BEST INSTAGRAM GROWTH TOOLS
If you want to make sure that your reputation continues to grow on Instagram and even take you to influencer level, then you must know how to upload high quality videos to Instagram.
With so many different types of media available on Instagram, you have to know how to use video and upload videos to the platform that are truly top notch.
This can be a tough endeavor, especially if you’re not used to producing video content.
You can create awesome content on Instagram using both a smartphone as well as professional cameras like DSLRs, but some folks prefer to use their DSLRs, making it even more challenging to upload videos to Instagram.
Shooting the video? Relatively simple.
Uploading the video to Instagram without issue or drops in quality? Not as simple.
This is where we come in to help!
We are going to give you the best tips on how to upload high-quality videos to Instagram for maximum engagement and follower growth. We’ll cover:
- Why you need high-quality Instagram videos
- How high-quality Instagram videos help businesses, brands, and influencers
- Instagram videos and compression
- How to upload high quality Instagram videos
Once you read this, we’re sure you’ll be readier than ever to implement awesome video content in your Instagram content strategy. Let’s go!
Why Do You Need High-Quality Instagram Videos?
Instagram has been around since 2010 and has become one of the top marketing tools on a global scale. With this growth has come many new features and visual media possibilities.
When Instagram first began it was a platform that only allowed for the posting of photos that would be shared in your news feed to friends and family. Now, the quality of your video and even photo content is more important than ever.
Because Instagram remains a visual platform, it’s no surprise that all visuals you post have an impact on your brand’s reputation.
Having high-quality Instagram video content can be the difference between a decent Instagram campaign and an absolutely incredible one that drives results and increases your authority in your niche and online presence.
When you share high-quality Instagram videos, you look more professional and you can stand out among the crowd, beating the competition in your niche. It shows your dedication and desire to be the best.
What’s more, if you’re an influencer, high-quality video content makes you much more competitive and can even increase the amount of money that you reap from campaigns and sponsorships. Don’t miss out on monetization just for lack of video content.
Let’s look at a real example here.
Becoming an Instagram travel influencer is one of the most sought-after endeavors on Instagram, and without high-quality Instagram video, your chances are much lower.
The travel niche on Instagram was basically born to exhibit incredible, high-quality videos from travelers all over the world. If you want to make it far in this niche, don’t even bother uploading videos unless they are of excellent caliber.
This has gone even further now due to the implementation of IGTV and Instagram reels, making video content for the travel niche even more important. A mix of professional-grade video content, as well as creativity, is a definite must for the travel influencers of Instagram!
You can take a look and note the difference between travel influencers and regular people posting content on Instagram. With so many destinations out there, it’s likely that the everyday IG user and travel influencers are posting about the same destination.
Does that mean user videos aren’t great? Of course not.
Does that mean that travel influencers have to add more flair to make sure they beat out the normal IG user? Absolutely. With high-quality Instagram videos, travel influencers can transport their audience and make them more likely to want to visit that destination, restaurant, hotel, tourist attraction, and the like.
If you want to have a successful travel page, you need high-quality video. The same is true for pretty much any niche— fashion, food, lifestyle, fitness, beauty, auto, and so much more.
In order to stand out from the everyday Instagram user and make your content desirable by brand sponsors, you must have high-quality Instagram video.
If you want to be taken seriously as a brand or business, the same is true.
How Do High-Quality Instagram Videos Help Businesses, Brand, and Influencers
As you may have already guessed, it’s also vital for businesses and brands to partake in sharing awesome video content. If you have professional-looking content that takes your content above and beyond competitors, you’re in a good spot.
Taking high quality videos of your everyday life, business location, or routine is a great way to show that you are professional in your content creation and that your business is reputable.
If you’re a food blogger or restaurant owner, you also need high-quality videos. What’s better, amazing videos that make your audience’s mouth water, or sub-par Instagram videos that leave doubt in the viewer’s mind? High-quality Instagram video is the difference.
In addition and unsurprisingly, those that also share content on YouTube have a big need for high-quality videos. Many YouTubers also have an Instagram account, looking to reach more people and strengthen their viewership.
If you present high-quality Instagram videos, people are more likely to check out your YouTube channel and get you the views that you need.
Taking the time to understand how to shoot and upload high-quality Instagram videos to your feed makes all the difference for influencers, brands, businesses, creators, and more. The more HQ and professional your content is, the more likely you’ll get more views, followers, and engagement on Instagram.
Instagram Videos and Compression
If there are so many benefits to high-quality Instagram video content, why isn’t everyone using it? It’s not as simple and straightforward as it may seem.
Instagram uses a compression algorithm to adjust the videos for use on Instagram. If you’ve ever used tools including Final Cut or Adobe, you may have come across the different options for size ratios and compression.
If not, you may be confused about why your video doesn’t look quite as good as you’d expected it to when you were first uploading it and why the sizing might be off.
Instagram doesn’t mess around when it comes to size ratios; all of its content has its own special size that must be met if you want your content to look tailored to Instagram and appear as you intend it to.
When you record a video, it’s probable that it’s not recording in the optimal size for Instagram. Your videos have to be smaller so that they can be shared and viewed on the app, and for this reason Instagram compresses them, which ultimately removes levels of quality and detail.
How to Shoot Videos for Instagram Compression
Now that you know this, you know that you have to do a bit of preparation to make sure you account for compression and video resizing.
You can do a variety of things to address this before you shoot your video and realize you’ve lost out on quality.
Here are some tips to ensure you’re prepared when shooting high-quality Instagram video content.
1. Shoot in 4k
One of the best things you can do is to shoot your video in 4k. This means that your video is being shot in 4,000 pixels, making it much more detailed and precise, which will provide better results when you convert it to smaller sizes later.
If you don’t have a device that will shoot 4k video, you can use an editing program later that will convert it to 4k, allowing you to keep more details from your video even though it wasn’t initially shot in 4k.
2. Export in 4k
When you edit your video, you can convert it to 4k, which is great. When you finish editing all of the final touches, you’ll also need to ensure that you export it in 4k as well (H.264 format). If you don’t, you may lose all of your hard work.
Most editing programs should have this option but it doesn’t hurt to verify before saving your video so you don’t have to go back and redo it and then delete other copies after the fact.
3. Understand Quality on Your Device
One thing you also have to understand is that each device works differently, and depending on which one you’re using, you’ve got to know how your device shows the quality and reads your files.
If you’re using a computer for editing, you’re going to need to transport those files from your computer to your phone or tablet so that you can upload your high-quality Instagram videos to the platform. The best way for this depends on your device.
Video Quality on Mac
It can be extremely simple to transfer your files from your Mac to an iPhone or other device. The “AirDrop” feature allows you to transfer photos and videos seamlessly from your principal Apple device to another in the area.
Once you transfer it via AirDrop, it’ll arrive on your device; you can check it out, make sure it looks good, upload it, and you’ve got your high-quality Instagram video ready for the world to see.
Video Quality on PC/Windows
In terms of Windows and PC, it’s not as simple as it is with Mac. That said, an app called VLC player makes it very straightforward.
The VLC app is great for media viewing and organization, but it’s also excellent for sharing files that are large in size without compromising on quality. It’s a similar process to that of AirDrop, but for Windows.
You’ll have to download VLC on both your computer as well as your device for this to work; open VLC on your computer and select sharing via wi-fi.
You will need to then find your target device’s IP address so that you can share it. Follow the steps in VLC and you’re ready to go.
Another alternative is using a USB cable transfer; you can also use Dropbox as well, but with larger file sizes you may not have as much space.
In any case, you have a variety of options to make sure you can access your high-quality Instagram videos.
How to Upload High-Quality Videos to Instagram
Once you have your videos ready to go, you can upload them to Instagram.
If you’re reading this, it’s likely you already know what to do from here, but if you don’t, it’s very easy:
- Open Instagram
- Click the add content button at the top right of the screen
- Select your video
- Add captions and hashtags
- Post!
And that’s it. Just as if you’re adding normal content to Instagram. Make sure that you choose an appropriate video still so that people can see something eye-catching and pleasing in their newsfeed.
(note: the above instructions are for content feed video. If you want Instagram stories, IGTV, or Reels, the starting place to upload content will be different, but the steps are roughly the same)
Also, don’t forget— you need to get people looking at your content. We’ve got a pro tip on how to do that in the next section.
Pro Tip: Get More Views on Instagram
If you really want to give your high-quality Instagram videos the chance to be seen by more viewers in your target audience, the best thing you can do is use hashtags when you upload your content.
Without a solid hashtag strategy, you’re missing out on the chance to increase your follower count and get more engagement on Instagram.
You should use a hashtag strategy that is based around targeted hashtags that perform well in your specific niche. If the hashtags are too general or overused, you decrease the chances of getting your content discovered.
How can you choose the right Instagram hashtags?
Hashtag Generator for Instagram
Using a hashtag generator is definitely the optimal choice for tailoring your hashtag strategy to your niche and content.
Flick is the premier hashtag generator tool for Instagram and can help you to discover valuable things about the hashtags you are considering.
You can search for hashtags related to your niche and content and see valuable metrics such as the usage and performance stats, which are based directly on the API for Instagram.
You can also filter your hashtags and create sets for easy posting later.
It’s much better to use a hashtag tool than to guess and test out a bunch of random hashtags that you think may work. It will get your content seen by more people and get your awesome content the viewership it deserves.
When you have more views and engagement on Instagram, your video will get more natural reach, so building a viable hashtag strategy is worth it.
Final Thoughts: How to Upload High Quality Videos to Instagram
If you want to stand out on Instagram, high-quality video content is one of the best ways to do so.
It’s shown that video content gets more engagement and views on Instagram, so not learning how to include it is a disservice to your brand, business, and ultimately your profitability on Instagram.
Your account will be viewed as more professional and your authority and reputation will continue to increase. If you’re an influencer, you’ll have many more possibilities in terms of sponsorships and monetization.
Don’t worry— it’s never too late! If you haven’t given much thought to how to upload high quality videos to Instagram, you can get started now!
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Written by Eddie Hurst
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