All video is no the same… it really does depend on what channel you are looking to post it to.
Where your audience is should frame what channels you are looking that.
In turn, those channels should have a big say in how long your video should be.
So, if you are aiming at people on Facebook, 15 seconds for video that is likeley to drop through the timeline is best. Longer than that and your audience is likely to be evaporating.
Here’s an update on the optimum times.
- There is research that says 30 seconds for LinkedIn is enough.
- Instagram is leaping from 60 seconds maximum length to a bumper 60 minutes.
- Spotify has entered the market with video for brands. So, if you have some cash you can get your content in front of your audience.
Notes and queries on the research
YOUTUBE: The maximum length of 15 minutes can be increased to 12 hours through a straight forward verification step. Optimum length is much shorter.
FACEBOOK: Facebook maximum length against Facebook’s own suggested lengths for ads. INSTAGRAM: Maximum length was increased from 15 seconds to 60 seconds with research via Newswhip suggesting a much shorter length. TWITTER: Maximum length of 240 seconds is comfortably within Hubspot’s suggested 45 seconds.
SNAPCHAT: Maximum length is a mere 10 seconds but Hootsuite suggest five seconds is the sweet spot.
PERISCOPE: A maximum length and the sky is the limit but there is no research on what the optimum length of a live broadcast is. FACEBOOK LIVE: Can run for 240 minutes but 19 minutes is best say Buzzsumo.
LINKEDIN is the new kid on the block with native uploaded video. Five minutes is the most you can upload and there is research that the best length is 30 seconds.
Other platforms
There’s a number of other ways to present video I’ve not touched upon. VIMEO has fallen behind in recent years but still has fans and you can upload via VIMEO LIVE with a premium account. You can go live via YOUTUBE LIVE but there is little accessible guidance for the amateur. FLICKR can take video of up to 1GB but will only play back the first three minutes.
360 & VR Facebook and YouTube in particular are chasing this new way of shooting video but there is little out there on maximum and optimum upload times.
I’m @danslee on Twitter and dan@comms2point0. If you hate missing out on the good stuff subscribe to my weekly email here.
Picture credit: Documerica / Flickr
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