You've learned the basics, you’ve got the equipment, so what do you need to think about next when creating videos for social media? The idea!
Whether you want to tell a story, educate or just have some fun, planning video content is guaranteed to get your creative juices flowing. So if you’re looking for some inspiration, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve put together some video ideas to help you get started, designed to boost engagement on your socials and create strong connections with your audience.
FLEX YOUR KNOWLEDGE
By giving a demonstration of your products or showcasing your expertise with some handy top tips, you can enhance your customers’ understanding of your brand and build credibility online. Videos containing factual information not only give immediate value to your audience, but also encourage engagement and are more likely to be shared.
You can make these videos as short and snappy as you like, but make sure they are as visual as possible! For example, if you’re filming a demonstration of a product, let your audience see it in action, using different camera angles so they get the best possible view. Adding music or a voice-over adds another layer to your video too, helping to keep your audience entertained and engaged.
Just remember, you don’t want to overwhelm your audience with an overcomplicated, fast-paced 20-step tutorial. Instead, keep it simple and at a steady pace so everyone has a chance to digest the information.
Take a look at this great example from Shark Beauty on TikTok. In only 30 seconds, it demonstrates how to use their FlexStyle device with some expert Dos & Don’ts. Posted to coincide with a sale on their website, it makes the product look extremely easy to use, whilst providing valuable information in an engaging, straightforward manner.
a look Behind the Scenes
From private airport lounges to secret sales, we love nothing more than getting exclusive access to something. So give your audience a glimpse at what’s going on behind the scenes of your business! These types of videos inject your socials with a huge dose of personality, showing a side of you, your team or your workspace that customers wouldn’t usually get to see.
However, you can’t just film yourself working silently at your desk. Behind the scenes videos need to be positive, personal and entertaining.
For example, if you’re hosting an event or launching a new product, share some backstage footage and give your audience a sneak peek at what’s going on.
You could give an exclusive look at how a product gets made, follow a day in the life of a team member, or give a MTV Cribz-style tour of your workplace. Just have fun with it!
These videos can also be fairly relaxed and spontaneous, so if you’re enjoying some team activities or there’s something exciting happening at work, film a quick video on your smartphone.
Take a look at this perfect example from Beis Travel, in which they invite their audience to come along to a photoshoot, giving a behind the scenes look at their filming process whilst teasing new products.
they asked, you answer
Much like demonstration videos, Q&As provide customers with specific, sought-after information in an open, transparent manner. By responding directly to common questions and queries, you’ll demonstrate just how valued your customers’ opinions really are.
In terms of difficulty, Q&A videos are some of the easiest to create. Simply think about common questions you get asked about your brand or take questions directly from your socials' comments section, and film a reply to them!
You could post short videos that answer one question at a time, or host a live Q&A session that responds to multiple customer queries in one go. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube all enable you to livestream content whilst simultaneously interacting with your audience in real time.
Top tip: If you’re live streaming, it may help to come up with some pre-planned questions and answers to keep the conversation flowing.
Jewellery brand Astrid & Miyu provide a great example on TikTok, answering their top three most asked questions, quickly and effectively.
WHY STOP AT ONE? CREATE A VIDEO SERIES
Whilst creating a video series may require a little planning, they’re totally worth it, helping to keep your posting schedule consistent and coherent. In other words, if you produce a 5-part series and you post one video per week, that’ll give you at least one piece of video content for your socials for over one month.
To add some human content to your socials, film a ‘Meet the Team’ series and interview different members of staff. If you have a little more time to play with, you could extend this, featuring an individual each week with a ‘Day in the Life of…’ video, showcasing the fantastic work they do!
Alternatively, if there’s a specific theme or upcoming event that’s relevant to your industry, you could directly engage with it using a video series. For example, if you’re a car dealership and World EV Day is approaching, you could film a series of connected demonstration videos e.g how to charge an electric car and how to maximise your range.
Furthermore, if you’re making an important brand announcement or launching a new product, you could plan a series of teaser videos to build anticipation.
Get trendy
From wacky challenges to the latest dance craze, there’s always a viral trend you can jump on when creating social media videos, especially on TikTok! By engaging with a viral trend, you have the opportunity to generate immediately relevant content, reach wider audiences and showcase your brand’s unique personality.
If you’re creating a video for TikTok, stay up to date with the latest trends, including popular hashtags and songs, by visiting the platform’s Creative Center. It’s a great tool if you’re looking for a place to start.
Just remember, a trend doesn’t have to be directly relevant to your industry to be effective, but it must be interesting and appropriate for your audience. Innocent’s Wes Anderson-inspired video is a perfect example of how a random, wacky trend can generate great engagement. Click here to watch it on Instagram.
We hope these examples gave you some inspiration for your next social media video! Watch this space for the next instalment in our Social Media Video Academy series, where we’ll be sharing more handy tips and tricks!