According to Gigi Hadid, it’s a blessing that we get to live in a time when social media can be used as a tool. More than 53% of the world’s population is found on social media platforms. Therefore, using the platforms to promote a business to obtain a global reach is undeniable wise.
Among the types of content that resonate with the audience, videos are increasingly popular. If we consider the example of TikTok, we will realize that people have flocked to the online video platform at a staggering pace. The popularity of TikTok even influenced image-focused apps like Instagram to change their course toward videos.
With the social media landscape being concentrated on videos, marketers often find it tricky to chalk out an effective strategy. Making videos on social media isn’t enough if your content cannot drive conversions. A few tips to make videos on social media to captivate your audience are as follows:
Make Short Videos
The popularity of TikTok in many countries was short-lived because the app got banned due to privacy concerns. Shortly after, Instagram followed the footsteps of TikTok and launched Instagram reels. Initially, people were allowed to make only 15-seconds clips on Instagram reels.
Considering people’s low attention span, the new Instagram feature became instantly popular. The fashion giant Louis Vuitton got an average view of 7 million on their reels if you want evidence. The makeup brand Sephora also garnered around 453,000 views on their reels.
Now, people can make up to one-minute-long content on Instagram reels, and that’s enough to captivate your audience. You can also try short video formats on other social media platforms but try not to make your videos longer than two minutes.
Make the First Few Minutes Captivating
The first point discussed short video formats, but it does not intend to discourage you from making long videos. However, when you make videos longer than two minutes, take special care in creating the first few minutes.
YouTube videos follow a long format but have you not spent time completing the entire video, even if they stretch up to 20-30 minutes. The first few minutes of your video should be able to hook the audience to your content.
For instance, a lot of YouTubers make videos of shopping hauls. To make people stick around till the end, they often announce a giveaway or coupon codes with massive discounts.
Using a quote from a popular figure at the beginning of your video appeals to your audience’s attention. You can also provide timestamps to make it easy for viewers to reach the pertinent sections of your video.
Concentrate on Aesthetics
No matter how good your content is, focusing on aesthetics is necessary to charm your viewers. Use your brand’s design guidelines to create consistency in terms of the feel and look of your videos. Use transitions, graphics, motion design, and text overlays to add more vibrancy to your videos.
Implementing special effects in your videos can also help you strategically deliver your brand’s key message. However, people often go overboard with their edits to make videos creative. Remember that less is more while enhancing the aesthetics of your videos. You should know going overboard can reduce views instead of having the opposite effect.
Add Music to Your Videos
If you spend all your free time scrolling through Instagram reels, you are probably aware of all the songs trending on the platform. While the songs might become annoying after watching hundreds of reels with them, trendy music plays a crucial role in making the videos popular.
You should select music that complements your videos and matches the desired tone. Choosing trendy music for your content is important, but you need to ensure that it is suitable for your videos. Sometimes the melody might be catchy, but the irrelevant lyrics can cause you to lose your audience.
Add Subtitles to Your Videos
Have you ever spent the night scrolling videos on social media because you couldn’t sleep? Did you simply watch the videos without turning up the volume? Whether amidst a boring lecture or business meeting, people nowadays prefer watching videos without sound.
When you make videos, don’t forget to add subtitles. It will ensure that people can gather the primary message of your videos even on the go. Even people with hearing impairment can also understand your videos.
Some people prefer to make videos in their regional language. Adding subtitles in English will ensure that even non-native speakers can understand your content.
Repurpose Existing Content but Not Always
When you repurpose your content across different social media platforms, you have a great chance of increasing your marketing ROI. It ensures that your marketing efforts help you to churn out evergreen content. Repurposing your videos also enables you to create a high impact with a low budget.
However, you should also focus on creating original content from time to time. Initially, when Instagram reels were launched, TikTok videos were repurposed on the platform. But gradually, Instagram started to give more value to original content on the platform.
Add Call-to-Action
Making videos on social media is nothing but a marketing strategy, and it’s never complete without a robust call-to-action. While choosing the CTA, you need to ensure that it meets the objective of your video. Your viewers should find it understandable and easy to perform.
Try to keep the CTA of your videos concise but catchy. Using motion design, attractive colors, and highlights will prevent your audience from missing it.
Final Thoughts
While the primary purpose of your social media videos will be promoting your brand, your videos should also meet other requirements. You can make your videos educational, informative, or entertaining to make them align with your brand’s promotion.
When your content can solve a pain point in the lives of your audience, they are more likely to come back to them. Follow these tips and experiment with different video types, from interviews to tutorials.
