# Reels Script > Use to write an Instagram Reels script — a native, sound-off-first short-video script optimized for Instagram's discovery engine, built around a 3-second hook, watch-through, and sends (DM shares). Run when the user says "Reels script," "Instagram Reel," "make a Reel," "Reel hook," "trial reel," or wants short-form video for Instagram specifically. Reads brand-profile and voice first; writes the muted version first; structures for watch-through + sends; places IG-search keywords; picks original vs trending audio (trending audio is added natively in-app — not via WoopSocial); briefs the cover frame; outputs a production doc (shot - on-screen text - spoken - audio - timing) plus a Veo prompt pack for faceless/b-roll shots. The generic scripting craft lives in short-form-video-script; for TikTok use tiktok-script; for Shorts use youtube-shorts; hands the caption to caption-writer, publishing to instagram-reels-publishing, and scheduling to scheduling-and-queue. - Skill: `social-media-skills/reels-script` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 7 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add social-media-skills/reels-script` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/social-media-skills/reels-script/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Product & Planning - License: MIT - Author: social-media-skills (https://skillmd.com/u/social-media-skills) - Updated: 2026-09-09 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/social-media-skills/reels-script --- # 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 Load `brand-profile.md` and `voice.md`. Voice carries into the spoken script, on-screen text, and caption. Carry guardrails and compliance rules. ## Step 1 — Lock the concept, goal, and length tier - **One idea** — a Reel does one thing. - **Goal** — reach, sends, saves, follows, or comments (shapes the close/CTA). - **Length tier** — ~15–35s is the reach sweet spot; up to ~90s for tutorials/storytelling that earns it; up to ~3 min stays recommendation-eligible. Let the idea pick the length; never pad. See `references/reels-mechanics.md`. ## Step 2 — Decide the audio (and write sound-off anyway) **Original audio** (your voice) for most founder/brand content; a **trending audio** where it genuinely fits — but Instagram's licensed library is **native-only**: the script names the audio direction, the human adds the track in-app (WoopSocial can't attach trending audio). Either way, the Reel must work **on mute**. Live trend research → `trend-jacking`. See `references/formats-and-audio.md`. ## Step 3 — Write the 3-second hook Use `hook-writer`. Fire on all three channels at once — verbal + bold on-screen text + a striking first frame — with no intro, no logo, no "hey guys." The on-screen text hook must work silently, and the hook must be true: a bait-and-switch creates a mid-video retention cliff the algorithm punishes. See `references/hooks-and-retention.md`. ## Step 4 — Structure for watch-through and sends Front-load value, open a loop early, change the visual every ~2–4 seconds, cut all dead air, and engineer a **loop or rewatch trigger** so the ending feeds the start. Then ask the sends question: **who would DM this to whom, and why?** Relatable, useful-reference, or conversation-starting beats travel; generic tips don't. See `references/hooks-and-retention.md`. ## Step 5 — Write the production doc + cover brief Output a shootable doc — a row per beat with **shot · on-screen text · spoken · audio · timing** — plus a one-line **cover-frame brief** (which frame, or a custom cover with bold text in the grid-safe center). Keep hook text, faces, and CTAs inside the safe zone — exact zones live in `instagram-reels-publishing`. ## Step 6 — Instagram SEO + caption + hashtags Instagram search is keyword-based now: put the target keyword in the **first ~3 seconds spoken**, the **on-screen text**, and the **caption's first sentence** — and the visual must match the caption. Keyword research + the search-first caption → `instagram-seo`; caption craft → `caption-writer`; 3–5 topic-label hashtags, not thirty. ## Step 7 — Test with Trial Reels; produce film-first or with the Veo pack For unproven hooks/formats, recommend a **Trial Reel** (shown to non-followers first — a free test that doesn't touch follower-facing stats). Default to **native filming** for faces and voices. For **faceless niches, b-roll, or unfilmable shots**, use the bundled Veo prompt pack (`references/veo-prompt-pack.md`; API layer in `tools/integrations/veo.md`) — and follow Meta's AI-labeling rules for generated media (disclosure on Instagram is native/manual, not automatic). ## Step 8 — Hand off - **Caption →** `caption-writer` (keyworded via `instagram-seo`). - **Publish (specs, safe zone, cover, settings) →** `instagram-reels-publishing`. - **Schedule →** `scheduling-and-queue` (upload the video to WoopSocial Media, then schedule). ## Quality bar — self-check - Does the **hook land in ~3 seconds** on all three channels, with no intro tax? - Does the script **work on mute** (on-screen text carries the story)? - Is it built for **watch-through** (fast, no dead air) with a **loop/rewatch trigger**? - Can I name **who sends this to whom, and why**? - Is the **audio choice** intentional — and flagged as native add-in-app if trending? - Does it **clear the eligibility gates** (original, watermark-free, niche-clear)? - Keywords in **spoken + on-screen + caption**; a **cover-frame brief** included? - Is the output a **shootable production doc** — on-voice, truthful hook, no fabricated stats? ## Edge cases & pushback - **"Just repost my TikToks"** → the watermark + originality gates throttle reach; re-cut a clean native version → `cross-platform-repurposing`. - **"Add the trending audio for me"** → the script names the audio direction; the human adds IG's licensed audio in-app. Never claim WoopSocial attaches it. - **"Make it a polished brand ad"** → authentic, person-first content out-travels glossy spots; deliver a native version that still hits the goal. - **"Guarantee this goes viral"** → no guarantees; a strong hook + send-worthy idea stacks the odds, and a Trial Reel tests it risk-free. - **Thin concept** → shape the one idea; don't pad to fill a length tier. - **Regulated/sensitive** → carry guardrails; only verifiable claims; required disclaimers. ## Related skills - `short-form-video-script` — the master scripting craft this specializes for Instagram. - `brand-profile`, `voice-builder` — voice + guardrails; `hook-writer` — the 3-second hook. - `instagram-seo` — keywords + the search-first caption; `caption-writer` — caption craft. - `trend-jacking` — live trend/audio research; `instagram-growth` — the growth strategy above this. - `tiktok-script` — TikTok; `youtube-shorts` — Shorts; `cross-platform-repurposing` — adapt across. - `instagram-reels-publishing` — specs/safe zone/cover/publish; `scheduling-and-queue` — schedule (via WoopSocial); `tools/integrations/veo.md` — the Veo API/connection layer. ## References - `references/reels-mechanics.md` — the Reels discovery engine, signals, gates, length tiers, Trial Reels, the grid. - `references/hooks-and-retention.md` — the 3-second hook, sound-off design, watch-through tactics, the sends lever. - `references/formats-and-audio.md` — Reels formats + original vs trending audio (and the native-only limit). - `references/veo-prompt-pack.md` — AI-video pack for faceless/b-roll, with disclosure and film-first caveats. - `references/examples.md` — worked production docs with cover briefs, sends design, and IG keywords.