Video comes to Twitter
With social media channels becoming more dynamic than ever before, it’s little surprise to hear that communication giant Twitter is launching a brand new feature: integrated video. Much like Instagram, video on Twitter allows you to snap, shoot and edit before uploading directly to the app and sharing with your followers.
Available for both Android and iOS, Twitter video is likely to become the latest tool in boosting brand awareness, allowing you to produce on-the-job and real-time material that gives your audience a sneaky insight into your company and product. Video is a powerful form of expression that resonates strongly in the online community, so it’s definitely worth thinking about integrating it into your digital marketing or content marketing plan.
Starting in February 2015, Twitter users began to shoot, edit and upload 30-second video clips onto Twitter. The videos, which don’t start playing automatically (unlike Facebook by default), will expand to to full-screen views when the user presses play.
Giving users the power to share their own videos draws a line under what Twitter does best: Capture the here and now. Which is why Twitter is such a great tol for live news.
Filming impromptu video on a mobile phone is a fine art, however, so here we look at a few tips for making engaging (and shareable) content a part of your video marketing strategy.
Lights, camera, lights!
Lighting is everything when shooting a video – so the more, the better. Natural light allows you to capture the highest quality shot, with bright colours and sharp lines, so always consider timing and location when planning your video. Also think about the direction of the light – if it’s back-lit, it will cast shadows across your subject, which isn’t ideal, unless you’re shooting a horror flick.
Keep it steady
One of the biggest pitfalls of using a phone to shoot video is that it’s often unsteady. Unless it’s part of the atmosphere, a shaky screen is not going to look very professional, so try holding your phone with two hands instead of one, or finding something stable you can prop it up against.
Get horizontal
While most people hold their phone vertically for everyday usage, this isn’t the preferred method when shooting a video. Positioning your phone horizontally will enable you to capture more of the scene in front of you, and help you keep the phone steadier too. If in doubt, try shooting both ways and see which produces the most effective results.
Need some help?
Not everyone is a video whizz, which is why we’re here at iFactory to help you out. We’re specialists in digital marketing and tailoring the latest trends to suit the needs of your brand, so don’t hesitate to reach out. Want to find out more? Just jump onto one of our social media channels, including Twitter and YouTube, to see first-hand what we’re all about. Still not sure what Twitter is about? Check out out Twitter beginner’s cheat sheet.
