6 Tips for Creating an Instagram Video Marketing Strategy

If you’re looking for a platform that offers endless ways to connect and engage with new followers, Instagram is the place to be. With more than 400 million monthly active users who like 4.5 billion posts a day, the platform has no shortage of marketing opportunities.

While Instagram is most known for photo content and hashtags, the platform is also the ideal place to post videos. Video content is more popular than ever, so it only makes sense to post brand videos on a site like Instagram that gets so many daily views and interactions.

Are you ready to harness the power of Instagram videos? If so, here are six tips for creating an Instagram video marketing strategy that will produce amazing results.

1. Have a Purpose

Don’t record videos just for the sake of doing so. In order to create content that will drive interest and views, you need to record with a purpose. These days,  there are all types of videos that you can post to Instagram, but the underlying purpose will determine what kind of video will best meet your needs.

Think about what you’re trying to achieve. Do you want to raise awareness of your brand? A quick storytelling video can get the job done and persuade viewers to want to learn more about your company. Do you want to highlight your products? Product videos are a great way to show off your product, discuss the benefits, and entice your Instagram followers to make a purchase.

Knowing why you’re recording a video means that you’re much more likely to create content that is interesting, educational, and worthwhile.

2. Be Attention-Grabbing

We live in a world where there’s new content available every second of the day. Because users quickly scroll through their social media feeds, your videos need to be compelling enough to make a user stop scrolling.

This means that you don’t want to waste time with a slow opener or intro music. Instead, get right to the point. To create attention-grabbing videos you’ll want to:

  • Use movement so that users don’t think your video is a still picture
  • Include bright colors, designs, and textures
  • Use text and other graphical elements

By creating attention-grabbing videos, you don’t have to worry about your video content getting lost in the thick of the millions of other videos. Give followers a reason to watch and you’re already one step ahead of the game!

3. Embrace Emotion

Successful social media content allows viewers to connect on an emotional level. Think about what you want people to feel when watching your video. Do you want them to laugh? Be moved? Do you want them to feel powerful or like a weight has been lifted off their shoulders?

Quality video content should be designed to evoke emotion. While videos don’t have to be sad or sappy, they should make viewers feel something. When videos evoke emotion, they’re much more likely to have a meaningful impact. This increases the chance of users sharing the video within their social circle. In turn, you’re likely to see an uptick in brand recognition and visibility.

Don’t be afraid to show the personal side of your brand! This makes you much more relatable and personable.

4. Don’t Rely on Sound Alone

Video content not only offers visual elements but audio as well. The fact is that most people watch video content with the sound off. In fact, by default, Instagram videos play on mute. This means that your videos should lead with text and visuals. 

Use things such as dynamic text effects, captions, and subtitles can be enough to pique your audience’s attention. If you’re lucky, you may even encourage them to turn on the sound.

With text, you can reinforce the important messages and details in the video. The key is to find the right balance. You don’t want to use too much text, which can look cluttered and overwhelming. At the same time, you don’t want to use too little, which can make the video less impactful.

5. Always Include a Call to Action

Not only do you want to connect and teach viewers, but you also want them to take some kind of action after watching your video. Once you’ve gotten someone’s attention, it’s your job to lead them to the next step.

Do you want your audience to follow your page? Looking for them to share your content with their friends? Want them to buy your product?

Whatever the action may be, make it obvious to your Instagram viewers. You can choose to include a call to action in the video itself, in the captions, or even with a hashtag.

6. Keep It Short & Sweet

Instagram videos can be up to 60 seconds long, and while a minute doesn’t seem like much time, for viewers, it can feel like an eternity. But just because you can record minute long videos doesn’t mean that you should.

Studies have found that the optimum video length on Instagram is 26 seconds. Anything longer causes viewers to lose interest. This means that viewers are more likely to move to the next piece of content on their social feed.

Your Instagram videos need to be upfront, focused, and meaningful. If you aren’t able to get your full point across in less than 30 seconds, you have some options. Some brands choose to use carousel videos. You can also create several short videos that have the same topic or theme.

Conclusion

The right video content can have a profound impact on your Instagram success. Make sure that you follow these six tips so that you can make the best of being an active member of the Instagram community.

Adam Hansen
 

Adam is a part time journalist, entrepreneur, investor and father.