If you’re wondering, what are social media reels? — you’re not alone. In 2025, reels have become one of the most powerful tools for growing an online presence. These short, engaging videos are designed to capture attention quickly, boost visibility, and connect brands with their audiences in an authentic way.
View some Social Media Reel concepts that we have out together at Ice Digital Media.
What Are Social Media Reels?
Reels are short-form, vertical videos — usually lasting between 15 to 90 seconds — designed to capture attention quickly and deliver content in a fun, engaging, and often fast-paced format. Originally made popular by TikTok, this format has now become a staple across platforms like:
- Instagram Reels
- Facebook Reels
- YouTube Shorts
- TikTok
- Pinterest Idea Pins
Each of these platforms now prioritizes short video content in their algorithms, pushing it further and faster than traditional posts. Long form videos however, are primarily used for deeper story telling, stronger audience connection, better SEO and positions your brand as a thought leader.
Why Reels Matter: The Stats
The numbers don’t lie — short-form video is dominating social media:
-
Short-form video is the most engaging type of content on social media, with 2x more engagement than other formats.
- 73% of consumers prefer short-form videos to search for products or services.
-
According to HubSpot, 90% of marketers using short-form video plan to increase or maintain their investment in 2025.
-
Instagram Reels now reach over 2.35 billion users each month — that’s more than half of all Instagram users.
-
The average viewer attention span is now just 8.25 seconds, making short content more effective than ever for message delivery.
How Reels Benefit Your Business or Brand
Whether you’re a local café, gym, creative agency, or e-commerce brand, social media reels can help you:
1. Increase Visibility & Reach
Reels are algorithm-friendly. Social platforms push them to new audiences — even people who don’t follow you yet — giving your brand free exposure.
2. Boost Engagement
Short-form video encourages likes, shares, comments, and saves — which all improve your overall performance on social media.
3. Showcase Personality
Reels are a perfect space for behind-the-scenes clips, quick tutorials, client transformations, product demos, or even a brand story in motion.
4. Drive Conversions
With strong visual hooks, calls to action, and relatable content, reels can move audiences from awareness to action — like visiting your website, booking a service, or making a purchase.
What Makes a Good Social Media Reel?
Here are some best practices when creating social media reels:
-
Hook early (within the first 2 seconds)
-
Use trending audio (but stay on-brand)
-
Add captions (80% of videos are watched without sound)
-
Keep it vertical (9:16 format)
-
Use text overlays and motion to guide the viewer
-
Always include a CTA (Call to Action) — “Follow us”, “Book now”, “Link in bio”
Final Thoughts
Reels are more than just a trend — they’re a key part of how people consume content in 2025. Whether you’re building brand awareness, selling a product, or simply telling your story, short-form video gives you the reach, engagement, and energy that static content can’t match.
If you’re not using social media reels yet, now’s the time to start. And if you’re already posting them — keep going, keep experimenting, and keep showing up creatively.
