Video has been a popular source of entertainment for quite some time now, however, in recent years, we have seen video begin to find its' place in the world of social media. You likely can't scroll through Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook for long before seeing an eye-catching video from a brand, influencer, or friend. Video is a hot topic right now, and there are lots of benefits for those willing to hop on board with it!
6 Reasons why you should be using video content
- Video content makes it easier to be discovered – increased exposure & engagement
- Algorithms tend to favour video content; most social media platforms are more likely to expose their audience to video, particularly through a page designed to show new content (ie. Instagram's Explore page or Tiktok's FYP) .
- Specifically, on TikTok and Instagram Reels, your videos are shown to audiences beyond your followers. This is an advantage because it means that even users who do not follow you can interact with your content. This is a great opportunity to gain exposure and grow your social media to reach new audiences.
- Video is becoming available and popular across all major channels
- If you feel like video is taking over all social media platforms, that’s because it essentially is. Even Instagram, which is known as a traditional square-photo sharing app is modifying themselves to cater towards video content. This announcement that they were moving away from just being a photo sharing app came on June 30th from Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, and it sparked a lot of mixed feelings from Instagram users. A lot of people were upset that Instagram was moving towards video, offering features like Reels, that are very similar to TikTok. Despite the naysayers, if you want to grow on social media, video is the way to go!
- You can repurpose video content across multiple platforms
- Video content can seem overwhelming and like a lot more work than classic photo content. While in some cases that can be true, video content can be repurposed across multiple platforms and be reused in different forms (ie. long form or short form video). This is advantageous to you because it means that filming one video can help you produce content for almost all social media platforms, after some modifications of course. Additionally, video content tends to have a longer shelf life, particularly with Instagram Reels and TikTok. This means that your videos will continue to be shown to users, even long after the initial post-date. The longer shelf life and the ability to repurpose across multiple platforms makes video content a worthwhile investment.
- Organic video content builds intimacy and trust
- While exposure to new audiences and repurposing content are both advantages of video content, building trust is another key benefit. Video content offers a unique opportunity for brands to connect with an audience in a more personal way, building a loyal online community. Producing video content that is authentic and personal to your brand is going to have the best impact. Customers are quick to identify content that is over-produced and ad-focused. Avoid this by focusing on creating organic, authentic and engaging content.
- Video content could help boost SEO
- What Google likes will directly impact your SEO score, and considering that they own YouTube, we know that Google really likes videos. Incorporating video content into your website increases your likelihood (by 53 times) of showing up first in google. Featuring embedded videos on your website could be a great way to boost your SEO, while also delivering engaging content.
- Video captures attention quickly
- It seems like our attention spans are getting shorter and shorter, and because of this, video content is having a big moment, especially short-form video. However, these short attention spans create a challenge for marketers to find creative ways to grab attention fast. In fact, while attending a session by Canvas+Co at the HubSpot INBOUND 2021 conference, we learned that capturing attention fast is the key to successful video content. For short form video content like TikTok & Instagram reels, aim to capture attention within the first 1-3 seconds of the video. While we know this is quick, you need to hook users early to prevent them from scrolling past your video. When implemented correctly, this can be a beneficial way for businesses to interact with new users.
No matter how familiar you are with social media marketing, making the shift to video content can seem daunting. We want you to feel prepared and confident in your video content and your social media strategy. To learn more about social media marketing, check out our blog on finding the right strategy for your brand.
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