If you’re on Instagram for personal or business use you won’t have missed Reels, those video clips that can be a very varied mix of content but are encroaching ever more on your feed every time you log in.
As of this week Reels is being rolled out globally after a trial in a number of countries in recent months which quite clearly proved a hit.
These are the words from Mark Zuckerberg when he announced it this week;
Reels is already our fastest growing content format by far, and today we’re making it available to everyone on Facebook globally. We want Reels to be the best place for creators to connect with their community and make a living, so we’re launching new monetization tools too. More details in the comments.
We’re adding creative tools to Facebook Reels like Remix, and the ability to create a Reel from an existing story. We’re also building video clipping tools so that creators who publish live or long-form, recorded videos can test different formats.
Source: Mark Zuckerberg, February 2022
So what does this mean for a business owner who is using social media to reach their audience? Well, it’s time to up your video game, here are some stats to make you think…
- 86% of marketers use video in their marketing (Oberlo)
- Since 2018 the volumes of video consumed has almost doubled (Hubspot)
- 87% of marketers say video has helped them increase traffic (Wyzowl)
- Customers retain 95% of the information contained in a video (Neil Schaeffer)
Impressive figures?
What then if you’d like to get in on the video game but you don’t like the idea of going on camera? Or if you’re fine with going on camera but aren’t quite sure what to talk about?
Sometimes scrolling through Instagram you’d be forgiven for thinking that everybody has time to get in on the latest trending dances, the ideal backdrop, and the hair and make-up professionally done? And for some that might well be the case but it’s not everybody.
There’s a quote I like and I think it’s always one to remember when you look around and start doing comparisons;
Be yourself, everybody else is already taken.
Oscar Wilde
In a world where everything and everybody seems a lot closer now thanks to technology and in particular over the pandemic when we all had an insight into people’s own lives as most of us worked from home and used video a lot, it’s easy to think there’s a particular aesthetic that people will find interesting online.
It wouldn’t be right to say that most of us at some point haven’t wondered at a celebrity home, an awards ceremony with the rich and famous, or the life of an intrepid traveller as they explore the globe and share insights through their social media because we’re human and we do all wonder how the other half lives.
We all also follow social media accounts that use every effect on every app and have all the latest gadgets too and wonder at their energy and creativity and admire them for it too.
Fact is though, not every trend appeals to every customer and your focus needs to be on your customer and what their interests are over everything because that’s what matters to your business.
That said however if you want to use every single special effect available on your choice of app go ahead and enjoy it too – it’s amazing how some of the filters or effects can totally change your basic video if you have the time and interest in experimenting (I’ve lost hours on some!).
A few years back the more polished, commercial-type video might have been what many aspired to, something that was outside of the budget of most small businesses too. Now, particularly in a post-pandemic world, many of us want real, authentic people or businesses we can relate to. And, we’ve all got a tool that can get us started today in the form of our smartphones!
Over the course of the next few weeks, I’m going to share specifically some videos across my social media that don’t involve me going on camera (something I just started in 2021 myself!!), just to show you that it’s possible to use video without going on screen!
You’ll find these videos on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter – or view some of the videos on the following links;
TikTok – use your pets for engagement, view the video at this link.
TikTok – tips for your audience, view the video at this link.
Instagram – tips for your industry, view the video at this link.
Instagram – promote your services, view the video at this link.
Facebook – showcase a project or client, view the video at this link.
Facebook – a seasonal greeting, view the video at this link.
And, to ensure that it’s worth your time checking out the alternatives to going live on camera I’m going to use my favourite app Canva so you can discover how it can work for your business too. If you don’t yet have Canva or you’re on the free version, you can enjoy 30 days of Canva Pro at this link.
For those of you who would like help with learning how to create content for your business, I can recommend our Get Savvy On Social or our Canva & Content Marketing Training packages. We’ve currently got a couple of discovery calls available during the next month and you if you’d like to avail of them pop an email to debbie@themarketingshop.ie
Debbie Ringwood is a Marketing Specialist with over 20 years of experience in B2B and B2C Marketing. She is a Graduate of the Marketing Institute of Ireland and the Digital Marketing Institute. She is a Canva Community Canvassador, Linkedin Certified Marketing Insider and META Certified Community Manager..
Debbie supports, coaches, and trains businesses in Marketing, Social Media, Canva & WordPress along with her team, working with businesses at different stages of their journey.