by Irfan Khan, Negosentro |
According to a report, online video will account for more than 80% of traffic by 2020. A major chunk of that online traffic would come from social media. With an astonishing 100 million hours of videos watched on Facebook every day, it is why most digital marketers consider video marketing as the most effective way to market products and services on social networking sites. The story does not end here. Video posts on social media generate 1200% more shares as compared to photos and texts combined.
It is a never ending debate regarding social media video marketing but I think the point is clear. Now, you might be thinking, “OK, I got the point but how can I make my social media video viral?” If that is what you are thinking than you are at the right place. This is where a good social media agency can help you. In this article, you will learn about effective tips that make your social media video go viral.
Create a strong hook
The first 30 seconds of your video are critical as it can capture attention of your user or clearly blow them off. It will determine whether your audience engages with your video or abandon it. Make the initial part of the video as engaging and exciting as you possible could to grab viewer attention quickly and persuade them to watch the complete video.
Consider the Platform
When you are creating a video for social media, you should consider the platform you will share the video and create the video accordingly for the best results. For instance, a horizontal video is a great choice for all social media but if you are going to share the videos on Instagram and Snapchat, you can go for vertical videos. Secondly, you should consider your audience because what works on one social media channel does not work on other social media channel. Due to the rise of popularity, different social networking sites are releasing native tools to help you get the best out of your social media videos. You can also consider wooing your audience with Live video.
Tell A Story
Storytelling is an art and you must master it in order to stir up some emotions from your social video. If you want your audience to remember your brand than a social media, video that tells a story is a great way to do that. According to Harvard Business Review article, when we watch a story, our brain releases a chemical called oxytoxin and when the brain breaks this neurochemical down, it makes people more compassionate, generous and trustworthy.
Character driven stories can help your audience create an emotional connection and allows you to get the message across as well. Write the script of a story carefully by setting the stage up and end it up with a showdown, convert it into a video and share it on social media sites. Add some interesting twists to the story in order to maintain the interest of the audience in the video.
Keep It Short and Focused
Do you know what makes Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter videos so popular? One of the key reasons is that they are quick and focused. Snapchat videos could not exceed 10 seconds and Twitter videos could not go beyond while Instagram allows 60 seconds videos. All you need to do is to convey your message in less than a minute and make your video as interesting so the viewer will share it with friends on social media.
Use Subtitles and On Screen Text
Take advantage of on screen text and subtitles to convey the message and make simple concepts easier to understand for the users. If you are targeting global audiences with your social media video, consider adding subtitles. Another advantage of adding screen text is that viewer will grasp the main idea behind the video even if they are watching the video without sound. You would be amazed to know that most users on Facebook do watch videos without sound that is where screen text comes into play.
Edit Well
Just clear out the clutter from the video by editing your video so that your audience sees what relevant and focus on the main concept. You can take advantage of native video editors offered by social media sites or use professional video editing tools such as Adobe Premier Elements and Final Cut Pro X to make your video look great. Once edited, your video will look great and the viewer engagement will also increase. With these advantages, you should invest extra time in editing to deliver a exceptional video for your social media audience.
Make It Shareable
Last but certainly not the least is to persuade your viewers to share your videos. Add some interesting facts and information in the video or add some humor to make it more shareable. Do not forget to add a call to action so that user knows what to do after watching the video. At the end of the day, the wow factor counts. If you can create a lasting impression on your video viewers, they will certainly share it with their friends on social media. This cycle continues until your social media go viral.
If you know about any other way to make your social media video go viral, share it with us in comments section below.
—
Irfan Ahmed Khan is an Brand Strategist & Digital Marketing Expert by profession & blogger by passion, he is currently associated with UiResponsive & many other different brands with his digital expertise.
