Social Media Video: Instagram, YouTube, TikTok
Vertical short-form social media video content is essential to a video content marketing strategy. When I create long-form traditional video projects for clients, they almost always include vertical video.
Vertical Short-Form Marketing Social Media Video Examples
YouTube Shorts
I create long-form videos for the Driving Line Channel on YouTube. They use these short-form vertical social media videos on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube shorts to promote the long-form content and drive views and engagement on social media.
Instagram Reels
I created a number of long-form product marketing videos for Craft Autoworks. They get a lot of views and referrals from social media so I also adapted that long-form content into vertical social media video for them to use on Instagram as Reels content.
Vertical Video
For a recent project, I created a video travel guide for Visit Carson Valley. I also created this short vertical social media video for them to promote their destination on social media. This one features a voiceover and uses on-screen captions generated on Instagram.
Elements of Great Vertical Short Form Marketing Social Media Video Content
To create a successful vertical short-form video on social media, I always incorporate some key elements to catch the attention of busy and distracted viewers and get them to engage with the content.
- Quick Hook: Short-for social media videos must grab the viewer's attention within the first few seconds with an intriguing and attention-grabbing introduction.
- Clear Message: For these videos, I always frame them with a concise and clear message that is easy to understand at a glance.
- Engaging Visuals: Use visually appealing and dynamic visuals. This includes high-quality footage that usually comes from a long-form video production.
- Sound and Music: Use engaging audio elements. Whether it's background music, sound effects, or voiceovers, make sure the audio complements the visual content and enhances the overall experience.
- Storytelling: Using the classic elements of storytelling is critical. Short videos must have a clear conflict or problem, then set an expectation, and then reverse that for a satisfying or interesting conclusion.
- Call-to-Action (CTA): Encourage engagement by including a clear call-to-action. Whether it's to like, share, comment, or visit a link, guide viewers on what to do next. My favorite is asking a question that engages viewers with a comment.
- Consistent Branding: Maintain consistency in branding elements such as logos, colors, and fonts. This helps build brand recognition and reinforces your identity.
- Captions: Successful short-form video content almost always has open captions, usually with some kind of effect to make it stand out and be easily readable. This is because most people scroll through this kind of content with their device sound off.
- Thumbnail Image: All social media video content has to have a strong thumbnail image to attract clicks and views.
By optimizing these elements, I can help clients create engaging and shareable vertical short-form videos on social media platforms.