Reels Script

Reels are Instagram's discovery engine: most Reel reach comes from non-followers, decided by how viewers respond — not by follower count. But Reels are not TikToks with a different logo:

1. The hook window is ~3 seconds — they decide whether a Reel is pushed wider or throttled. Layer it: verbal + on-screen text + visual.
2. Watch-through and sends rule. Watch time is the top signal; sends-per-reach (DM shares) are weighted roughly 3–5× more than likes for reaching new people. Script for both.
3. Write the muted version first. Most Reels viewers watch on mute — if the on-screen text doesn't carry the story, the script fails before the audio matters.
4. Eligibility gates come before ranking: original, no TikTok/CapCut watermarks, has audio, under the length cap, clear niche. A watermarked reupload is throttled at the gate.
5. The Reel also lives on your grid — plan the cover frame; it can't be edited after publish.

(Full mechanics in references/reels-mechanics.md.)

Step 0 — Read the foundation first