Why is Instagram video so important?
Great question. I have asked myself this many times as I have continued to post selfies, flatlays, accessory closeups and overhead & mirror selfies that look JUST like everybody elses. They do okay, people like them. But in this day and age where everyone seems to have a blog and an Instagram account, I have finally realized that in order to differentiate yourself from the pack and get noticed, you have to think out of the box a little.
So it was time for me to embrace the 60 second Instagram video option. (Hover over the Insta pic and tap the white arrow to play the videos!)
Video tells a better story.
Yes pictures are nice, but a LIVE video shows you exactly how to do something or what a person is really like. Which is why we all follow blogs and YouTubers right?? To really get to know that person we like to follow along with, to hear their voice, and see their personality in action. And now that Instagram lets you record 1 minute videos, you can pack a lot of info into that brief time frame! (Check out this article from Hootsuite.com on why video is the trend you should be catching onto for 2016, if you’re not convinced yet to start getting into short videos to tell your story.)
All of this is why I started my second Instagram account, @JSMminute, in addition to my current @JennySueMakeup account.
It’s a crazy additional amount of work, but I think it will be worth it. I have had many people request to see my makeup techniques and advice in action – because actions speak louder than words and still pictures 99% of the time when you are talking beauty tricks. And in all honesty, growing an Instagram account, blog traffic, and YouTube subscribers is HARD. And whatever I have been previously doing to draw more traffic, isn’t working as well as I’d like, so it was time to shake things up and try something new!
How to highlight your features in 4 easy steps :
And even though I know starting an Instagram video account doing makeup isn’t groundbreaking, there are a lot of people doing them, BUT, they are not doing them like I am. I want mine to have a little entertainment value behind them and not just me fast forwarding through the typical contour and highlight process – that is so overdone. I am going to be aware of the layout of my new account too and have it look streamlined with video – photo – video – photo, etc. That is one thing many Insta experts say to do to grab a followers attention, for it to be more visually pleasing it must have a bit of consistency.
Don’t make videos like everyone else.
In addition to sharing my knowledge of makeup application and techniques, I also want my new Instagram account to be fun to watch at the same time. From telling my audience about the latest and greatest drugstore mascara find, to how to do the reverse eyeliner look, each video will be a makeup tidbit you can quickly consume without having to watch a 9 minute YouTube tutorial of me just sitting at my desk the entire time.
If you have seen any of my new videos, you will immediately notice that they are definitely not boring. I have my husband Scott (of JaWaVi Films – pronounced jah-wah-vee) to thank for that. I am aware that I have an unfair advantage in that my husband is a video editing wizard, so he is helping me to create each video. I cannot take any credit at all for the special effects, music, and editing out my “ums” and “uhhh’s.”
The reverse colored eyeliner trick :
So if you haven’t caught up to my account, I am going to lay out the rest of them them for you to watch below. Be sure to go follow my new account if you haven’t already and let me know what you’d like to see a 60 second Instagram video about in the comments below or on my account!
Thanks for watching…
Gwen Stefani’s Billboard Music Awards neutral makeup look :
What’s in my bag:
My current favorite waterproof drugstore mascara :
