Did you know that sponsored video on Instagram receives 3x the comments of photo posts? Perhaps it should come as no surprise, then, that top publishers, eager for a share of the action, are increasing their use of Instagram video posts by 90-100% every year.
If your audience is on Instagram and you’re not sharing videos with them today you’re missing a chance to connect with them in a really meaningful way. Some common concerns for those starting out with Instagram video include:
- Technical requirements – file sizes, ratios, etc. – is this going to be complicated?
- What kind of video content should I create?
- Are there any tools that can make this easier or faster?
If any of those thoughts have crossed your mind, you’ve come to the right place! You’ll be an Instagram video pro in no time flat.
Instagram Video Guidelines
Let’s get the technical out of the way first, shall we? Instagram allows for three different layouts for video: landscape, square, and vertical.
No matter the orientation, these guidelines apply:
- Files can be up to 100MB in size.
- Use video format .MP4 or .MOV
- Keep your video length no more than 60 seconds
- The maximum frames per second is 30.
Now, if all of this makes you want to drop the idea of Instagram video altogether, stick with us. There are tools out there that make this as simple as creating an image post.
Tools That Make Getting Started with Instagram Video Easier
You can create videos easily with your smartphone. Just point and shoot. But if you want to get them to the right aspect ratio for posting to Instagram, you need a little inspiration, orrrr you just want to make your videos a little more polished, check out some of these great video tools:
Adobe Spark Video – More than just a creator/editor, you can also get some great inspiration from Spark – and it’s easy for beginners to combine video, photos, sound clips, and more. Free plan, upgrades available starting at $9.99/month. iOS only
Filmora – With filters, overlays, transitions, and simple ways to enhance your audio and video, Filmora can make you a video pro! There’s a free trial, and paid plans are $44.99/year or $59.99/lifetime. Works on desktop, iOS and Android.
Wave Video Editor – Some paid plans Includes hundreds of thousands of videos, images, and audio files. Start with a free trial. Paid plans for $8.25/month and up. For desktop.
Tailwind for Instagram – Now that you have your gorgeous video sized right for Instagram – schedule and auto post to Instagram with Tailwind! You can tag locations, use hashtag lists, and have your videos and posts sent out at the best time for engagement. Learn more!
Getting Started with Instagram Video – Ideas for Video Posts
So, you’re set on all the technical stuff – now comes the hard part – figuring out what to create. No worries – with these ideas, you could come up with something fun and engaging to do every day for a month!
Behind-the-Scenes Videos
Instagram is the perfect place for sharing a bit of your real life. Think your work or life is too boring for that? It’s not! People love a peek behind the curtains, and it builds that trust that’s so important. You could show what you’re working on, pan over your workmates collaborating, take a quick walk and share the scenery, or just say good morning!
Unboxings and Product Reveals
You know who enjoys the thrill of opening a package? Just about everyone! Share the fun with your audience, even if the product isn’t mind-blowingly exciting. Few things are as satisfying as tearing into some packing tape, unrolling the bubble wrap, and trying out the new arrival. Let your followers join in!
User-Generated Video
User-generated content (UGC) is a fancy way to refer to content that others make about you, your product, business, or service. It’s usually fairly casual and voluntary – as in, you didn’t ask them to make a video of themselves saying nice things about your products or business. If people are making videos about you, contact them to ask for permission to reshare it and then, share! Make sure you tag them in your caption.
If no one is making video about you YET, why not ask? If people know that they may be featured on your page, they may be more likely to make a video for you. Just ask them to include a branded hashtag so you can easily spot them.
Video Takeovers
Do you have industry peers and pals who might want to speak to your audience? Have them record and send a video that you can publish for your fans. It could be as simple as a video of them sharing a quick tip your audience would appreciate.
Product Usage Videos
Is there an app, program, tool, or process that makes your day run more smoothly, or just puts a smile on your face? Share the way you use it with your followers. It may make them smile, too!
Customer Testimonial Videos
If you can get someone to say something great about you on video, by all means, use it! You can set them up for success by asking them to describe just one aspect of your product or service that they especially like – or get them to say how they would tell a friend about you. They can either record the video and send to you for posting or you can record it with them, which may help put them at ease.
Conclusion:
Instagram video is a fantastic way to create and deepen an emotional connection with your fans and customers. Getting started doesn’t have to be hard – there are many tools that can help with Instagram planning, video creation, editing, and publishing – and the ideas for fun, engaging videos are endless. Which one will you try first?
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