Vine and Instagram are great for sharing quick and amusing video clips with friends and followers on social media. But figuring out how to incorporate short form video into your marketing strategy can be a bit tricky.
How can you leverage the power of short form video to market your business? Here are ten quick tips to get your creative wheels turning.
Start With a Plan
It can be tempting to pick up your smartphone and just start shooing Vine and Instagram Video. But just like any other marketing campaign, you must have a plan. All videos must have a beginning, middle, and end, whether they are two hours long or six seconds long. Decide which stories you are going to tell and block them out, just like you would storyboard a longer form piece of content.
Don’t Try To Be Everywhere
We’ve said over and over again that creating video just for video’s sake won’t benefit you in the long run. You have to have a reason and a purpose for every platform you use. Don’t have Vine and Instagram accounts just because you feel like you have to be there. Dividing your energy will only result in low-quality content. Choose the platform that fits your brand and become an expert at pushing content there.
Get Your Audience Involved
Marketers often forget that social media is supposed to be social. That means interacting with your fans and followers as much as possible. Engagement is crucial for successful video marketing. Think beyond just shares and retweets. Brainstorm creative ways to get your audience involved. Contests are a great way to do this. You can ask your audience to create their own Vine and Instagram Video content about your products.
Get Personal
If you’re constantly shouting at your followers about only your products, they will get bored. Why not create videos that showcase your team members at work or create fun virtual tours of your office space (if it’s interesting – nobody wants to see cubicle row). Step out of your sales pitch box and show the people behind your company.
Have Fun
Marketing is rarely fun. There’s research, planning, execution, and assessment to consider. But the nature of short video is fun. So let your hair down a little. Try things in this space that you’ve always thought about trying but weren’t able to on your website or even on YouTube. You can even open up ideas to non-marketing team members. A guy who toils away in your sales department might have a great idea for a Vine campaign that you never could have imagined. Keep it light, fresh, and fun for everyone.
Don’t Forget the Audio
Soundless shortform video can be tempting. But make sure you include audio. Screen your content with and without the audio and you’ll understand why sound is so important. Don’t skimp on quality simply because you have a small window to make your point.
Be Concise
If you can’t fit your entire message into a single video on Vine or Instagram, it’s not the end of the world. You can turn your videos into a series and release them over time in order to get your entire message across.
Put Your Best Foot Forward
There is a certain DIY element to using Vine and Instagram, but that doesn’t mean you should skimp on quality when it comes to your visual elements. Create visually pleasing videos that represent the excellence of your brand.
Marketing is Still Marketing – Even on Vine and Instagram
There are virtually endless ways to market your business on Vine and Instagram. But like any marketing campaign, you have to have a strategy in place in order to get the most from your work. Plan ahead, let your hair down a little, and have fun.
How have you utilized Vine and Instagram in your content marketing efforts? Let us know!