Did you hear our news? We created a brand-new PDF guide: Social Media Strategies for Economic Development Organizations in 2022-2023! Get it for free by clicking here.
We’re keeping the social media theme going with some tips on how to mix up your content strategy on Facebook… with videos!
For economic development organizations in particular, video content is a great way to showcase your community’s assets, promote investment opportunities, and highlight businesses – all while creating a more personal connection with the viewer.
Studies have shown that people are more likely to watch a video than to read text-based content. So if you’re looking for a way to boost your economic development page on Facebook (or to boost your presence on any other social media platform), adding more video content is a great place to start.
There are three primary types of video content on Facebook:
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Pre-recorded videos posted on the feed. These videos don’t have a time limit, though 2-5 minutes is the recommended length. These videos will show up in anyone’s feed who is following you.
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Facebook Live videos. On your computer or mobile phone, you can film a Facebook Live video on the spot, and it will show up on the Facebook feed as you’re filming it, as well as afterwards.
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“Stories,” which are short videos up to 1-minute long. Stories are a popular way of sharing clips from someone’s day and people often add emojis, stickers, and filters to them. Stories are currently found at the top of the Facebook feed.
You can also use videos in paid Facebook ads.
Here are some examples of video content ideas:
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Share breaking news about your organization or announce new initiatives.
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Give a tour of your economic development organization’s office while sharing some ways people could get your support.
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Interview local business owners in your community.
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When you’re having an event, start a Facebook Live broadcast.
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Have a Q&A with EDO staff about new programs.
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Host a regular weekly Facebook Live series related to networking strategies, business resources, or your programs.
To make your video stand out, here are a few additional tips:
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Write a short line of enticing copy to go with your video. This can help grab someone’s attention when they’re scrolling through their feed.
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Create a custom thumbnail. The thumbnail is the image people see on their feed before they hit play. Rather than letting Facebook choose a random freeze frame, you can make a custom thumbnail using a site like Canva that entices viewers to click on it.
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Make your first 3-5 seconds of content stand out! People are buzzing through their feeds, and so it’s up to you to get their attention in those first 3-5 seconds of watching your video.
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Add captions to your videos. Often, people watch videos without sound. You can make sure they get all the content shared in your video by adding captions to them.
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Add a Call to Action. Would you like them to leave a comment? Visit your website? Sign up for an event? At the end of your video, give a Call to Action, and make sure to include appropriate links in the copy that goes with your video as well.
Let us know if you’ll be giving any of these tips a try! We’d love to hear from you. And if you’d like our help putting these ideas and taking your social media to the next level, reach out for a free 15-minute consultation.
Reimagining Places With You,
The PPR Strategies Team
