According to research reports, the number of images on Instagram largely outnumbers the amount of videos. Yet not sharing videos on this platform is a missed opportunity, considering that 54 percent of consumers want to see more of this kind of content from the brands they follow. This makes posting videos on Instagram an excellent way to surpass your competition.
In this post, we’ll take a look at why Instagram video content is so valuable.
Then we’ll walk you through eight key tips for creating Instagram videos and using them to maximum effect. Let’s get to work!
Despite its start as primarily a photo-sharing platform, videos are becoming more and more popular on Instagram. What’s more, research shows that of all the content types on Instagram, videos get the most engagement.
This could be attributed to the fact that they’re less common than photos. Videos stand out on users’ timelines and provide engaging and high-quality content. You also have a variety of options to choose from, including:
While useful for some aspects of social media marketing, other platforms such as Twitter and Facebook aren’t as conducive to image-based content as Instagram is. In addition, whereas other video sharing sites such as YouTube are well-suited to long videos, Instagram offers a more concise channel for shorter video consumption.
What’s more, Instagram is also a great way to boost brand awareness and build connections in general. For example, research has found that tagging other Instagram users in posts increases engagement. By connecting with other brands and users on Instagram, you can expand your reach, and videos are a perfect place to start.
There’s clearly an opportunity to take your brand to the next level by posting videos on Instagram. Let’s take a look at eight tips you can keep in mind, to help you implement this strategy effectively.
Understanding the different options available for posting videos on Instagram lets you choose the right format for your specific goals. It can also help you generate ideas for videos you can create.
The four main types of Instagram video formats are:
It’s also helpful to consider the different dimensions and orientations each video format supports. The Instagram Story and Live features, for example, only enable vertical videos. Feed and IGTV videos, on the other hand, can be vertical or horizontal.
When scrolling through their feed, the cover photo used to represent your video will be the first thing a user sees. It can influence whether they decide to watch the video or not.
Consider this cover photo for an Oreo video, for example:
This cookie company used the same font and design as the popular TV show Game of Thrones. Fans of the show who scrolled past the video would likely be intrigued, and stop to watch it.
Whatever your own strategy might be, try to choose an engaging, eye-catching image that is both clear and accurately represents what the video is about. This cover image will live on your Instagram feed just as your photos do, so it needs to be of high quality.
Most of the time the automatically-generated cover image isn’t the best option. To change it, after you upload your Instagram video and click Next, select Cover in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Slide along the video reel until you find an image that you think is well suited for the cover, and you can activate it with a single tap.
Sharing funny videos is a great idea for brands that want to display a strong personality. In fact, about 51 percent of social media users follow brands because they find them entertaining.
Posting videos on Instagram is an ideal way to showcase your brand’s unique style. While some posts should be promotional, it’s okay to make others just for entertainment purposes.
One way you can mix up your content is by using Instagram Stories or the Live feature. For example, you could have an employee take over the account for a day, and offer a behind-the-scenes look into your office. You could also host a Q&A session with your followers. Since they don’t permanently live in your feed, Stories and Live videos are perfect for less serious content.
Remember how we mentioned that about 51 percent of people follow brands because they find them entertaining? In addition, 73 percent follow brands because they’re interested in their products and services.
One way you can deliver product information in an entertaining way is by creating a time-lapse video. There are many tools you can use for this, including Hyperlapse from Instagram:
This app is developed by Instagram. It lets users shoot time-lapse videos without the need for a tripod or other equipment. What’s more, Instagram offers some guidance on how to shoot a time-lapse video effectively.
You can use this feature to show the stages of how a certain product was created, or demonstrate how to use it. No matter what the use case might be, this type of video is an effective way to tell a story in a concise manner. You can also make an emotional connection with users, by offering them a behind-the-scenes look into your brand.
Creating a consistent brand style can help attract followers, and make your content highly recognizable. One way to create a uniform brand style is by using the same filters for each post.
Editing and filters can help make both your images and videos more appealing. It also helps to establish a certain aesthetic. For example, you can make a video look like it was shot with an older camera.
There are a number of editing and filtering tools you can use when posting videos on Instagram, such as VSCO. You can also create custom templates for stories with tools like Storyluxe:
This app is free to download. However, it also offers a subscription plan that provides unlimited access to all templates, backdrops, filters, and custom branding features.
According to research, branded video content is nearly three times more popular than other branded content such as eBooks or blogs. Considering that 60 percent of users say they use Instagram to discover new products, posting videos on Instagram to promote your offerings can be effective.
There are many ways you can use videos to build anticipation about a particular product. For an example, check out this video by Ben & Jerry’s:
Instagram Stories includes a handful of stickers that you can post with your video to build anticipation for a new product launch. For example, you can use the countdown sticker to let your audience know when the product will be available.
Similar to how you can use filters to establish a certain tone in your videos, you can also incorporate music. Adding music can help you communicate an emotion you want users to feel while watching the video.
Instagram makes adding music to your Stories easy. To do so:
Once you choose a song, you’ll also be able to customize the style of any lyrics that will appear.
You can also add music to the videos you upload to your feed. One tool you can use for this is Lomotif:
This video app is free to download. However, if you want to remove the watermark on videos, you’ll need to upgrade to its premium tier.
It’s important to keep in mind that Instagram doesn’t automatically play video sound. Therefore, if having the sound on is critical to the watcher’s experience, consider adding a reminder to that effect in the video’s caption. Alternatively, you could use a tool such as Clipomatic to add captions to the video.
When you’re trying to get better at posting effective videos on Instagram, seeing what is and isn’t working is essential. Fortunately, you can use Instagram Insights to track the performance of your videos and other content.
To view Instagram Insights:
From there, you can explore the Content tab to see how each post is performing. There is also an option to view analytics about your Instagram Stories. Seeing which videos are performing well can help to inform your strategy for posting videos on Instagram moving forwards.
Businesses that aren’t posting videos on Instagram are missing an opportunity to engage with and grow their audiences. Since the majority of brands on Instagram still focus on images, videos offer a competitive advantage.
As we discussed in this post, there are a variety of ways to use Instagram videos effectively. You can:
Do you have any questions about posting videos on Instagram? Let us know in the comments section below!
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