You probably are already aware of the good marketing results some small businesses are getting by using Instagram as part of their social media marketing strategy.
Most often, businesses post pictures and videos of their products to engage their customers and potential customers. Here I want to talk specific about Instagram videos for marketing.
Video is to online marketing what banner ads and photo galleries have been in earlier days. By now you may be using YouTube to post your company videos. You’ve likely already dabbled in Instagram video too, but I want to show you how to be more strategic with the videos you post.
Instagram has certainly become a popular marketing and branding tool. And here I want to help you explore ways in which Instagram can become part of your video marketing strategy too. What’s more is that Instagram trends toward younger consumers, so keep that in mind as you plan to integrate it with your campaigns.
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Instagram video limitations
Instagram’s video limitations have changed a lot in the past several years. When Instagram first enabled video, you could only upload videos as long as 15 seconds. Now, the platform allows for 60-second videos. You can even post an Instagram video as long as 60 minutes with the newer IGTV feature. For most of us, 60 minutes is plenty, if not too much, time to get our point across.
Here are some Instagram video ideas to get you started:
Tease new products or services
Just because longer videos are allowed on Instagram now doesn’t mean you should dismiss the effectiveness of short videos. Think of a 15-second video as like a “coming attraction” teaser at the movie theater. Show just enough to pique your customers’ interests.
Go behind the scenes
Do you make something? If you produce something that is used or consumed, show vignettes that illustrate parts of the process. If you are in the food industry and use special organic ingredients, introduce a farmer. These videos have become especially popular recently as people look to slow down from the fast pace of typical digital content.
Do something funny
If your business is all desks and offices, do you have a class clown, or someone who likes to pull a harmless prank on their neighbor? Capture one of these moments. Or illustrate a harmless prank others might emulate.
Show your customers
Sell a big-ticket item? How about a video of your customer driving away in their new Porsche? People’s favorite video subjects are themselves. Their second favorite: their friends and relatives. (Dogs and babies are hits too.)
Give 60-second insights
We love information in bite-sized chunks. That’s why “list” blogs will be forever popular. Have an expert at your business take one small topic and deliver one useful 60-second insight. Then make it a series.
Try a Fiverr cartoon, animated graphic, whiteboard presentation:
Come up with an idea for an animation, head over to Fiverr.com, find someone to render it and then post the video to Instagram. How cool could that be and all you have invested is five bucks?
When you post your videos, don’t forget to use hashtags so they will be found by the right people. Also, be persistent about featuring them via Twitter and Facebook. Don’t just promote them once, come around to them on a repeating schedule, as appropriate.
Look forward to seeing you on the small screen!
Want more Instagram resources? Go to our Instagram 101 page for advice on getting started, secrets to success, and plenty of great examples.
Editor’s note: This post has been updated for relevancy and accuracy.
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