Are you a social media user for your brand? Have you ever tried to post on their account but been met with silence? No engagement or reach. This is what many brands are experiencing today.
Why?
There is simply too much noise online. Let’s put things in perspective. Statista says that Instagram has more than 1 billion users. Its stories feature is used by approximately 500 million people. It should not be surprising that organic posts on these platforms are difficult to reach.
Is this a sign that social media platforms have ended their benefits? It doesn’t. This simply means that you must do more than just post organic content. Instead, you should create an ad strategy for these platforms and make use of the ad features.
In Instagram’s case, video ads are a great way to reach your target audience. Are you unsure about this feature? Don’t worry! We’re here to help you.
Instagram Video Ads Explained
This ad’s name is pretty clear about its contents. Video ads are a more engaging way to tell your brand story than static or carousel-sponsored ads. Video ads are more effective than static posts because you have more time and space to reach your target audience.
You can show your product in action, or you could share your portfolio to entice people to buy your product.
You could also complement this strategy with gamification marketing strategies that reward consumers for engaging with your ads with free coupons or discounts. This will allow you to improve the performance of your ad campaign.
You can promote video ads on both the Instagram feed and Instagram stories. The ad sizes may be different for each placement.
These are the video ad specifications of Instagram:
- Resolution: 600×600 pixels is the recommended resolution. Maximum resolution is 1080×1080 pixels
- You can choose between a 1:1 or 1.9-1/ aspect ratio. This refers to both a square and landscape ratio.
- The ad can last anywhere from three to sixty seconds.
- Maximum video size is 4 GB
How Instagram video ads can help your brand?
Instagram is encouraging video ads by changing the maximum video length from 30 seconds to one minute. Brands, no matter how small or large, will likely benefit from this change.
SingleBrain research has shown that video content is the most popular type of content, regardless of your target audience. Video content is easier to understand and more engaging.
The below-mentioned 2015 study found that Americans spend an average of 38.5 hours a week watching videos. This is significantly more than what they spend working.
In short, people prefer videos over text. This is not surprising considering the rise in popularity of YouTube influencers, and TikTok.
Instagram video ads are different from other formats because they don’t feel intrusive like an instream video advertisement. This is aside from their engagement factor. They are also easier to scroll past than a static post.
Brands can be noticed naturally using the native, infeed model without having to make them feel compelled to view an ad.
How to make a memorable video advertisement
These methods can be used to create and circulate an Instagram ad.
1. In the first three seconds, make a strong impression
Do you know why the digital marketing agency in Miami has been praised? Gamification is a way for brands to instantly engage customers. What if you don’t want to only use this strategy in your video ads?
The first few seconds of your video should be the most important. Instagram users scroll quickly through their feeds so you must get them to look at your video.
It is recommended that you move within the first three seconds. This will allow users to recognize that the post is not static and allows them to click the sound off. A hook is a powerful visual or textual element.
2. Learn how to provide adequate text
Never rely too heavily on the Instagram video’s audio by default. You shouldn’t rely on the captions alone.
Use dynamic text effects instead to highlight the key points of your video. This will ensure that your target audience doesn’t divert from the core of the content.
You must also master the art of balancing how much text you use. Too much text can make a point difficult to understand, but too little text can cause the audience to lose interest in the advertisement.
Your ad’s length and visuals will determine how pithy you can be with your words.
3. Identify the problem and solve it
Every ad must identify a need that is unmet in the life of the target audience, and then show how the brand’s product meets it.
This will help you form a functional and emotional connection with your customers. Instead of focusing on what you offer, focus on the problems customers face. Next, present your product as a solution.
4. One call to action
Are you looking to increase awareness for your brand? Do you want to increase app downloads? You shouldn’t try to ride in two boats at once. Stick to one theme and one goal for a campaign.
Because ad content that increases brand awareness will be different from what is used to increase subscriptions or downloads, Video ads that try to sell it all will look like sales pitches.
Customers don’t want to feel like they are being bombarded by brands trying to sell their products while scrolling through social networks.
5. Do not appear like an advertisement
Today’s consumers are skeptical of advertisements. This is not surprising, considering the intrusive nature of ad campaigns. It is normal to feel tired in a world full of intrusive advertising. To be noticed, a brand has to continue on the path of advertising.
It’s a good idea to try to hide your identity. You can avoid appearing like an advertisement by using natural captions or videos that don’t attempt to sell products.
Insta Video Ads: Inspiration from
These are some video ads that you can get inspiration from.
Swiggy
Swiggy, India’s largest food delivery service, created a video advertisement to get attention.
The company uses Instagram Stories to create a video advertisement that begins with mouthwatering food. This is enough to grab the attention of every foodie. The Swiggy ad uses captions to explain the features and ends with an illustration showing a mobile device. This is a call to action to encourage people to download the app.
Simple, yet genius!
Burger King
Two Burger King campaigns are worth mentioning.
1. Stories ordering
Burger King is a top-rated example of gamification marketing. Because it offered a unique incentive and used different formats to do this, Burger King is a top-rated example of gamification marketing.
Although it’s not a traditional video advertisement, it deserves to be on this list. Burger King used Instagram stories, polls, and video-based backgrounds in a viral campaign called Stories Ordering.
Instagram users can customize their orders by embedding polls in stories. They could then access a customized voucher that would allow them to enjoy the burger they have just made. The campaign was a huge success thanks to the visually appealing backgrounds and unique ideas.
2. ASL Day Ad
A video ad that was circulated on American Sign Language Day (ASL) was another campaign that touched the heartstrings and encouraged interaction. They used their mascot as a signer to send a message and captions. This campaign used Instagram to show consumer behavior on the social media platform.
Ending Notes
Dynamic formats will be the king of advertising in 2021 and beyond. We live in an era where billboards have been replaced by holographs.