Facebook Reels, Stories, or Posts? What to Use and When in 2025

Last Updated on June 3, 2025 by Himanshu Rawat

As of 2025, Facebook remains the most widely used social media platform globally, with over 3.065 billion monthly active users. This vast user base makes it a critical channel for marketers aiming to reach and engage audiences.

The Evolving Facebook Algorithm

However, the platform’s algorithm is continually evolving, influencing how content is distributed and consumed. Understanding these changes is essential for marketers to maintain visibility and effectiveness in their campaigns.

Today, you’re likely torn between three main choices:

• Feed Posts: Traditional images, links, and text updates
• Stories: 24-hour visual snippets at the top of the app
• Reels: Short-form videos pushed to new audiences via algorithmic discovery

So, which format works best ? The answer depends on your goals—but also on what Facebook chooses to prioritize in its algorithm.

Why the platform keeps changing:

• Facebook rewards content that drives engagement: comments, shares, watch time, reactions, and even pauses.
• Meta is focused on keeping users on the app, especially with video formats like Reels.
• Competing with TikTok and YouTube Shorts, Facebook has incentivized short-form video growth.

The challenge for creators and businesses:

• Feed Posts offer familiarity but are often throttled without paid promotion.
• Stories appear at the top of the screen, but disappear in 24 hours.
• Reels are discoverable and boosted to new audiences—but require video content and editing.

The key question:

Where should you invest your energy—consistency in Feed posts, creativity in Reels, or intimacy in Stories?

In the sections ahead, we’ll break down how each format is performing right now, what kind of content performs best, and how platforms like Outfy can help you schedule and optimize for each format—so you don’t have to guess what works.

Let’s begin the journey with a video summary of all the resources we’re about to share with you, dear reader.

Facebook Feed Posts: Your Digital Billboards

Feed posts have long been the cornerstone of Facebook marketing. Think of them as digital billboards—great for delivering messages, updates, and promotional content that’s meant to be seen, read, and clicked.

However, it’s important to note that the average engagement rate for Facebook feed posts is approximately 0.05%, indicating that while they are widely viewed, interactions may be limited. This underscores the need for strategic content creation to capture audience attention effectively. (Oberlo)

Types of Feed Posts:

• Link Posts: Share a URL (like a blog or product page), and Facebook auto-generates a thumbnail preview.
• Image Posts: Visual-first content with a caption—no link preview, but potentially more engaging.

Best Use Cases:

• Driving Blog Traffic: Link posts are still the most direct way to funnel users to external content.
• Product Announcements: Pairing a sharp image with details and a CTA can help you spotlight new arrivals.
• Event Promotions: Ideal for RSVPs, reminders, and linking to sign-up or ticket pages.

When to Use Feed Posts:

• When you need to drive clicks to your website, store, or landing page.
• When you’re posting information-heavy content—text + link + image helps convey value at a glance.
• When you’re building SEO authority by driving traffic to long-form content or cornerstone pages.

Pro Tip: Facebook doesn’t always favor external links in its algorithm, so pairing a link post with boosted reach (via ads or shares) helps. Also, consider A/B testing image vs. link versions to see what resonates with your audience.

Feed posts are not about virality—they’re about clarity and conversion. Use them when your goal is to inform and guide, not just entertain.

Facebook Reels: Short-Form That Delivers Reach

Reels are Facebook’s fastest-growing content format. Think of them as your elevator pitch—quick, visual, and algorithmically amplified. Unlike Feed posts, Reels are pushed beyond your followers, opening doors to organic discovery. Reels have been shown to generate 22% more engagement than regular feed posts on Facebook, making them an essential tool for organic reach (source).

As consumer attention spans shrink, short-form video like Reels offers a dynamic way to connect with a wider audience. The power of these bite-sized, engaging videos lies in their ability to go viral, propelling your brand beyond your immediate follower base. Harnessing this format strategically can significantly boost visibility and interaction with your content.

What They Are:

• Short-form vertical videos (up to 90 seconds)
• Automatically shown in suggested content feeds, Reels tabs, and even in Watch

Best Use Cases:

• Quick Tips or Tutorials: Show how to use your product or offer valuable advice in 30 seconds.
• Behind-the-Scenes Content: Share your process, workspace, or unfiltered moments.
• User-Generated Content (UGC): Customer shoutouts, reactions, and unboxing clips work well.
• Testimonials & Reviews: Let customers tell your story in their own words.

When to Use Reels:

• When you want to increase organic reach and attract new followers.
• When you need to tell your brand story in quick, engaging bursts.
• When you’re experimenting with video-based content without ad spend.

Pro Tip: Authenticity trumps polish. Reels don’t need high-end production—just clarity, relatability, and strong hooks in the first few seconds.

Reels are your front door to new audiences on Facebook. If Feed posts are your brochure, Reels are your invitation to connect, follow, and explore.

Facebook Stories: Ephemeral but Effective

Facebook Stories are full-screen, vertical snippets that last just 24 hours—yet they remain one of the most effective ways to stay top-of-mind with your audience. Think of Stories as your brand’s daily “heartbeat”—brief, casual, and consistent. 

As of 2019, Facebook Stories boasted 500 million daily active users, highlighting their significant reach and potential for engagement (source).

Incorporating Stories into your marketing strategy allows for real-time sharing of behind-the-scenes content, promotions, and interactive elements like polls and questions. This format fosters a sense of immediacy and authenticity, encouraging more personal connections with your audience. By leveraging the transient nature of Stories, brands can create a dynamic presence that keeps followers engaged and returning for more.

What They Are:

• 15-second photo or video clips that appear at the top of the app
• Disappear after 24 hours unless saved as highlights (on Instagram; not applicable on Facebook)
• Often viewed by your most engaged followers first, making them a great space for connection

Best Use Cases:

• Limited-Time Offers & Flash Sales: Use countdown stickers or direct CTAs to create urgency.
• Quick Polls & Questions: Ask opinions, run surveys, or get instant feedback via interactive stickers.
• Daily Reminders: Promote new posts, events, or time-sensitive announcements (like “last day to sign up”).

When to Use Stories:

• When you want to spark urgency—Stories create FOMO by design.
• When aiming for daily touchpoints with your audience that feel casual and low-pressure.
• When promoting content from your Feed or Reels—drive traffic back to your main posts.

Pro Tip: Reuse short-form content across both Instagram and Facebook Stories using scheduling tools like Outfy, ensuring brand consistency without doubling effort.

Stories may not go viral, but they build consistency, trust, and visibility. They’re great for nurturing warm audiences who already follow your brand.

Engagement Insights: How Each Format Performs

To understand what’s working on Facebook in 2025, it helps to zoom out and examine how each content format performs based on current trends and platform behavior.

• Short-Form Video (Reels): Facebook Reels continue to gain traction, with users watching a staggering 140 billion Reels daily. This surge underscores the growing preference for bite-sized, engaging content.
• Video Content Overall: Video posts now reach 135% more users than photos, highlighting their effectiveness in expanding audience reach and engagement.
• Image-Based Posts: Despite the rise of video content, image posts continue to perform strongly, particularly in industries emphasizing visual storytelling.
• Long-Form Video: While short-form content is on the rise, long-form videos still hold value, especially for in-depth storytelling and tutorials.
• Interactive Content: Formats like polls, quizzes, and live Q&A sessions are gaining traction, fostering two-way communication between brands and audiences.

Reels: The Reach King

• Reels consistently outperform other formats in organic reach due to algorithmic prioritization.
• Great for top-of-funnel growth, introducing your brand to new viewers.
• High potential for shares, saves, and reactions when content is short, valuable, and relatable.

Feed Posts: Reliable for Clicks & Conversions

• Best at driving website traffic, especially through link posts.
• Help establish brand authority and SEO traffic when tied to blog content or landing pages.
• Often require boosted posts or ads to reach larger audiences.

Stories: High Frequency, High Retention

• Viewed mostly by existing followers, but with strong daily engagement.
• Boosts brand recall and repetition through frequent, casual touchpoints.
• Low pressure, high-impact for reminders, promotions, and engagement nudges.

Key Takeaway:

Use Reels to expand reach, Feed posts to drive traffic or conversions, and Stories to retain attention and spark quick engagement. Each format serves a role in a balanced Facebook content strategy—working together, not in isolation.

Content Funnel Strategy: Where Each Format Fits

To maximize your Facebook presence in 2025, don’t treat Reels, Stories, and Feed posts as standalone tactics. Instead, integrate them into a content funnel—a structured strategy that guides users from discovery to conversion.

1. Reels: Attract

• Use Reels at the top of the funnel to reach new users.
• Short, engaging videos boost organic discovery and grow your follower base.
• Content ideas: quick tips, viral trends, behind-the-scenes clips, or product demos.
• Goal: Spark curiosity and drive profile visits or follows.

2. Stories: Nurture

• Once users follow you, Stories help you stay top-of-mind.
• Post regularly—polls, Q&As, countdowns, and limited-time deals work well here.
• Build trust and connection through daily touchpoints.
• Goal: Deepen engagement with warm leads who’ve already shown interest.

3. Feed Posts: Convert

• Feed content is perfect for driving traffic or action.
• Use strong visuals, value-packed captions, and clear CTAs (Shop Now, Read More, etc.).
• Post product updates, blog links, event announcements, and testimonials.
• Goal: Convert attention into clicks, signups, or purchases.

Pro Tip: Use tools like Outfy to schedule across all three formats—ensuring a cohesive funnel without burning out your team.

When each format plays its role, the result is a Facebook presence that attracts, nurtures, and converts—with measurable impact at every stage.

The Bottom Line

Facebook rewards relevance. And relevance starts with strategy—not trends.

Now that you know where each format fits, it’s time to plan smarter, post sharper, and grow sustainably. Your audience—and the algorithm—will thank you.