You have something important on your mind and you want to tell it all in a video. But how long should a video be?
2 minutes? 30 seconds? 5 minutes with credits and slow motion?
The short answer? Short – even if you have a lot on your mind
The slightly longer answer? It depends on what you want the video to do and who is watching.
But don’t worry. Here you get the overview.
Social media videos:
6-30 seconds
People scroll. Fast. On LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, you have seconds to grab attention and under a minute to deliver something meaningful.
Rule of thumb:
- Hook in 3 seconds
- Message in 6-15 seconds
- CTA in 5 seconds
At filmbudget, you always get a SoMe package with your video in different lengths and formats for different platforms.
Sales pitch
60 seconds or less.
The hallmark of a good sales pitch is that it’s ultra-short and leaves the viewer wanting to know more. Your pitch shouldn’t contain a lot of storytelling about what’s great about your company. Rather, it should be a small taste of what your viewer will get out of supporting you.
Brand film
1-2 minutes
Corporate videos, branding or “about us” videos can be a little longer. It’s your story and the reason why you work for your product or service. It should be short and to the point, but at the same time it should have flair and storytelling.
This type of video works really well in small chunks on social media, highlighting important points, great clips or catchy quotes.
Recruitment video
1-2 minutes.
Show people, environment and culture concisely but with heart and good storytelling. Your potential new employee should be able to see themselves working in your company while getting answers to the most important questions.
This video can easily be broken up into small chunks for social media.
Event video
1 minute and maybe a little more.
You’ll probably get a lot of great clips from your event and there are many great clips that can be used individually on social media.
But a condensed event video only needs to contain highlights. Your viewer won’t stick around to watch a 5-minute video about an experience they weren’t a part of. However, a short teaser can make them want to join you next time.
But what about the exceptions?
Some videos are allowed to be longer:
- Product demos for B2B customers
- Explainers
- Webinar excerpts
…but also here: Start with the essentials. Otherwise, the viewer will move on before you reach “Hello and welcome”.
So… what is the right answer?
Shorter than you think.
And always: Make the video for the person who will watch it. Not the person who made it.
Need help finding the right length and structure?
At Filmbudget, we don’t just help you film – we help you communicate.
Get a quick budget – and let’s make a video that hits the mark. Quickly.
