If a picture is worth a thousand words, what’s the value of a video? The answer: lots and lots. More brands are heading for the Hollywood lights as they turn to the social video scene to win over consumers.
Mark 2013 as the year of social video. The launch of Vine and Instagram Video has elevated the social sharing phenomenon to a whole new level. Some experts predict that by 2017, videos will account for over 60 percent of the world’s mobile data traffic.
When Twitter launched Vine earlier this year, it immediately gained acceptance and recognition within the market. Not only did users flock to film their everyday moments, but brands also turned to the simple application to snap their own snack-size videos to share and engage with consumers.
Shortly after the launch of Vine, Facebook (Twitter’s greatest rival) released the ability to create videos through its popular photo-sharing subsidiary, Instagram. The new function was an Insta-hit. More than 5 million videos were uploaded within the first 24 hours.
Each platform packs its unique perks. Vine allows users to categorize their videos by content while Instagram features video filters as an added effect. Both applications allow videos to be sorted by hashtags and shared across a multitude of social channels.
This shift in video content creation and publication is an easy win for brands. Ten years ago, video production required abundant resources, including expensive equipment and a savvy production team. Now, a viral video or a viral photo similar to this Jimmy John Shark photo is just a smartphone and a click away.
