I’m sure you have seen that video content is more popular than ever. With reels, video ads, youtube shorts and TikTok all now being the norm when posting. So, why is it taking over the regular old picture post?
Social media was once a place you could post a quick pic with a witty caption and that be that. But now, it seems that everyone is always wanting more from the content you create. It seems harder than ever to grab someone’s attention with a simple post, so let’s look into how to utilise all the social media’s video content and get the best out of our posts.
Let’s start by taking a look at the reasons video content seems to have more attention. Before TikTok blew up the internet youtube was the place to go. You could spend endless hours watching your favourite YouTubers take on challenges and review some of the most popular products of the time. Little did we all know that was the start of some big steps within social media marketing. Youtube is still incredibly popular today; however as time went on, our attention to longer videos fizzled out. And that’s when tik tok jumped in. When the 2020 lockdown came around TikTok got bigger and bigger within the UK. With so much time on our hands, more and more people were creating funny and uplifting videos in such a difficult time. Maybe this is where video content started to become so popular.
Is there a science to it?
Most people react better and take in more knowledge when something is visually or aesthetically pleasing. This is because it actually takes our brain a lot less concentration to just watch something that is fun and still informative. In fact, researchers have determined that the human brain processes visuals 60,000 times faster than text.
The difference between Reels, TikTok and Youtube shorts
Before reels became something we watch every day it was IGTV that shook the way we do Instagram up. IGTV started in 2018 and was a great way for your favourite brands and influencers to post long videos, similar to youtube, on the gram. With Instagram still being one of the most popular social media platforms, the minute they added a video content feature it made it even more popular.
The year that TikTok really skyrocketed was also the year that Instagram decided to bring out it’s newest feature, reels. This essentially had the same principles as TikTok. You could create funny, informative, moving, artistic videos with the most popular sounds and music and post them to your feed.
After tik tok and reels came youtube shorts. More and more brands were beginning to realise that the use of short videos was becoming more popular. In 2020 youtube brought out their youtube shorts which followed the same principles as tik tok and Instagram reels.
How to use it for your brand?
Seeing how popular video content is now, let’s talk about the best ways to use it. Anything can be made into a video, whether you have a handful of images you want to piece together or a funny video you want to try, give it a go! The great thing about video content is that it’s meant to be fun, so really try to have fun with it.
If you are struggling to find music that works or you just feel like the topic you are covering is better without music then you can do a voiceover or film yourself actually discussing the topic and goal of your video. Your audience is what makes it work so, think about what your target audience would like to see. If it’s humour, give that a go, if it’s popular music with some great images then that can work perfectly too.
If you want to get a little more creative with your content, have a look at giving transitions a go. These became a huge trend on tik tok and can also work with reels and other video content you are trying. It may take some practice but, it’s essentially making each part of your video seamless. Some people click their fingers and stop filming but when they start filming again they jump up and it looks like the last clip and the current clip appeared from nowhere and ran smoothly. Definitely do some research with that one as they can take some practice.
Be confident! Try not to feel like you are unsure or nervous. Your audience knows you and they will be excited to see you trying something new. So take your time and be creative.
So, let’s recap that:
- Think about what would work for your brand. Will humour work? Maybe images with music? Or both?
- Don’t be afraid to try all the features and trends, like transitions.
- Have fun! Videos are a great way for you and your audience to connect so have fun with it.
- Be confident and be authentic. Your followers follow you because they love your brand and that will bring new followers in. So, be yourself and be confident.
Hopefully, you have some useful insights into video content and why it’s so useful. Social media is ever-changing and evolving. New trends are on the way and new techniques to make your brand succeed even more. Make sure to follow our social media accounts and keep an eye on more blog posts for even more useful tips and tricks in the future.