The 10 Best Types of Videos for Social Media

It’s no secret that video content is an incredible engine for generating engagement, leads, and sales on social media.

Statistics overwhelmingly affirm the value of the medium with studies showing that video generates 49% more interactions on social media than images, gets 1200% more shares than other types of content, and leads to 34% higher conversion rates.

Now the big question is – what types of videos are more likely to be effective, or even go viral?

Luckily there are certain types of videos that have proven that they can help cut through the noise and improve the odds of people seeing and watching your content. 

Below, we will look at the types of videos that work best on social media and examples of each type of video.

Why Is Video the Best Content for Social Media?

Video is the best form of content for social media for a number of reasons. First, it’s more engaging than other types of content. People are more likely to watch a video than read an article or view an image.

Second, videos can be repurposed and reused in multiple ways. You can take one video and use it across multiple social media platforms and in different ways. For example, you can post a video on Facebook, then create a GIF from the video for Twitter, or make a short clip for Instagram Stories.

Third, videos are more likely to go viral than other types of content. This is because they are more engaging and people are more likely to share them with their friends and followers.

Fourth, video is a great way to build trust and relationships with your audience. When people see you on video, they feel like they know you better and can connect with you on a more personal level.

Finally, video is an incredibly effective way to sell products and services on social media. People are more likely to buy something after watching a video about it than after reading an article or viewing an image.

Now that we’ve looked at why videos are the best type of content for social media, let’s look at the types of videos that work best on social media.

1) Event Videos

Event videos are a great way to generate excitement and build anticipation for upcoming events. You can use event videos to promote conferences, workshops, webinars, and more.

Event videos typically include footage of the event itself as well as interviews with speakers and attendees. They can be live-streamed or recorded and then posted on social media.

Here is a fantastic example of a promotional video for a virtual conference;

2) Product Announcement Videos

Product announcement videos are a great way to generate buzz and excitement for new products. These videos can be used to announce new versions of existing products or entirely new products.

Product announcement videos typically include footage of the product itself as well as interviews with the people who created it. They can also include testimonials from early users and customers.

Here is a teaser video by Conlog to introduce a new product;

3) Product Demo Videos

Product videos are an excellent way to showcase your products in action and demonstrate their features and benefits. You can use product videos on social media to increase brand awareness, generate leads, and drive sales.

Product videos typically include footage of the product being used as well as interviews with customers and experts. They can be live-streamed or recorded and then posted on social media.

Here is a fantastic product demo video from HP;

4) Testimonial Videos

Testimonial videos are a great way to build trust and credibility with your audience. These videos feature customers or clients who have used your products or services and are willing to endorse them.

Testimonial videos typically include footage of the customer or clients testifying about their experience with your product or service.

Here is an excellent customer testimonial video from Hubspot;

5) Tutorial Videos

Tutorial videos are an excellent way to show your audience how to use your products or services. These videos can be used to teach people how to do something related to your business, such as how to use a software program, how to make a recipe, or how to do a specific type of exercise.

Tutorial videos typically include footage of the person doing the tutorial as well as on-screen instructions. They can be live-streamed or recorded and then posted on social media.

Here is a great example of a tutorial video from Tasty;

6) Q&A Videos

Q&A videos are a great way to provide valuable information to your audience while also building trust and credibility. These videos feature experts answering questions that people have about your industry, product, or service.

They can also feature you or someone from your company answering questions submitted by your audience. Q&A videos typically include footage of the person answering the questions as well as the questions themselves being displayed on-screen.

Here is an excellent example from Oracle;

7) Behind-the-scenes Videos

Behind-the-scenes videos are a great way to give your audience a behind-the-scenes look at your business. These videos can be used to show how your products are made, how your services are provided, or what goes on in your office on a day-to-day basis.

Behind-the-scenes videos typically include footage of the event or activity as well as interviews with the people who are involved.

Here is a great example of a behind-the-scenes video from Apple;

8) Live Videos

These videos are a great way to connect with your audience in real-time. These videos can be used to show events as they happen, such as product launches, conferences, or live performances.

Live videos typically include footage of the event itself as well as commentary from people who are watching it.

Here is an excellent example of a live video from KIIS FM;

9) User-generated Videos

User-generated videos are a great way to showcase your products or services in use. These videos feature customers or clients who have used your products or services and are willing to endorse them.

User-generated videos typically include footage of the customer using your product to solve a pain point or clients testifying about their experience with your product or service.

Here is an example from Urban Decay;

10) Animated Content Videos

Animated content videos are a great way to engage your audience with fun and creative content. These videos can be used to teach people about your products, to educate your audience about your industry, or simply to entertain them.

Animated content videos typically include footage of the animation as well as a voice-over. They can also include on-screen text to provide additional information.

Here is a great example of an animated video from Bibliate;

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many different types of videos that you can use for your social media marketing. Each type of video has its own benefits and can be used to achieve different objectives. The key is to experiment with different types of videos and see which ones work best for your business.

About the Author: Based out of Vancouver, Ivan Andrianko is the owner of Rocketwheel. He's been living and breathing all things video since 2007. When he's not fine-tuning the team's latest production, you can find him in his woodshop perfecting his craft, or out exploring in the Rocky mountains.