Video marketing, and especially on Instagram has revolutionized how companies attract and interact with customers. While this powerful tool is fantastic for boosting engagement and reaching a wider audience, there are certain steps that must be taken to lead to conversions.
Here are some essential considerations for unlocking Instagram video marketing as your secret weapon to get more clients.
Add Captions
Itâs no secret that most internet users prefer mobile browsing for consuming content. Smartphones have become the ultimate boredom buster for long commutes and dull days at home during the lockdown. As such, itâs no surprise that many consumers watch videos with the sound off. A recent survey showed that 92% of Americans watch mobile videos without sound.Â
For businesses to get the best possible results from Instagram video marketing, captions are a must. You can use captions to punctuate spoken words in the video or convey information in visually-dominant videos. The latter strategy has become predominant with Instagram Reels.
Itâs also worth rethinking your post captions if your video will be featured as an Instagram post in your grid. The text component will be secondary to your video, but it should still play an active role in engaging your audience.Â
Pair your video with a quick description and a conversation starter, like a question about the content. Even a simple âDo you agree?â can go a long way for boosting engagement on your videos. This strategy also extends your reach by appealing to scrollers who may not otherwise stop for your video. That question could act as a secondary hook that intrigues them to stop and see what itâs about.
Experiment with Reels
Reels are Instagramâs answer to TikTokâs roaring success. While Instagram is still more popular than TikTok, the newcomer to the arena is creeping up. The launch of Reels has been quite well received, and, as the separate feed isnât saturated yet, it provides a fantastic opportunity to stick out in the crowd.
The key thing to keep in mind with Reels is that theyâre only 15-30 seconds long. However, theyâre a bit more fluid than traditional videos. You can convey a lot with quick, snappy transitions and floating text elements.
Reels are a great opportunity for quick snapshots that align with your overall brand. You can showcase products, user transformations, or your team hard at work to the tunes of a hit song.Â
Reels can be featured both in their native feed and your primary feed. Itâs worth featuring them in both to extend your reach. However, this feature will add complexity to how you plan your content calendar and grid. If you have different teams working on social media management and video marketing, there will be a lot of overlap for Reels.
Consider trying some Reels to connect with your audience in a different way while improving your chances of going viral.
Shoot Vertical
Another thing to keep in mind when optimizing your Instagram videos for mobile viewing is the shooting style. On Facebook and YouTube, viewers can turn their phones and view a video in a wide-screen format. However, Instagram uses a vertical fullscreen style that isnât conducive to horizontal videos.
When creating videos for Instagram, shoot vertically to ensure your content is as aesthetically pleasing and engaging as possible. Otherwise, those potential clients will scroll by without giving your message a chance.