7 tricks to upload the best videos to Instagram

Are you already posting videos on Instagram? And if not, what are you waiting for?

It is said that a picture is worth 1000 words, and if the picture is moving, all the better. Videos on Instagram help us to get the most out of the most visual network and to connect with our audience.

But with so many brands vying for users’ attention on Instagram, do you know how you can make your video marketing work? Don’t miss out on these tricks!

7 Tips for Uploading the Best Videos to Instagram

1) Define your Instagram video strategy

I’ll never get tired of saying it: to get results with your marketing, the first essential step is to know where you want to go. And that’s why, when we start designing our strategy, we have to first sit down to define the objectives.

Video on Instagram is one more element within your content plan, which in turn must find its meaning within the marketing plan of the entire company. Going from the general to the specific, we have to see what this tool can contribute to the general objectives of the company, from attracting quality traffic to our website to increasing the awareness of the brand and its products.

Once we are clear about this, we will assign a series of key metrics or KPIs to measure the results of our videos on Instagram.

We also have to consider what types of videos fit best to achieve the objectives we have set ourselves, and a “how it was done” in a humorous tone is not the same as a practical video guide. In the following tricks, you will find some ideas to inspire you.

Finally, we have to define a schedule for the production and publication of the videos and a measurement strategy to monitor the results.

2) Harness the power of Instagram Stories

The Stories format has been the biggest revolution on Instagram since its birth, and Spanish users love it.

With Instagram Stories, you can upload multiple photos or videos and edit them with text, doodles, or drawings. They will then be displayed in the form of a sequence or story at the top of the app for 24 hours. After that time, they disappear.

For marketers, Stories have two characteristics that make them very interesting:

• They allow you to combine the video with other elements (such as static images), giving you greater creative possibilities to convey your message originally.
• They are ephemeral. Stories disappear without a trace the day after they are published. This means you can leverage them to share content more spontaneously, worrying less about aesthetics or planning and more about connecting with users here and now.

You may be interested in reading this article on 8 good practices to succeed in Instagram Stories, to delve into the content of this location, and how to improve it.

3) Instagram teaches, Instagram entertains

Depending on your brand’s goals, there’s a good chance you’ll be interested in using Instagram videos to educate your audience in some way and show them what your products look like and how your products are used.

While it’s generally best to avoid overly promotional content on social media, this is definitely a good place to show off your products without fear. For example:

• Post hands-on tutorials that show how to use a specific product. A very interesting resource is to look for different apps to inspire the audience, for example, using an ingredient in different recipes and showing how they are made step by step (I love Nutella video recipes… yum!).
• Show your latest releases, for example, with a 60-second unboxing (the time limit for videos on Instagram). You can gradually reveal the information in a series of videos so that your audience always wants more.
• Answer frequently asked questions in the video. Given its brevity, this format is ideal for answering a different question in each video. Take the opportunity to show your company’s experts and ask them to explain it on camera.

4) Show your most human side

Videos on Instagram are not the place to get corporate, but on the contrary, to connect with the audience from one to one. These resources will help you do just that:

• The “how it was done” type videos. Brand followers love to imagine what life is like behind the scenes, and now you can show it to them. It can be something as simple as interviewing your protagonists with your cell phone.
• Live videos. Live videos are a complement to Instagram Stories that allow you to use both the front and rear cameras of your phone. This gives you the possibility to show your day-to-day life spontaneously, without having to worry so much about production. In addition, this type of content conveys authenticity and fosters a connection with the audience.
• Video memes. We all know this type of content that spreads like foam from users who publish their version, from the Ice Bucket Challenge to the Mannequin Challenge (videos with several people standing that give the illusion that time has frozen). Well, Instagram videos are the perfect excuse for your brand to also join the phenomenon and take advantage of the wave of views, while demonstrating its sense of humor.

5) Be true to yourself

While not all the videos you upload to Instagram have to be produced perfectly, it is essential that they follow the line of the corporate image, as well as the tone of the brand.

As part of your Instagram video marketing strategy, you can consider making a style guide where you define the type of videos that will be published, the aesthetics and predominant colors of the brand, the themes, and all the details that help you maintain a coherent image. That way, when the user arrives at one of your videos, they’ll notice that it’s about your brand.

6) Take care of the technique

The spontaneity of social networks is not at odds with having a neat and professional appearance, so take note of these tips:

• As we have already mentioned, videos on Instagram are limited to 60 seconds in length. This means that on many occasions you will be forced to create them from scratch, instead of taking advantage of the ones you have already made for other networks such as Facebook or YouTube. So, you’ll need to consider how to get your message across in a limited amount of time. Remember that when recording, you can use the pause button to keep only what interests you instead of making a video of 60 uninterrupted seconds.
• Exposure is a key aspect of creating quality videos. Basically, this parameter determines how light or dark the scene will be. You can adjust this by tapping different areas of the screen: if you tap on a dark area, it will come into focus, and the rest of the scene will become lighter. Conversely, if you tap on a light area, it will be in perfect focus, and the rest of the scene will be darkened. If you use exposure and focus strategically, you can achieve very interesting results with few resources.
• Consider the sound. If sound is going to be an important element in your video, you may need to have an additional microphone to achieve better results. However, we advise you to keep in mind that most users do not play videos with sound, as they often watch them while traveling on public transport or in other similar environments. Therefore, if what is said in the video is really important, I recommend that you put subtitles on it.
• Don’t forget post-editing. With Instagram videos, you can go back once they’re finished and delete scenes or add new ones. You can also rely on other apps that allow you to edit videos and add all kinds of effects, such as Splice Video Editor, InstaShot Editor, or VSCO (specialized in unique filters).

7) Don’t forget about hashtags

Hashtags are a key feature of Instagram, as they help users find the content they are interested in. The network allows you to post up to a maximum of 30 hashtags per post. By including them in your videos, you will increase the chances that users will discover them and eventually become followers of your brand.

Research what the top hashtags in your industry are, both general and more niche, and include a good variety of them in your posts. Over time, you’ll be able to spot the ones that work best or even create your own branded hashtag. But be careful: if you abuse, you also run the risk of ending up boring users or attracting an audience that doesn’t interest you.