What's Video Content?
Video content = Moving pictures that tell your story!
Think TikToks, Instagram Reels, YouTube videos - anything that moves and makes people stop scrolling to watch. 🎥
It's like having a mini TV show for your business! 📺
Why Video is the King of Social Media 👑
Algorithms LOVE Video
Instagram, TikTok, Facebook - they all show videos to way more people than photos!
12x More Shares
Videos get shared 1200% more than text posts. That's like having a viral superpower!
People Remember Videos
95% of video info sticks in people's brains vs. only 10% of text. Video = memorable!
Made for Mobile
75% of videos are watched on phones. Short videos = perfect for scrolling!
4 Types of Videos That Go Viral
1. 🎯 "How To" Videos (Educational)
- Step-by-step tutorials ("How to make the perfect smoothie")
- Quick tips ("3 ways to save time every morning")
- Behind-the-scenes ("How we make our products")
- Problem solvers ("Fix this common mistake")
Why they work: People love learning new things!
2. 😍 "Look at This!" Videos (Product Demo)
- Product in action ("Watch this gadget work")
- Before/after reveals ("Skin transformation in 30 days")
- Comparison tests ("Our vs. theirs side-by-side")
- Unboxing moments ("Opening our premium package")
Why they work: Seeing is believing!
3. ❤️ "This is Amazing!" Videos (Stories)
- Customer success ("How Sarah lost 30 pounds")
- Your origin story ("Why I started this business")
- Day-in-the-life ("Morning routine of a CEO")
- Transformation journey ("From broke to 6 figures")
Why they work: Humans love stories!
4. 😂 "This is Hilarious!" Videos (Entertainment)
- Trending challenges (Adapt popular TikTok trends)
- Funny moments ("When customers say this...")
- Team goofiness ("Meet our weird but amazing team")
- Industry jokes ("Things only accountants understand")
Why they work: Everyone needs a laugh!
Video Rules for Each Platform
| Platform | Best Length | Format | Secret Sauce |
|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok 🎵 | 15-60 seconds | Vertical (9:16) | Hook in first 3 seconds! |
| Instagram Reels 📷 | 15-90 seconds | Vertical (9:16) | Use trending audio |
| YouTube Shorts 🎥 | Under 60 seconds | Vertical (9:16) | Clear, loud audio |
| Facebook 👥 | 1-3 minutes | Square (1:1) | Captions for silent viewing |
| LinkedIn 💼 | 30 seconds-5 mins | Any format | Professional but human |
Keep it short, 15-30 seconds often perform best
Use trending sounds and hashtags for discoverability
Vertical format only, optimize for mobile viewing
LinkedIn video approach
Professional focus, industry insights, thought leadership
Square or horizontal format works well for desktop viewing
Captions essential, many LinkedIn users watch without sound
Longer form acceptable, 2-5 minute videos can perform well
Facebook video strategy
Native uploads perform better than YouTube links
Auto-play optimization, assume sound starts off
Community focus, content that encourages discussion
Live videos get significant algorithm priority
Simple video creation process
Planning your video
Define clear objective, educate, entertain, inspire, or convert
Write a simple script or outline key points to cover
Choose appropriate length based on platform and topic
Plan visual elements, what will viewers see throughout
Production basics
Use good lighting, natural light or affordable ring lights
Make sure clear audio, microphones improve quality significantly
Stable footage, tripods or phone holders prevent shaky videos
Simple backgrounds, avoid distracting elements behind you
Post-production essentials
Add captions for accessibility and silent viewing
Include brand elements, logos, colors, or fonts consistently
Create compelling thumbnails for platforms that show them
Optimize file sizes for faster loading and better reach
Video content best practices
Capture attention immediately
Start with a hook, surprising statement, question, or bold claim
Show the end result first then explain how to achieve it
Use pattern interrupts, unexpected elements that stop scrolling
Make bold statements that you can support in the video
Keep viewers engaged
Change scenes frequently, new visual every 3-5 seconds
Use text overlays to reinforce key points
Include progress indicators for longer tutorials
Ask questions that keep viewers mentally engaged
Optimize for each platform
Aspect ratios matter, vertical for TikTok/Stories, square for Instagram feed
Length optimization, match platform preferences and audience attention spans
Audio considerations, some platforms favor original audio, others trending sounds
Hashtag strategy, platform-specific hashtag research and usage
Common video content mistakes
Poor audio quality
Bad audio is harder to overlook than imperfect video, invest in decent microphones or record in quiet environments.
Too much talking, not enough showing
Social media video should be visual, demonstrate rather than just explain.
Ignoring mobile optimization
Most social video is consumed on phones, make sure text is readable and visuals are clear on small screens.
No clear call-to-action
Tell viewers what you want them to do after watching, follow, visit your website, try your product.
Video content ideas by business type
Service businesses
Client testimonials and success stories
Service process explanations and behind-the-scenes
Educational content establishing expertise
Team introductions and company culture
E-commerce brands
Product demonstrations in real-world scenarios
Styling videos showing different uses
Customer unboxing experiences
Manufacturing or sourcing behind-the-scenes
B2B companies
Industry trend analysis and predictions
Case study presentations with clear results
Software demonstrations and tutorials
Thought leadership content from executives
Measuring video content success
Engagement metrics
View completion rate, percentage watching full video
Comments and shares, indicate resonant content
Profile visits after video views
Click-through rates on video calls-to-action
Business impact
Website traffic driven from video content
Lead generation through video marketing
Brand awareness measured through video reach
Sales attribution from video campaigns
Creating video content with SocialRails
SocialRails simplifies video content creation:
350+ video templates, Professional templates for TikToks and Reels
Cross-platform optimization, Adapt videos for each platform's requirements
Scheduling across platforms, Plan video content alongside other posts
Performance tracking, Monitor which video content drives best results
Content planning, Integrate video content into your overall social strategy
Quick video content checklist
✅ Hook viewers in first 3 seconds with compelling openings
✅ Use good lighting and clear audio for professional quality
✅ Add captions for accessibility and silent viewing
✅ Optimize for mobile viewing with readable text and clear visuals
✅ Include clear call-to-action telling viewers next steps
✅ Post consistently to build audience expectations
✅ Track performance and create more of what works
Video content is no longer optional for social media success, it's essential for reaching and engaging your audience effectively across all platforms.