Instagram is winning social media engagement with 1 billion monthly active users, and 500 million daily users. What’s more, when it comes to video, Instagram shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, the time spent watching videos on Instagram is up more than 80 percent year over year. To capitalize on this, they’ve added Stories and IGTV. Show
While it may seem straightforward, each Instagram channel has different needs. Posting videos incorrectly can have consequences such as diminished engagement and poorer quality. What’s worse is that users will associate this with your brand. That is why in this post, we’ll cover the differences when posting videos on Instagram, Stories, and IGTV. We’ll also cover step-by-step video posting instructions for each channel. And finally, we’ll end with a hack on how to post longer videos to Instagram’s feed and Stories. Before we start, make sure your video meets Instagram’s guidelines. 85% of people watch Instagram Videos with the Sound Off: Order Captions How to Post Videos on Instagram, Stories, and IGTV
Use Instagram Video Length and Content to Choose Where to PostVideo orientation no longer limits where you can post thanks to IGTV’s update in May. As a result, Instagram video length and content are the most important factors when deciding where to post. Instagram reigns because of its “snack-sized” content, but optimal content length varies between each channel. For example, when it comes to Instagram’s feed, 30-second videos are ideal. However, a one-minute video is completely acceptable. For Instagram Stories, ideal video length drops to 15-seconds or less. It’s important to know that if you have longer videos, you can create clips that fit each channel. Just make sure that trimming your video doesn’t diminish the message or experience. Creating short-form video content from the beginning can alleviate these issues. The most noteworthy difference is IGTV, which was created for long-form video content. If your Instagram video length is between 1 and 15 minutes, IGTV could be a good fit. Furthermore, if your content is a tutorial, weekly series, or something similar, IGTV is a good posting option. It isn’t a good idea to simply cross-post video content to IGTV. Only post videos that make sense for IGTV users and gives them a reason to follow you. 85% of people watch Instagram Videos with the Sound Off: Order Captions Know the Correct Video Specs For Each Social Media ChannelFor IGTV, Instagram’s Help Center suggests:
For In-Feed Videos:
For Instagram Stories:
85% of people watch Instagram Videos with the Sound Off: Order Captions Add Captions to Your Instagram VideoAdding captions to your Instagram videos, while not mandatory, has offers many benefits. One of the main reasons to take the time to add a caption is Instagram’s default to “audio off”. Most people who watch your video in-feed or on Stories won’t have their sound on. Beyond this, there are a variety of other marketing reasons to include captions. Captions create inclusiveness, help SEO, and can expand your audience. There are also nearly 10 million Americans who are hard of hearing and close to 1 million who are functionally deaf, and these individuals desperately captions to understand your content. Services, like Rev, simplify the process of adding captions to your Instagram videos.
How to Add Captions to Instagram Videos Choose a Preferred Method to Upload Your Edited VideoFinally, we’ve come to the part where you get to decide which method works best for you. There are a variety of ways to transfer a video file from your computer to your phone. Some methods work better for personal accounts, while others only work with business accounts. Method 1: Using software like Dropbox Method 2: Using Social Media Tools Method 3: Free Alternatives IGTV Offers Both In-App and Direct From PC Uploads How to Add Captions to Instagram Videos How to Post Videos on Instagram’s FeedBegin by following the instructions from the first part of this article. Next, follow these step-by-step instructions to upload your video to Instagram Stories. 1. Open Instagram and Hit the + Sign in the Bottom Menu2. Choose the Video You Want To Post from Your File3. Add a Filter (if you want to)4. Write Your CaptionA caption is just as important as the video on Instagram. Make sure it’s engaging and interesting to your audience. Also, take this opportunity to add appropriate hashtags and location tags for increased searchability. Choose to Share to Other Social Media Channels Remember Your Stories Disappear After 24 Hours How to Add Captions to Instagram Videos How to Post Videos on IGTVAs previously mentioned, begin by following the instructions from the first part of this article. Next, choose one of the following two ways to upload your video to IGTV. Post a Video Using Instagram app or IGTV appTap the IGTV symbol or open the IGTV app Post a Video to IGTV Through the Web Using Instagram in Your BrowserFrom a PC open any web browser and go to Instagram.com. 85% of people watch Instagram Videos with the Sound Off: Order Captions The “Hack” to Post Longer Videos on InstagramWe mentioned that Instagram’s feed limits video uploads of 60 seconds or less. Instagram Stories is even more constricted with a 15-second video length. So how are there accounts posting 2-minute and even 5-minute Instagram videos? The secret is called a carousel post. Everything you need to know to create a carousel post is summed up nicely in this blog. This feature allows you to upload multiple photos or videos into one post. Each video still needs to meet the Instagram video length requirements. This could look like uploading two 1-minute videos to your feed. For videos 1-minute and under, Instagram Stories will actually chop up the video for you. Anything above 1-minute and you’ll have to create those 15-second clips on your own. Remember that even though you can get around Instagram’s video length limits, make sure your content is still user-friendly. How do I share a video on Instagram?Instagram app for Android and iPhone
Tap below the photo or video in Feed. Tap Add post/video/reel to your story. Tap in the bottom right. Tap Share.
Why can't I post a video on Instagram?Typically, Instagram won't let you post if you're violating the guidelines, your content is stolen/copyrighted, you're spamming, or the video or image format is not supported. Otherwise, it's your poor internet connection that's stopping you from posting.
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