How can you avoid common video export mistakes for web and social media?

To prevent typical errors when exporting videos for social media platforms, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the platform requirements, choose the appropriate format while ensuring optimal quality, select the right aspect ratio for your video, and conduct tests on your video before posting.

The best way to avoid a mistake like this is to understand the end distribution point of your video. Social sites like Instagram, Facebook, x, et al post the specs on which format works best for their site. If you’re sending it out to broadcast check with the broadcaster for their preferred requirements. Knowing which format to use BEFORE you begin output will save you a lot of heartache down the road!

1. Choose the correct resolution and aspect ratio. 2. Use the appropriate codec and format, such as H.264 and MP4. 3. Optimize bitrate and compression settings for file size and quality balance. 4. Consider platform-specific file size limitations. 5. Export at the proper frame rate for smooth playback. 6. Pay attention to audio settings and ensure compatibility. 7. Use the correct color space and gamut, typically sRGB. 8. Include relevant metadata and create engaging thumbnails. Testing videos on various platforms and devices beforehand helps ensure optimal presentation.

Ein Tipp, um gro?e Videodateien für Online-Bereitstellung zu verkleinern, ohne gro?artige Qualit?tsverluste, ist die kostenlose Software ?Handbrake“!

Always test before going public! Have others check your work to make sure the information is clear. When spending hours of time on a subject, you loose the "first-time" experiencing it feeling. Make sure 2-3 trusted sources will tell you if your message is on point and easy to follow. Remember, most of your audience will only see certain videos once, so you want to make sure it stands out and gets your message across.

The good news about this mistake is that once you’ve made it, you tend to avoid doing it again. Most of today’s editing tools allow you to create a sequence based on the aspect ratio of the clip anyway. And while I, personally have several different frame rates in a project (Mainly because the interview camera, broll camera and drone all shoot at different aspect ratios), I always consider the aspect ratio of the end product. On social media, HD is still plenty of quality, but the emergence of 4K, 6K, and even 8K helps to set creators apart from one another. If you’re worried about using the wrong aspect ratio, just make sure to create the sequence from your footage.

Almost all of today's editing tools allows one to create a timeline with dimensions specific to the digital platform the content will be uploaded. For instance, to set up your video for success on Facebook, use a (1080x1080) timeline.

Another mistake to avoid is overlooking the resolution and aspect ratio of the video. Resolution refers to the number of pixels in the video and determines clarity and detail, while aspect ratio is essentially the shape of the frame. It is critical to choose a setting that matches the requirements of the platform and device. For example, uploading a video to YouTube requires a resolution of 1080p or higher, with an aspect ratio of 16:9 or 4:3. On Instagram, on the other hand, you need to stick to a resolution of 1080p or higher, while it is essential to maintain a resolution of 1080p or lower and aspect ratios such as 1:1 or 9:16. Tools like HandBrake can help you adjust these settings, ensuring your video looks great wherever it's viewed.

Selecting the appropriate resolution and aspect ratio is crucial for brand growth as it directly impacts the viewer's experience. As a brand strategist, I've observed that videos optimized for specific platforms enhance user engagement and brand perception. For instance, a square 1:1 aspect ratio may be ideal for Instagram's feed, while a 9:16 ratio is better suited for Stories and Reels, catering to mobile users who hold their devices vertically. Leveraging tools like HandBrake not only ensures technical compatibility but also reflects a brand's attention to detail and commitment to quality, which can significantly influence startup growth and audience retention.

There is no one-fits-all resolution and aspect ratio for every social media platform out there. You need to tailor every clip to a specific platform to guarantee the best performance and user experience. And not only the aspect ratio, but the subtitles for example, need to go at a different place on Insta clips, than Insta reels, to not interfere with the overlays.

Bitrate is the opposite of Nitrate. Is it a chemical term and has been phased out along with the decline of celluloid film. File size is a factor in determining bandwidth. Meaning literally 'banned width' and means how likely footage is to be censored prior to a theatrical release.

Another common mistake is not paying attention to the bit rate and the video file size. Bit rate refers to the amount of data the video uses per second, which influences the detail and richness of the colour. File size, on the other hand, is the total amount of data the video occupies. The key is to find the balance between quality and upload speed. A high bitrate means a visually richer video but at the cost of longer upload and download times. If it is too low, you will save bandwidth and speed up loading times, but at the cost of video quality. There are tools that can help you determine the best settings, ensuring that your video is optimised for both quality and performance on your chosen platforms and devices.

You should always look into the guidelines of the final medium your content will be delivered to. Tey all have specific bitrates for each resolution. Following the guideline avoid using a higher bitrate than needed and avoid recompress by the plataform.

I've seen that videos optimized for web and social media can significantly enhance user engagement and retention. A high-quality video may look stunning, but if it buffers or fails to load on various devices, it can harm the user experience and, consequently, the brand's image. Conversely, a video with a low bitrate might load quickly, but poor quality can make the content less compelling and damage the brand's perceived value. Therefore, it's essential to strike a balance that reflects the brand's commitment to quality while ensuring accessibility and a smooth viewing experience for the audience. This balance is especially important for startups aiming for growth.

A common issue with some social platforms that have oddly low requirements. Just double check if you have a high quality or longer video that you're trying to share. And check it against the requirements of the platform.

Audio is a critical component of video production that can significantly impact brand perception and audience engagement. As a brand strategist, I understand that poor audio quality can detract from the message and professionalism of the content. High-quality audio formats like AAC or MP3 should be used in tandem with high-definition video to maintain consistency in quality. Tools like Audacity are invaluable for ensuring that audio settings are optimized, which is essential for maintaining the integrity of the brand's message and ensuring a positive user experience on social media platforms.

Be aware that different platforms have different requirements for loudness - as far as I can gather, YouTube tends to shoot for -12 to -14 LUFS and depending on your NLE, there are different ways of measuring this. In DVR there's a built in LUFS meter, in FCP you'll need to download a plugin - can't comment about Avid or Prem

As an audio format, mp3 is highly recommended as it can be read across all platforms. I have found that the standard AAC is not recognized by Instagram and the sound is missing when uploading.

Oh, Audio is very important part of video if you miss it then your video will be of no use and the second thing, audio setting is very necessary and people must know that for which platform they are creating. Audio should match with videos mood and quality.

I don't produce anything for social without captions anymore. There is just no reason not to with the automation available for transcription/captioning. The key is to produce captions that have an aesthetic of their own, that compliments your visuals and content. And with all of the third party captioning apps available, you don't have to be an expert designer to make appealing open captions. But bottom line, if you're not captioning your video, you're hurting your analytics, both in terms of SEO and retention rates.

Metadata and captions are not just about compliance or SEO; they're a strategic component of brand storytelling. As a brand strategist, I emphasize that every piece of text associated with a video is an opportunity to reinforce brand messaging and values. Captions, for instance, not only make content accessible but also increase viewer engagement by catering to those who watch videos without sound in noise-sensitive environments. Thoughtful metadata can significantly boost a video's discoverability, directly impacting startup growth by driving traffic and conversions through targeted keywords and compelling descriptions.

Accessibility and discoverability often go hand in hand! By adding captions and other metadata, you’re allowing your content to be enjoyed by a broader audience, and also providing the platforms with more information about your content to help it be recommended to even more potential audiences.

This is the most critical part of the upload process, this is the difference between an amazing video getting 10 or thousands of views, again, know the platform, know the ticks and optimise your post accordingly.

This is an especially important when you think about it in terms of SEO. You want to make sure your story, clip, or video has maximum exposure when being searched. Take, for example, a community story that multiple outlets either report on or make clips and videos about. Search engines’ algorithms will be maximized if your megadata is maximized for multiple search options.

After editing on a desktop or laptop, we always check the video on a mobile device before posting. It's important both for the video and the audio mix.

Export small, short sequence to test. You save time by exporting a partial clip than an entire segment. Take that sample and practice. So a full export is not wasted.

For clarity on both sides, list the aspect ratio deliverables in your contract with the client. Also, have a meeting where you go over each aspect ratio needed before you shoot.

Plan ahead. Communicate with your creative team and clients about the specs of the production, before the edit begins. A greater understanding of the deliverables will create production efficiencies.

Export small, short sequence to test. You save time by exporting a partial clip than an entire segment. Take that sample and practice. So a full export is not wasted.

Be neurotic about your exports. Seriously. Tired of playing down the same video over and over again? That means it's time to play it again to check for an issue. One trick that I have employed in the past is using the 'side by side' playback feature in Apple Quicktime. You can load multiple videos into the player, put the windows side by side, and press Command + Return to play / pause all videos at the same time. Very helpful to spot issues across versions with minute differences. This part of the work requires a great deal of double and triple checking your versions. I always play down my exports multiple times to ensure I have spotted any flaws