The 4 Best Types of Videos for Social Media

Spin Creative • February 25, 2021

There’s no question that social video is increasingly important for brands of any shape and size. However, the videos you produce for your website or platforms like YouTube are not necessarily the same ones that will thrive on social channels.

Image of a man using an iPhone on a tripod wearing headphones
Brands need to think carefully about the videos they choose to share on social media, whether they’re adapted from existing videos or created specifically for the platform. Because social video is more likely to be discovered rather than searched for, social videos need to be eye-catching right away.

Certain video types tend to perform well on social media compared to others. Try incorporating these four videos into your social media strategy: 

• Viral clips: Although longer videos are perfectly capable of thriving on social platforms like Facebook, shorter videos tend to be the norm. One way to capitalize on this is to trim existing videos down to compelling clips that entice the viewer to watch more. These clips are more likely to be shared and go viral, getting your video in front of more eyes. Keep this strategy in mind when you’re creating longer ads or videos to ensure you have engaging clips to repurpose by the end of your shoot.

• Announcements and reveals: Announcements and reveal videos are also great choices for social media platforms. The people following your page are already interested in your brand and products, so social media is the perfect place to give consumers a sneak peek into your upcoming releases and offerings. Short announcement videos are also extremely shareable, which can help generate even more buzz about your reveal. 

• Behind-the-scenes content: Brands typically offer unique content to their social media followers as a way to build community and keep them interested. This is why behind-the-scenes videos and other types of exclusive content, such as interviews, perform well on social platforms. This type of content is different from the content consumers might find on your website, builds trust, humanizes your brand and helps get people talking.

• Tutorials and hacks: Short, engaging tutorial, DIY and life-hack videos have become extremely popular on social media channels over the last few years (think quick-and-easy recipes or five-minute crafts). The tutorial videos you make for social media will probably be much shorter and use more text and graphics than those made for other platforms, which might utilize voice-over and more in-depth explanations. Tutorials on social media are also a great way to funnel people to your blog or website by including a link to longer explanation.

Just about any video type can work well on social media. However, certain videos might be better choices depending on your social strategy and goals. Consider what the purpose of your social videos will be before deciding which video types will take up space on your feed. No matter what videos you create, though, make sure you keep them short, engaging and shareable to improve your metrics.

Video should be a critical part of your social media strategy. Need help creating compelling social video to delight your audience? Say hello to Spin Creative!


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.
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