Video marketing on social platforms is arguably one of the toughest marketing topics to tackle, thanks to constantly changing trends in content, specifications, platform requirements, popularity, you name it. But it’s also one of the most important topics every marketer needs to know if they want their business to success online.
That’s why we’re doing the (nearly) impossible: breaking down all the crucial basics in four minutes or less.
Crazy? We think so.
Let’s get started!
A Few Things You Should Know…
- Video is the number one type of content consumers want to see from brands on social media.
- Seventy-six percent of social users say they would share a branded video with their friends if it was entertaining.
- Comparatively, 67 percent of users watch more video on social networks than they did a year ago.
- Everyday, over 500 million people watch Facebook videos.
- One-third of the time people spend online is spent watching videos.
If you’re not utilizing video on your social channels, chances are your content isn’t being seen by the right people.
4 Crucial Strategies for Launching Video on Social Media
We’ve got a few awesome resources you can check out to learn more about launching video, organic or paid, on social media – like this one, and this one, and this one! But today, let’s break down some top-level basics.
Start by thinking about your audience.
Knowing who you’re targeting and what messages they’re most likely to resonate with should be your first step. Think about who they are, where they hang out, and what their interests are.
What platform are you targeting?
The more you know about your audience, the more you can strategize about which platforms to reach them on. Not all videos are created equal, so knowing which platforms you plan on using is another essential step in getting your social media video strategy off the ground.
Keep it social.
Remember: people tend to have short attention spans when they’re browsing social media. Keep your video social in every sense of the word – keep it short, attention-grabbing, personal, and sincere.
Keep optimizing.
Don’t publish one organic or paid video post and think you’re done. Optimize your videos by testing different lengths, different messaging, different copy, and more. Publish videos regularly to stay relevant and keep those constantly changing algorithms in check.
Where to Start
The Big 3: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
These are the three musts when it comes to social video marketing. Facebook is the largest social media platform with more than one billion active users. It’s quelling in popularity due to some pretty major scandals, but still provides the largest, most customizable audience of any channel.
Instagram is owned by Facebook, so you have an equally robust option there. It’s a much more inherently visual channel, so video is a natural fit. Whether you post organically on your business page or launch ads, video is sure to not only reach a large number of people, but engage them, as well.
Though Twitter is a more text-based platform, that’s actually a major video plus. That means your video has a better chance of standing out in a busy feed and, with plenty of years as one of the leading social platforms, it’s one you can’t miss.
The Smaller 2: LinkedIn and Pinterest
If you work for a B2B, LinkedIn is absolutely crucial. With top-level decision-makers active every day on the platform, your video has the opportunity to introduce your brand to just the right audience.
Pinterest is often neglected when it comes to video, but with a feed of beautiful, still images, bright, bold videos are among the most memorable content. Use it to reach consumers directly, highlighting your product or service in a short and eye-catching way.
Don’t wait! Get started with video on social today and see what it can do for your business.