13 Tips for Creating Videos for Instagram Like the Brands You Love [+ Examples]

Creating movies for Instagram must be one in every of my favourite advertising and marketing duties.

From in-feed movies to Reels, Instagram Reside, and Tales, entrepreneurs such as you and me have so many enjoyable alternatives to get inventive and to make issues even higher — they really work.

In response to recent HubSpot Research, entrepreneurs charge Instagram the #1 social media platform for video ROI, engagement (likes, shares, and many others.), and leads. And I’ve seen this first-hand, each professionally and personally.

On this article, I’ll element the whole lot it’s essential find out about posting and creating video content material on the platform and share actionable ideas I and massive manufacturers have was profitable.

New to Instagram advertising and marketing typically? Take a look at our article, “How to Use Instagram: A Beginner’s Guide [Expert Insights + New Data].” That foundational information is crucial when diving into Instagram movies.

Desk of Contents

Instagram Movies vs Reels

Earlier than we proceed, let’s get one factor straight: nearly each video on Instagram finally ends up changing into a Reel. Not less than so far as person expertise (UX) is concerned.

Any video uploaded out of your digicam roll as a “publish” or is recorded whereas “publish” is chosen seems within the Reels tab in your Instagram profile and is topic to the identical UX and optimization choices.

The principle distinction between the 2 is that “publish” or in-feed movies might be as much as 60 minutes lengthy, whereas Reels are restricted to only 90 seconds.

As an example, let’s have a look at this video on my Instagram. It’s simply shy of 5 minutes lengthy, so I needed to publish it “in-feed.” Nevertheless, I might nonetheless edit and refine it like a Reel. Then, after importing, it nonetheless appeared within the Reel tab on my profile.

Many additionally consider that Reels are extra discoverable on Instagram than in-feed movies. A examine by Metricool helps this, discovering that Instagram Reels have the very best attain charge out of all Instagram content material varieties (~37.87%).

Specialists consider the Instagram algorithm favors reels extra, which in flip get featured extra within the Uncover tab and seen by extra non-followers. Movies supposedly are primarily proven to followers within the feed.

Notice: It is sort of a bummer, however none of this is applicable in case you add a video as part of a carousel. In carousels, your video modifying skills are restricted to including a filter or muting the sound.

All that mentioned, the remainder of this text will deal with Instagram in-feed movies, not Reels.

In truth, most of the ideas and greatest practices overlap, however to study extra particularly about Instagram Reels, take a look at our article: How to Make Instagram Reels and Use Them to Your Advantage.

Why create movies for Instagram?

In response to latest findings by HubSpot Analysis, 76% of entrepreneurs utilizing video of their advertising and marketing use Instagram. It’s additionally the third-most used social media platform by B2C manufacturers and second-highest by B2B. However why precisely?

Let’s unpack a couple of of the largest causes.

Advantages of Instagram Movies

Audiences love video.

That is most likely stating the apparent, however audiences love video content material. Actually, our 2024 social media trends report discovered that almost all of content material codecs customers take pleasure in on social media (e.g., Tales, and reside streams) are video-based, with short-form video being the preferred.

Video content material, typically, is understood to speak info quicker and in a extra memorable (and shareworthy) method than written or static visible content material.

Instagram isn’t any totally different.

In dialog, Aishwarya Balaji, a model advisor and CEO and co-founder of A Fresh Sip, echoed this to me, saying, “Instagram might be fairly highly effective in conveying a particular message or evoking a selected feeling. Photographs and texts can even evoke emotion, however video can inform a narrative extra successfully and captivate an viewers.”

There’s excessive attain and discoverability.

Because the third-largest social media platform, Instagram clearly has a big energetic viewers to succeed in.

Add within the reputation of video, its excessive engagement, and its supposed choice within the Instagram algorithm, and Instagram video presents an enormous alternative to succeed in new and customers.

Learn how to Create Video on Instagram

In my expertise, only a few folks document movies straight on Instagram outdoors of Tales. Why, precisely? Properly, the digicam high quality tends to be decrease, and the modifying capabilities out there on Instagram are fairly restricted, however in case you do use it, here are the steps you’ll follow.

1. Open your Instagram app and press the icon with a plus signal (+) within the middle of the controls.

2. Right here, you possibly can both add a video out of your library or create one within the app. As talked about, we’re creating a brand new one proper now. To do that, click on the little digicam icon on the backside of your new publish preview.

3. Press and maintain down the middle button to document your video.

When you launch your maintain, Instagram will cease recording and replay what was simply captured on the display.

4. Now, you possibly can edit your video utilizing the built-in Instagram video editor. (The identical one you’d use for making a Reel).

You’ll be able to swipe so as to add a filter in addition to add:

• Music
• A Voiceover
• Captions
• Stickers (Interactive and Static)
• Visible Results

It’s also possible to shorten and add clips or save what you’ve recorded.

5. After you’re finished modifying, hit “subsequent.”

6. Right here’s the place you optimize your Instagram video for search and getting discovered.

This may embrace including your video caption in addition to:

• Selecting your video cowl
• Tagging folks, a location, and merchandise
• Deciding on an viewers (Everybody vs “Shut Mates”)
• Deciding on the place you desire to the video displayed (Predominant grid and Reels or simply Reels)
• Attaching an occasion reminder or fundraiser

Beneath “extra choices,” you possibly can schedule the publish for later and get extra granular about how folks have interaction with the video and what you share (e.g., whether or not you show “like” counts or permit folks to make use of your video as a template).

7. Hit “Share” — and also you’re all set!

For an much more in-depth breakdown of the best way to publish on Instagram, take a look at the article “How to Post on Instagram: A Step-by-Step Guide.”

Learn how to Publish a Video to Instagram from Digicam Roll

To add a video out of your digicam roll to Instagram, comply with the identical steps as above, besides choose a video out of your library in step 2. After that, leap to step 4, and the remainder of the method would be the similar.

Once more, in case you add a video as part of a carousel publish, issues change barely. You’ll merely full step 2 after which leap to step 5.

Now that we all know the best way to share a video on Instagram, what does an awesome video appear like?

Learn how to Make Good Movies for Instagram

What qualifies as “good” content material is mostly a matter of opinion.

For instance, within the early 2000s, a bit sequence named Jackass was common on MTV and even led to a characteristic movie — however I simply couldn’t get behind it. What can I say? I used to be a baby with a refined palette.

Right this moment, social media is filled with equally questionable video content material that manages to seek out an viewers and achieve success. And that’s all that issues in the long run.

As a model and enterprise, the one individuals who want to love your movies are your audience or purchaser persona.

Balaji suggested, “It is essential to maintain the viewers in thoughts fist. A straightforward litmus take a look at is asking your self, ‘Am I creating this piece of content material as a result of I wish to share it or as a result of I consider my viewers will acquire worth from it?” If the reply is the previous, chances are you’ll wish to rework your technique if neighborhood progress and stickiness are the purpose.”

The easiest way to know what’s “good” by their requirements — learn grows your model consciousness, will increase engagement, and aids enterprise — is by experimenting.

According to a study by GWI, Instagram customers described the content material they appreciated most as humorous, inventive, informative, and stress-free, amongst different methods. That can assist you seize these sentiments in your Instagram movies, I’ll share 13 tips you can start testing.

Notice: If you need an excellent examples and steering on what to publish, take a look at:

1. Share inspiration or motivation.

GWI additionally discovered that “inspirational” content material was common amongst Instagram customers. In at this time’s usually disturbing world, individuals are in search of constructive power, motivation, and one thing to aspire to.

Creating movies for Instagram is a technique your model can assist ship it.

INBOUND isn’t any stranger to sharing inspiration or motivation for entrepreneurs or entrepreneurs on Instagram. Even higher, most of this content material comes from moments on the occasion itself.

2. Capitalize on developments and memes.

Memes might appear to be simply enjoyable and video games, however they’re additionally efficient in selling your model tradition, mission, and merchandise.

Incorporating trending subjects, music, or memes into your Instagram movies helps you be a part of and interact in present client conversations somewhat than attempting to start out a brand new one. It reveals you’re updated with what’s occurring round you and likewise reveals persona, making you extra relatable.

VaynerMedia, Gary Vaynerchuk’s inventive company, isn’t any stranger to utilizing developments and memes when creating movies for Instagram.

Professional tip: Undecided what’s common proper now? A variety of Instagram video developments really begin on TikTok, so you possibly can all the time do some scrolling there. However you could find developments proper in Instagram, too.

Merely hit the (+) button as if creating a brand new publish. Slide to “Reel,” then hit “Templates.”

Right here, you will notice a feed of suggestions adopted by “trending” movies.

3. Collaborate with influential manufacturers and creators in your house.

Matter Communication discovered that 69% of consumers belief info from influencers, mates, and household greater than manufacturers. In different phrases, word-of-mouth issues.

With this in thoughts, look into influencers, creators, and related companies your consumers comply with. Maybe you possibly can collaborate with them to get in entrance of potential new followers, boosting your discoverability, attain, and social proof.

YETI does an admirable job with this of their video advertising and marketing on Instagram.

Right here, the producer posted a video of one in every of its ambassadors, Matt Pittman of @meatchurch, utilizing and recommending a YETI product to his 900k followers.

On this one, beverage advisor Robert Björn Taylor shares a recipe ready in YETI’s Rambler™ Pitcher.

Each are sensible examples of the best way to present the corporate’s merchandise in motion and attain a big, new viewers of potential clients.

4. Inform relatable human tales.

How does your product or model impression lives? How does it change them for the higher?

Instagram movies can convey these human tales to life and interact your viewers on a deeper emotional degree. Shoppers join with relatable content material.

Actually, our research reveals that relatable content material is the second-most efficient kind of video for accomplishing marketing goals.

It helps folks envision themselves as a client of your services or products and perceive the worth it could possibly provide them.

On this Instagram video, Microsoft tells the story of how their expertise helps fishermen full their jobs extra successfully.

Whereas we often consider Microsoft software program and merchandise in conventional workplaces, this video expands the perceived scope of their impression. It helps much more folks see themselves within the model. 

Relatable content material can even create a way of neighborhood.

Balaji shared, “For my startup, a non-alcoholic beverage market, we regularly use humor and shared experiences in our movies. It helps join with our neighborhood and make folks really feel extra seen and fewer remoted.” 

One other strategy to spotlight human tales in your Instagram movies is thru case research (like Shopify), testimonials, or interviews with blissful clients.

Professional tip: Be thoughtful of range and inclusion.

Instagram is a worldwide platform that reaches folks from all walks of life.

Interested by diversity and inclusivity can assist attain a bigger viewers by wanting previous preconceived notions of gender, age, race, revenue, sexuality, and many others. to focus on how your services or products can provide worth.

One model that has been a pacesetter on this house for years is Dove. I like this Instagram video that includes girls of a sure age, who occur to purchase Dove, dwelling their greatest lives.

It’s not simply enjoyable and inclusive, however aspirational. It prompts the thought, “Hm. Possibly I may very well be one in every of these achieved, thrilling girls someday if I take advantage of Dove too.”

5. Tease what’s coming (New product launches, options, and many others.)

An effective way to construct hype round upcoming merchandise or options is to publish them on Instagram.

You don’t should do a full-fledged industrial to make an impression.

On this Instagram video, Google merely reveals somebody utilizing their latest telephone and describes options with a voiceover.

Duolingo, alternatively, shares product updates utilizing pattern screenshots, textual content, and playful music:

Shopify discusses new options with a speaking head video.

None of those examples are excessive manufacturing worth or sophisticated, however all of them successfully present audiences what they will look ahead to from the upcoming releases.

Professional tip: When posting movies about future merchandise or futures on Instagram, make the most of the “Remind me” characteristic.

With this, individuals who see the video can faucet on the bell icon within the backside left of video to choose into receiving notifications reminding them of the upcoming launch. As soon as they do, they’ll obtain three notifications for the occasion:

• An exercise feed notification 24 hours earlier than the occasion.
• An exercise feed and push notification quarter-hour earlier than the occasion.
• An exercise feed and push notification on the time of the occasion.

The ultimate notification may even coincide with a follow-up piece of content material formally saying the brand new merchandise.

(HubSpot’s social media tools can help you schedule this.)

General, it is a nice strategy to maintain your launch high of thoughts and construct pleasure.

Learn more about setting up event reminders on Instagram here.

6. Share the best way to use present merchandise.

Your present merchandise may very well be given related remedy. Potential clients won’t pay attention to the extent of your catalog and even the best way to use the whole lot the best method.

Bringing these merchandise or makes use of to their consideration as an alternative of leaving them to go looking or marvel not solely improves their person expertise however might even sway undecided consumers to make a purchase order.

Dyson Magnificence repeatedly teaches folks the best way to use its instruments and haircare merchandise on its Instagram account utilizing video.

Demonstrations, hacks, and ideas like these are different common varieties of Instagram movies, particularly for manufacturers. Extra on that shortly.

7. Deliver consideration to promotions or gross sales.

According to Capital One, 89% of People say value performs a serious position of their buy choices, increased than every other issue. Actually, the corporate discovered reductions are a significant component for 74% of U.S. internet buyers. And this serial couponer believes it.

Everybody likes to save cash, so don’t let your gross sales come and go quietly.

Use Instagram movies to focus on any promotions or gross sales you’re operating. Amazon does an awesome job with this for Prime Day. They even teamed up with common creator Zach King:

8. Make folks chortle.

The most well-liked content material on Instagram is humorous. Humor is relatable, shareworthy, and likewise memorable. Due to this, discovering methods to include related, on-brand humor into your Instagram video content material might be extraordinarily worthwhile to a enterprise.

Now, I do know: Being humorous is tough. If it weren’t, there wouldn’t be so many failed comedians.

However don’t let this cease you.

Your laughs might be authentic (like Duolingo or our mates at A Contemporary Sip) or curated.

So long as the humor is related to your viewers, it will likely be appreciated.

9. Educate your viewers (i.e., how-tos, ideas, hacks)

Folks comply with and belief manufacturers that supply actual worth, and few issues are extra worthwhile than schooling lately.

Take a while to consider what your small business or model can uniquely educate your viewers.

What do they should find out about your trade or when making a purchase order resolution? What information and experience are you able to provide to assist them obtain their objectives or enhance their day by day lives? Higher but, what insights are you able to share that nobody else can?

Form your Instagram video technique round these subjects.

For instance, hair care model AAVRANI goes high-level, instructing folks what a clarifying shampoo is.

Although this isn’t straight selling their product, it educates folks on what it’s and what it solves. It additionally offers them the prospect to say, “Hey, I feel I would like that.”

At HubSpot, we’ve taken an identical method, sharing e-mail advertising and marketing ideas anybody (HubSpot customers or not) might implement.

In the meantime, WIX zeros in on present customers, sharing “hacks” to get probably the most out of their instruments.

Whether or not you communicate to your providing or your house typically, sharing instructional movies positions you as an knowledgeable and useful useful resource — one folks can belief, wish to comply with, and probably even work with.

10. Share and encourage user-generated content material

As we talked about earlier, individuals are more likely to believe what others say about you than what you say about your self. I imply, give it some thought: If I mentioned I’m the world’s greatest pastry chef, why ought to anybody consider me?

Posting user-generated content (UGC) movies successfully affords social proof of your claims and reveals appreciation for present clients.

It is a staple of GoPro’s Instagram technique.

The tech firm repeatedly shares content material utilizing its merchandise on its Instagram profile, giving clients publicity on the model’s giant platform and likewise highlighting what its merchandise are able to.

The awe-inspiring movies are additionally extraordinarily shareworthy.

11. Complement your efforts with synthetic intelligence (AI).

Let’s face it. Video advertising and marketing takes effort and time, and never each advertising and marketing staff has the required assets. Fortunately, there are many AI tools to complement your efforts and show you how to get extra finished with much less.

In response to our analysis, the #1 method entrepreneurs at present use AI of their video technique is by serving to with captions, descriptions, and different text-based components. Following intently behind is bettering visible results on movies. (Assume filters and results on Instagram.)

However the prospects don’t cease there. Utilizing free instruments like Clip Creator from HubSpot, you possibly can convert textual content into skilled movies with only a few clicks.

All you must do is reply a couple of easy questions and decide a template, and the software generates a clip you should use for Instagram or every other video-supporting platform.

It’s free, and you’ll even edit textual content and pictures to fulfill your wants.

12. Assume short-form first

Whereas Instagram helps movies as much as 60 minutes lengthy, our analysis reveals that 71% of entrepreneurs say short-form video delivers the very best ROI. 66% additionally mentioned it will get probably the most engagement, whereas 60% mentioned it drives probably the most leads.

With this in thoughts, lean into shorter movies (30 seconds to 2 minutes). Whether or not your video is concentrated on schooling or leisure, this size tends to be simply lengthy sufficient to maintain your viewers engaged but in addition wanting extra.

On this user-generated video, Amazon Prime reveals simply how candy and efficient quick video might be:

Professional tip: That is one other space the place Clip Creator can help.

13. Take note of manufacturing high quality

One constructive of the COVID-19 pandemic is that lowered the enjoying subject when it comes to social media video manufacturing. Right this moment, you don’t want fancy video, sound, or lighting tools or perhaps a studio. However that doesn’t imply you possibly can neglect manufacturing high quality altogether.

How your video appears and sounds can closely have an effect on how your message is acquired and if folks even stick round to listen to/watch it. So, be certain to place your greatest foot ahead.

When creating movies for Instagram, use instruments like a tripod, telephone stand, or perhaps a pop socket to maintain your telephone regular and keep away from shaky footage.

Discover a quiet house or use software program like krisp.ai to scale back noise and maintain your sound clear and targeted on what must be heard.

Along with that…

Professional tip: Observe Instagram tech specs and necessities. When Instagram launched movies in 2013, they may solely be 15 seconds lengthy and seem within the feed. Right this moment, they’ve taken on an entire new life.

To make sure Instagram can share and show your content material as deliberate, be certain your movies are optimized from a technical standpoint. This implies following Instagram’s technical specs and necessities.

Let’s wrap up by going into element about these.

Instagram Video Necessities/Specs for 2024

The present Instagram video necessities are as follows: Tales, Vertical Video, and Reels: 1920 x 1080p, Panorama video: 1080 x 1350p, Sq. video: 1080 x 1080p (max). Movies ought to have a minimal body charge of 30 FPS (frames per second) and a minimal decision of 720 pixels.

Since Instagram is a mobile-first app, in case you shoot proper from an iPhone or Android, your movies ought to routinely match inside these specs. The newest iPhone 16, as an illustration, can shoot as much as 4K at 120 fps.

Side ratios are a unique method of wanting on the dimensions of movies.

Understanding them is essential as a result of it straight impacts how your content material seems on totally different gadgets and platforms. The most typical facet ratios on Instagram are:

• Panorama video – Side ratio 16:9
• Sq. video – Side ratio is 1:1
• Portrait video – Side ratio 4:5
• Vertical video – Side ratio 9:16

Notice the distinction between portrait video and vertical video. Whilst you might often consider these items as the identical, on Instagram, they don’t seem to be. Movies posted in a carousel with different content material comply with portrait tips, whereas solo movies comply with vertical tips like Reels and Tales.

Instagram Video File Dimension & Codecs

• File kind: MP4 or MOV
• File measurement restrict: 650MB for movies as much as 10 minutes and as much as 3.6GB for movies as much as 60 minutes​
• Size: Three seconds to 60 minutes; longer movies seem as previews within the feed, with the total video viewable in your profile.
• Minimal body charge of 30 fps (frames per second)
• H.264 codec
• AAC audio
• 3500 kbps bitrate

Learn how to Compress Movies for Instagram

With the more and more spectacular high quality of cell video comes bigger video information. Whereas Instagram usually evolves to accommodate these, generally you should still have to optimize your information to share them successfully on the platform.

Typically this implies compressing, or shrinking the file measurement, of the video to make it simpler to add, quicker to stream, and inside the 4GB restrict.

Compression can generally take its toll on decision high quality or sound readability, however respected instruments can assist fight this.

Varieties of Compression

A video coder is used to compress bigger video information into totally different codecs. Two widespread codecs are mp4 information and WMV, Home windows Media Video information. There are two various kinds of compression: lossless and lossy.

Lossy Compression

Lossy compression compresses video by eradicating sure information from the video information with out compromising the message. As an illustration, it could take away repeated pictures or sounds. Lossy compression is aptly named, but it surely’ll make your file extraordinarily small.

Lossless Compression

However, lossless compression produces a near-identical compression of the unique file, as a result of information will not be misplaced within the course of. Lossless received’t have as massive of an impression on file measurement as lossy, but it surely’s nonetheless helpful for smaller movies.

Frequent lossless codecs are:

• Home windows Media Audio Lossless (WMAL)
• Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC)
• Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC).

When your file must deal with high quality, use FLAC since you received’t lose any high quality within the compression course of.

There are a number of video compression instruments that can compress movies for you. For instance, UniConverter has a simple and free Instagram compression software.

In the meantime, Free Convert and Clipchamp routinely take away sure information particulars of your video (lossy compression), but in addition help you make a number of changes to fulfill your wants.

Finest Adobe Premiere Professional Export Settings for Instagram

In the event you’re modifying your video utilizing Adobe Premiere Professional, you already know Adobe likes to debate the specifics of exporting. Here is info on the best way to get crystal-clear pictures when exporting your Instagram video.

Open “Export Settings” within the “Format” drop-down field and choose “H.264’ and “Match Supply Excessive bitrate” within the preset field.

These two settings will match Instagram’s video settings.

The “Use Most Render High quality” checkbox fixes the scaling of your video routinely, so make sure you verify that field as properly.

Image Source

As soon as these settings are saved, your publish shall be Instagram-ready. As a result of you possibly can’t add movies on to Instagram through desktop, think about a third-party app like HubSpot or Later. These will allow you to add and schedule the video to publish later.

It’s also possible to ship the video to your telephone and add it there.

Prepare to your close-up on Instagram.

Whether or not you’re massive or small, B2B or B2C, Instagram movies have a lot to supply your small business. Take the guidelines and tips shared on this article and begin experimenting to study what works greatest to your viewers and your objectives.