Our daily lives have become inextricably linked to social media. According to IDC research, at least 80% of mobile phone users look at their devices before getting up in the morning. Although social media is the most popular digital marketing channel, HubSpot reports that most brands use videos for their content marketing strategy. Understanding social media basics, including the fundamentals and best practices, is crucial for leveraging these platforms effectively. With all of the new social media video platforms popping up, it’s clear that video content and social media marketing work well together.
If you want to learn more about social video sites, keep reading! In this article, we’ll look at the most popular social short video platforms that have gained much traction with their diverse content.
TikTok
With over 800 million users worldwide, TikTok has quickly become the preferred social video site for Generation Z. As such, the app has plenty of viewers for businesses to reach, making TikTok an excellent digital marketing and advertising platform. It features popular 15-second music videos that are a source of enjoyment for millions of users around the world.
TikTok appears to have a tight grasp as the leading social video platform, with regular creators posting videos for fun and corporations using it to increase brand awareness. While this doesn’t imply you should abandon your current content marketing strategy in favor of TikTok, it does indicate that the platform has a bright future for marketing.
YouTube Shorts: Social Media Videos
Besides being the second most popular social network and search engine in the world, YouTube is also the only location where videos are used as the major means of communication. Recently, YouTube introduced YouTube Shorts, a new short-form video feature. This addition aligns with the growing trend of social media videos, which are highly effective in engaging audiences on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. YouTube Shorts is not a separate app, but rather a function integrated within the main YouTube app. Users can effortlessly share short videos with this feature.
When creating YouTube content, keep in mind that it may be discovered by people looking for a solution to a specific problem. Users frequently discover videos on YouTube through Googling or using the YouTube app.
Instagram Reels
Instagram has become more popular among brands as a means of attracting new customers. This isn’t unexpected given that 200 million people use this app every day to check out at least one business profile. With the advent of social media video, the ad market on the platform has grown at an unprecedented rate. As a result, creators will have more monetization options and a steady stream of diverse content.
Instagram features everything a user could need to get their message through, whether it’s through live video or a series of short clips. In fact, Instagram recently launched a short-video feature called Instagram Reels. Instagram Reels is not a separate app for short videos, but it will appear in a dedicated area of the IG app, like IGTV. Since your videos will be competing with professionally curated photos, design, and art, the urge to record something unexpected or aesthetically appealing is greater than on other platforms. This makes Instagram Reels an excellent tool for creating engaging social media content, especially videos tailored for social media to drive engagement.
Snapchat
Snapchat’s enormous popularity makes it difficult to ignore. Back in 2016, Snapchat’s video platform had 10 billion daily video views, 2 billion higher than Facebook’s daily video views. Recently, Snapchat users have surpassed 18 billion daily video views, a new record high for the app. 60% of Americans between the ages of 13 and 35 use Snapchat, making it the app of choice for millennials.
Snapchat lets users share both live and recorded moments with one another. It offers a fun discovery section where you may go through stories from public accounts to learn about the latest updates from brands and personalities. Because of the casual nature of the app, it’s crucial to showcase your company’s human side. Brands that cater to a younger demographic should seriously consider using this app to effectively engage with their target audience.
Facebook Watch
Right now, Facebook is the most popular place to watch videos on social media. Video marketing on Facebook has a distinct approach when it comes to reaching a large audience. Unlike YouTube, where everything is visible to everyone, Facebook only displays your videos to your followers and their friends.
With the launch of Facebook Watch, the network has demonstrated that it is one of the social video’s enduring players. Following the introduction of this new video-sharing option, Facebook Watch swiftly saw an increase in the number of people using it. For your videos to be featured, your Facebook page needs to have at least 5,000 followers.
When creating Facebook videos, keep in mind that most Facebook users are looking for fun or inspiration. Customer anecdotes, intriguing facts, and jaw-dropping graphics are examples of videos that will perform well.
The Bottomline on Social Media Platforms
Nobody can deny the growing popularity of video as a content marketing strategy in the years to come. Trends will undoubtedly change, but the fundamentals will not. As a result, developing video marketing strategies and maintaining a strong social media presence is critical for keeping your company ahead of the curve. If you need insight on how to use social video sites in your marketing campaigns, contact us today and request an assessment.
Written By: David Carpenter
