How Long Should Your Corporate Video Be?

Like all forms of social media, corporate videos have too progressed in formula and style. If we go back a few years, these videos were often long, tortuous exposes of company values that would put the audience to sleep. But today, they are imperative for driving business, defining a good strategy, and harnessing the power of video.

Generally, there are three basic elements to consider when creating a corporate video: the power of conversion, the power of cutting, and the power of length. This article focuses on the third: the power of length.

So, how long should a corporate video be?

Well, it depends. Where some claim corporate videos should be longer and more informed, others demand getting straight to the point.

There is no rule of thumb when it comes to the length and much depends on the purpose of your video, the content, distribution, and the targeted audience. As such, it can be said every corporate video has a different desired perfect length. For instance, take a look at these different types of videos below and their average lengths:

• Viral Videos – 90 seconds
• Case Studies – 4 minutes
• Content marketing – 5 minutes
• Product Demo Videos – 90 Seconds
• Crowd-Funding Videos – 2 minutes
• Promotional Ads (Online) – 30 seconds
• Promotional Ads (Broadcast) – 60 seconds
• Customer Testimonials Video – 2 minutes
• Recruitment Drive Videos – 3 minutes
• Employee Training Videos – 15 minutes
• Corporate Event Videos – 15 to 60 minutes
• Product Promotion Videos – 90 Seconds

However, if your video is clearly for informational, promotional purposes and doesn’t fit any of the above categories, you can forget about the overall length and take the risk of releasing it online. Just make sure the video is professionally edited, provides value to viewers, and is compelling, inspiring and interesting.

Other Video Length Tips

• Focus on getting the point of your video across quickly, so you don’t waste the valuable time of your viewers. Remember, making your viewers wait too long will give them a reason to click away!
• Avoid copying others and focus on creating a video that is unique, appealing, and inspiring. Keep in mind just because a particular video duration worked for someone else, doesn’t mean it will work well for you.
• Consider looking at the purpose of your video, audience relationships and type of video before deciding on the accurate length. Don’t follow industry averages blindly, as sometimes it’s better to be different.
• Avoid including useless branding content, advertisements, or other promotional “call-to-action” content at the beginning of your videos, as they only make it longer. Save graphic intros, credits, and animated logos for the end of the video.
• Measure the success and overall results of your video daily. If you find people abandoning your video earlier than expected, consider shortening the length even more.

So, now that you are familiar with the tips mentioned above, determining how long your video should be won’t be a problem.

However, if you still face trouble determining the perfect length, hire a reputable video editing company.