Social Media Videos Are A Whole New Beast. Are You Getting the Most Out of Yours?

This just in: social media videos are today’s most powerful marketing tool. In fact, a study from Cisco predicts that by 2022, 82% of all Internet traffic will be video content. Why? Because video is more engaging and more memorable than the written word. According to some studies, the average viewer remembers 95% of a message when they watch it, and only 10% when they read it. But not all social media videos are created equally. Luckily, we’re here to make sure you’re getting the most out of yours. 

When it comes to social media videos, less is more

When you’re trying to tell your brand story via video, it’s tempting to push things to the outer limit. After all, how could you possibly say what you need to say in 15 seconds or less? 

But according to industry experts, less is more when it comes to video length. In fact, the 6-second video seems to be on the rise, with 80% of advertisers rating 6-second video as effective or very effective. 

The takeaway? You can keep social media videos short and sweet. And a video production company like WK Studios can help. During our shoots, we can gather enough footage to fuel your social media strategy for months (or even years) to come. 

Snaps, Stories, and Reels. Oh my. 

First things first, let’s consider the different types of social media videos. In the last few years, we’ve seen an explosion of formats across various platforms—from hour-long unboxing videos on YouTube to 15 second Reels on Instagram.

When it comes to video, Facebook is the most flexible. You can upload videos up to four hours long directly to your timeline, business page, or group pages. Compared to Instagram’s 3-60 second rule, that’s a veritable eternity of video. But just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. 

As Talking Tree Creative notes, “Even though Facebook allows four-hour uploads, research shows that most users engage with Facebook videos for about a minute before scrolling along.” 

Instagram now has a few ways to post video content. Most prominent among them: IGTV, Stories, and Reels. Each has its pros and cons, depending on the audience you’re trying to reach. 

Want to connect with a younger audience? Don’t chalk off Snapchat or TikTok just yet. Whether you’re creating content organically or posting pay-to-play ads, each platform can get your content in front of over 70 million viewers.

Don’t forget the captions.

Think about where, when, and how you’re spending time on social media. Whether you’re scrolling Insta at the bus stop, catching up on Facebook news while in line at the grocery store, or firing off Tweets between meetings, odds are good you often use social on the go. The same is true of your brand’s customers. 

That’s why captioning your social media videos is no longer a nicety—it’s a necessity. 

As Elisa Edelberg notes in a recent article for 3PlayMedia, “Especially on Facebook, people tend to watch social video with the sound off and videos autoplay without sound. So, captions can help enormously with catching viewer attention.”

In fact, a recent study saw a 40 percent increase in views of captioned videos versus uncaptioned. Plus, captions help you connect with the 466 million viewers worldwide with hearing loss.

Social media videos aren’t the future—they’re the now

There’s no denying that social media videos are a powerful tool in your brand’s toolkit. But posting videos without a strategy can feel like screaming into the void. Luckily, a video production company like WK Studios can make sure you’re getting the most out of your video assets. Ready to get started? Get in touch today or check out our social media video portfolio.