Instagram has become the go-to platform for people of all ages to stay connected and up-to-date with the latest trends in the world. People from all over the world are on Instagram to keep up with their favorite celebs, brands, friends, and family.
In addition, its simple photo and video sharing algorithm has made it easy for businesses to get noticed and engage with their target audience.
Everyone posts and watches Instagram stories and videos to drive more action through comments, shares, and likes. However, videos also have a longer stay-on-page rate since it requires the users to play the video, watch and pause it instead of just scrolling through the photos on the feed.
It is not a surprise that this social media platform will get your brand noticed by your target
audience if used the right way. Instagram videos can drive sales and up your brand engagement if appropriately edited.
Here’s how you can edit videos within the Instagram app.
How To Edit Videos For Instagram
-
In the Instagram app
Instagram has a built-in editor that allows you to create and edit videos.
Instead of using third-party apps to film and edit, you can click on the + sign at the bottom of the screen and select a video to upload. Instagram provides 24 filter options for you to choose from and pick a frame to select as your video thumbnail.
For stories, there are a lot of video editing tools to choose from. You can pick from normal, boomerang, superzoom, rewind, hands-free, and also add face filters.
-
Choose a video editor online
Although Instagram has a built-in editor, online video editors work the best. You can edit videos online using ready-to-use templates.
Choose from thousands of flexible and customizable Instagram ad templates and become an Instagram video pro! These online Instagram video editors guarantee thumb-stopping videos that will leave your audiences astonished!
Now that we know how to edit Instagram videos, let us look at the specifications set up by Instagram for different types of videos.
On feed video requirements
A video posted can be a maximum of 15 seconds long. You can proceed and pick one from the three dimensions offered: 1:1 ratio or 600 pixels by 600 pixels for a square video, 4:5 ratio or 600 by 750 pixels for a vertical video, and lastly, 1.9:1 ratio or 600 by 315 pixels for a horizontal video.
Apart from this, your video should have a maximum frame rate of 30fps with a maximum file size of 4 GB. Make sure that your video file is in the .MP4 and .MOV format.
Check Facebook if you want further technical requirements to start editing your Instagram videos. Your video should also have the highest resolution possible. It should fit the size and ratio limits of the file with a fixed frame rate, square pixels, and H.264 compression. It should also have stereo AAC audio compression at 128kbps+ with progressive scan.
You can also operate and edit videos from your phone by clicking the + button at the bottom of your Instagram app.
Instagram story video requirements
The maximum time limit for Instagram story videos is up to 15 seconds. Instagram stories take up the entire screen area, and you should hence follow the ideal dimensions for a story video. The best dimension for a story video is a 9:16 aspect ratio or 1080 x 1920.
Make sure that you strictly follow this aspect ratio and keep all your videos vertical. Instagram may reject your video if you don’t keep it in line with their video requirements. It may also result in poor viewer experience and affect your brand’s visibility on the gram.
The video file format should be the same as the on-feed video format (.MP4 or .MOV). Keep the maximum video size at 4 GB, and the minimum resolution of 720p. You should also pay attention to including sound in your Instagram videos.
According to research by Social Media Week, approximately 70% of Instagram videos are watched with the sound on. Adding sound makes the video more engaging and fun for the viewers. If you want to leave an impression on your target audience, you should consider investing in audio for your videos.
You can also easily upload videos from your mobile phone. Swipe up to the story creation mode and choose the video you wish to upload.
Instagram TV or IGTV video requirements
Instagram in 2018 introduced a new video feature on their app. This feature is known as Instagram TV or IGTV and aims to provide a YouTube channel-like experience for the creators and the viewers.
IGTV videos should have a minimum duration of 15 seconds and a maximum duration of 10 minutes. You can also create an hour-long video if you have a verified account with many followers and reach.
Like Instagram story videos, IGTV videos should be vertical and take up the entire smartphone screen. In addition, the aspect ratio should be 9:16. The IGTV feature is helpful for creators looking to create documentaries, podcasts, tutorials, and interviews that resonate with their brand.
Your IGTV videos should have a minimum frame rate of 30fps, a minimum resolution of 720p, and be in MP4 format.
The maximum video file size for videos 10 minutes or less is 650 MB and 3.6 GB for videos up to 60 minutes long.
IGTV videos also require a thumbnail. The thumbnail is the first thing a viewer sees before clicking on the video, and hence it must be eye-catching and click-worthy. The size recommended for thumbnail photos is 420×654 pixels or a 1:1:55 ratio.
IGTV videos are easy to upload and publish. All you need to do is open the IGTV section in the Instagram app. You can find the IGTV section at the top right corner of your feed or profile. Then, click the + sign and select the video you would like to upload on your IGTV channel.
Conclusion
Play to the strengths of the format to get the most out of it. All of Instagram’s video options are action-driven to maximize engagement.
Although stories are used for regular video posting, they can be unfiltered. IGTV are longer videos that have an introduction, a plot, and a conclusion. In-feed videos are perfect for using text in videos.
So what are you waiting for? Edit awesome videos and get your brand noticed!
