5 Types of Social Video to Engage Your Audience

Social Video Types for Maximum Engagement 

1. Promotional Videos

It turns out, consumers are most interested in social media posts about discounts or sales. Who doesn’t love a good deal? Promotional videos are an effective way to capture your audience’s attention and communicate your special offers or limited-time deals. And did you know, 64 percent of consumers purchase a product after watching social videos from brands!

Here is an amazing example of a promotional video from Breeo, a brand that sells smokeless fire pits. They published a short clip highlighting their once-in-a-year sale:

2. How-to or Tutorial Videos

When it comes to social media, 59 percent of consumers are looking for posts that teach them something. How-to or tutorial videos serve up this content in a way that’s easily accessible and easy-to-follow. Think about it, would you rather watch someone show you how to do something or follow a list of written steps? 

This is also a type of social video that accomplishes two tasks at once: teaching something and selling something. The overarching goal of a how-to video is to explain a certain process or approach, but what it does at the same time is position a product or service as a solution – and that’s what really engages viewers.

Watch how Ties YouTube to demonstrate how to tie a tie (using its own products, of course):

3. Product Demonstration Videos

Demonstration videos are an excellent strategy if you have a product or service that needs more explanation than you can give in just words and images. By showing the product features and highlights, you can show viewers a solution to their challenges or convince them your product stands out from others like it. 

Le Creuset uses a product demonstration video to introduce a new line of bakeware. Since it’s not their typical product, a demo video is a great solution for showing viewers why they should consider these products.

4. User-Generated Videos

User-generated content, or UGC, is highly influential when it comes to consumer purchase decisions. That’s because viewers trust the reviews and recommendations of other customers. They are more likely to buy a product or service. 

Social videos featuring your own customers showing off your products or services, or even giving a video review of them, can go a long way in turning curious consumers into real customers.

Philz Coffee has a great showing in this customer’s UGC video:

5. Interview or Q&A Videos

Nothing will stop your viewers in their tracks (or their scrolling) faster than an interview video with a celebrity, influencer, or well-known industry leader. Whether you feature a thought leader in your space or a Q&A with your CEO, this type of social video gives you an opportunity to establish your business as the go-to for your audience.

Search Engine Journal often serves up interview videos with SEO heavy-hitters:

This week on the SEJ Show? @VandernickR will be sharing tips and insights to help make your tourism SEO more effective. Here's @lorenbaker with the details: pic.twitter.com/ArbJL7jeXK

— SearchEngineJournal® (@sejournal) February 3, 2022

Learn More about Social Media Marketing

To dig in deeper on social video, be sure to check out Simplilearn’s Advanced Social Media Certification Training Course. You’ll learn how to elevate your brand and execute social campaigns using various strategies, and then learn how to monitor the effectiveness of those campaigns through social analytics.