One of the most helpful and efficient content forms for social media marketing is video. Cisco predicts that by 2019, videos will account for almost 80% of all internet traffic. The rising popularity of platforms like Instagram Stories demonstrates how simple it has gotten to create and distribute videos. By the time Instagram Stories launched in August 2018, it had had 400 million users, double the number of Snapchat.
That’s solid evidence that short films may have a significant impact on social media. But do people really want to watch long-form videos, and if not today, might that change in the future?
IGTV, just like YouTube, is best for watching full-length videos. What, though, is it about IGTV that makes it so fascinating? Here you will find a rundown of the IGTV’s capabilities, a quick guide to creating and managing your own IGTV account, and some useful hints for making the most of Instagram’s application.
Can You Explain IGTV Videos?
It’s basically Instagram’s response to YouTube in that it’s tailored for watching long-form videos on mobile devices.
The maximum length of a video a user may upload to their channel is one hour. The user or brand may either make content tailored to this channel or link it to Instagram videos they’ve previously uploaded.
Unlike Stories, IGTV films can be anything from several minutes to an hour in length. Popular, verified individuals are now the only ones who can make the hour-long films.
The app’s user interface is well-designed and intuitive, with sections labelled “for you,” “following,” and “popular.” When you type into the search field, it will provide you tailored results. On top of that, when you’re using the app, you’ll be linked up with your already Instagram followers who are also actively using the app themselves.
This function, which is relatively new to people’s “TV” experience, also allows you to pick up where you left off in a video if you have to pause it.
In a nutshell, it simulates the action of “turning stations on a TV” without the annoying commercials or the extensive customization options of YouTube.
Some Pointers on Utilizing IGTV Videos in Your Ads
Advice and Guidelines for Using IGTV
To get the most out of your social media marketing efforts, tailor your video content to the audience you’re trying to reach. You should know how Instagram fits into your current marketing strategy.
You may then share your IGTV videos on other platforms, including your main Instagram account, after you’ve posted them. Keep in mind that, like with any cross-posting effort, you need to make it very apparent that you are publishing on IGTV and that your fans can find you there. You should also stick to a regular posting schedule and use consistent branding and imagery.
Create movies of at least 15 seconds in length, but no more than 10 minutes. Aim for a length of three to four minutes for your video, but keep in mind that this can vary depending on your product and message. Keep in mind that your target demographic has a short attention span of about a minute, so make your intentions crystal apparent right away. Making a video series that can be watched in segments is another possibility.
You should also avoid being overly loud in the beginning, as this may put off viewers who are watching in a public space or without headphones. These movies begin playing as soon as a user navigates to a channel, much like a story, so you should anticipate that someone may “stumble” into your video.
Don’t forget to use in-description links, which, like YouTube’s, may be clicked to take viewers to a specific page on your site.
Hashtags
Hashtags for IGTV work similarly to those on Instagram, so you shouldn’t have any trouble picking them up. Include them in the video’s description strategically, using only a handful that are relevant.
Metrics
In order to gain a clear image of how blogs are functioning and to realign them with your major business goals, it is important to evaluate your IGTV analytics on a frequent basis. If you notice fewer users than you’d like, keep in mind that this is still a very new site.
How Are Companies Doing Campaigns on IGTV?
Several companies and influential people are capitalising on the popularity of long-form videos by using this simple platform. For instance, Vogue US broadcast a series titled “Beauty Secrets,” in which famous people tried out various cosmetics.
The Economist’s 10-minute educational awareness film on turtle poaching has been viewed over 1.2 million times and is a great example of environmental activism. This movie shows how magazines and other organisations with the means to produce high-quality videos may use pre-existing material to create condensed yet comprehensive overviews of goods and programmes.
Similarly, Netflix has used the site to showcase bizarre humour, such as a video of Riverdale star Cole Sprouse eating a burger, which has gone viral. Some businesses, however, may prefer to devote their resources to more genuine forms of advertising, such as the production of instructional videos for things like cooking and applying beauty.
You Should Try It
If you have a sizable Instagram audience and your content is predominantly video, IGTV is likely a platform worth at least exploring. YouTube and Stories will still function even if you’re not nearly creating videos or if your videos are really short. Keep in mind that IG Stories disappear after 24 hours, but with IGTV, you may make videos that last much longer.