Top Tips for Creating Engaging Social Media Videos

In the digital age, video content on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook is extremely popular. Whether you’re sharing a brand story, promoting a product, or simply trying to engage with your audience, videos are an effective way to catch their attention and keep them interested.

The good news is, you don’t need fancy equipment or complex software to create high-quality content. This post will provide practical advice for planning, filming, editing, and optimising social media videos using simple tools that are accessible to everyone.

Planning Your Social Media Video

Before you hit record, it’s crucial to plan your video carefully.

Define Your Target Audience: Who is it for? Understanding who you’re speaking to is crucial. Consider the demographics and interests of your audience on each platform. Some users prefer fun, vibrant visuals, while others may appreciate professional and educational content.

Set Clear Goals: What do you want your video to achieve? Do you want to drive traffic to your website, increase engagement, or promote a product? Establishing a clear objective will help enormously and enable you to determine what to include in your video.

Create a Storyboard or Outline: Create a plan for your video in any format you prefer – a simple storyboard or a written outline can help clarify your ideas. If you are going to be speaking, write a script beforehand. You may not need to know it word for word, but it will help you make your point and stay on track.

Keep it Short and Engaging: With attention spans on social media being short, aim for brevity. Platforms like Twitter favour videos under one minute, while Facebook users might engage with slightly longer content. Regardless of the platform you use, ensure that every second counts. If a viewer is bored, they’ll click away.

Filming Tips for Simple Cameras

Filming with simple cameras can be a rewarding experience. Most stills cameras these days have a video function. But you may not even need that. Most phones have excellent cameras. But of course, it’s how you use it that counts…

Stabilise Your Shots: A bit of handheld shooting is fine if you’re walking around, but if you’re static, it’s a good idea to use a tripod or even just a stable surface to avoid shaky footage.

Lighting is Key: Ensure your subject is well-lit. Natural light works best, so try to film during the day, ensuring the light is even and there aren’t huge shadows everywhere.

Plan Your Shots: Think about the angles and compositions you want before you start filming. You could draw these as a simple storyboard to visualise how everything comes together. You don’t need to be a great artist; just simple stick figures are enough to show you how your planned shots work together.

Use the Right Settings: Familiarise yourself with your camera’s settings to optimise for different environments. If it’s appropriate for the camera you’re using, it’s a good idea to turn off automatic focus and exposure, as the camera may refocus every time you move. You don’t need to film in very high definition, like 4K – it will create files that are too large and may be difficult to upload to social media.

Pay Attention to Framing: Think about composition before you start filming. The rule of thirds is a popular technique for creating a more visually interesting composition. Imagine your screen is split into three, and place horizons, or eyelines, on the third. Ensure your background is tidy and uncluttered, as distractions can take the focus away from your message.

Ensure Good Audio Quality: Poor audio can ruin an otherwise great video. Film in a quiet location to minimise background noise, and if your camera’s built-in microphone isn’t sufficient, consider using a budget-friendly external mic for clearer sound.

Include a Call to Action: Encourage viewers to take action after watching your video, such as visiting your website, liking your post, or sharing it with their network.

Before you start, check the video requirements of your intended platform. Different platforms have varying specifications for video length, format, and dimensions. Ensure that you adapt your videos accordingly. Instagram Stories and Reels favour vertical videos, while LinkedIn and YouTube are better suited to square or horizontal formats.

Editing Your Video with Simple Software

Once your footage is ready, it’s time to edit. There are lots of user-friendly editing tools that can help you create polished videos. Davinci Resolve is free. If you use Adobe products, you may be interested in downloading Premiere. They require some practice to grasp the basic principles, but it isn’t difficult to understand the fundamentals. Simple tools like iMovie, Canva, or even mobile apps like InShot are great for beginners and offer all the basic features you need to create high-quality films.

Here are a few tips for getting the best from your editing:

Trim Unnecessary Footage: Brevity is everything. Keep your video concise by eliminating any irrelevant or repetitive content. This will help maintain your audience’s attention and keep your content focused and engaging.

Add Captions and subtitles: Many viewers watch social media videos without sound, so captions and subtitles can be essential for accessibility and engagement. Most editing systems can automatically add subtitles, and all have a facility for adding captions.

Incorporate Music or Sound Effects: Adding background music can create a tone and make your video more dynamic. However, be cautious – many social media sites will remove videos that use copyrighted music. Select royalty-free tracks that align with the tone of your content, and maintain a low volume level to ensure your dialogue remains clear.

Focus on Visual Appeal: There are all sorts of tricks you can use that are included with editing software. You can use transitions, filters, or simple animations to enhance your video. Too many effects can be overwhelming, so aim for a clean and tidy finish that aligns with the style of the platform you’re using.

Creating engaging social media videos doesn’t have to be intimidating. With careful planning, basic filming techniques, and simple editing tools, anyone can produce content that stands out online. However, it’s crucial to know your audience and ensure you’re creating the right kind of video for the platform you’re posting on.

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