In a time when the attention span of the modern Internet user is getting shorter and shorter, and in time when visuals influence our purchasing decisions, video content is becoming a staple for marketers.
According to the latest statistics, more than half of consumers would like to see more video content from the brands they love and 87% of marketers use video as a marketing tool. And while creating video content may sound like an expensive endeavor for businesses, in 2019 you no longer need to hire a professional crew to shoot awesome footage.
Your smartphone is already capable of impressive video quality and besides, customers love watching casual content from brands in the form of product demos, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, or vlogs. However, you will still need an app to polish your videos right from your phone, without having to import them on a computer.
Fortunately, there are many great apps that you can use to make your videos social media-ready. Here are a few options you can play with:
1. Adobe Premiere Rush
Adobe is known for its professional video editing software, but unless you’re an expert, most of its features will seem pretty intimidating, especially on a smartphone screen. This is why Adobe launched Adobe Premiere Rush, a simplified version that allows you to edit videos quickly and without a long learning curve.
Although it’s not as complete as Premiere Pro, this app packs quite a punch in terms of features and you can do a lot of things with it, from trimming videos to adding background music. Adobe Premiere Rush is available for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS, has 4K support, and you can upload your videos straight to your favorite social networks.
2. Wondershare FilmoraGo
This free video editing app for iOS and Android is the perfect little tool if you only need basic editing features that even a child can use. The app even has an Easy Mode that you can start with if you’re a beginner and you don’t want to add anything fancy to your videos, but you can access more advanced features too. There is also an Effect store with plenty of intros and overall, you won’t need more than a couple of minutes to edit an eye-catching video for social media. The only downside is that the free version of Wondershare FilmoraGo adds a watermark to your videos, but the premium version is worth paying for.
3. Magisto
If you use Instagram a lot, or if Instagram videos are a focal point of your content marketing campaign, then you need an app that was specifically created for this platform. Enter Magisto, an easy to use video editor for iOS and Android that helps you create Instagram-ready videos in three easy steps. In addition to having some great editing features, what sets Magisto apart is its AI-powered intelligent editor, which creates amazing videos depending on your favorite style. Magisto is free to use, but businesses should definitely try the Professional mode, which offers perks such as longer HD quality, creating video ads, support for logo addition, and free access to Video Pro.
4. WeVideo
Cloud-based editing software is becoming more and more popular and, if you want to sync your videos on multiple devices, then WeVideo is a great app you could try. You only get 10GB of cloud storage with the free version, but it’s more than enough to edit a few videos and see how you get along with its features. WeVideo has 4K support and, in addition to trimming and basic editing functions, it also has audio editing and a gallery of commercially licensed music.
5. Blender
As a beginner video editor, you’ll love the ease of use that Blender offers. However, what sets this app apart is its 3D animation suite, which allows you to model, edit, and render animations for YouTube. Blender is an open-source video editor and you can use it freely for both personal and commercial purposes, without worrying about watermarks.
Tips for Editing Your Social Media Videos
Now that you know which are the best apps to edit videos for social media, it’s time to learn some tips and tricks that will make your video content more compelling.
Edit with the sound off
As much as 85% of social media users watch videos on mute, so before thinking about the best song to add in the background, you should first make sure that your video can capture the watcher’s attention with the sound off. Because Facebook only counts views from the three-second time stamp, you should count on compelling visuals to keep the user watching, and the background audio or narration shouldn’t be crucial to understanding the video.
Use captions
If there are people talking in your video, or if it features narration, then don’t forget to add captions so that people can still follow it with the sound turned off. Although Facebook can auto-generate captions, the algorithm is far from perfect, so you should always review them. If you’re localizing your videos on Facebook, it’s best to check translation rates of a variety of services at PickWriters, because no AI is capable of understanding all the inflections and cultural connotations of natural language.
Keep it short
Long-form content may now be the norm for text blog posts, but, for videos, the recommended length is getting shorter and shorter. For example, the ideal video length on Facebook should be no longer than 2 minutes, one minute being ideal. On Twitter, most videos of the day have around 45 seconds. On Instagram, the videos that received the most comments were about 30 seconds. Things are a little different on YouTube, where you can post longer videos (around ten minutes), such as tutorials, how to’s, vlogs, FAQs and interviews, but for all other video categories, you should still aim for 2 minutes.
Create an awesome thumbnail
On YouTube, the thumbnail and the title are two of the elements that convince people to click on your videos, which is why you shouldn’t just pick a random screenshot from the video. Create a consistent style and theme for your YouTube grid, while at the same time making sure that the thumbnail is crisp and gives the viewer an idea of what your video will be about. A short description in bold is another great way to draw attention.
Play with various video sizes
Last, but not least, make sure you save your video in multiple sizes after editing it, because depending on the platform, you will need to post it in different ratios. There are also specs differences depending on the purpose of the video (video ad, news feed video, stories, IGTV videos, and organic videos).
No matter what video content you create and what app you use to edit it, remember to always track the results of your campaign to find out what videos have the best engagement rates and which can be improved.
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Author’s Bio:
At a relatively young age, Donald Fomby has already amassed impressive experience as a freelance writer. Donald studied Computer Science at Texas A&M University. He has a passion for technology, social media and travel.
Hello, Donald.
Nowadays, it’s common that everyone uses smartphones for their day to day activity. Mobile apps are becoming the main medium of digital interaction.
All the apps to edit social media videos mentioned by you in this post are tremendous. I personally prefer to use WeVideo. It’s such an amazing app.
I will try all the apps posted by you.
Thanks for sharing this article.
Thank you for the list to edit videos on social media.