Do you run a social media page for your brand but have failed to achieve your desired engagement? Is there something you are missing? What about your video content? 

We can't deny that video content is the present and future of social media marketing. Whether you want to promote a brand or simply yourself, videos are the best way to reach out to a maximum number of people in a short time. 

Plus, if your primary audience is Gen Z, know that videos are the biggest tools to access them. That's because 51% of female and 48% of male GenZ population watch weekly videos on Instagram and Tiktok, respectively. 

However, to gain your target audience’s attention, you must create video content for social media that truly hits all the right spots. 

Wondering how is that possible? Read to find out! 

Why Is Video Content Important for Social Media?

According to a report, there are around 5.07 billion social media users globally as of April 2024. That's a huge number and it is not easy to connect to even a small proportion of this population until your social media game is strong. 

This is where video content comes in! 

Creating video content for social media is more important than posting static images.  Here are a few reasons why: 

Engaging Content

Video content is highly engaging. It not only spreads information but also entertains by evoking emotions that static images fail to achieve. This is why videos on social media get 48% more views than other types of content. 

Build Trust

Videos are a great way for brands to show their values, personality, and offerings to their target clients. This allows your customers to engage and build trust.

Tell a Story  

There is no better way to tell a story than through a video. Storytelling is one of the most successful ways to get a message across and promote a product or service to the right people.

Great Returns

As per statistics, almost 88% of marketers have reported a boost in their positive ROI due to strong video content on social media. That's because videos trigger emotions and reactions that truly have a solid impact on your sales. 

Actionable Insights and Data

Videos on social media help you measure certain important metrics. For instance, you can measure engagement through the number of likes, comments, and shares. Additionally, video views and impressions allow you to evaluate the presence of your social media audience. 

Video content is one of the biggest supports for your social media page’s success. So, there is no denying that it should be a part of your social media marketing plan. 

However, creating the right type of content is imperative. The type of video content that may work for your competitors might not for you. 

How To Create Video Content for Social Media?

A well-curated video can explain a lot about your social media pages, brand, values, and offerings. Some solid ads successfully entice the audience into buying your services or products. They also help deliver stories that may convince you to want more. 

The video Oreo’s Game of Thrones Delight conquered social media platforms a while back. It is a masterpiece that helped the brand achieve high sales, boosted engagement, and lots of fan love. 

Do you want to create a video with a similar or more response? In that case, follow the steps below. 

Step 1: Start With Planning Your Strategy

Start with identifying your goals that might include increased social media engagement, brand awareness or elevated sales. Once you have established that, know the types of video content for social media that may work for you. 

Here are some popular types of videos that you can use for your social media pages:

• Informative videos featuring a Q&A session are quite common. You can create questions beforehand for your guests or ask the page audience to share their queries. You can also use this format for your solo videos, where you speak directly to an audience and answer their submitted queries. 
• Behind-the-scene videos are also famous as they help your audience peek into the culture of your business. You can engage your page’s audience through office tours or new product details, making them feel special. 
• Live videos allow your brand to look more reachable and transparent, resulting in building a connection with fans. 
• Videos featuring user-generated content are all the hype these days. All you have to do is hold a contest to gather videos generated by your viewers on your product or service. Then, feature these videos on your page to encourage participation. 
• Video content for social media featuring giveaways and contests are also quite engaging. You can go live when sharing the names of the winners and simultaneously engage with the viewers. 
• How-to videos and tutorials are also favorite types of video content available on social media platforms. If you run a craft club, for instance, these videos can help you promote your capabilities, increasing the interest of art enthusiasts. Take a look at Buzzfeed Tasty’s Instagram page. It is full of amazing how-to videos. 

Once you have selected the appropriate type of video for your social media, start creating one. 

Step 2: Create a Script

Making video content for social media is tough but truly worth it. As long as the video content for social media is filmed well and revolves around a good script, your content will definitely get its deserving viewers. 

Ensure your script has a smooth flow. Plus, it should help you get straight to the point, without any rambling. 

In your script, make the 15 seconds count. You can start a script with a question that you can answer later. Or share the exciting news that keeps your audience interested till the end. 

Check this video by Slack. The video starts with mentioning problems with team communication so you stay hooked till the end to find how the brand overcomes this issue. 

Since you are just venturing into video content for social media, don't experiment. Create a video with a simple structure so you can conveniently edit it later. 

Here is a pro tip. Keep the script as short as possible. Long scripts or videos bore the audience. Therefore, curate a storyline that supports a 60 to 90-minute video easily. 

Step 3: Don't Forget to Add a Call-to-Action

Your strong storytelling may help tell your viewers what you expect them to do. However, it is always a smart move to include a CTA or call-to-action at the end of the video to tell people the next steps they should take. 

When creating video content for social media, consider CTAs that align with your page’s goals. For instance, your CTA could lead to people: 

• Following your social media channels
• Visiting the website
• Signing up the letter
• Take a free trial

Take a look at this Grammarly video. It is published on the company’s social media pages, promoting Grammarly AI with such great filming, script and acting. Plus, the CTA doesn't sound overwhelming at all. 

Step 4: Film the Video Smartly

Now, it is time to film your video content for social media. This is probably the toughest part. You need to have the right equipment to ensure that the sound and visuals do proper justice to your script.

If you want to film a video using a smartphone, adjust its settings beforehand. Also, keep a tripod stand close by to prevent your camera from shaking. 

To make yourself or your products appear clear, fim under natural light. If that isn't an option, invest in good lighting such as ring lights to enhance clarity. 

Finally, don't compromise on your video’s audio. Get an external microphone to eliminate any sound. Alternatively, you can also shoot in a quiet environment to prevent background noises. 

Step 5: Edit Your Content 

To ensure that your end product speaks volumes and looks good, edit your content using free online editing apps. You can use them to remove unnecessary footage and make the video concise. 

While editing your video, add subtitles as well. They are quite essential, especially if you want to target people with hearing impairment. 

Also, don't forget to add some music. Appropriate time sets the mood of the video and easily grabs the attention. That said, always check copyrighted materials to avoid any mishaps later. 

Step 6: Optimize Your Video Content for Social Media Platforms

You want your video content to do good on all social media platforms you are on, right? In that case, follow certain optimization rules for each to achieve that goal. 

• Format your videos vertically for Instagram stories and reels. Besides, for feed posts use squared videos. When posting videos on Instagram use relevant hashtags in captions. Also, use emojis to describe the video to make it visually pleasing. 
• Use vertical videos on TikTok. Make videos of a maximum of three minutes but try creating them shorter to increase engagement. You can use the application’s tools to edit the video as per the platform’s features. 
• For Facebook, format your videos horizontally. They can be up to three minutes long. However, for stories, limit the video duration to 20 seconds only. 
• Videos on YouTube are horizontal, and their length could depend on their content. Most long videos are 30 minutes or more long. To optimize videos on YouTube, create thumbnails for clicks. Additionally, optimize the title and description with relevant keywords.  

Step 7: Post Your Video Content

Once you have successfully created videos, post them on your social media pages. To increase your video reach, promote your content through cross-promotion and social media advertising. Share the video across different platforms while requesting your friends to share it. 

The Best Video Content Ideas for Social Media

Video content for social media is a game-changing step, provided you do it right. Need some inspiration? 

Here are some video ideas to follow. 

1. Listicles

Do videos with captions, “Number 2 will shock you,” pique interest? Yes, they do! 

Videos with listicles are also easy to digest. They hook people and allow them to keep watching,  an algorithm pleaser. 

Here is an example. Top Ten Biggest Build Mistakes of My Career!!! (Number 2 will shock you) is a video posted on YouTube by HeavyDSparks with 1.1M views.

2. Styling Videos

You can go above and beyond when making styling Videos for your social media pages. From OOTDs to creating capsule wardrobe guides, there is a ton of inspiration available on the internet.

For instance, you can either go for something similar to How to make your outfits better or The best style advice you will ever receive.  

3. Employee Spotlight Video

If you run a company, elevate your engagement by filming your employees, obviously after taking their consent. Such videos help increase engagement as they show your care for your employees. This Starbucks video on LinkedIn is a great example. Although it is short, it delivers the primary message quite clearly. 

4. Event Coverage

If you plan to go to a company event, take your audience with you through your video on social media. You can either cover the whole event or simply the prominent highlights. Avoid longer coverage though as it may bore your audience. 

5. “A Day in the Life” Content

These videos are quite popular because people genuinely are interested in knowing what you do in your life every day. If you are an influencer or a prominent figure, make videos on this theme to garner all the right attention.  

Take a look at this video by Taylor Bell, in which she takes her audience through her work day. 

Wrapping Up

Great videos can elevate your social media presence manifolds. The trick is to create good quality content, optimize it properly, promote it to a maximum number of people and share it with as many people as possible. 

Creating video content for social media may feel intimidating at first. But with many tools and incredible examples, you shouldn’t worry about creating masterpieces. 

So, choose your story, pick your camera, and start filming. Then, edit for quality before publishing it later. People like engaging content. If you can create one, connecting with your audience won't be an issue anymore.