Instagram Challenge #3: Make a Video for IGTV
For our final Instagram Challenge, we’re creating videos for IGTV.
Now that Instagram allows for landscape videos to be uploaded to IGTV, your options are wide open here. You can create a landscape video using our web app, or use our iOS app to create a vertical video. In this article, we’ll cover a few best practices that'll come in handy as you’re working on your IGTV videos, show you how to share your video to IGTV, and link out to a few other posts that'll help you put your best foot forward on IGTV.
Once you’re done with your video, or if you need any feedback along the way, share it in our Facebook group, the Animoto Social Video Marketing Community.
Why IGTV?
Starting with the simple fact that IGTV extends the maximum video duration from 1 minute all the way up to 15 minutes (and even an hour for certain accounts), your options for the types of content you create, and the pace and detail with which you communicate your message, are significantly greater than you’d have in the feed or stories. Beyond that, here are a few reasons that experimenting with IGTV for your business could be well worth it.
There are no ads on IGTV
For the time being, at least, Instagram is not showing any ads in the IGTV platform, making for a more seamless, uninterrupted viewing experience for your audience.
Instagram is pushing IGTV
When you share your video on IGTV, you can also choose to share a one-minute preview of your video to the feed. Instagram is making a point to push these previews, which can help get your video in front of more people than it would have as a traditional feed post.
IGTV is mobile first
Chances are, your customers do more of their content consumption, and shopping, on their mobile devices, than ever before. IGTV is built 100% for mobile, and in the ever-changing social landscape, is a way to meet your customers where they already are.
How to Post to IGTV
For a detailed explanation of how to post your video to IGTV, check out our Complete Guide to IGTV, but here are the basic steps to take.
- Tap the IGTV icon pictured below in the Instagram app.
IGTV Tips
As you create your IGTV videos, here are a few ideas to keep in mind to help you create videos that stand out, while simultaneously adhering to best practices for the platform.
Stay on brand
One of the most essential goals of social media for businesses is to create a connection with your audience. Make sure that your audience clearly identifies your videos with your brand by sticking to set colors, fonts, and tone.
Explore the platform
There’s no better way to get familiar with the types of content that people are creating for IGTV than to do a little exploration on your own. Follow brands that you admire, as well as any competitors, and take note of what they’re doing well, and what you’ll do differently.
Share a preview in the feed
We can’t stress this one enough. When you share your video to IGTV, make sure to share a preview teaser in the feed. This will significantly expand the reach of your video for followers who may not be as plugged in to the IGTV platform, and will take advantage of Instagram’s current emphasis on IGTV.
Measure your results
Even if you’re just dipping your toes into the world of IGTV, any test you run should be measured. Click here for our guide to measuring your success across the Instagram platforms, including IGTV.
IGTV Video Ideas
If you came to this article looking for ideas to get you started, you have arrived. We recommend taking full advantage of the longer format to dive into topics that you can’t cover as effectively in a minute or less. Here are a few categories to try first:
- Behind the Scenes
- How-To Videos
- Product Demos
- Customer Highlights
- FAQs
We’ve kicked off our IGTV channel with a series of tutorials designed to help our followers get familiar with the different tools found in Animoto. You can check those out here.
Ready to get started?
Ready to put on your IGTV hat? Click that button below to get started, and don’t forget to share them in our Facebook group, the Animoto Social Video Marketing Community, when you’re done.