Table of Contents

How to Share an Instagram Reel: A Comprehensive Guide

Sharing an Instagram Reel is a breeze, but understanding all the nuances can unlock its full potential. Here’s the straightforward answer: After creating or finding a Reel, you can share it to your Instagram feed, your Instagram Stories, directly to individual Direct Message (DM) conversations, or even to platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and more via a shareable link. The options you see depend on the Reel’s settings and your sharing preferences. Now, let’s dive deep into the mechanics and advanced strategies for maximizing your Reel sharing impact!

Mastering the Art of Reel Sharing: A Detailed Breakdown

Instagram Reels have revolutionized how content is consumed and shared on the platform. They’re dynamic, engaging, and highly shareable, making them a cornerstone of any successful Instagram strategy. But simply creating great Reels isn’t enough; you need to know how to get them in front of the right eyes.

Sharing to Your Instagram Feed

This is the most common way to share your Reel. When you create a Reel, you’ll see a toggle that says “Also share to feed.” Make sure this is activated if you want the Reel to appear on your profile grid alongside your photos and videos.

Benefits: Increases visibility to your existing followers, allows new visitors to discover your Reels through your profile.
Considerations: Think about how the Reel will look in your grid aesthetically. You can choose a frame to serve as the cover photo.

Sharing to Your Instagram Story

Sharing a Reel to your Story is perfect for immediate engagement and driving traffic back to the original Reel.

How to do it: After creating or viewing a Reel, tap the paper airplane icon (the share button) and select “Add Reel to your Story.“
Enhancements: Add stickers, text, GIFs, and polls to your Story to encourage interaction. Use the “Link sticker” to drive traffic directly to the Reel page for easier viewing and engagement.
Benefits: Increases the Reel’s reach beyond your feed, allows you to add contextual information or promotions, fosters real-time engagement with your audience.

Sharing via Direct Message (DM)

The power of personal recommendation cannot be overstated. Sharing a Reel directly with individual users or groups in DMs is incredibly effective.

How to do it: Tap the paper airplane icon on the Reel and select the users or groups you want to share it with. You can even add a custom message.
Benefits: Targets specific individuals who are likely to be interested, leverages word-of-mouth marketing, facilitates deeper connections.
Strategy: Consider tailoring your message to the recipient. Mention why you thought they’d enjoy the Reel.

Sharing Outside of Instagram: The Power of Links

Instagram makes it easy to share Reels beyond its platform by generating shareable links.

How to do it: Tap the three dots menu on the Reel, then select “Copy link.”
Where to share: Paste the link on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, email, or any other platform where you want to promote your Reel.
Benefits: Expands your reach to new audiences, drives traffic back to your Instagram profile, promotes cross-platform engagement.

Fine-Tuning Your Sharing Strategy: Reel Settings

Before sharing, take a moment to review the Reel’s settings. These can significantly impact how others interact with your content.

Privacy Settings: Ensure your account is public if you want your Reels to be widely discoverable.
Remixing: Allow or disallow other users from remixing your Reel. Allowing remixes can boost visibility and collaboration.
Captions: Write a compelling caption that includes relevant keywords and hashtags to improve discoverability.
Location Tags: Add a location tag to reach local audiences.
Collaborators: Invite other users to collaborate on the Reel. This gives them co-authorship and expands the Reel’s reach to their followers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Sharing Instagram Reels

Here are some of the most common questions users have about sharing Instagram Reels, answered with expert insight:

1. Can I Share a Reel Created by Someone Else to My Feed?

No, you can’t directly share someone else’s Reel to your feed as a standalone post. However, you can share it to your Story or send it via DM. Sharing to your Story will include a link back to the original creator’s Reel.

2. How Do I Control Who Can See My Reels?

Your account’s privacy settings determine who can see your Reels. If your account is public, anyone can view them. If your account is private, only your approved followers can see your Reels. You can change your privacy settings in your account settings under “Privacy.”

3. Can I Share a Reel Anonymously?

No, Instagram doesn’t offer a native feature for sharing Reels anonymously. Your username will always be associated with the Reel, whether you share it to your feed, Story, or via DM.

4. How Do I Share a Reel to Facebook?

The easiest way to share a Reel to Facebook is by linking your Instagram and Facebook accounts. When creating or viewing a Reel, you’ll often see an option to “Share to Facebook.” Alternatively, you can copy the Reel’s link and paste it into a Facebook post.

5. What Happens When I Share a Reel to My Story?

When you share a Reel to your Story, it appears as a 15-second preview. Viewers can tap on the preview to watch the full Reel and visit the original Reel’s page. You can add stickers, text, and other interactive elements to your Story to encourage engagement.

6. Can I Share a Reel to Multiple Stories at Once?

Yes, you can share a Reel to multiple Stories at once, but each Story will be created individually. You’ll need to add the Reel to your Story and then repeat the process for each additional Story.

7. How Can I Track How Many Times My Reel Has Been Shared?

Unfortunately, Instagram doesn’t provide a direct metric for the number of times your Reel has been shared. However, you can track views, likes, comments, saves, and reach in your Instagram Insights. These metrics provide valuable insights into the performance of your Reel and how people are engaging with it.

8. What’s the Difference Between Saving a Reel and Sharing It?

Saving a Reel means you’re saving it to your “Saved” collection for later viewing. It doesn’t share the Reel with anyone else. Sharing a Reel actively distributes it to others, either via your feed, Story, DM, or a shareable link.

9. How Do I Share a Reel to My WhatsApp Status?

To share a Reel to your WhatsApp Status, copy the Reel’s link and paste it into your WhatsApp Status update. Your contacts can then click the link to view the Reel on Instagram.

10. Can I Schedule a Reel to be Shared Later?

Yes, you can schedule Reels using Meta Business Suite or other third-party scheduling tools. This allows you to plan your content calendar and ensure your Reels are shared at optimal times for engagement.

11. What Should I Do If Someone Shares My Reel Without Permission?

If someone shares your Reel without permission, you can report the post to Instagram. Instagram has policies against copyright infringement and will take action against users who violate these policies. You can also directly contact the user and request that they remove the Reel.

12. How Do I Make My Reels More Shareable?

To make your Reels more shareable, focus on creating engaging, high-quality content that resonates with your target audience. Use trending audio, captivating visuals, and compelling storytelling. Encourage viewers to share your Reel by adding a call to action in your caption or within the Reel itself. Remember that authentic and valuable content always performs best!

By mastering these sharing techniques and addressing these common questions, you’ll be well-equipped to maximize the impact of your Instagram Reels and achieve your social media goals.