Okay, I have to admit, I was a bit resistant to jumping on the TikTok bandwagon at first. I mean, who has time for another social media platform, right? And to top it off, I'm not exactly the most comfortable person in front of the camera. But then, Instagram launched Reels and I had an epiphany - video content is the future of social media marketing and I needed to get on board. The good news is that you don't have to be a camera pro to create engaging video content. In fact, you can create amazing videos without ever showing your face! Let's talk about some tips and tricks for creating killer social media videos.
Educational
One effective approach is to focus on educational content, providing tips and tricks that are relevant to your target audience. This can help position your brand as an AUTHORITY or EXPERT in your industry and establish trust with your followers.
For my introverts: Write tips in text over a moving beautiful background. You can find these videos on Canva or create your own videos of landscapes.
Entertainment
This could include lip syncing, dancing, or other creative activities that showcase your brand's PERSONALITY and values.
For my introverts: Show your work instead. For example before and after, work in progress in time lapse mode, or share a viral video with permission that is relatable to your audience.
Emotional/Storytelling
Storytelling can create a powerful connection with your audience by sharing a relatable experience, showing vulnerability, or demonstrating your brand values. This type of content can take many forms, such as behind-the-scenes glimpses of your business, customer success stories, or personal anecdotes from your team.
For my Introverts: Use a voice-over for a video of your work or a landscape video.
Engaging/Controversial
Creating engaging and even controversial video content that asks for people's feedback can be a highly effective way to increase engagement with your audience. By posing a statement or opinion and asking for others to weigh in, you can start a conversation and generate excitement around your brand. Of course, it's important to keep the tone respectful and avoid crossing any lines that could offend or alienate your audience.
For my introverts: Ask a question in the form of text on a video as the headline. For example: Do you think they will get their deposit back? This video was of a destroyed carpet and generated a lot of comments with people expressing their opinions.
Video Content Tools
CapCut (Video Editing)
CapCut is an excellent choice for those looking for a cost-effective video editing tool that can be used on mobile and desktop. Its affordability makes it a great option for beginners, unlike Adobe's products. Additionally, CapCut offers an Auto-Captions feature, which can help save time and elevate the look of your videos. To make your videos stand out even more, we suggest importing your preferred fonts to CapCut, specifically the Fonts Montserrat and Yesteryear, which are similar to the fonts used on popular social media apps like Instagram and TikTok.
Video Saver (Video Downloader)
This app allows you to download videos with sound and removes pesky watermarks. An alternative option is to screen record the video. The iPhone has this tool for free. After you download the video, then you will import the video to your Video Editing Platform and extract the audio. However, it's important to note that as a business, you may not be allowed to use most trending sounds, especially for advertisements. While some businesses may still use trending sounds without issues, it's best to err on the side of caution and make sure you're using legally allowed audio in your video.
Canva (Video Covers)
Canva is a widely popular social media tool that you shouldn't miss out on. It's an excellent platform to create a cover photo for your Instagram reels and keep your feed looking neat and organized. To do this, use the size of an Instagram story and ensure that the center square highlights a key term or a short title that piques the viewer's interest and urges them to watch your video. Remember, a well-crafted cover photo can attract more viewers, so make it count!
Notion (Video Content Management)
Using a project management tool like Notion can be incredibly helpful when planning content for your business. If you're just starting out, Trello is a great beginner-friendly option that's also mobile-friendly. These tools can assist you in planning your content for the month and ensuring that you're distributing it effectively. This will prevent you from creating too much of the same type of content, which can potentially bore your viewers.
ChatGPT (Video Topics and Scripts)
Utilize ChatGPT's Video Topics and Scripts to enhance your content creation. While you may know your business well, it can be challenging to articulate your thoughts into words. Fortunately, copywriting tools like ChatGPT or Jasper.ai can assist in generating a list of topics and scripts to guide you. However, it's essential to note that these tools won't do all the work for you. You still need to refine and verify the information to ensure its accuracy and alignment with your brand's messaging.
Metricool is a fantastic tool that I use for scheduling and reviewing my social media analytics. It's an affordable option that allows you to schedule posts to most social media platforms. One of its standout features is its all-in-one inbox, which makes managing your messages a breeze. Additionally, Metricool provides highly detailed analytics that can give you valuable insights into the performance of your social media accounts. Overall, I highly recommend checking out Metricool as a comprehensive social media management tool.
Google Drive (Video Storage)
For video storage, Google Drive is a great option. If you're working with a video editor and need to collaborate, I suggest uploading your videos to Google Drive. Personally, I find it helpful to create folders with the brand name, and then further subfolders with the specific day of the week. This approach keeps our work organized and makes it simple to locate files.
How to Create Social Media Videos
Topics
The first step is to brainstorm ideas that are relevant to your blog or the theme of the week. This could involve showcasing your products or services, sharing tips and tricks, or creating a fun and engaging challenge. Once you have an idea, you can use tools like ChatGPT or Jasper.ai to generate headlines, tips, and Instagram captions that are relevant to your reel.
Video Editing
Next, you'll need to edit your video footage using a tool like CapCut. This will allow you to add sound effects, animation, captions, and filters to your video. You can use a video downloader like IG Saver or Bolt to download the sound you want to use for your reel, or you can simply screen-record the video. Once you have your footage and sound, you can import them into CapCut and sync them together.
Adding captions to your video is important, as it makes your content more accessible to a wider audience. CapCut has an auto-caption feature that can help you add captions to your video quickly and easily. You can choose the font Montserrat for your captions and adjust the font size and color as needed.
Once you're happy with your video, you can add a filter and adjust settings like the light, exposure, contrast, and highlight to your choosing. Don't forget to add “Follow for More” and your “@name” at the end of the video, and promote your reel using relevant hashtags and engaging with your audience.
Posting
Scheduling your social media posts in advance can be a great way to save time and ensure consistency. Tools like Metricool or Business Suite allow you to schedule your posts on multiple platforms, so you don't have to worry about manually posting every day. When creating a cover photo for your Instagram reels, use Canva's IG story size and place important text in the center square. This will ensure that your cover photo looks great on both desktop and mobile devices.
Tracking your social media metrics is essential for understanding the performance of your posts and adjusting your strategy accordingly. The most important metrics to track on Facebook and Instagram are Followers, Reach, and Engagement Rate.
On TikTok, Followers, Video Views, and Engagement Rate are key metrics to track.
On Pinterest, Engagements (aka Interactions), Impressions, and Engagement Rate are important to monitor.
On YouTube, Subscribers, Video Views, and Watch Time are key metrics to track.
To calculate your engagement rate, use the formula (Interactions/Reach)x100 for Facebook and Instagram, (Interactions/Video Views)x100 for TikTok, and (Interactions/Impressions)x100 for Pinterest.
Tools like Metricool and Business Suite can help you view these metrics and analyze the performance of your social media posts.
Don’t have the time to manage your social media accounts?
Let's chat! Our team of experienced social media managers is ready to help you optimize your online presence by creating an engaging strategy, crafting effective scripts, and editing videos that truly stand out.
With our support, you'll be able to focus on other important aspects of your business while we handle the social media management for you.
Book your free online consultation today and let's get started! We can't wait to hear from you. Also, keep in mind that our marketing plans usually range from $500 to $1,000.
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