Reels¶
Stage: Package
Reels are vertical (9:16) short-form video assets designed for Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and LinkedIn vertical video. Unlike clips, reels are formatted specifically for mobile-first consumption with captions, visual hooks, and platform-native pacing.
Reel Styles¶
| Style | Best For | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Hook-Insight-CTA | Tactical advice, quick wins | 5 |
| Quote Card Motion | Guest sound bites, shareable moments | 4 |
| Before-After Reveal | Transformation stories, visual contrast | 4 |
| Rapid Fire | Lists, multiple quick insights | 4 |
| Teaser Trailer | Episode promotion, audience building | 3 |
Quality Bar¶
A strong reel should:
- Hook in the first 2 seconds — no logos, no intros
- Use burned-in captions (80%+ of social video is watched without sound)
- Deliver one clear idea in 15–60 seconds
- End with a reason to follow, subscribe, or watch the full episode
- Be natively vertical — not a cropped horizontal video
Platform Constraints¶
Hard limits for vertical short-form video (9:16).
| Platform | Max Duration | Recommended Duration | Aspect Ratio | Resolution | Max File Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instagram Reels | 90 seconds | 15-30 seconds | 9:16 | 1080x1920 | 4 GB |
| YouTube Shorts | 60 seconds | 15-60 seconds | 9:16 | 1080x1920 | N/A (upload limit) |
| TikTok | 10 minutes | 15-60 seconds | 9:16 | 1080x1920 | 287.6 MB (mobile), 4 GB (desktop) |
| LinkedIn (vertical) | 10 minutes | 15-30 seconds | 9:16 | 1080x1920 | 5 GB |
| Facebook Reels | 90 seconds | 15-30 seconds | 9:16 | 1080x1920 | 4 GB |
| Pinterest Idea Pins | 60 seconds per clip | 15-30 seconds | 9:16 | 1080x1920 | 20 MB per clip |
Platform-Specific Notes¶
| Platform | Cover Image | Hashtags | Audio | Captions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instagram Reels | Required (1:1 for grid) | Up to 30, 3-5 recommended | Original or licensed | Auto-gen + editable |
| YouTube Shorts | Auto-selected or custom | Limited impact | Original | Auto-gen |
| TikTok | Auto-selected or custom | 3-5 recommended | Original or library | Auto-gen + editable |
| First frame | 3-5 recommended | Original | Burned-in recommended |
Recommended Defaults¶
- Duration: 15-30 seconds (optimal across all platforms)
- Aspect ratio: 9:16 (never crop from 16:9 — shoot or produce natively vertical)
- Safe zone: Keep text within center 80% to avoid UI overlap (profile icons, captions, buttons)
- Captions: Always burn in
- Hook: First 2 seconds must stop the scroll — no logos, no intros
Last verified: May 2026.