You’ve heard the famous saying, “a picture says 1,000 words”, right?
But what about video?
If a picture can do all that “talking”, imagine how much a video is capable of saying.
Since its explosion onto the social media scene, Instagram has been known as the square grid photo, pretty picture platform.
But, back in June 2021, the Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, announced that the social behemoth is “no longer a photo-sharing app or a square photo-sharing app.”
This filled a lot of people with panic as many thought that the comforting grid format we’ve come to know and love would be ripped out from underneath them. However, for many, it was a breath of fresh air and a move in the right direction.
As an increasing number of people leverage the video benefits of Instagram, let’s take a look at the different video formats the platform offers and how you can make the most of them:
- Why Instagram video is so important
- The different types of Instagram video
- Top Tips for Instagram Video Success
- Get Started With Instagram Video
And before you continue reading the article, make sure to take a look at our video with Desiree Martinez on making the most of Instagram video for your clients:
Why Instagram video is so important
While Instagram’s filtered and curated grid photos give an aesthetic appeal to the platform, its video options allow a more raw, inside look into our favourite brands and influencers.
500 million people use Stories every day and 70% of Instagram users watch Stories every day. On top of this, there has been an 80% increase in time spent watching videos on Instagram since the feature became available in 2013.
The sheer amount of people watching, posting, and interacting with Instagram’s various different video formats show it’s an important part of the platform. But it’s not just about the views - Instagram videos actually get two times more engagement than photos, making them a key way for brands to connect with their followers and create communities.
The different types of Instagram video
1. Feed videos
Feed videos are the videos you see when you’re scrolling through your feed (duh!). They’re posted just like grid images and appear as part of your curated profile page.
The little “play” icon in the top right corner indicates this is a feed video.
Back when the feature first came out (as Instagram’s very first foray into video!), users were limited to 15 seconds. Today, brands can create longer videos that last up to one minute, capturing shots that have been filmed and edited straight from their smartphones.
Instagram feed video dimensions
- Length: up to one minute
- Dimensions: square, portrait, or landscape
- Aspect ratio: minimum of 1.91:1 and a max of 4:5
How to use Instagram feed videos
Feed videos become a part of your profile page so, for the most part, they should reflect your branding or feed theme if you want to keep the aesthetic the same. Apart from that, feed videos can be powerful ways to:
- Showcase new products
- Explore the history of your brand
- Share interviews with employees and manufacturers
- Show off your company culture or unique things about your brand
Use Instagram’s in-built features, like GIFs and filters to make your videos stand out
Hedoine shares the values and mission of their company through feed videos.
How to post a video to your Instagram feed
You can add a video to your feed the exact same way you would add a photo. Simply tap the “+” icon in the top corner and choose the video you want to upload. Instagram takes you through the steps of adding a filter, a caption, and any relevant hashtags.
2. Instagram Reels
Reels mimic the fast-paced, consumable video style of TikTok. Users can create 15-second videos made up of multiple clips and edit them with trending music, effects, and a suite of creative tools. Reels now have their own special place on your Instagram profile, but they can also be shared to your feed for extra visibility.
Conchus has published a selection of Reels showing how their product is made and packaged.
Instagram Reels dimensions
- Instagram Reels length: up to 15 seconds
- Dimensions: portrait
- Aspect ratio: 9:16
Reels are created in-app, using Instagram’s own editing tool and audio options.
How to use Reels on Instagram
Reels are incredibly versatile - browse through the “Explore” page on Instagram, and you’ll see them being used in every way possible, from funny prank videos to product unboxing. Their short, snappy nature lends them perfectly to:
- Educating viewers on your product or brand
- Showcasing products in a fun way
- Creating engaging, shoppable content
- Tapping into social media trends to connect with followers
- Showing behind-the-scenes footage of your brand
Kit & Kin’s Reels provide useful insights to new parents.
How to post an Instagram Reel
Click the “+” icon in the top corner and scroll along to the “Reels” part of Instagram’s creator. Down the left-hand side, you’ll be able to add clips, audio, and effects. Alternatively, record directly into the app.
Once you’re happy with your Reel, you can publish it to the Reels segment of your profile as well as your feed and the Explore page if you choose.
3. Instagram Stories
Instagram Stories are short 15-second video installments that disappear after 24 hours. They provide the perfect way to interact with customers, direct people to your website (something that’s notoriously hard on Instagram), and generate engagement around your brand and products.
You can see who has viewed your Stories, create polls, and ask your followers questions for an added dose of interaction.
Monoware shares behind-the-scenes footage from photo shoots.
Instagram Stories dimensions
- Instagram Stories length: up to 15 seconds
- Instagram Stories dimensions: square, portrait, and landscape
- Instagram Stories aspect ratio: minimum of 1.91:1 and a max of 9:16
How to use Instagram Stories
Instagram Stories don’t have to be throw-away snippets of content. In fact, Instagram’s addition of Story Highlights means you can save and pin your favourite Stories to the top of your profile. However, for best results, Stories should be in the moment and have a purpose, such as:
- Sharing behind-the-scenes content from your brand
- Showcasing real-time footage, like an event
- Creating shoppable posts
- Directing people to your website with the Swipe Up feature
- Educating followers on your brand or products
- Telling a story over a series of Story slides
- Encouraging followers to engage with polls and Q&As
Ampler Bikes uses Stories to answer common questions their followers have.
How to post Instagram Stories
Again, like the “+” icon in the top corner and scroll to the Stories option. You can then select a video or image from your camera roll or take a photo or video live in the app. You’ll then be able to edit your content with filters, GIFs, hand-drawn elements, and features like Swipe Up, polls, Instagram location, and Q&As. Use an Instagram Stories template to help you out if you don’t know how to get started.
4. Instagram Live
Instagram Live videos are basically real-time broadcasts. They can only be carried out from a mobile device but can be a great way to connect with your followers in the moment. Lives are by far the longest video option on Instagram, letting brands wrack up 60 minutes of footage, and they can be saved for followers who weren’t online at the time to watch at a later date.
Iconic London hosts an Instagram Live about make up application.
Instagram Live dimensions
- Length: up to 60 minutes
- Dimensions: vertical
- Aspect ratio: 9:16
How to use Instagram Live
As one of the only “live” forms of video content on Instagram, Lives are ideal for interacting with your followers during key times in your business. This might include “going Live” to:
- Interact with followers in real-time (say, to announce the winner of a contest, or just to say “hi”)
- Document events as they happen
- Give a live showcase of your products
- Answer questions from your followers
Chewy’s hosts a live, educational chat between vets.
How to post a Live video on Instagram
Start by opening the Instagram Stories camera and swipe along until you get to the “Live” option. You’ll be able to see how many of your followers are online at that time to determine how many will get a notification. Then, when you’re ready, hit the play button to start your Live.
Throughout the Live, you’ll be able to see questions from viewers, add backgrounds from your camera roll, and add filters.
5. IGTV
IGTV kind of bridges the gap between Instagram Stories and the videos on your feed. While Stories are essentially throwaway slides of content that disappear after 24 hours, IGTV lets users create short videos that stay on their profile without cluttering up carefully curated feeds.
Finisterre uses IGTV to broadcast workshops, events, and the stories behind its products.
IGTV dimensions
- IGTV video length: up to 10 minutes for smaller accounts; up to 60 minutes for larger/verified accounts
- IGTV dimensions: portrait or landscape
- IGTV aspect ratio: 9:16 for portrait; 16:9 for landscape
How to use IGTV
Instagram’s goal for IGTV was to turn it into a bitesize version of YouTube, where creators had their own channel where they could regularly share video content. As such, IGTV can be great for:
- Longer videos that don’t make the Stories cut
- Sharing events and real-time happenings in your business
- Providing educational content
- Creating a dedicated video channel for your brand
Warby Parker shares a Q&A on IGTV.
How to make an IGTV video
Navigate to your profile page and tap the “+” icon in the corner. A screen will pop up with all the video options available to you--select IGTV. From there, you’ll be able to add videos from your camera roll or record footage live in the app. When you’re happy, click publish, where a new section will appear on your profile for IGTV videos.
Top Tips for Instagram Video Success
Make the most of your video efforts with these Instagram tips for businesses.
- Plan it out: have a strategy in place to make sure you’re posting regularly and providing a mixture of content for followers.
- Promote your products: videos reap great engagement, so don’t forget to mention your products in them (only if it feels organic, though!).
- Build brand trust and credibility: put a face to the name and speak to your followers like you would a friend.
- Get followers involved: show your followers you value them by re-sharing their stores and videos (this also saves you having to create your own).
- Don’t rely on sound: lots of people watch videos with the sound turned off, so either don’t rely on sound or include subtitles.
- Capture from the start: the first few seconds of a video are so important, so make sure each video has a great hook.
- Track and measure: dive into your analytics to see what kind of videos your followers prefer and what they want those videos to be about.
Get Started With Instagram Video
There’s no time like the present to get started with Instagram Video. There are a lot of ways you can use this increasingly popular medium to engage with your followers and attract new customers.
Experiment with the different video formats to see what your followers like best, and make sure you incorporate videos into your overall social media strategy.
