If you haven't already noticed, vertical video is here to stay. Even Instagram has officially announced that it's no longer a photo-first platform but a video-first platform. This change in the priority of Instagram is noticeable, especially since posting one photo no longer gets the reach or interactions we've been used to seeing. If you're reading this article, you're probably in the same boat and wondering what you should be doing. You've come to the right place, and although social is something you should constantly be testing to see what works best for your brand and audience, we hope these tips will help you in your journey.
1: Get comfortable with video
As we've mentioned, video is officially king, so even if you don't love it, you should post video content at least twice a week, unlike standard videos on YouTube. Youtube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels don't need highly produced videos. This means you can absolutely do it!
But where do you start? The first step is to get comfortable filming things. You might think something you filmed isn't working, and you never decided to post it. I encourage you to post it anyway!
It might not do as well, and that's okay because posting what you've filmed, even if you don't love it, is getting you comfortable with creating content. Understanding that something isn't as perfect as you'd want it to be can still resonate with more people than you thought.
I'm not psychological, but I've noticed that posting videos are challenging for many clients and myself. Video is more complex to do than photos. Creating videos helps you build confidence in yourself and build your brand but also helps you learn a new skill. One tool you can leverage to help you get comfortable is using audio from Instagram that you like from other videos that resonate with your brand to get you started.
2: Think in shots
You might want to step up your video game as you get comfortable. The next thing that can help take your videos to the next level is shots, which means recording yourself, someone, or something in different takes or video settings.
Shots could be filming yourself in the exact location but stopping to change which directions you are filming. It could mean you are recording your product in different places. The key here is to think about what you want to film before you do it. Planning your shots does take a little more thinking but makes it more interesting for viewers.
3: Tell a story
This final tip is actually for not only video but for any content. You really should think about a story. The story could be informative, educational, or entertaining in nature. Creating stories helps connect with whatever you're sharing with your audience and with new individuals on the platform.
What does sharing a story in a video look like? It could be you just sharing a story about your product or brand, extra points if it is about a struggle or obstacle you might face. It could be you sharing a story about your life. It could be filming your day as a business owner and recording someone trying something for the first time. The key you need is to have a beginning, a middle, and an end. If a challenge or obstacle is involved, you've got yourself something great.
We hope that these tips will help you improve your content marketing efforts and make it just a little bit easier for you to start posting more video content.
If you'd like some help or want someone to take care of creating content for your business, be sure to schedule a discovery call with us to see how we can help you reach your content marketing goals.