The Rise of Vertical Video

In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, video content has emerged as a powerful tool for businesses to engage and captivate an audience. Traditionally, horizontal videos dominated the marketing scene. However, with the increasing popularity of mobile devices and social media platforms, there has been a significant shift towards vertical video and companies have learned to adapt.

Why is there a preference for vertical video?

With most people owning smartphones and the increasing popularity of social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat, a vast amount of content is consumed on an audience’s phone. Vertical videos are specifically designed for mobile viewing, aligning with how people naturally hold their smartphones. This format offers a convenient experience for users, eliminating the need to rotate their devices. By catering to vertical viewing you maximize phone screen real estate which creates a more visually appealing experience.

Benefits of Vertical Videos for Corporate Video Marketing

As smartphone usage continues to rise, vertical videos cater to the habits and preferences of mobile users. By optimizing videos for vertical viewing, businesses can deliver a more captivating experience, keeping viewers engaged and more likely to consume the entire content. Social media platforms also heavily favour vertical video content, prioritizing it in their algorithms. By leveraging this format, businesses can significantly improve their visibility and reach audiences on platforms like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok. This taps into a huge group of individuals who only consume content on their phones.

Adapting to the Vertical Video Trend

To capitalize on the advantages of vertical videos, businesses need to adapt their video production and marketing strategies accordingly. Here are some tips on how to effectively create a vertical video.

Storytelling for Vertical Screens

Craft a compelling narrative that fits the vertical video format. Audiences who watch vertical videos on social media platforms typically take only three seconds to determine if they want to continue watching. With so many video options available, their attention must be captured quickly or they’ll move on. Tailor your content to engage viewers in the first three seconds and ensure it remains captivating throughout.

Optimizing Video Thumbnails

As viewers scroll through their social media feeds, an attention-grabbing thumbnail can make all the difference. Create a visually appealing thumbnail that represents your video and entices viewers to click and watch the video. Or select an exciting or intriguing frame from your video to set as the thumbnail. Using clear graphics, compelling text, bright colours and interesting visuals can help draw a viewer in.

Vertical-First Video Production

Keep the vertical format in mind while shooting the video. Pay attention to framing, composition and visuals that are optimized for the portrait orientation. Additionally, consider where subtitles and captions would go on the screen to accommodate silent mobile viewers.

Editing

When there isn’t an opportunity for shooting with the vertical format in mind, you can always edit a horizontal video. Set your frame size to 1080×1920 which is a 9:16 aspect ratio. When you start with a shot that was filmed horizontally, be mindful of the fact that you’ll lose a lot of the background when you edit it to a vertical orientation. Because of this, not all clips will be usable and you’ll have to choose accordingly.

Accommodate the Platform

Whether you filmed with a vertical orientation originally or edited a horizontal video, keep in mind the way vertical video will be viewed on mobile devices. On platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat, the top and bottom of the video are often covered with icons, usernames or comments. Because of this, you should try to avoid having any important information or text at the top or bottom of your video.

As the shift to mobile devices and social media increases, the rise of vertical videos in corporate video production will continue. By embracing this trend, businesses can tap into new audiences, enhance engagements and elevate their brand presence. Incorporating vertical videos into marketing strategies is a powerful way to stay relevant and drive meaningful results in the ever-changing digital world.

Need help creating your vertical corporate video? Contact 5Gear Studios today!