Ways to Use Videos for More Engagement on Instagram

When it comes to digital marketing in this time and age, social media become an integral part of a successful marketing strategy.

15:40 07 April 2020

Social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook offer many opportunities for businesses and Influencers to showcase their brand. Thankfully through these platforms, one can directly interact with a broader audience at once.

Furthermore, video marketing is one of the best ways to boost brand recognition, increase loyalty, and enhance your overall digital presence. On Instagram, for instance, videos and IGTV can generate an average of more than 150 comments per post. This means that creating video content is very effective in making engagement and attracting new followers.

If you are looking for useful ways to generate engagement using video marketing on Instagram, we have listed some of them in this article. However, it is best to get you familiar first about the different types of Instagram videos.

• Instagram Stories
  
  

If it’s your first time to use the Instagram video features, starting with Instagram Stories is a great call. While it would only play for 15 seconds or less, one can opt to create sequential clips for longer videos. Moreover, Instagram Stories tend to be more friendly, especially for mobile users. However, one should take note that IG Stories will only last for 24 hours, so make sure to make them appealing and catchy.

If Instagram Stories are done the right way, it can increase your brand’s Instagram presence and build an audience.

• Instagram Feed Video
  
  

Instagram feed video means your regular video post on Instagram that can be anywhere between 3 and 60 seconds long. If you want your video to make into the Instagram explore tab, you must consider the needs of your audiences and post consistently.

• Instagram Live Video
  
  

Just like any other social media platform, Instagram also has a live streaming option. However, all Instagram users who have done a live video before would agree that live streaming can be a little intimidating at first, and it might take some time to get used to.

• Instagram TV (IGTV)
  
  

IGTV is Instagram’s long-form horizontal video format that can go up to 60 minutes. However, if you want your target audience to keep watching it, you need to ensure that the first 60 seconds of the video is compelling enough. You can use IGTV as a documentary that explores your brand’s story, how-to’s, or video tours about your brand’s physical location, or special events.

How To Use Instagram Videos

Now that you know the basics types of Instagram video, below are the ways on how to make them compelling and engaging.

Create a unique story

When you have a video story on the mind, ask yourself if that story can be best told as a video? Brands and Influencers face tough competition on social media, including Instagram, and your video needs to stand out and compelling enough to make people comment and share it with their friendslist. To create one, you must first set clear goals and be specific. Divide your video into three parts where there should be a beginning that would draw the viewer’s attention, the middle, and the end part. Don’t forget to include a call to action at the end to keep your viewers engaged.

Begin with the most appealing clip

Social media users tend to scroll fast, and most of them usually skip anything that looks like a video ad. So make sure your videos are eye-grabbing, especially on the first 2 to 3 seconds of it. We highly recommend starting with the clip that Instagram users are going to scroll back and look at it again.

Don’t forget to include subtitles

Since the majority of Instagram’s traffic comes from mobile users, it is essential to consider subtitles as a temporary alternative while viewers view your videos without sound. If they find your video compelling enough because of your subtitle, they would definitely tap your video to watch it with sound on.

Create a teaser video

Another great way to catch people’s attention is by giving them a sneak peek about your upcoming video. Hollywood has been doing it ever since by creating movie trailers and it is very effective. Teaser videos, if done right, can effectively create a buzz that can help build engagement. You can also even promote your video during your live stream and tell them why they should watch it and give them a glimpse of what they should expect.

Take them behind the scenes

To build trust, you might want to show them some of your behind the scenes moment. A straightforward approach to do this is by creating time-lapse videos. When creating a time-lapse video, you include your event’s venue if you are hosting an event for your brand, or you can show them some time-lapse of packaging up products, etc. Time-lapse videos are straightforward to create even by just using an iPhone.

Encourage User-generated videos

Another surefire way to build trust and engagement is by having someone in your existing followers to create a video about your brand or its latest happenings. According to some research, user-generated content offers higher conversion rates. After all, user-generated videos are a great way to testify the effectiveness and the benefits of your brand has to offer based on their real-life experiences.

Tell them about who you are

No matter if you’re a business, an Influencer, or a growing brand, users are more likely to want to know you. You can use the Livestream feature to talk about and share the most exciting and attention-grabbing facts about you, which in turn could spark comments, tagging, and genuine conversations.

Conclusion

Instagram is one of the best marketing platforms one can have to influence people. While there are many ways to build engagement and visibility, using Instagram videos is still a surefire way to increase brand awareness. Also, aside from those helpful ways that we have mentioned above, don’t forget to include Hashtags on each of your Instagram video posts. Hashtags are essential in making all your Instagram videos visible to everyone, thus increasing your chance of getting engagements.