Make your videos rise above the noise on social media

If your firm has decided to take the plunge and get into social media video marketing but doesn’t know where to start, then this article is just the thing for you. The good news is that you don’t need to be the next Steven Spielberg to produce a short explainer video – but you will need to clue up on what’s important when planning and producing your video.

Make your company stand out

With this in mind, here’s a few best practices for making your videos rise like cream to the top of the pile in the crowded social media sphere.

1. Make them visual, and use subtitles – in other words, your videos should make as much sense without sound as with sound
2. Customize videos for the different social networks
3. Don’t leave people hanging – make sure you use effective calls to action
4. Be bold with your brand
5. Keep them short and sweet – peoples’ attentions spans are too short for a remake of The Godfather

Figuring out the clutter of social media

Which platform(s) to choose is always an important decision too. Knowing your audience is the way to make the most informed decisions.

Facebook is best if you’re targeting over 35s, and one minute videos are optimal (90 seconds maximum), but there’s also a case for shorter adverts and longer, story-based videos.

Instagram is primarily (73%) comprised of users between the ages of 15 and 35, and video content is capped at one minute. An even higher percentage (85%) of Snapchat’s users are younger, while Twitter audiences vary much more, and videos are again limited this time to 140 seconds. LinkedIn is more for B2B audiences, and videos tend to be of a more serious and professional tone.

Don’t forget YouTube

You can (and should) also make use of YouTube, especially for longer and more informative social videos between 2 and 9 minutes long. Pay close attention to keywords, tags and your descriptions as doing so can massively increase visibility on YouTube’s parent company Google’s searches.

Don’t be daunted…

Actually making videos can be more simple than you think, and decent quality end products can even be made on Smartphones. But for more polished, professional videos you’ll need a script, equipment, props and backgrounds, lighting, and rehearsals and re-shoots! Or, you’ll need a video agency! The main thing is to keep it interesting and engaging, and to bear in mind our top tips in this article. By doing so you’ll snare some attention even in the bursting environment of social media.