How to make promotional videos for instagram

How to Make Instagram Promo Videos

The popularity of Instagram needs no introduction. In June 2018, Instagram announced its crossing of the one billion monthly active users threshold. In the same month, the value of this social platform was reported to have surpassed $100 billion. To put these numbers in perspective, Instagram was acquired by Facebook for $1 billion just over seven years back.

A major factor of Instagram’s popularity is its focus on visual content. Photos and videos on social media tend to engage users significantly more than text content. On average, 4.21% of Instagram followers tend to engage with content and Promo video posted by brands as opposed to s 0.07% and 0.03% for Facebook and Twitter respectively. Unsurprisingly, user engagement on Instagram has been increasing by 81% each year. A whopping 2 billion people check their Instagram feed monthly.

In the past three years, Instagram has dedicated its resources to video content. Back in 2016, Instagram made it possible for users to upload videos of up to one minute in length. Instagram then announced the launch of IGTV which allows users to post hour-long videos to the app. Most recently, Instagram Stories have gained popularity through short videos that provide a glimpse into a brand’s personality and style.

A new feature within Instagram Stories is called Instagram Live, which allows users to record live videos for up to one hour without any retakes. Although Instagram Stories can be posted to your profile as a “highlight,” Instagram Live videos can’t be replayed or reposted.

While these announcements may challenge the conventional strategies of Instagram marketers, they also present potential opportunities. In this article, we will provide you with actionable tips on how to make promo videos.

What makes a Promo video work

Instagram is an endless pit of photos and videos. The trick to standing out in the crowd and increasing brand engagement is understanding what makes a user watch certain videos and skip others.

Video Length

The length of a video can directly impact engagement rates. However, there is no “one-size-fits-all” length that works across all social networks.

A study published by HubSpot found that the Instagram videos which received the most comments were short videos under 30 seconds long. At the same time, the ideal lengths for other social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube were 45 seconds, 1 minute and 2 minutes respectively.

Instagram users expect videos to be short primarily because, until very recently, the lengthiest videos permitted were just one minute long. Instagram Stories are typically 15 seconds long. Any promotional video that takes more than 30 seconds needs to be incredibly engaging for users to continue watching.

This could, however, change over time. With the launch of IGTV, it is likely for Instagram users to become accustomed to lengthier videos. It is wise to continue experimenting with videos of various lengths to see what most effectively engages your followers.

Captions

According to a survey published by Later, Instagram users are most active on the site during lunch hours (11AM- 1PM). In other words, a lot of browsing happens at work or school, and these users may not have the luxury of watching videos at full volume.

In-video animated text captions have proven to be one of the most effective strategies in keeping your viewers engaged in such circumstances. Professional text animations make it possible for viewers to watch videos without having to turn their volume up. Promo.com provides a quick and effective way to add the highest professional text over premium stock footage to create your own social media videos or Instagram video ads.

Music

The music you set your video to can change the entire mood, feel, and experience viewers have when watching. Two videos with the exact same footage and different music clips will be essentially two different videos. Make sure to choose something that makes sense for the imagery and messaging you’re promoting. So how do you make Instagram videos with music? Instagram Music is a great feature that was recently introduced to Stories. When preparing a Story to upload, simply tap the “Music” sticker and select the song you want from that list. From there you can choose a specific snippet of your selected song, which will play each time someone views your Instagram Story. Check out our blog on Instagram Story Ideas for more ways to attract an audience!

Video Format

Video format can also play a significant role in user engagement. GIFs or mini clips are among the most popular video formats. These videos tend to be between one and two seconds long.

Here is a video ad from Starbucks that showcases their holiday drink. The video features Halloween themed decorations and has garnered over 229,000 likes and nearly 7,000 comments.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Starbucks Coffee ☕ (@starbucks) on Oct 25, 2018 at 6:00am PDT

For longer video ads to be engaging, they need to feature something captivating.

Commercials generally don’t tend to do well on Instagram. However, if your brand already enjoys a solid fan following, commercials may just be the right kind of video to boost engagement. Adidas, for example, has over four million followers more than Starbucks, and their Instagram ads consistently get hundreds of comments.

Another reason why Adidas is so successful with their ‘commercials’ marketing strategy is that they have managed to churn out new commercial videos on a routine basis. Producing such high-quality promotional videos may not seem practical for most other businesses.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by adidas Football (Soccer) (@adidasfootball) on Dec 22, 2018 at 10:52am PST

But you don’t need to be a top 100 brand to create a stream of promotional video content quickly and affordably. Promo has a video library of over 15 million high-quality videos that can be easily edited to include your own branding and marketing slogans. If your business has a dedicated fan following, it may be a good idea to invest in a Promo subscription to churn out new high-quality commercials every week for your Instagram feed.

Live streams are by far one of the most effective ways to engage your audience because Instagram actively promotes live streams by featuring them on top of your followers’ Instagram feed. To maximize follower engagement, spread the word about your live streams well in advance so your followers know to tune in during the event.

Producing Promo videos that users love

Now that we know what video formats and lengths work on Instagram, the next step is learning how to produce these Promo videos.

Producing high-quality Promo videos on a regular basis can be a lot more expensive than producing photos or text content. At the same time, given Instagram’s high engagement metrics, the ROI from such resource-intensive campaigns can still be higher than what marketers observe from their content marketing campaigns on Facebook or Twitter.

Collage Videos

Collages are extremely popular among brands that are launching a new product or a product variant. Collages bring together a handful of photos into one seamless video. The ideal collage is less than 45 seconds long and has an adequate number of in-video captions.

Producing Instagram-worthy collages can take a lot of time and resources. With Promo.com, brands can quickly create high-quality collage videos that Instagram users love.

Also, check out our easy to use free collage maker to turn your photos into masterpieces.

Vlogs

Vlogs or “selfie-videos” are typically popular among Instagram influencers to connect directly with their followers through Instagram Stories. Vlogs are so popular because they let brands create a narrative that followers can better connect with. Brands that do not have a “face” tend to work with influencers who can use these video formats to connect to their audience.

In-Action Videos

As a brand, nothing sells your product better than in-action videos. These are video demonstrations of your product in action. One of the best examples in this category is GoPro, the camera company, that shares exhilarating videos of customers with GoPros strapped on.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GoPro (@gopro) on Jan 7, 2019 at 12:33pm PST

Although GoPro has a significant advantage over brands in other industries given the nature of their product, in-action videos are also highly effective in other categories. The blender company Blendtec shares videos of their product being used to prepare food while local businesses like the power washing company below use videos to demonstrate their service.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnmTUKAAPzT/

Instagram Video Marketing Tips

Once you have your video production strategy in place, it is important to take the following tips into account for your video marketing campaigns:

Instagram is pretty strict when it comes to their display sizes. The best-recommended size for Instagram videos is 640 X 640 pixels for timeline videos and 750 X 1334 pixels videos for Stories. Also, Square videos are emerging as a popular choice due to their higher view rates.
Make the most out of captions—they set the narrative to your video and are effective in driving engagement.
Remember that a lot of your followers may be watching your content during their commute or even at work. Reduce their dependence on audios by providing subtitles.
Invest in post-production—edit videos to remove anything that is unnecessary and invest in effects like slow-mo and filters. They help make your Instagram Promo videos rich and captivating. But beware of going overboard on the effects.

In addition, make sure you track your engagement metrics regularly and identify factors that move the needle up or down. This way, you can continue to gain meaningful insights to make your video marketing campaign on Instagram a success.

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This original article “How to Create the Perfect Videos for Instagram” was written by Anand Srinivasan. Anand is the founder of Hubbion, a suite of free business apps and resources. Check out their recent marketing guide on Facebook analytics

social media how to Instagram Instagram Marketing

Instagram Video Maker | Promo.com

Promo.com’s free Instagram video creator is an easy way to make content in a variety of video formats, specially designed for Instagram. From ads to stories, you can customize professionally-designed templates in just a few clicks, resulting in videos and slideshows that perfectly express your brand voice.

Try for Free!

Reviews: 193 | Overall: 4.4/5

How to create an Instagram video:

You can make a wide range of short Instagram videos that will look great on both desktop and mobile devices in just a few minutes. Choose from Promo.com’s huge collection of stunning ready-to-use video templates and easily create stand-out Instagram videos that have that wow factor.

Here’s how to get started:

Step 1

Choose an Instagram video template on Promo.com

Step 2

Step 3

Use our video editor to customize your Instagram video

Step 4

Download and share your video!

Try for Free!

Why choose Promo.com?

In addition to providing you with the best support and creative assets for your Instagram video marketing strategy, we offer a number of stand out features and assets you can only find here:

Team of creative professionals constantly putting together customizable, ready-to-use video templates
An editor that lets you have control, with the options to upload your own videos, photos, and music
An organized place to host all of your videos and uploads for free
The only video maker with the ability to post directly to Instagram straight from Promo.com
A free unique sharing link you can use to get feedback
Social media calendar to help you stay on top of the trends
FREE unlimited content and downloads weekly with every Promo. com plan

The Promo.com Instagram Video Editor:

Creating video content for social media can take a lot more time, effort, and skill than simply posting images. Fortunately, Promo.com’s video maker for Instagram has all the tools you need to quickly and easily create professional-looking video ads, without hiring a professional.

There are a few things that go into creating the perfect Instagram video for your business:

Format

Think about the kind of video you want your audience to see. Are you going to be making an Instagram ad or an Instagram story? Do you want a collage of photos, someone speaking directly to the camera, or maybe a video of people satisfied with your product? Each of these requires a different creative process and tools, all of which are available at Promo.com.

Length

The ideal length depends on what kind of video you want to make. If your video is longer than 15 to 30 seconds, make sure it draws people in from the very beginning and stays engaging throughout. Use Promo.com’s video editing tools to edit your video to the right length based on your content and target audience.

Captions

A lot of people scroll through Instagram while they’re in public with the video sound usually turned off. So skipping captions means that you’re losing a huge percentage of potential viewers. On Promo.com, you can add captions and even text animations to your video to make sure every viewer gets the full impact of your video and messaging.

Try for Free!

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about Promo.com’s Instagram Video Creator

What kind of Instagram videos can I make with Promo.com?

You can make a variety of Instagram videos with Promo.com, including video ads, Instagram stories, and video posts.

Video ads – these 60-second-or-less ads let you bring a lot of information to potential customers with eye-catching videos that will be shown to an audience targeted for your product.
Instagram stories – these videos don’t show up in your followers’ Instagram feed and disappear after 24 hours, but an Instagram story is a great way to share timely content on-the-go.
Video posts – these timeline videos show up when your followers start scrolling through Instagram, offering more information, color, and motion than a standard photo.

How much does an Instagram video cost?

The cost of creating an Instagram video can range from free to thousands of dollars, depending on what tools or services you use.

Promo.com offers a variety of flexible subscription options, including a free plan.

You can start out by creating an account for free, without entering any credit card information.

Then you can explore the platform, choose your Instagram video template, edit videos, and share it with your team. When you’re ready to publish your video, you can visit our Pricing Page to find the plan that meets your needs. Sign up, download, and your video is ready for Instagram.

What is an Instagram video?

Instagram is hugely popular place to post photos, and videos which represent a large portion of the platform’s activity. Video posts can be no more than 60 seconds long, whereas Instagram Stories are limited to 15 seconds.

Where can I use my Instagram video?

Instagram has a number of video formats. You can use square videos in your posts, and vertical videos for Stories and IGTV. It’s good practice to add captions to your videos, as many viewers scroll through and watch without sound. Captions ensure your messaging gets across.

How do you make an Instagram video?

To make an Instagram video, start with identifying your goal and message.

Then, using the Promo.com Instagram Video Maker just choose from our thousands of professional and ready-made templates or video clips, or upload your own. With no editing experience needed, you can customize your video, add your own text and logo, as well as music. Then upload it to Instagram.

How do you edit videos for Instagram?

You can edit videos for Instagram within the app itself, or choose from a number of tools to help with more advanced edits.

It’s very simple to edit Instagram videos using the Promo Editor. In just a few steps you can choose from our library or upload your own videos or clips, assign music, filters, unique text, and your brand’s logo. When you’re done, just upload your finished edited video to Instagram.

How do I resize a video for Instagram?

If your video’s aspect ratio is not the one you need for Instagram, you can resize it in a variety of different apps.

Inside the Promo Editor, simply choose the aspect ratio you want for your Instagram video. Select from vertical, square, and wide. It will be just the right fit when you go to upload it to Instagram.

Why do you need a video on Instagram?

With over a billion users, being active on Instagram is a great way to get yourself seen by potential customers. More than any other social media platform, Instagram especially highlights visual content, making it a great place for brands that want to tell great visual stories.

There are limits to what a photo can do. Video has the same visual advantage but lets you incorporate sound, motion, and energy to express more complex information or evoke a stronger emotional response and audience engagement.

Try for Free!

Need some inspiration?

Check out our related blog articles and additional video tips for Instagram:

Creating a video ad for Instagram

How to make a video for an Instagram ad in SUPA video maker

It's hard to imagine that Instagram once existed without video, and the ability to publish videos appeared on the social network only three years after its creation - in 2013. Today, video content is wildly popular in all social networks. In addition, marketers and brands have clearly “switched” to the use of video advertising. And all because every day more than 200 million social network users view at least one business/brand profile. According to statistics from emarketer.com, 11% of followers buy products through Instagram. nine0005

SUPA Video Maker is a versatile tool for promoting your business. Creating video ads for Instagram or video stories in SUPA is easy, fast and fun.

To do this, you need to follow a simple algorithm: register in the video maker, choose a video template from our huge collection and modify the template according to your tastes and needs. In SUPA we have provided for all your requests and wishes. In order for your ads to be effective and attract the attention of subscribers, the capabilities of the video maker include the creation of animated video and text. In SUPA, you can adjust the timing of the text to appear or the speed of the new visuals. nine0005

To increase brand awareness, you can add and use your brand fonts, colors. SUPA makes it easy to customize your ads and make them eye-catching. Our video maker has thousands of pictures, visual effects, emoticons, emojis and custom elements.

SUPA is the ideal solution for creating engaging yet budget friendly advertising. Sell directly through video or create interesting story-driven commercials. Creating a video mockup for an Instagram ad has never been easier. nine0005

Video advertising allows you to show a product or service, talk about your brand features, your values or discounts.

Why Instagram video is a must use for your advertising campaign?

Instagram offers several different types of advertising: promotional photos, carousels, ads in videos, ads in stories. Video advertising has a great potential: according to statistics, the potential advertising reach of Instagram is almost 850 million users. Agree, there is room for your creativity to unfold. nine0005

American marketers note that almost 70% of influencer advertising budgets are spent on Instagram. The statistics clearly indicate the trend of ever-increasing popularity and effectiveness of Instagram ads.

Video advertising is always an opportunity to show more, show creativity or tell a full story. Storytelling sells the most successfully. The main details of the application algorithm can be found here.

Another option for video ads is IGTV. You can also advertise your product or service there. Read about the new tools of this part of the application here. nine0005

81% of users search for product information on Instagram. Approximately 130 million followers click on product posts every month

Source: eMarketer

Instagram video highlights

Instagram followers tend to scroll through the feed rather quickly and lose interest in content just as quickly. Your subscriber in the first three seconds should understand that in front of him is not just a picture, but a video. These first seconds are critical in order to interest the subscriber, catch his attention and involve him in watching the entire video. And, perhaps, even encourage you to watch the video with the sound turned on. But you should be aware that your video should be understandable without sound. To do this, use interactive elements, emoji or animations, visual transitions, frames offered by SUPA. nine0005

In the first 10 seconds of the video clip, the main idea of the video must be clear to the user, otherwise he will lose interest. The quickest way to attract a person's attention is movement, flashes of light, or changes in contrasts. Then the viewer has a clear understanding that before his eyes - video advertising. Your video should be bright and dynamic. Try to create it in such a way that it differs from the usual advertising that the user is already used to.

Video ads in the feed are a very organic way to advertise your business/brand. Ads fit naturally into the content and user-consumed information. It seems to fit into his usual routine of scrolling through the Instagram feed. nine0005

Add links to your site or product right into your video. Do not bother the user by going to the profile header and searching for the product he needs. The process of interacting with your ad should be simple, engaging, and customer-focused. Don't forget to optimize for mobile devices your landing/website to which you lead the viewer.

Feel free to experiment, for example, try running some kind of challenge in your video. They go great with the audience and show crazy engagement. Read more about how to run a successful challenge here. nine0005

Instagram ads should not be text-heavy. Try to keep the text on the video no more than 20%.

Video ads will become more interesting if they are animated using SUPA templates and tools.

How to make video ads on Instagram effective: 11 life hacks

Instagram has one of the highest engagement rates: properly crafted ads on this network will give you brand awareness and guaranteed sales. Therefore, use at least a couple of our life hacks that will tell you how to make advertising on Instagram interesting and effective:

Using the SUPA video maker is a sure way to create creative, engaging videos. In our editor you can personalize the video for all your needs.
Offer your followers a solution to their problem by showing how your product can improve their lives or display a particular style.
Create a video that would evoke emotion in the viewer. Read all about the latest video marketing trends here.
Select one target for your video. No need to try to fit all your tasks into one video. Make one video for brand awareness, another for discounts, and a third for company values. With the SUPA Video Constructor, this will not be difficult. nine0052
Study your target audience. If necessary, conduct surveys, collect feedback and, based on them, create videos for the preferences of your target audience.
Video should fit organically into the feed - do not try to make your video too obvious and intrusive advertising. Tell not just about the product, but about the benefits that it will bring to a potential client.
Follow the video ad size and length requirements (more on that below).
Create several different commercials and do A/B testing. This way you can direct your advertising budget towards a more effective video.
Create short videos. They are more popular than long ones.
"Sharpen" and initially create your promotional video for viewing from a mobile phone. The rules for making promo videos or regular non-Instagram videos are quite different. nine0052

Find out more about the latest Instagram updates here.

Instagram video ad requirements

Instagram allows you to add MP4 and MOV videos. There are also a number of resolution and duration requirements.

Vertical video

Resolution: 600 x 750.

Aspect ratio: 4:5.

Maximum size and length: 4 GB / 120 seconds.

Landscape video

Resolution: 600 x 315.

Aspect ratio: 1:91:1.

Maximum size and length: 4 GB / 120 seconds.

Square video

Resolution: 600 x 600.

Aspect ratio: 1:1.

Maximum size and length: 4 GB / 120 seconds.

The most optimal for video advertising in this social network is still a square video. Vertical can unprofitably "shift" comments and likes. As for the duration of 120 seconds, please note that in order for the user to see the entire video, he must select the “continue watching video” option. nine0005

Read more about Instagram video formats here. If, in addition to video ads, you also want to create videos for stories, then here is a cheat sheet with the requirements for them.

Instructions for setting up ads on Instagram

Creating a video that meets all the requirements of Instagram is an important task. But it is equally important to properly set up an advertising account so that advertising brings customers and sales.

Initially, all promotion on the Instagram network was tied to the Facebook Ads Manager advertising account. Now the social network has decided to allow creating ads on Instagram even without an FB account. This option will become available soon to business accounts, however, it will only be available to those who have not previously promoted their posts on Instagram. nine0005

For those companies that have been using the advertising opportunities of one of the most popular sites for a long time, the algorithm for setting up Instagram ads remains the same:

Log in to your Facebook Ads Manager and click the "Create" button.
Select the purpose of your ad (Awareness, Consideration or Conversion).
Select the target audience by age, geographic location, gender, age, interests, behavior, occupation, or applications they use. nine0052
Select the ad format that suits you (in this case, video).
Upload the highest resolution video created in SUPA without black bars on the sides, or select a promotional post that you previously shared on Instagram.
Optionally add a short description below the video (the first two lines will be displayed).
Set the budget and duration of the advertising campaign.
Post an ad and wait for your ad campaign to be approved (this may take a few hours or a whole day). nine0052

Frequently Asked Questions

Is creating an Instagram promotional video different from creating a regular Instagram video?
Yes, there are some peculiarities when creating a regular, non-advertising video - read more here.
What is the maximum length of an Instagram promotional video?
Maximum size and length: 4 GB / 120 seconds.
Is it possible to add vector objects to SUPA?
Yes, SUPA has extensive options for customizing video templates. Detailed instructions here. nine0005
Is it possible to create a video instruction in the video constructor?
Of course, see the algorithm for its creation here.
How do I select the transition effect between video slides?
How to do this, see our step-by-step instructions.
What resolution should a square video have for the Instagram feed?
Optimal resolution: 600 x 600.
How to create engaging Stories for Instagram?
Here we have analyzed their creation in detail. nine0005

Blog Content on

Make an Instagram Promo Video - After Effects Template

How to make Instagram promo videos go viral on a small budget?

Instagram ads for business offer brands a unique opportunity to grow their audience. All this certainly sounds exciting. On your journey to influencer marketing, let me share a few best practices to ensure your efforts produce encouraging results. nine0005

Revealing your brand and increasing your visibility in one of the most visited social communities in the world will not happen overnight. Well, it's obvious. However, there are steps you can take to increase your chances of success. Pre-made video templates are a must if you want your commercials to grab attention on Instagram.

Have you wondered why so many brands today prefer custom After Effects templates for Instagram? The answer is simple: it encourages creativity, innovation, and you don't have to create videos from scratch. In addition, it is economical, reproducible and sustainable. nine0005

What do you need to create your Instagram profile?

Here are three things your business will need to increase visibility on this platform. Your brand will not magically become famous. It takes incredible commitment, consistency and dedication to get ahead. So what does your business need to grab attention and inspire new subscribers?

Create compelling visual stories that resonate with your audience. If you want your brand to be impressive and memorable, you must tell compelling brand stories. Our creative storyboard concept will help you tie your clips together with a catchy slogan for a 20 second playback. nine0005

Explore what your audience likes. Although worded expressions are not always available, you can analyze social ideas to find out their content preferences. With this approach, you can publish interesting and inspiring content that excites and wants to see your target audience. As long as you are transparent and post engaging visual content on Instagram, your time will be rewarded.

Keep consistent and fluid. Post quality videos to attract more viewers and make your Instagram profile stand out from the crowd. With our pre-made Instagram video templates, you can come up with creative concepts to enhance your projects. Get access to smart tools so you can apply therapies to a single theme that represents your brand. nine0005

When creating a promo video, you can upload three logo images, seven slogans, eleven video clips or photos, and the corresponding song. It offers extensive personalization options so you can customize graphics to match your company colors, add text and unique branding. After that, click the Produce button to display the footage and upload your branded video ad to post it to your Instagram feed.

How soon can you start making Instagram After Effects promo videos?

Super easy and fast registration! Start editing in seconds. No training required. Our process involves a simple drag and drop operation, so it doesn't matter if you've done it before or not. We've simplified the technical aspects of creating videos so you can get the best results with ease.

Let me show you how cost-effective and reproducible video creation can be when using ready-made templates. In particular, small business owners are concerned about how costly it can be to create video content. Custom video projects offer the convenience, versatility, creativity and innovation that brands need to succeed at low cost. nine0005

Whether you want to invest in multiple templates or just one, you'll enjoy a lifetime of use. Each template is fully loaded with customization options and built-in features to give your projects a different look. However, you can create multiple versions using just one design.

Why use an After Effects promo template to boost your Instagram status?

First of all, you can try different design options for your video project without paying up front. We offer a wide range of standard dishes that you can sample from our extensive catalog. Another thing is that they can be used by anyone who has a computer, Internet connection, clips or photos. nine0005

Because it provides the foundation for your video, you'll have fewer problems. Now you can include unique design elements and easily create filters, transitions, 2D, 3D and 4D effects.

How to make promotional videos for instagram

How to Make Instagram Promo Videos

What makes a Promo video work

Music

Producing Promo videos that users love

Instagram Video Marketing Tips