7 types of videos you must be creating for social media

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Videos are an important form of expression online.

In this post, we will talk about all the different video types you can use for a video content marketing strategy on social media.

1. Tutorials and How-to Videos

If you ever tried learning online, you may have found it easier to learn through the video content format. A detailed video on building something say a computer is easier to understand than plowing through a 5000-word article that explains the process step-by-step.

Video is an extremely big opportunity for you to add value, engage your audience and demonstrate your ability to do certain things well. Sprout Social’s 2018 index found that over 59% of consumers look for social posts that teach them something.

You can take advantage of the trend with the help of tutorials and how-to videos that show the audience how to do something around your industry. A brand selling household products can provide video clips on how to do something, assemble products or bake things.

Take an example of the expense management software niche. With accountants and Finance teams having very little time to evaluate a product, the best way to sell something as complex as expense management is via mockups and video tutorials for quicker understanding onboarding. It also helps Finance teams and key stakeholders evaluate and jump onto the digital bandwagon of change.

In a similar fashion, tax compliance software which is often hard to understand otherwise can post video tutorials on how to use the software. They can also post videos explaining the different steps of tax filing as well. They have tons of tax filing guides arranged by specific countries. However, with additional video tutorials, they would be able to get even more people interested in their software.

In another example, you can see the Tasty channel sharing quick tutorial videos on Facebook. They share longer videos on YouTube.

Since it’s for social media you must keep the video short so that it doesn’t lose people’s attention. You also need to ensure you’re conveying the right information.

2. Create Product Demo Videos

The right social media posts influence how people buy. So you want to create posts that demonstrate product features so that it attracts buyers. Instead of simply confining yourselves to images start creating product videos to highlight its features.

Showcase an overview of the product or highlight specific features of the product through each video. Since it’s informal, it’s going to sound and look more authentic than video ads that otherwise seem promotional.

These videos can appear on your landing pages and explain things to people easily.

3. User-Generated Videos

If social media videos that you create and post can be so powerful imagine how much more powerful are other videos going to be. It’s not always enough to capture videos. You need to edit them to fit your brand’s story and its identity. The process can sometimes take days.

So instead of creating new brand videos, you can take help from customers.

How?

Get loyal fans involved and seek help from them. Ask them to share their experience through videos. If you’re creating videos for an established brand you probably already have thousands of existing customers.

Sharing user-generated videos such as these help you with an opportunity to engage followers with fresh content and show you appreciate their loyalty. This encourages more people to create more content for your brand. All the additional content that you and your fans create and share allows you to reach even more people and generate additional word-of-mouth.

Doritos decided that instead of hiring an ad agency they would ask their fans to script, shoot and test Super Bowl advertisements. They asked fans to send their 30-second Doritos ad spot with just one guideline — make it awesome. Tons of creative ideas flowed in as a result of the campaign.

In one ad a fish jumps out of a pond to grab a pack of Doritos. In yet another, a baby’s first word is Doritos.

4. Announcements/Reveals

Social media is a good platform to update fans about the latest products and features of products from your brand. 60% of consumers want to see posts that showcase new products or services according to data from Sprout Social Index.

So you can start creating videos that capture new product announcements and sneak peeks.

Keep things interesting by adding fun elements to the video. Add great colors and put a creative twist to product features. Include graphics and more.

5. Interview and Q&A Videos

Interview and question-and-answer videos are other great formats to engage your audience while also serving informational needs.

Create videos in which you interview thought leaders and other influencers. You can also interview customers using video conferencing business software and keep fans engaged by collecting and swearing their questions.

Make the announcement beforehand and gather questions through social media. Then compile, vet, and answer those questions.

While you can always pre-record the session you can always try live videos. This allows you to connect more effectively with the audience and have a conversation in real time.

You can also create videos showcasing casual and informative chat sessions between two or more people.

6. Event Videos

You share posts about your event to get the audience to start paying attention. That said images and textual content isn’t always enough to share your excitement and the energy that the event will be carrying. Videos are an excellent way to convey this as they give your audience a realistic picture of the excitement surrounding an event.

Live videos are best if you want to broadcast the entire event providing a real-time view of what’s happening. It’s not always possible to go live when the event starts. At the same time, people may not always be interested in watching a full-length video that exceeds 30 minutes or more.

Here the best solution is to start with teaser videos that show parts of the event. Upload small sections of the event as shorter videos and then upload them on YouTube and promote the same through other social media platforms.

7. Behind-the-Scenes Videos

Give people a close view of what’s happening behind the scenes through authentic and engaging behind-the-scenes content.

These videos are great for showcasing your company’s culture and talking about the people behind the brand. These videos help you humanize your brand, build trust and improve your connection with the audience.

Provide your audience with office tours and then take them backstage at events you are part of. Show them employees in action and the process through which your products are manufactured.

Conclusion

What do you think of the multiple formats of videos you can publish on your social media channels? Let us know in the comments below.

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