Most people now watch video on a phone, in a feed, often with the sound off. A video made for social media has to work in that setting: it has to stop the scroll, make its point fast and suit the platform it lives on. This guide from Stir Fry Content, a video production company in Subiaco, Perth, explains the types of social media video, how to plan them and what makes one work.

What is a social media video?

A social media video is a short, engaging video made specifically to be posted on social platforms. It is not a TV commercial cut down at the last minute. It is planned for the feed from the start: the format, the length, the opening seconds and the captions.

Which platforms work best for video?

Every major platform is moving towards video. TikTok and Instagram are currently the most popular places to watch it. LinkedIn and Facebook also get strong traction with corporate audiences. Decide where your audience spends time first, then make the video in the shape that platform rewards, which is usually vertical for TikTok, Reels and Stories.

Types of social media video

  • Retail. Bring a retail message to life with cut-through music and interesting graphics. For Belmont Forum we made Christmas Elf-fluencers, a 30-second seasonal piece with four more videos in the series.
  • New product. Show off your latest in a cool and compelling way. For 2K Australia and New Zealand we produced vertical highlights for WWE 2K24.
  • Behaviour change. Changing behaviour takes time, an understanding of the audience and a cut-through approach. Yeah Nah TikToks for the Road Safety Commission is a series of short vertical videos made for TikTok.
  • Slice of life. Connect with your audience through a relatable lifestyle approach, as in Find Your Way to Okay for the Mental Health Commission and Stronger You Stronger Mob for Strong Spirit Strong Mind.
  • Demonstration. A simple product or how-to demonstration is sometimes the best video of all.
  • Series and events. Regular content keeps a following engaged, like the Department of Education's Tea Time series, and event coverage such as the Mid Autumn Festival at Riverton Forum.

What makes a good social media video?

  1. Grab attention in the first three seconds. Make it clear straight away what the video is about.
  2. Get to the point. Once you have attention, deliver the message quickly, in a fun and concise way.
  3. Always add subtitles. Many people scroll with the sound off, so any talking needs captions.
  4. Make it native. Shoot or crop for the platform: vertical for phone-first feeds, square or landscape where they suit.
  5. Plan a series, not a one-off. Several short cuts from one shoot give you more posts and more chances to learn what works.

How we make social media video

  1. Plan. We work with you on a content strategy: who the videos are for, where they will run and what they need to achieve.
  2. Create. We come up with the ideas, film and edit, with a production schedule, scriptwriting and shoot logistics handled for you.
  3. Post. We deliver each video in the formats and lengths each platform needs.

Simple, cost-effective and quick-turnaround video is a must if you are starting out, building a brand or have an interesting story to tell. Whether you are growing a following or keeping members up to date, see our social media video production service, browse our work or request a quote.