Creating social media videos is an exciting activity that offers many possibilities for creativity and connection. It’s a great way to display your brand, share your story, and interact with your audience personally.
However, jumping into the world of video creation can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you’re new to it. From planning and filming to editing and publishing, there are multiple steps involved, each with its own set of challenges.
Also, the world of social media is always changing, with new platforms and features coming out regularly. This means that what worked yesterday may not necessarily work today, making the process ever harder. And let’s not forget the audience; social media users are smart and have high expectations when it comes to content quality.
So, if you’re a beginner looking to start with social media videos, it’s important to get it right from the start.
That is why we’re here to to warn you about the 10 most common mistakes people make, so that you can avoid making them.
For a starting point we recommend the following platforms, as they are very easy to use for beginners: InVideo, Wave.video and Filmora.
Table of Contents
1. Not Thinking About Who Will Watch Your Video
2. Bad Sound in Your Videos
3. Using Too Many Special Effects
4. Using Different Styles All the Time
5. Lack of Call-to-Action
6. Not Optimizing for Mobile
7. Ignoring Video SEO
8. Failing to Edit Out Mistakes
9. Not Reviewing Analytics
10. Poor Video Length
11. Conclusion
1. Not Thinking About Who Will Watch Your Video
The first thing you should do before making a video is to think about who will be watching it. You can do this by looking at who usually interacts with your social media or by asking people what they want to see. Once you know who your viewers are, you can choose the right words, pictures, and other things to put in your video so it makes sense to them.
If you don’t pay attention to this you might end up making something that doesn’t help anyone. This could make people stop watching your videos or even unfollow you.
Example: You make a video that uses a lot of complicated words and is really meant for people who already know a lot about the topic. But the people who watch your videos are usually beginners.
2. Bad Sound in Your Videos
Having bad sound can really ruin a good video. People might not stick around to watch if they can’t hear what you’re saying. In fact, people who make movies often say that viewers will put up with not-so-great pictures if the sound is good, but they’ll stop watching if the sound is bad.
One of the best things you can do is get a good microphone. It doesn’t have to be really expensive, but a decent one can make a big difference. Also, try to find a quiet place to record your video. If there’s still some noise after you’ve recorded, you can use special computer programs to help remove it.
Example: You decide to record a video in a coffee shop, but the background noise from people talking and machines running makes it hard to hear what you’re saying.
3. Using Too Many Special Effects
Special effects like changing scenes in a cool way or making text move can make your video look really professional if you use them the right way. But if you use too many, it can actually make your video look like you’re trying too hard and it can be confusing or distracting for the people watching.
Special effects are cool, but they should make your video better, not take attention away from what you’re saying or showing. So, use them to help get your message across, not just because they look fun.
Example: You put in a lot of flashy scene changes or have text flying around all over the screen.
4. Using Different Styles All the Time
When your videos look the same in style, it makes you look more professional. It also helps people recognize your brand more easily. Imagine you’re watching a video and you see the same colors and logo you’ve seen before. You’ll probably remember that brand, right? So, keep things simple and consistent.
Decide how you want your videos to look and stick with it. Pick one or two fonts, decide on the colors, and use the same logo every time. This will help people remember you and take you more seriously.
Example: Your video has all kinds of fonts, colors, and even different versions of your logo.
5. Lack of Call-to-Action
Telling people what to do next is really important. Maybe you want them to check out more videos, or maybe you want them to visit your online store. Whatever it is, make it clear. This helps you get more likes, more subscribers, or more visits to your website.
It’s a simple thing to do but can make a big difference in how successful your video is. Put this message at the end of your video, and you can also gently remind them in the middle of the video.
Example: You make a great video that people enjoy, but then it ends and you don’t tell them to do anything like subscribe or check out your website.
6. Not Optimizing for Mobile
A lot of people watch videos on their phones these days. So, you have to make sure your video looks good on a small screen too. If the text is too small or the pictures are too detailed, people might just skip your video.
Before you say your video is done, watch it on different devices like a phone, tablet, and computer to make sure it looks good everywhere. This way, more people can enjoy your video, no matter what device they are using.
Example: You use really small text or detailed pictures that are hard to see when someone is watching on a phone.
7. Ignoring Video SEO
SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is a way to help more people find your video. If you don’t pay attention to this, you’re missing out on a lot of people who might want to watch your video.
When you upload your video, take a few extra minutes to think about what words people might use to search for it. Use those words in your title, description, and tags. This can help your video show up in search results, which means more people will see it.
Example: You upload a video with a title that doesn’t tell much and you don’t add any description or tags.
8. Failing to Edit Out Mistakes
Editing is a really important step when you’re making a video. It’s your chance to make your video better and keep people watching. If you leave in mistakes or parts where nothing much is happening, people might stop watching.
So, make sure to go through your video carefully. Take out any parts where you messed up or had to start over. This will make your video smoother and more enjoyable to watch.
Example: You leave in a part where you mess up your words or take too long to say something.
9. Not Reviewing Analytics
Checking the numbers can tell you a lot about how people are watching your video. You can see which parts people like the most, where they stop watching, and what makes them take action like clicking on a link or sharing the video.
This information is really useful because it helps you understand what you’re doing right and what you need to work on. So, don’t ignore it. Make it a habit to look at how your video is doing so you can make even better videos in the future.
Example: You post your video but never look at the information that platforms like YouTube or Facebook give you about how it’s doing.
10. Poor Video Lenght
The length of your video can greatly affect viewer engagement. Too short, and you may not provide enough information to be valuable. Too long, and you risk losing the viewer’s attention. Finding the right balance is key.
Use analytics to see where viewers typically drop off and adjust your video length accordingly. Remember, the goal is to keep your audience engaged from start to finish.
Example: Making a 10-minute video for a topic that could be covered in 3 minutes, resulting in viewer drop-off.
Conclusion
This blog has given you tips to avoid the 10 biggest mistakes in making social media videos. From knowing who will watch your video, to having clear sound, to making sure it looks good on phones, each tip is important.
Remember, the devil is in the details. Small mistakes can have a big impact, but likewise, small improvements can make significant results. So, take these tips seriously, apply them in your next video project, and watch as you not only meet but exceed your audience’s expectations.
We also offer some guides on how to start your video editing journey on different platforms that we have already mentioned, check out:
Your First Video with Filmora: A Step-by-Step Guide
We at Goodish agency are experts in digital marketing and we can help you to utilize AI to reduce your costs and boost your performance. Read more about our services.
