The Power of Video on Social Media: Why It Works & How To Make It Happen
CJ Haag, Brenna Connolly
February 11, 2025
If you’re wondering whether or not it’s time to start incorporating videos into your social media strategy the answer is – YES! Video content has long been performing better than image posts on social media and if you’re not already integrating this powerful content into your feed, you need to start.
Though video content can take more time to plan and create, the numbers below SCREAM why you should press record.
Instagram Reels alone have the potential to be viewed by a larger audience due to the algorithm’s preference for them over static posts on the Explore page. In fact, Reels are the #1 content type on Instagram for engagement.
With video content being favored by the algorithms, it’s no wonder why it’s consumed at a higher rate, outperforming static image posts. Video content builds trust in your brand and conveys authenticity.
Content Planning Tips
By consistently producing engaging, high-quality video content that taps into trends, you can increase your chances of gaining followers, boosting engagement, and growing your brand on social media. Before you jump right into creating videos and reels, here are some tips for content planning:
- The more videos published, the better. Best social media practice suggests that publishing content 3-4 times per week at a minimum is the best way to grow your account and gain more engagement. But that doesn’t mean all of your content has to be video. Avoid overwhelming yourself by starting slow. Publish a couple of Reels a month and work your way up to one Reel a week, then multiple per week. An ideal goal to reach would be one piece of content being published per day. Keep ‘em coming!
- Plan your video content. Develop content around your current promotions and events. Think about upcoming sales, holidays, anniversaries, and local goings-on that you can tie into your content. A little advanced planning can go a long way!
- Create a content calendar. Keep track of what you’d like to promote on social media. This helps with the planning process and keeping your ideas organized.
- Reuse, but don’t overdo it. It’s definitely okay to reuse and repurpose video (and image) content. Simply change up the words used in the post, the topic focus, or maybe use a different music track when reusing to keep the content fresh.
Video Creation Tips
Now that we’ve got the planning sorted, here are a few things you can do to improve your social media videos. Remember things don’t have to be perfect!
Pay attention to the latest trends
Most trends are pretty short-lived so staying in tune with what’s popular at the moment is important. Don’t worry though, you won’t have to perform the latest dance trend to grab views. You simply need to pay attention to trending audio tracks, filters, hashtags, etc. But certainly, dance if you want to!
Be yourself and have fun
Audiences value authenticity, especially with video content. Show behind-the-scenes footage, share personal stories, get other people in your videos, or give sneak peeks into your process or daily life. The more fun your videos are, the more viewers will want to engage and share.
Keep it short & sweet
The ideal length for reel content is between 15-30 seconds. Hook viewers in the first few seconds, as this is when they decide whether to continue watching or scroll on. Instagram now allows for reels up to 3 minutes long, but longer-form content should be reserved for cinematic, emotional videos, or explainer videos. Once in a while sort of things.
Use Captions & Text Overlays
Many people watch short-form videos without sound, so adding captions and text can make your video more accessible and increase engagement.
Include a Call To Action (CTA)
A closing directive such as, “follow for more content” or “if you liked this video, give it a like” or “share this video with someone” or “comment on this video for more” seal the deal on your videos. A simple CTA drives engagement and encourages the viewer to take the next step in building a relationship and community.
Get Started With Video
Video content, especially short-form videos, have proven to be incredibly effective in driving engagement, discoverability, and brand awareness across all major social media platforms. As social media algorithms increasingly favor video content, creators and brands that prioritize video over static image content are more likely to see higher engagement and growth on their social media accounts. Happy filming!
Looking for more tips and assistance with social media video content? Fuzzy Duck can help!
(Statistics Sources: Social Media Examiner, 2023; HubSpot, 2022; Animoto, 2022; Instagram Business, 2023; Facebook Business, 2021)
