a small group of people. How they react to it will depend on whether the reel spreads faster. You need a bold, clear opening to stop the scroll.
Some of the top-performing reels often use:
- A curiosity-stirring statement.
- An unexpected visual.
- A problem that audiences can easily relate to
- A benefit prior to the explanation.
Use an Original Audio
We have all heard the saying that you need to hop on the trending audios, and for sure, that has worked for a long time. However, in recent years, Instagram and Facebook have started rewarding long-form original audio that can reach a more organic audience.
That is because they want to encourage the creation of original content. An original reel will get that organic boost from the algorithm, increasing the chances of the video going viral. But what happens when your original audio starts trending, and other people start using it? You will be credited as the original creator, and you will appear at the top of the page when people tap on that audio sound to determine its source. Therefore, it will provide an extra boost to your brand visibility.
Go Straight to the Point
Social media users have a short attention span, and you don't want to waste their time, especially in short-form videos. Make sure you deliver value in the first few milliseconds. Failure to do that, they will keep scrolling on their feed. Whether you are creating educational or entertaining content, get straight to the point.
Post Regularly
You want to keep seeing the number of views on your reels grow, so you need to post regularly. If you post three times a week for one week and then go without a reel for the next few weeks, that's not consistent. If your schedule is inconsistent, you can create several reels in advance and then schedule them to go live regularly.
Add a Captivating Caption
A long caption can help you reach more people because, even as they sit back to read it, your video will continue looping in the background. But since we've noticed people’s attention span is decreasing, you need to make your captions worth reading, and what you say in the video also leads them to the caption and encourages them to watch.
For instance, if you are in the weight-loss niche, you can use a before-and-after image followed by a caption that says, “I went from this to this after making a simple change.” This will encourage people to watch to learn the simple secret of weight loss.
Post Videos Without a Watermark
It is common to see Facebook reels with a TikTok watermark by creators repurposing TikTok videos on Facebook. This is a grave mistake as Facebook automatically shadowbans the reach of such videos bearing the watermark of its competitor. Therefore, it's a good idea to download your TikTok videos before publishing to remove any watermarks.
Create Videos That Add Value
We mentioned earlier that it's important to add a hook to your reels, but it is even better to ensure that the content you share adds value to your audience. Therefore, take time to brainstorm and consider whether the people you're sharing the message with are actually interested.
Consider whether the content addresses your audience's pain points or helps them reach their goals. Does the content entertain people or make people laugh? Make sure your reels provide value to users.
In Conclusion
When a Facebook Reel goes viral, it spreads widely beyond your current following, boosting reach and engagement. This can bring many benefits, such as increased brand visibility, higher brand awareness, and even higher conversion rates. Therefore, use these tips to make your Facebook videos go viral.