How to Change the Facebook Reels Algorithm

Feeling like the Facebook Reels algorithm is working against you? It's a common frustration for creators and marketers trying to grow their reach. You post a Reel you're proud of, only to see it stall out with a handful of views. This guide will show you how to start influencing the algorithm in your favor. We’ll break down what Facebook is actually looking for and give you a clear, actionable plan to train the algorithm to show your Reels to more people.

Understanding the Goal: It's About Influence, Not Hacking

First, let’s get something straight: you can't literally log into Facebook's servers and change the algorithm’s code. The phrase "change the algorithm" is really a stand-in for something more achievable: understanding the system and giving it exactly what it wants. The real goal is to consistently provide the right signals so that the algorithm rewards you with organic reach. When you successfully do this, it feels like you've changed how it works for your account.

Think of it like training a dog. You can't change the fact that it's a dog, but you can teach it that certain behaviors (like sitting or staying) earn it a reward. The Facebook algorithm is similar. It has a core goal - to keep users on the platform for as long as possible by showing them content they love. When you create Reels that help Facebook achieve this goal, it rewards you by showing your content to a wider audience. Your job isn't to hack the system, but to become its most valuable partner. If you're looking to significantly increase your Facebook Reels views, focusing on these signals is key.

The Four Signals The Facebook Reels Algorithm Craves

The algorithm isn't some mystical, unknowable force. It’s a complex system that prioritizes content based on a handful of key user behavior signals. If you focus on optimizing for these four areas, you'll be giving the algorithm everything it needs to push your content.

1. The Watch Time & Completion Rate Signal

This is arguably the most important metric of all. If people watch your Reel all the way to the end, or better yet, watch it multiple times, it sends a powerful signal to Facebook that your content is highly engaging and entertaining. A high completion rate tells the algorithm, "People love this, show it to more people like them!"

Actionable Advice:

• Hook Them In 3 Seconds: Your opening is everything. Start with a bold statement, a surprising visual, a question, or a direct promise of what the viewer will learn. Don't waste time with slow intros.
• Keep It Short & Punchy: While Reels can be longer, top-performing content is often under 30 seconds. This increases the likelihood that people will watch it all the way through. Cut out any fluff. If you're new to the platform, learning how to create Facebook Reels effectively is a great starting point.
• Master the Perfect Loop: Create Reels where the end seamlessly flows back into the beginning. This can trick viewers into watching it two or three times before they even realize it, drastically boosting your watch time.

2. The Engagement Signal (Likes, Comments, Shares, & Saves)

Passive views are good, but active engagement is even better. Every time someone interacts with your Reel, they are explicitly telling the algorithm that your content is valuable.

Here’s how the algorithm tends to value these actions:

• Shares & Saves: These are the gold standard. A share means someone found your content so good they wanted to show it to their friends. A save means it was so useful they want to come back to it later.
• Comments: Comments require more effort than a simple tap, signaling a higher level of interest. Conversations in your comment section can significantly boost a Reel's performance.
• Likes: While still valuable, likes are the most passive form of engagement. They're a good indicator but carry less weight than a comment, share, or save.

Actionable Advice:

• Use Strong Calls to Action (CTAs): Don't just hope for engagement - ask for it. Prompt viewers with phrases like "Save this for your next project," "Share this with someone who needs to hear it," or "Comment your biggest takeaway below."
• Provoke Conversation: Ask questions in your caption or use on-screen text overlays. Create relatable content that makes people want to add their own "me too!" comment.

3. The Creator & Profile Signal

The algorithm doesn’t just look at each Reel in isolation, it looks at your entire profile. It wants to see that you are a reliable, consistent creator in a specific topic area. This helps the algorithm build trust in your account and understand who your target audience is.

Actionable Advice:

• Find Your Niche: If one of your Reels is about macro photography and the next is about baking cupcakes, the algorithm gets confused. It doesn’t know who your "ideal viewer" is. Stick to a primary subject to build a dedicated audience and teach the algorithm exactly who to show your content to.
• Post Consistently: You don't need to post every day, but creating a consistent schedule (e.g., 3-4 Reels per week) keeps your momentum going. When the algorithm sees you posting regularly, it’s more likely to favor your content. Learning how to schedule Reels on Facebook can significantly help maintain this consistency.
• Engage with Your Community: Respond to every comment on your Reels. This is an excellent way to double your comment count and signals that you are an active and engaged creator.

4. The Content & Audio Signal

Facebook uses AI to analyze what’s actually in your video. It looks at the visuals, reads your on-screen text, understands your caption, and - most importantly - identifies the audio track you're using. This allows it to categorize your Reel and show it to people who have consumed similar content in the past.

Actionable Advice:

• Use Trending Audio: This is one of the easiest ways to get an algorithmic boost. When a sound is trending, Facebook is actively looking for more content using that audio to show users. Browse the Reels feed to see what sounds are popular in your niche and find a creative way to use trending audio on Facebook.
• Use Descriptive Text: Add clear, concise on-screen text to your videos. Use your caption to describe what the Reel is about and include 3–5 relevant hashtags. This gives the algorithm more context and helps it classify your content correctly.

Your 7-Day Action Plan to Start Changing Your Reels Reach

Theory is great, but let's put it into practice. Follow this weekly plan to start gathering data and sending the right signals to the algorithm.

Day 1-2: Analyze and Audit

Open the Facebook app and go to your Professional Dashboard or Creator Studio. Find your Reels analytics and review the performance of a dozen of your most recent videos. Identify your top 2–3 Reels based on reach and engagement. Ask yourself:

• What was the topic?
• What was the audio? Was it trending?
• How did the video start? What was the hook?
• What was the format (talking head, tutorial, comedy skit, etc.)?
• What was the call to action?

Now, do the same for your 2–3 worst-performing Reels. The contrast between what works and what doesn't is where you'll find the most valuable information.

Day 3-4: Double Down on What Works

Based on your audit, create two new Reels that replicate the elements of your top performers. Don't copy them exactly, but use them as a template. If a specific "quick tip" format got a lot of saves, make another one on a different topic. If a trending sound worked well, find a new angle to use it. The goal is to prove your hypothesis about why your best videos succeeded.

Day 5-6: Engage Like Your Reach Depends On It

Your job isn't done once you hit "Publish." Spend 15 minutes each of these days actively participating in the Reels ecosystem. Find other accounts in your niche, watch their Reels, and leave thoughtful comments (more than just "great post!"). Additionally, make sure you reply to every single comment on your own new videos as quickly as possible. This shows the algorithm you're a valuable member of the community.

Day 7: Review and Repeat

Go back to your analytics and check the performance of the two Reels you created this week. Did they perform as well as or better than your previous top content? What did you learn? This feedback loop - analyze, create, engage, review - is the fundamental process of "training" the algorithm over time.

Stop Doing This: Common Mistakes That Reset Your Progress

Even if you’re doing a lot of things right, a few simple mistakes can hold back your reach. Avoid these common pitfalls:

• Low-Quality Visuals: The algorithm deprioritizes videos that are blurry, poorly lit, or have a low resolution. Always shoot with good lighting and upload the highest quality video file you can. Knowing how to improve Facebook video quality is essential for better reach.
• Visible Watermarks: Facebook knows when you’re just reposting a video from another platform. Reels with a visible TikTok watermark will have their reach suppressed. If you create content elsewhere, be sure to download the original video file without the watermark before uploading it to Facebook.
• Posting Ghosting: Going weeks without posting can kill your momentum. Consistency is one of the most important signals you can send. Sticking to a schedule keeps your account in good standing with the algorithm.
• Serving a Niche-of-One: If your content is so varied that you're the only person interested in all of it, the algorithm won't know who else to show it to. Focus on serving a clear audience.

Final Thoughts

Influencing the Facebook Reels algorithm isn't about finding a secret hack, it's about consistently delivering on the fundamentals. By focusing on creating content that hooks viewers, earns high watch time, and sparks genuine engagement, you provide the exact signals that Facebook's system is designed to reward. Combine that with a focused niche and a consistent posting schedule, and you’ll be well on your way to earning the organic reach your content deserves.

Getting all of this right - planning a content calendar, creating great Reels, publishing consistently, and figuring out what’s working - is easier when you have the right tools. We created Postbase to make managing your social media feel simple and modern. With our visual calendar, you can plan and schedule your Reels weeks in advance to stay consistent. Our clean analytics dashboard allows you to quickly spot your top-performing videos, so you know exactly what kind of content to double down on, letting you focus more on creating and less on wrestling with confusing software.