What reels are and where they run
A reel is a short vertical video in 9:16, watched full screen on a phone. Every big platform has its own name for the format, but the rule is the same: the video starts on its own and the viewer can swipe away at any moment. That is why the first seconds decide everything.
| Platform | Format name | Where it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Reels | Reels tab, main feed, profile grid | |
| TikTok | video | For You page, profile |
| YouTube | Shorts | Shorts tab, search results, channel |
| vertical video | feed, video tab | |
| Reels | feed, Reels tab, business page |
How many reels a business needs a month
There is no single number for everyone. It depends on how often things change in your business and whether you sell directly through social media. This is how we split it:
- 4a monthonce a weekA local business that wants to be seen and show its offer: a bakery, a clinic, a garage, an office.Start: $690 / mo
- 8a monthtwice a weekA business with something new every week or a seasonal offer: a shop, a restaurant, a studio.Growth: $1,290 / mo
- 12a monththree times a weekA business that sells through social media and runs paid ads.Pro: $2,390 / mo
How often to post
Fixed days, not bursts
One reel every Tuesday for three months beats five in one week and a month of silence. Followers get used to a rhythm.
Times from your own insights
Your business account insights show when your followers are active. That time beats any general advice.
Judge after three months
One reel tells you nothing. After a dozen or so posts you can see which topics and openings work, and that is when to change the plan.
How to build a reel people watch to the end
- 1
The first second
Show a result, a question or something happening. A logo and a greeting at the start are the most common reason to swipe away.
- 2
One idea per reel
One new product, one tip, one customer question. Two ideas are two reels.
- 3
Captions
Many people watch with the sound off. Short captions you can read in a second hold attention.
- 4
Motion leads the eye
Every movement in the frame should guide the eye to the offer: the price, the product, the date.
- 5
Safe zone
The bottom and the right edge are covered by the app's interface. Keep text in the middle band of the frame.
- 6
One call to action
One sentence: order, book, message us. Several at once distract.
- 7
The cover
The profile grid shows only the middle of the cover. The title has to fit there and be readable.
Formats and sizes
This is how we prepare files. For bigger campaigns we check the safe zone live, because apps change their interface.
- Reel9:161080 × 1920 pxContent in the middle band, away from the bottom and the right edge.
- Carousel4:51080 × 1350 pxUp to a dozen or so slides. The first one works as a cover.
- Post1:1 or 4:51080 × 1080 or 1350 pxVertical takes up more of the screen in the feed.
- Reel cover9:161080 × 1920 pxTitle in the centre, because the profile grid crops the top and bottom.
Yourself, a freelancer, an agency, or a subscription
Each makes sense in a different situation. Here they are in one table:
| Reelelle, a freelancer, an agency, or doing it yourself? | Reelelle | Freelancer | Agency | Yourself |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | A fixed fee from $690 a month | Per piece or per hour, different every month | Usually a higher retainer, often a longer contract | Your time instead of money |
| Motion and editing | Motion design in every reel, following your motion guide | Depends on the person you find | Depends on the team and the budget | Depends on how much time you spend learning |
| Posting plan | A monthly plan to approve, with captions | Usually on you | Yes, often with a strategy | On you |
| Your time | A weekly check-in and approvals | A brief for every reel and chasing deadlines | Meetings, approvals, reports | Evenings and weekends |
| Posting | We post as planned | Usually hands over files | Yes | You |
| Report | Monthly, with conclusions | Rarely | Yes, often extensive | You count it in the apps |
| Contract | 3 months minimum, then monthly | One-off jobs | Often a year | None |
| When it is a good choice | You want a steady rhythm and reels that look like your brand, without finding people for every job. | You need one reel now and then, or you already have someone you trust. | You also need paid campaigns, PR and comment management in one place. | You enjoy editing, have the time and want to learn it from the inside. |
Reelelle
- Cost
- A fixed fee from $690 a month
- Motion and editing
- Motion design in every reel, following your motion guide
- Posting plan
- A monthly plan to approve, with captions
- Your time
- A weekly check-in and approvals
- Posting
- We post as planned
- Report
- Monthly, with conclusions
- Contract
- 3 months minimum, then monthly
- When it is a good choice
- You want a steady rhythm and reels that look like your brand, without finding people for every job.
Freelancer
- Cost
- Per piece or per hour, different every month
- Motion and editing
- Depends on the person you find
- Posting plan
- Usually on you
- Your time
- A brief for every reel and chasing deadlines
- Posting
- Usually hands over files
- Report
- Rarely
- Contract
- One-off jobs
- When it is a good choice
- You need one reel now and then, or you already have someone you trust.
Agency
- Cost
- Usually a higher retainer, often a longer contract
- Motion and editing
- Depends on the team and the budget
- Posting plan
- Yes, often with a strategy
- Your time
- Meetings, approvals, reports
- Posting
- Yes
- Report
- Yes, often extensive
- Contract
- Often a year
- When it is a good choice
- You also need paid campaigns, PR and comment management in one place.
Yourself
- Cost
- Your time instead of money
- Motion and editing
- Depends on how much time you spend learning
- Posting plan
- On you
- Your time
- Evenings and weekends
- Posting
- You
- Report
- You count it in the apps
- Contract
- None
- When it is a good choice
- You enjoy editing, have the time and want to learn it from the inside.
Common mistakes
- Horizontal footage posted as a reel, with black bars at the top and bottom.
- A logo and a greeting in the first seconds instead of content.
- Too much text at once: the viewer can't read it before swiping away.
- Music the business account has no right to use, so the reel loses its sound or reach.
- No captions, so the reel says nothing to people watching with the sound off.
- Posting in bursts and judging results after a single reel.