We’re almost one month into 2019 and we’ve been doing a ton of research on video trends for this year so we can share it all with you. Studies have shown that 100 million hours of video are watched on Facebook every day. Social videos are shared 1200% more than text and images combined. 80% of users recall video ads that they’ve seen each month. At this point, we know
86% of online marketers use video content. This means your videos are competing with a lot of other ones online. That’s why it’s important to stay on top of the video trends, so you can make sure your videos have the best chance of standing out from the crowd and making an impression.
Let’s get into where we think you need to focus your video efforts for 2019:
Vertical Video
Over 75% of video content in 2018 was viewed on a mobile device. Since the majority of video captured on smartphones is shot vertically (thanks Snapchat and Instagram), brands have started to adjust their content to fit in.
Snapchat and Instagram stories are responsible for millions of vertical videos that are uploaded every day. Brands have now started to realize that they also need to go vertical in order to appeal to the people using these platforms.
In the past,
Stories are predicted to pass news feeds in terms of growth and user engagement on both Facebook and Instagram. And Instagram is still pushing IGTV as a platform for long-form vertical video. The popularity of this format is rapidly growing, which only means more and more brands are going to be adopting it as a strategy. This means you should too if you want to stay with/ahead of the competition.
Long-form Content
Speaking of long-form video, long-form content has a lot of potential in the upcoming year. The number of people watching longer content has steadily increased (despite viewers’ short attention spans). So if you’re looking to explore something new, this is it.
Most marketing videos are 1-2 minutes long. Long-form content is typically anything over 10 minutes. While we’re not telling you to jump right into producing full-length documentaries, it might be a good idea to start testing out longer videos. Facebook itself is even telling you to do this! If you go to publish a short video, Facebook clearly states (in the sidebar) videos 3 minutes or longer will be shown to more users. They’re telling you right there one of the things their algorithm is looking for!
Long-form video offers a capacity for storytelling that creates an opportunity to connect with an audience emotionally. In an environment where consumers can easily compare prices and reviews online, the connection these videos foster is vital to establishing a sense of trust.
If people are willing to watch your 10 minute or longer video, you basically have them as a customer. And by getting people to spend more time interacting with your content, you’re boosting your SEO. Win-win.
Some types of long-form videos that seem to do well online for marketing purposes are documentary-style stories and educational behind-the-scenes videos. If you’re considering testing out long-form videos, you should start with one of these.
LinkedIn Video
Users are finally getting into video on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is huge for B2B and very under-used.
Last year, only 38% of marketers shared video on the site. If you’re B2B and looking for little competition, this is the place to be. We’re predicting a lot of growth here as more people realize its potential. So now is the chance to get ahead.
Cinemagraphs
Cinemagraphs is one of the more creative trends that’s gaining traction. We’re pretty sure this is because people are trying to beat the algorithms. These are mostly still photographs that have a subtle and repeated movement in a certain part of the image.
Cinemagraphs are made using image editing software to composite a series of photographs or video recordings into one seamless loop. It’s similar to
a gif , but the fusion of photography and film creates the illusion that viewers are watching an animation. The end result looks similar to the magical moving newspapers from the movie Harry Potter.
Basically, it’s a video without really having to make a video. With
Virtual Reality
As VR devices become more accessible to the public, you can expect a shift in the way brands try to engage younger, tech-obsessed followers.
Right now, VR is still really limited due to current technology and high development costs. However, it’s slowly starting to become mainstream. Recently, NBA League Pass and NextVR teamed up to create a virtual environment for the 2018-19 NBA season. You can now feel like you’re sitting courtside, even though you’re watching the game in your living room. You’re up close and personal with the players and you have instant replay–it’s the best of both worlds.
69% of experts predict we are 5 years away from the mass adoption of virtual reality. That may seem like a long time, but it’s closer than we think and can mean a major shift in the way we film and watch
In 2019,