Facebook recently added a new feature allowing users to add custom covers to Reels, similar to what is already available on Instagram. This small but significant update enables creators and brands to maintain a consistent visual identity across platforms. With this feature, marketers can now better control the visual first impression that their content makes, improving branding consistency and boosting engagement on Reels.
What Does This Update Mean for Marketers?
For marketers, this feature opens up new opportunities for visual branding and content personalization. Custom covers allow brands to design consistent imagery across all their social media profiles, giving them greater control over their appearance. By using custom covers, marketers can ensure that their branding shines through even when Reels autoplay in users’ feeds or appear in their profile grids.
Previously, Reels relied on an automatically selected thumbnail, which might not always present the best first impression. Now, brands can upload a customized cover that reflects their visual identity, ensuring that their most important visual elements (logos, color palettes, and campaign-specific imagery) are consistently displayed. This can be particularly useful when promoting new product launches, campaigns, or events, as custom covers allow for more targeted and branded visuals.
For creators and influencers, this update also enhances their ability to align their aesthetic across both Instagram and Facebook, allowing them to maximize their reach without sacrificing their brand’s visual consistency.
How It Impacts Content Strategy
Custom covers can play a significant role in a brand’s content strategy. Since Facebook Reels, like Instagram Reels, are largely discovery-based, first impressions matter. Custom thumbnails can help marketers attract more views by making their content visually stand out on crowded feeds. Eye-catching custom covers can increase engagement and drive more clicks on content, as users are more likely to tap on videos with appealing visuals.
Moreover, the ability to tailor the look of each Reel provides another opportunity for A/B testing. Marketers can experiment with different cover designs to see which ones perform better in terms of engagement and conversions. This additional layer of control will help refine content strategies and optimize for higher visibility on both Facebook and Instagram.
In addition, custom covers are essential for campaigns that require cohesive branding across multiple platforms. This feature allows marketers to align their covers across Facebook and Instagram Reels, creating a unified look for campaign content. For example, a brand launching a holiday campaign can use matching custom covers across platforms to build a stronger brand identity, making content easily recognizable to their audience.
The introduction of custom covers for Facebook Reels is a small but important update that can have a big impact on how brands and marketers approach content. It offers more control over branding, helps content stand out, and provides new opportunities for testing and optimization. By incorporating custom covers into their Facebook Reels strategy, marketers can better engage audiences and improve the visibility of their content.
With the ability to control how their content is presented, brands and creators can enhance their cross-platform presence and ensure that their visual identity is consistently represented.