WHY I LOVE LIVE PHOTOS, BUT NEED VIDEOS
Before, during, after.
Live photos give us the chance to peek at the before, during, and after of a moment.
Growing up, I always had a camera around
my wrist. Yes, my wrist, back when we used to have to bring digital cameras with us, before the magic of the camera phone!
I have so many pictures I love from those years: school dances, camp, sporting events, concerts…
But looking back, with each of those memories captured as a still moment in time, a part of me wishes I could see even more of what was happening in that moment. "What song was playing? Is that my best friend laughing in the background? I forgot how loud the crowd was cheering that day!"
With camera phones now, it’s obviously incredible to be able to snap a photo at any given time throughout our day.
But there’s something just so magical about a Live photo. It’s not quite a video, but more than a photo. It’s an unfrozen snippet in time just before and after the moment you’re “ready”.
With Live Photos, your iPhone records what happens 1.5 seconds before and after you take a picture. You take a Live Photo just like you do a traditional photo. Then you can pick a different key photo, add a fun effect, edit your Live Photo, and share with your family and friends. (source: Apple Support)
I love Live Photos for the intimate behind-the-scenes feeling you get from it. But I also love it on a deeper level, because I am so attracted to the idea of doing things before you’re ready.
If we always waited until we were "ready", there are so many things we'd likely never even start!
I love the backstory of what makes each and every one of us unique. I love shining a new light, and telling a story to help someone learn something new.
How cool that right now each of us is in our own before, during, and after moment of some sort? Right now, we could be just “before” something great on the horizon, “during” a defining moment of our life, and “after” overcoming a huge obstacle.
Whatever you are “before”, I wish you well on your journey to the next great thing.
Whatever you are “during”, I wish you strength and stamina on your way.
Whatever you are “after”, good for you. You did it, you made it through that impossibly hard thing, and look at you: you’re still standing.
HOW TO MARKET YOUR SMALL BUSINESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Using Live photos optional, but suggested.
If you're considering using social media for your business, you've come to the right place.
I help small businesses with social media management: everything from deciding what platforms you should be on, to planning out content, creating posts, writing captions, and even capturing photos & videos when you need help!
If you're worried about making the jump from still photos and Instagram Stories to the video-heavy Reels and video-only TikTok, you're not alone. Lots of small businesses marketing themselves are struggling to capture and post content on a regular basis, and seeing results from their efforts is even trickier.
Instagram updates and new features are pretty much a weekly occurrence these days, and keeping up can be tricky. The platform is definitely prioritizing video content, but there will still be a place for still photos—at least for now.
When it comes to marketing your business on Instagram or TikTok, YouTube Shorts, or another app that utilizes video, you will be in a better position if you've taken photos on Live mode because you will have short videos around 3 seconds at your disposal.
If you've answered the question of "Should I use Instagram Reels for my business" or "Should I use TikTok for my business" with a begrudging "yes", and now you're scrolling through your phone looking for videos and wondering what to post...I get it.
It can be easy to feel discouraged if you don't have a ton of content banked and ready to go!
A quick tip advertise your business on social media a little easier is to turn on your Live Photos on your iPhone camera app. (To my knowledge, there is not currently an equivalent feature on Android phones).
With Live Photos, your iPhone records what happens 1.5 seconds before and after you take a picture. You take a Live Photo just like you do a traditional photo. Then you can pick a different key photo, add a fun effect, edit your Live Photo, and share with your family and friends.
When it comes to marketing your business on Instagram or TikTok, YouTube Shorts, or another app that utilizes video, you will be in a better position if you've taken photos on Live mode because you will have short videos around 3 seconds at your disposal.
Add a few of those Live photos together and you've created a longer video that's now ready to post and share with the world!
Instagram Reels and TikTok are great opportunities to promote your business with people who might not know about you yet, since both options get your content in front of new eyes daily (aka, people who don't already follow you). With the right social media strategy, you can leverage those views on your videos to build your follower count on your platform, direct them to your store or website, generate more leads, and grow your sales.
I wholeheartedly believe that every small business is unique and has something incredibly special to offer.
My job: to help you shine just as brightly online as you do in person.
Whether that means building your first website and social media pages, crafting a digital marketing plan that will bring in new clients and engagement, or coming in with a fresh perspective to give you game-changing advice and strategies, I can meet you wherever you are and help you see tangible results quickly.
Book your free 1-hour consultation with me today.
Absolutely no obligations. My best ideas & advice, tailored to you.
Comments