While different brands take unique approaches to creating social media videos, there are some tried-and-true strategies that attract attention almost every time. Use these five tips in your upcoming social videos to get your audience to stop scrolling and check out your content.
1. Reel them in
Audience attention spans are incredibly short. As a general rule, include a hook to “reel” your audience in within the first three seconds of your video. Make it as visually exciting as possible and ditch the drawn-out establishing shots, title cards and other uninspiring tropes. Replace them with color-filled shots and images that make viewers want to know more. It’s often incredibly effective to use a key point in the video, like an important message or funny moment right at the beginning, to get your audience hooked.
2. Include faces in your videos
It’s a proven fact that the human eye is drawn to human faces. They evoke instant emotion and can even establish a sense of trust between your viewers and your brand. People judge a person’s trustworthiness through their face, and this initial split-second judgment applies to images and videos on any social media platform. It’s best to show faces within the first few seconds to grab your viewers’ attention and include faces in your thumbnails to inspire clicks.
3. Film vertically
Most social media users access their accounts on mobile devices, which means they’re looking at media vertically. How do you create vertical video? To start, film in 4:5 (which is Instagram’s preferred ratio) or 9:16. It’s easy enough to capture footage in these ratios on your phone, but if you want to give your videos a more professional look, flip your DSLR on its side and film in portrait mode.
4. Add captions
Captions help you send your message, even when your viewers don’t have their sound turned on. In terms of accessibility, captions are an absolute necessity. Whether you include important information during the scripting process or you order a transcript from a professional service later on, captions attract attention and serve as a way to get your message across silently yet effectively.
5. Use color
It’s common knowledge that color attracts attention. While you may be tempted to use bright and bold colors for your videos as well as your thumbnails, consider how your video will look in terms of the social network where it will “live.” Use the platform to guide you during the creative process so that you can choose the most eye-catching palette for illustrations, animations, set design and even costumes, if you plan on having them. For example, Facebook and LinkedIn feature a color scheme that’s entirely blue and white. Videos featuring a red and yellow color scheme will really pop against that background.
You’re creating social video for a reason—you want it to be consumed and enjoyed by your target audience. Whether you’re working to inspire shares, make a sale or inspire a sign-up, your social videos need to attract and hold the attention of the average person scrolling their feed.
Want help making your videos more dynamic and effective? Say hello to Spin Creative. We’re strategic design experts who can help you generate a buzz for your brand with effective video that always attracts attention.
About Us
Spin Creative is a video production company and creative agency helping marketers create winning video and creative strategies that engage, inspire and activate targeted audiences. Spin is headquartered in Seattle with offices in San Francisco and London, serving brands around the globe.
