It’s hard to pin point the start of it all, but when Snapchat gained traction around the year 2012, things started to get serious. Video was “in” for social media users. Over the last few years, the video-fever has spread to Facebook (Facebook Live), Twitter (Periscope & Vine … #RIPvine) and now Instagram (Instagram Stories), and shows no signs of going away.
If you’re a social media manager and you don’t have an experienced videographer, expensive cameras, lighting, microphones and all the other jazz, it might seem like you just won’t be able to get involved with video. You’re probably thinking, “I went to school for writing – not videography!” Well, there are other options you can explore! Video may seem daunting, but here are three easy ways to get your brand using video on social.
1. Try the video features within social apps
A great place to start practicing getting comfortable with video is using Snapchat, Instagram Stories or Facebook Live. These are apps most brands are already using and a place where social media managers are already comfortable – and this is the next step out of the comfort zone.
Facebook Live: Facebook Live is a real-time video service within the Facebook app. Brands can “broadcast” live on Facebook to their followers and also to the public.
Instagram Story: A recent update to Instagram now allows for brands to share a “story”, which is photo or video content that lives for 24 hours, similar to Snapchat stories. A great rule of thumb for deciding what to share on an Instagram story is making sure the content on your story is supporting a main Instagram post. For example, do one regular Instagram post from an event, and then include behind the scenes pics and videos on your story.
Snapchat Story: Snapchat is a foreign territory to many brands, but it’s the place to be if you’re looking to reach those under 30. Snapchat is where the 24-hour stories began, and features ever-changing “filters” to lay over user’s snaps. Snapchat continues to dominate with video – it’s become a large platform for news outlets and brands, as well as advertisers.
Here’s the great part about these three video features: the expectation for content is much more relaxed and casual on these video platforms. Since these are all videos that can only be done on the app – aka on a cell phone – the pressure for high quality video is gone. Users are supposed to be a little unscripted and not so put together and creative by using filters, drawing features, stickers, emojis, etc. Using Snapchat Stories, Instagram Stories and Facebook Live is a great way to get comfortable with moving into the video realm.
2. Create short looped videos
Apps like Boomerang (which also comes with a free version!) can create 2 second videos that loop continuously, creating a fun and eye-catching image. These are considered videos, even though they’re just two seconds of image repeated, and are enough to add some variety to the content you’re posting on social.
3. Time-lapse images
Another simple, yet effective way to create a “video” is to splice together pictures. For example, take photos of a salad in the different stages of being eaten until it’s gone and splice them together as a video. In Chipotle’s video below, they put together different photos of hands holding a burrito against different, flashy backgrounds. It still creates a visually appealing post, yet it’s so simple!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJarcz7Aia8/?taken-by=chipotlemexicangrill
Getting your brand involved with video is a great way to add some variety to social channels, and it doesn’t have to be as scary as it seems! These are just three of the simple ways you can start getting more comfortable with video.
