Statistics suggest that there will be 2.3 billion mobile video viewers globally by the year 2020, and with many of them logging on daily you’ll want to make sure that your content is optimised.
Many businesses make amazing videos, but neglect to consider one very important factor – how it will be viewed.
As avid movie watchers, we wish that all of our creations could be viewing on the big screen or even just a widescreen telly.
But the reality is that most videos are being watched on the way to work, on a lunch break or in bed on a mobile phone.
Here’s now to make sure your videos still perform on the small screen:
Enlarge text
If you’re using graphics make sure that the text is big and easy to read.
Some YouTubers even advise editing your thumbnail on a tiny little screen so you can see what it looks like from your viewer’s point of view when they are scrolling through hundreds of videos on their phone.
Contrast is your friend, so think bright text on a dark background or vice versa. Here’s a good example:
Use subtitles
Loads of people are watching videos on the bus, in a crowded room or at their desk at work.
This means that plenty of people are watching with the sound off or down very low, in fact 85% of Facebook videos are watched without sound.
If you can get your video’s message across without the need for audio then you’re going to reach a lot more people.
Consider using subtitles and people will be able to watch it with or without audio.
Good audio
If your viewer is listening to the audio, they’re either using the small speakers on their mobile phone or a set of headphones.
If they’re using a rubbish pair of headphones then you’re going to have to to the work ahead of time to make sure your audio is up to scratch.
To make sure your message is conveyed clearly, capture the best possible audio on the day using good microphones.
When editing, increase the volume of your audio to ensure that it’s crystal clear for your viewers.
Close up shots
Wide shots just aren’t going to have the same impact on a small screen because much of the detail is going to be lost.
This means that close up shots are going to be more helpful especially if you are trying to sell a specific product.
Tight shots of friendly faces are also good.
FREE GUIDE: 5 Types of Video to Improve Your Business
Consider shooting in portrait
Cropping videos down to make sure they fit into an Instagram story is something that we can help you with.
But if you’re shooting your own content, consider filming story-specific content vertically to make sure that it looks perfect from the get-go.
This will save time and make like easier for you and your customers.
Make it short and sweet
Studies show that viewers are more likely to watch videos which are under 2 minutes, but studies show that some platforms favour even snappier videos.
Many viewers stop watching after 30 seconds on Instagram, 45 seconds on Twitter and 60 seconds on Facebook.
You should experiment with your own audience to see what works best.
