Over the past 10 years, social media has exploded in popularity. Platforms like YouTube, Facebook and Instagram—as well as many others— have millions of active users that consume content daily. People are reading posts, posting pictures and most importantly, they’re creating and sharing video.
According to Vidyard’s 2019 Video Benchmark Report, by the year 2022, online videos will make up more than 82% of all consumer internet traffic. Another study found that Instagram posts with videos received more interactions than those with just photos.
It is resoundingly clear that video is becoming the most effective social media tool.
So, with the power of video and social media right at your fingertips, how do you utilize them effectively to expand your business and reach as a videographer? If you do things right, more people will see your work and want to pay for your services.
Keep reading for five tips on how to use social media video to successfully grow your client base and business.
Figure out your social media platforms
The first thing you need to decide is what platforms you want to share your content to. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are all great options—share to as many as you can. The more platforms you share on, the more people you will reach.
YouTube is an obvious choice for sharing video content. However, running a YouTube channel takes a great deal of time and effort. You need to be ready to plan content regularly and will also need time to edit your videos. Although it is more of a commitment, it’s undoubtedly an excellent way to share your knowledge, brand and skills with an audience.Â
If you find you don’t have the time to run a YouTube channel, then Instagram and Facebook are great for sharing video. In fact, in a 2019 study, video posts saw 49% higher interactions and engagement than posts with just images. Instagram has many features that can benefit videographers such as stories, live and Reels.
Create quality, engaging content
So, you’ve decided on what social media platform(s) you’re going to upload to, now it’s time to create the content.
There are a few things to keep in mind when creating good, quality content. There is a whole sea of content on the internet, so how do you make yours stand out? Try your best to implement the following tactics:
- Create original content
- Provide answers or solutions to common problems, show your authority
- Be accurate with the information you share
- What are people in your space looking for? Do some research
- Make your content interesting, fun and engaging
By implementing these steps, you will be on your way to creating great social media video that people will enjoy watching, and they will come back for more.
Upload regularly
Once you pin down what kind of video content you want to share with your audience, get in the habit of uploading and posting regularly. The more you upload, the more people will see your content.
Viewers will also get to know you and your business more, and understand that your information and services provide them value.
If you have a busy schedule, create a schedule for posting and sharing to social media, that way you have a dedicated day and time during the week to get it done.
Get exposure and expand your reach
Getting exposure and views goes along with creating quality content and uploading regularly. But, there are some other steps you can take to be sure your video content gets more exposure and views.
One thing you should do to boost your audience’s reach is to optimize your social media profiles. Each part of your social media profiles can be optimized for greater exposure. Some examples include your usernames, photos or brand logo, and use of keywords. If you are unfamiliar with SEO—search engine optimization—do some research and get familiar with it. SEO can be your best friend.
In addition to SEO strategies, you can also use targeting to reach your desired audience. Facebook has what is called organic post targeting, which allows you to choose who you want to see your content.
Self-promotion also goes a long way. Reach out to people you know in the industry and show them what you’ve been doing. Encourage people you know to share your content to their socials. Reach out to other people in your field. If they’re on social media and create content, see if they are interested in doing a collaboration.
Create a community
One great thing about social media is that you can find a community for almost everything imaginable. It is a powerful tool that you should utilize when considering your own social media strategies.
There are plenty of people that are interested in the content you decide to make.
When you create your videos, be sure to make your viewers feel like they are your friends, like you are sitting and having a casual conversation with them. Doing this will create camaraderie between you and your viewers.
One way to create a community through social media video is through features such as Instagram Live and Instagram stories. You can host an Instagram Live Q&A session where your followers can interact with you. You can also do a live session where you show your audience a new product, or perhaps a tutorial on how to do something.
Go and create
Now that you have some tools in your arsenal, you are ready to take a dive into the world of social media video, which will help grow your network, build social media understanding and grow your business.
