How to Share a Video on Facebook

Thinking about sharing a video on Facebook? You’re in the right place. Video isn't just another type of content, for many brands and creators, it's the main way to connect with an audience, share a story, and drive real engagement. This guide will walk you through exactly how to share videos on Facebook in every way possible, complete with simple step-by-step instructions and practical tips to make sure your content actually gets noticed.

Why Sharing Videos on Facebook Still Matters

Before we get into the "how," let's quickly cover the "why." Social media platforms are competitive, and Facebook's algorithm famously loves content that keeps people watching. Videos, especially those uploaded directly to the platform (known as "native" video), consistently outperform other content types in reach and engagement. They stop the scroll, hold attention, and give you a powerful way to communicate your message. Whether you're posting a quick Reel, a detailed tutorial, or a simple customer testimonial, video is your best bet for making an impact.

The Different Ways to Share a Video on Facebook

Facebook offers several ways to share video content, each tailored for a different purpose and audience. Understanding the options is the first step to building a smart video strategy.

• Uploading a Native Video to Your Feed: This is a video you upload directly from your computer or phone. These posts live on your profile or Page's timeline permanently and get favored by Facebook's algorithm.
• Sharing a Video from Another Facebook Post: If you see a video you love from another Page or friend, you can share it directly to your own feed, a group, or in a message.
• Posting a Facebook Reel: These are short-form, vertical videos (up to 90 seconds) designed for quick, entertaining content. They have their own dedicated feed and are one of the best ways to reach new audiences.
• Creating a Facebook Story: Stories are temporary, vertical photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. They are perfect for behind-the-scenes content, quick updates, and interactive polls or questions.
• Sharing a Video from an External Website (like YouTube): You can also share a link to a video hosted on another platform like YouTube or Vimeo. While easy, these posts often get less reach than native videos.
• Sharing to a Facebook Group: Tightly-knit communities in Facebook Groups are often highly engaged, making them a great place to share relevant video content.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Upload a Native Video

Uploading a video directly is the most effective way to share on Facebook. The process is straightforward, but a few extra steps can make a big difference in your results.

On a Desktop Computer:

1. Start a new post. Go to your Facebook Page or Profile and find the "What's on your mind?" box at the top of your feed.
2. Click the "Photo/Video" icon. It's the green icon below the text box. A file browser window will pop up.
3. Select your video file. Navigate to the video on your computer and click "Open." Facebook will begin processing your video.
4. Write your caption. While the video uploads, you can start writing your accompanying text. This is your chance to add context, ask a question, or encourage a specific action (like "comment below with your thoughts!").
5. Optimize your post. This is where you can take your video from good to great. You'll see several options on the right-hand side of the post editor:
   • Video Title: Give your video a clear, descriptive title. This helps with search and lets people know what it's about.
   • Tags: Add relevant keywords as tags to help Facebook understand your video's content and show it to interested users. Think about what people might search for to find your video.
   • Thumbnail: Facebook will automatically suggest thumbnails, but for a professional look, always upload a custom one. A great thumbnail is compelling and makes people want to click play.
   • Captions (SRT): Upload an SRT file for your subtitles or use Facebook's auto-captioning tool. This is very important, as most users watch videos with the sound off.
6. Choose where to post. You can share to your Feed and optionally to your Story as well.
7. Click "Post." Once you're happy with everything, hit the blue "Post" button.

On a Mobile Device (Facebook App):

1. Tap the "What's on your mind?" box at the top of your home screen feed.
2. Select "Photo/Video." This will open your phone's camera roll.
3. Choose your video and tap "Next." Find the video you want to share.
4. Write your caption. Add your text in the "Say something about this video..." area. You can also add a location, tag friends, or add a feeling/activity.
5. Edit your video (optional). The mobile editor allows you to trim your video, add some simple effects, or add stickers.
6. Tap "Post." When you're ready, hit the "Post" button in the upper right-hand corner.

How to Share Videos to Facebook Reels and Stories

Reels and Stories have become central to the Facebook experience. Since they're designed for mobile-first, vertical video, the sharing process is a bit different.

Posting a Facebook Reel:

1. From the Facebook app, tap the "+" icon at the top right, then select "Reel."
2. You can either record a new video using the Reels camera or upload a pre-edited video from your phone's gallery by tapping the icon in the bottom left.
3. Once you’ve selected or recorded your clip, you can add audio (like music from Facebook's library), text overlays, effects, and stickers.
4. Tap "Next" and write a compelling description. This is a great place to use trending hashtags to increase visibility.
5. Choose your audience (Public is best for maximum reach) and tap "Share Reel."

Posting a Facebook Story:

1. On the Facebook app, tap the "Create story" button on your home screen.
2. Select a video from your gallery. Keep in mind that videos in Stories are typically 15 seconds per segment, but Facebook will automatically break longer videos into smaller chunks.
3. Customize your Story with text, stickers (like polls or quizzes), music, and filters. Interactive elements are a fantastic way to boost engagement.
4. Adjust your privacy settings (who can see your Story) and then tap "Share."

Best Practices for Optimized Video Sharing

Just uploading a video isn't enough. To make it perform, you need to optimize it for the platform and your audience. Here are a few expert tips to keep in mind.

1. Format for Your Placement

One size does not fit all. A video that looks great in the landscape orientation of a feed might get awkwardly cropped in a vertical Story.

• Feed Videos: Square (1:1 aspect ratio) or horizontal (16:9). Square videos take up more screen real estate on mobile feeds and tend to perform better.
• Reels & Stories: Vertical (9:16 aspect ratio). This is non-negotiable. Always shoot or edit your video specifically for a vertical screen.

2. Grab Attention in the First 3 Seconds

People scroll fast. Your video's first few seconds must be visually interesting enough to make them stop. Use a strong visual hook - an intriguing question, a surprising action, or a bright piece of text - to immediately capture interest.

3. Always Add Subtitles

Repeat: Always add subtitles. A huge percentage of Facebook videos are watched without sound. If your message relies on audio, adding on-screen text or captions makes it accessible to everyone, whether they're in a quiet office or a loud public space. Facebook’s auto-captioning is a good start, but always review and edit it for accuracy.

4. Share From YouTube the Smart Way

Should you share a YouTube link directly, or download the video and re-upload it to Facebook natively? The answer is almost always to upload it natively to Facebook. Facebook's algorithm prioritizes content that keeps users on Facebook. Sharing a YouTube link does the opposite. While it might seem like more work, uploading your video file directly to Facebook will result in significantly better organic reach.

If you absolutely must share a YouTube link, make sure you write a strong, descriptive caption in your Facebook post that encourages people to click and explains the value of the video.

5. Create a Killer Custom Thumbnail

For feed videos, the thumbnail is your movie poster. It needs to be high-quality, relevant, and visually appealing. Good thumbnails often include:

• A clear, expressive face.
• Bright, high-contrast colors.
• A small amount of engaging text that hints at the video's content.

Final Thoughts

Sharing videos on Facebook is easy on the surface, but a thoughtful approach that considers the format, the hook, and the small details like captions and thumbnails is what sets successful content apart. Treat each video as an opportunity to connect with your audience, whether it's through a fleeting Story, a viral-worthy Reel, or a value-packed video in the feed.

Planning, scheduling, and analyzing all this content across different formats like Reels, Stories, and regular posts can get hectic. At Postbase, we built an intuitive visual calendar to help you see exactly what's going live and when, across all of your accounts. Because we designed our tool specifically for today’s world of short-form video, you can upload a video once and schedule it everywhere without worrying about connection issues or your posts failing to publish. If you want a clean, modern way to manage your social media without the chaos, you might enjoy Postbase.