When it comes to social media, video is huge. According to Statista, 85% of all users of the internet in the U.S. watched online video content each month. The demand for video content on the internet is also increasing. 54% of consumers stated they wanted to see more video content from a business or brand they support.

There’s a reason that video content is so popular. And if you aren’t creating videos for Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and other social media channels, you should definitely start. There are a ton of benefits associated with posting video content. For example, video marketers get 66% more qualified leads every year.

So when you decide to produce video content, you may find yourself with a lot of questions. How can you optimize your videos? How can you ensure the most people will see them? Here are some tips for using video on social media:

1. Optimize for Autoplay

Most of the social media channels offer autoplay as a feature. This means that when users are scrolling through their News Feeds, your video will automatically play. Users will then be encouraged to watch your video because it’s already playing.

You’ll want to optimize for this. Having movement in the beginning frames is essential. You want to capture the attention of people scrolling through.

People who are using their phones may turn off this feature to save data. With this in mind, you can target longer videos to desktop users.

2. Broadcast Live

Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube all have options that will allow you to broadcast live. This means that users will be able to watch you in real time. You can see how many people are watching, and users will be able to comment on the video so you’ll be able to address the comments as the video continues.

In one study, it was discovered that users spent three times more time watching live videos than videos that aren’t live.

Users are able to get notifications when someone they follow is “going live,” which will increase visibility. After you have completed your live video, people will be able to watch it later as it will be saved to your page.

3. Add Closed Captions

Adding subtitles to your videos ensures that they are more accessible to those who are hard of hearing. Also, if a user is just scrolling through their feed, they may not have the sound on. If your video autoplays, subtitles give those users a way to still see the content of the video.

Although the process is different depending on what social media channel you are on, it’s still a relatively easy process to add subtitles to your videos.

4. Create How-To Videos

How-to videos are very popular. You can teach how to make a certain recipe or how to do a particular craft project. Pinterest is a great platform for these types of videos, but they are popular across all social media channels.

Find something related to your niche and create a how-to video. These types of videos should focus on something that is straightforward and simple. And they should teach users about some tips or tricks that will help them.

5. Make an Emotional Connection

The most memorable videos are the ones that appeal to the emotions of the viewer. Emotions also drive people to take action so if you can create a video that connects with them on an emotional level, they are much more likely to care about you and your business.

To create an emotional video, you need to consider all aspects of the video: the language, the background music, the font, etc. You want to make sure everything aligns with the feeling you want to evoke in your video.

6. Optimize for Search

It’s true that everything you post on your website or on social media should be optimized for search engines. With the different social media platforms acting more and more like search engines themselves, it’s important that you use the right description and use the best keywords and hashtags so that your video can be found.

7. Answer Questions

You want to offer value to your customers and followers, and answering their questions offers them immediate value. This is because you are providing information that they definitely want. This is also a great way to engage with customers and followers.

Make sure to include a call to action at the end of your video. Tell people they can visit your website for more information. This can be incredibly effective because you’ve already given them content that is of value.

8. Post Behind-the-Scenes Content

Viewers love to see what’s going on behind the curtain. One of the reasons people follow brands and businesses on social media is that they will tend to get more transparency. If you show people a “day in the life,” they will feel like they know you and your brand. This can lead to a huge increase in brand loyalty.

9. Focus on a Singular Message

You want to focus on one message or story per video. This will help to keep your video simple and straightforward, and you’re less likely to lose people’s attention. Each video should have only one point.

If you clutter your video with a lot of points or messages, it can get confusing. Social media videos are all about capturing people’s attention right then and there.

10. Tell Stories

There is no better way to connect with your audience than with a good story. Storytelling is an innate quality we all have. We all tell ourselves and each other a number of stories every single day.

Videos on social media give you the perfect way to tell a story. Even if it’s just a 30-second video/story, you’ll be surprised how effective that can be.

Now you have some tips to make your social media videos better. Follow the above suggestions, and your videos will be sure to capture the attention of your followers and customers.

 

WT Digital Agency is an Atlanta marketing agency specializing in brand development, content marketing, social media marketing, website design, SEO, and more. To learn more about what we do, click here.