Is It Time To Start Shooting Vertically?
By Stanley Meytin
For better or worse, people love to scroll. Our world has gone mobile, and social networks are dominating the business world. And when most users are on their phones, they’re holding the phone vertically.
That’s why vertical video has become so crucial in the marketing world. With life and business increasingly moving towards the mobile and social media sphere, vertical videos are becoming the norm.
Today, we’re going to take a look at the benefits of vertical video and how you can start implementing it in your video strategy for optimal benefit.
What is Vertical Video?
Vertical or portrait-mode video refers to videos that are taller than they are wide. Vertical videos are able to fit the entire screen on a mobile device without having to flip the phone to watch. The majority of vertical videos measure 9 by 16, so they fill the majority of the screen (without any distractions). Instagram feed vertical posts can sometimes be 4:5, which crops the top and bottom a little bit.
The alternatives to vertical video are horizontal, which is the traditional form of video, and square, which has become a popular option on some social media platforms (like Instagram).
What are the benefits of vertical video?
-
Mobile users want vertical.
The number of people moving to primary mobile usage is increasing every day, especially for the consumption of content. In 2018, 42.3% of page views were on a mobile device, and the strong majority of social media usage is on mobile. It’s no secret that more and more people are moving to mobile and tablets, especially as these offer more usability and applications.
Mobile users are demanding vertical. We get lazy on our phones, and we don’t want to turn our phone to watch a horizontal video. We want to be able to see a video while we’re scrolling, and it should be in the format that we’re looking at.
Not a lot of videos are vertical just yet. So, when your videos are vertical, it stands out to your customers. They associate your brand with innovation and technological knowledge—and they associate you as someone who meets their needs in a detailed way.
-
Vertical has become the norm for social platforms.
Most social media platforms host vertical videos better than they do horizontal. While Snapchat was the first in the vertical revolution, other social platforms are innately vertical as well. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all utilize vertical content, especially on their mobile apps.
Vertical video is especially central to IGTV on Instagram. You can post content up to 60 minutes long, but it has to be vertical content. With IGTV growing to one of the most popular platforms for video sharing, we anticipate vertical video will rise in tandem. Learn more about how to create marketing videos for IGTV here.
This has been further substantiated by large brands employing and implementing vertical video on their social media. When social platforms and “influencer brands” both start pushing vertical video, it’s especially time to sit up and take notice.
-
Vertical performs better.
But you don’t want to do something just because “everyone’s doing it.” You want to look at the facts. In this case, the facts are corroborating the trend. Vertical video is dominating.
Facebook reported that vertical videos increase user engagement drastically, especially for those videos that have sound. Tell a story in a vertical format and your video will be unstoppable!
Wibbitz also reported that their vertical videos attract 4x more engagement than square videos on Facebook and 2.5x more on Twitter.
A Buffer study also found that vertical video drives traffic, encourages action, and generates engagement on Facebook and Instagram.
Why is engagement so much higher with vertical video?
One of the biggest benefits of vertical video is a major uptick in engagement. There’s a good reason for that. When a video is vertical on a mobile device, it takes up the entire screen. So your video is grabbing their full attention on their phone. They’re not looking anywhere else, clicking away, reading other ads, or playing games. They’re watching your video and your video alone.
Not only are you the only thing on their screen, but the users also have a better “feeling” about brands who use vertical video. In fact, 65% of consumers consider brands using vertical as “more innovative” than those that only use horizontal.
So if you want a great brand reputation and improved video engagement, vertical video might be a good next step.
How do you shoot vertical video?
There are three main ways to shoot vertical video.
The first, and the easiest, method of shooting is with a cell phone. Hold the phone vertically, point, and shoot. This works well for quick videos you want to post on social media, like behind-the-scenes Instagram stories. However, this tends to have a less professional feel and can actually lose customers if you post it anywhere off of social media.
The second way is to shoot a horizontal shot with your camera, and then crop it so it ends up vertical in post-production. The concern with this is that you lose 2/3 of the quality of your film when you cut it.
The third, and arguably the most effective, way to shoot is to actually hold your camera vertically and then rotate the shots in post-production. This is usually the most preferred option because you get full quality of your camera, and you also have more control over what will be in each shot. This allows you to take the shot as it will look in your video, so you get a cleaner and more professional final product.
When is horizontal video preferred?
Vertical video is quickly taking over, but it’s not the only type of video you’ll want to have in your strategy. Horizontal videos still reign supreme in many ways, because our eyes naturally have a horizontal alignment. (That’s why movies and television have a horizontal alignment.)
In general, we still recommend using horizontal video if you’re posting on YouTube or your website. Horizontal videos should be for more evergreen content, while vertical videos can be more transient or “quick” pieces of content on social media.
(Note: Most YouTube videos should be horizontal. Most users still watch YouTube primarily on desktop, and mobile users still have the expectation that they’ll turn their phone when the YouTube app is open.)
Shoot Video Vertically
If the future of tech is mobile, then the future of video is vertical.
Even if your horizontal video is showing incredible results, it doesn’t hurt to try out a vertical video or two, especially if you’re looking to increase engagement.
Thankfully, starting with vertical video doesn’t have to be hard. You can start shooting with your phone right now even!
Better yet, you can outsource your video creation—horizontal and vertical—to True Film Production. Our team is experienced at strategizing the pairing of vertical and horizontal videos for optimal effect of your marketing campaigns.
Request a quote for your videos to get started. Let us bring professional storytelling to your business, your marketing, and your audience.
Reading Time: 5 minutes
By Stanley Meytin
For better or worse, people love to scroll. Our world has gone mobile, and social networks are dominating the business world. And when most users are on their phones, they’re holding the phone vertically.
That’s why vertical video has become so crucial in the marketing world. With life and business increasingly moving towards the mobile and social media sphere, vertical videos are becoming the norm.
Today, we’re going to take a look at the benefits of vertical video and how you can start implementing it in your video strategy for optimal benefit.
What is Vertical Video?
Vertical or portrait-mode video refers to videos that are taller than they are wide. Vertical videos are able to fit the entire screen on a mobile device without having to flip the phone to watch. The majority of vertical videos measure 9 by 16, so they fill the majority of the screen (without any distractions). Instagram feed vertical posts can sometimes be 4:5, which crops the top and bottom a little bit.
The alternatives to vertical video are horizontal, which is the traditional form of video, and square, which has become a popular option on some social media platforms (like Instagram).
What are the benefits of vertical video?
-
Mobile users want vertical.
The number of people moving to primary mobile usage is increasing every day, especially for the consumption of content. In 2018, 42.3% of page views were on a mobile device, and the strong majority of social media usage is on mobile. It’s no secret that more and more people are moving to mobile and tablets, especially as these offer more usability and applications.
Mobile users are demanding vertical. We get lazy on our phones, and we don’t want to turn our phone to watch a horizontal video. We want to be able to see a video while we’re scrolling, and it should be in the format that we’re looking at.
Not a lot of videos are vertical just yet. So, when your videos are vertical, it stands out to your customers. They associate your brand with innovation and technological knowledge—and they associate you as someone who meets their needs in a detailed way.
-
Vertical has become the norm for social platforms.
Most social media platforms host vertical videos better than they do horizontal. While Snapchat was the first in the vertical revolution, other social platforms are innately vertical as well. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all utilize vertical content, especially on their mobile apps.
Vertical video is especially central to IGTV on Instagram. You can post content up to 60 minutes long, but it has to be vertical content. With IGTV growing to one of the most popular platforms for video sharing, we anticipate vertical video will rise in tandem. Learn more about how to create marketing videos for IGTV here.
This has been further substantiated by large brands employing and implementing vertical video on their social media. When social platforms and “influencer brands” both start pushing vertical video, it’s especially time to sit up and take notice.
-
Vertical performs better.
But you don’t want to do something just because “everyone’s doing it.” You want to look at the facts. In this case, the facts are corroborating the trend. Vertical video is dominating.
Facebook reported that vertical videos increase user engagement drastically, especially for those videos that have sound. Tell a story in a vertical format and your video will be unstoppable!
Wibbitz also reported that their vertical videos attract 4x more engagement than square videos on Facebook and 2.5x more on Twitter.
A Buffer study also found that vertical video drives traffic, encourages action, and generates engagement on Facebook and Instagram.
Why is engagement so much higher with vertical video?
One of the biggest benefits of vertical video is a major uptick in engagement. There’s a good reason for that. When a video is vertical on a mobile device, it takes up the entire screen. So your video is grabbing their full attention on their phone. They’re not looking anywhere else, clicking away, reading other ads, or playing games. They’re watching your video and your video alone.
Not only are you the only thing on their screen, but the users also have a better “feeling” about brands who use vertical video. In fact, 65% of consumers consider brands using vertical as “more innovative” than those that only use horizontal.
So if you want a great brand reputation and improved video engagement, vertical video might be a good next step.
How do you shoot vertical video?
There are three main ways to shoot vertical video.
The first, and the easiest, method of shooting is with a cell phone. Hold the phone vertically, point, and shoot. This works well for quick videos you want to post on social media, like behind-the-scenes Instagram stories. However, this tends to have a less professional feel and can actually lose customers if you post it anywhere off of social media.
The second way is to shoot a horizontal shot with your camera, and then crop it so it ends up vertical in post-production. The concern with this is that you lose 2/3 of the quality of your film when you cut it.
The third, and arguably the most effective, way to shoot is to actually hold your camera vertically and then rotate the shots in post-production. This is usually the most preferred option because you get full quality of your camera, and you also have more control over what will be in each shot. This allows you to take the shot as it will look in your video, so you get a cleaner and more professional final product.
When is horizontal video preferred?
Vertical video is quickly taking over, but it’s not the only type of video you’ll want to have in your strategy. Horizontal videos still reign supreme in many ways, because our eyes naturally have a horizontal alignment. (That’s why movies and television have a horizontal alignment.)
In general, we still recommend using horizontal video if you’re posting on YouTube or your website. Horizontal videos should be for more evergreen content, while vertical videos can be more transient or “quick” pieces of content on social media.
(Note: Most YouTube videos should be horizontal. Most users still watch YouTube primarily on desktop, and mobile users still have the expectation that they’ll turn their phone when the YouTube app is open.)
Shoot Video Vertically
If the future of tech is mobile, then the future of video is vertical.
Even if your horizontal video is showing incredible results, it doesn’t hurt to try out a vertical video or two, especially if you’re looking to increase engagement.
Thankfully, starting with vertical video doesn’t have to be hard. You can start shooting with your phone right now even!
Better yet, you can outsource your video creation—horizontal and vertical—to True Film Production. Our team is experienced at strategizing the pairing of vertical and horizontal videos for optimal effect of your marketing campaigns.
Request a quote for your videos to get started. Let us bring professional storytelling to your business, your marketing, and your audience.
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Whether you want to launch an idea, spark a movement or simply get people talking about what you do, you have one shot
at delivering your message in a way that matters. Let’s make sure you do it right.
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