If you want to edge out the competition on social media, you have to master video content. It’s the most effective format today, explaining why most marketers include it as a vital part of their strategy.
When you create video content, you’re giving your followers a closer look into your brand and gaining their trust. At the same time, you’re expanding your audience, driving engagement, and boosting sales. It’s a win-win for everyone.
However, making videos can be intimidating if you don’t have any experience. To help you create cutting-edge video content for your social media platforms, here are some tips you can try out.
Identify Your Purpose and Create a Strategy
Starting is always the most challenging part. To help you get off on the right foot, you must identify a clear purpose for your videos and create a plan to help you materialize it. Your objective should align with your overall business goals. Once you have a strategy, everything else will follow.
Here are some questions you can ask yourself during the planning process:
- Why do you want to create videos for social media? Do you want to increase website traffic, gain more followers, or boost sales?
- Who is your target audience for your videos, and how can you meet their needs?
- What value are you providing your audience through your videos? How can you make it a worthwhile experience for them?
Upload Native Videos Across Various Platforms
All social media sites favor videos that are native to them over external video links. For example, native Facebook videos perform better than YouTube links shared on the platform.
According to a study in 2019, native Facebook videos have 478% more shares and 110% more engagement than non-native video content. One reason native videos perform better is that they play automatically, while some external videos require manual control. In addition, you need to leave the platform to watch certain external content.
Don’t Rely on Audio and Always Include Text
Most users play videos on mute across all social media platforms. So rather than relying on dialogue, convey your story visually through actions and emotions. While it doesn’t mean you can’t include audio in your videos, be sure you can get your message across without relying on sounds.
One way to grab people’s attention, provide valuable information, and convey meaning without audio is through text. Take the time to include on-screen text in your videos and craft meaningful video descriptions.
Keep Your Videos Short and Use the First Few Seconds Wisely
Viewers tend to scroll past a video within the first 30 seconds. That’s why it’s crucial to hook them in as fast as possible. You can grab their attention at the beginning of a video with a thought-provoking question, an impressive visual, or an inspiring quote. Whatever you decide to do, it should make your audience curious and want to watch until the end of your video.
As for video length, keep videos within 15 to 20 minutes, so they’re easy to consume. Viewers tend to lose interest if a video is any longer than that. The challenge is to add as much value as possible within that time limit. Include all the necessary information about your brand, product, or service, so your audience can understand what you want to convey.
Use Natural Lighting and Video Editing Tools
You don’t have to spend on expensive gear to make beautiful videos. All you need is natural light. It’s free and can make any video look professional. If you’re shooting outdoors, it’s best to film on an overcast day. That way, the light is more even, and the shadows are less harsh. If you’re shooting indoors, you can get the best lighting by sitting near a door or window.
Editing videos might seem technical, but video-editing tools are becoming more intuitive with every update and release. Canva, InShot, and Adobe Premium Rush are some beginner-friendly apps worth checking out.
The Bottom Line
With a well-thought-out strategy, you can start posting impactful videos on your social media accounts and get the results you want. While your first few videos won’t be perfect, you can keep learning as you go. For more information, you can contact Transformation Marketing at 402-788-2896.