Have you ever uploaded a video to Instagram Stories only to find that it looks awkwardly cropped or even gets cut off? As frustrating as this can be, you’re not alone. With the rise of vertical video, it’s more important than ever to consider how your content appears on the platform. That’s why today, we’re going to talk about a simple yet crucial step in optimizing your Instagram Story videos – Cropping.
Cropping your videos to fit the platform’s recommended aspect ratio not only ensures that your content looks professional, but can also help to increase engagement with your audience. In today’s social media landscape, where attention spans are short and competition is fierce, taking the time to create high-quality, properly-cropped content can set you apart from the crowd.
But don’t worry – cropping your Instagram Story video doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With a few simple steps, you can easily ensure that your videos look their best and capture the attention of your target audience. So, let’s dive in and explore the world of cropping Instagram Story videos!
Overview of Instagram Stories
Instagram Stories is an in-app feature of Instagram that allows users to post photos or videos that automatically disappear within 24 hours. It appears in a vertical format and is designed to be fast, memorable, and fun. Instagram Stories can be accessed by clicking on the profile picture of the user. It is a great way to step away from the carefully curated, on-brand feed and show off a different side of your personality.
The advantage of using stories is that they are less formal than posts and reels. You can have a lot of fun with Instagram Stories, that’s for sure. Instagram enables you to show off your creative ideas and engage with your audience. Once you’ve taken a photo or a video, you can select one of the three pen-type options to doodle on your photo, add a cool emoji or swipe right to select a color filter.
A great way to use Instagram Stories is to allow takeovers of your account. You could get in touch with loyal customers and ask them to act as brand ambassadors by doing a 24 takeover of your Instagram account so they can show how they use your product. This is a really fun way to create content and get your audience involved.
How to Crop Instagram Story Video?
Do you ever find yourself wishing that you could trim your Instagram Story videos before posting them? Well, you’re in luck!
By default, Instagram supports a story length of up to 15 seconds. If you try to upload a story of more than 15 seconds, it will automatically trim the video. We don’t have any control over it. So it is advisable to trim the video before we upload it to Instagram.
You can choose from a plethora of tools to trim the video. However, most smartphones have an inbuilt video editing feature that will do the job. Let’s see how to trim video in iOS:
1. Open the video in your iPhone’s gallery. Tap on the ‘Edit’ button.
2. Drag the timeline arrows to trim the video as shown in the image.
3. When you have trimmed the video to your desired length, tap on the ‘Done’ button.
4. Finally, select if you want to save the video as a new file or override the existing video.
Why Crop Instagram Story Video?
Instagram Stories are a great way to connect with your audience and showcase your personality. However, with the rise of vertical video, it’s important to consider how your videos appear on the platform. One key aspect to keep in mind is the need to crop your Instagram Story video to fit the platform’s dimensions.
Here are some reasons why cropping your Instagram Story video is important:
1. To fit the platform
Instagram Stories are displayed in a vertical format, with a recommended aspect ratio of 9:16. If your video doesn’t fit this aspect ratio, it will appear awkwardly cropped or even get cut off, which can make it difficult to watch.
2. To improve engagement
By cropping your video to fit the platform, you can ensure that your content looks professional and visually appealing. This can help to increase engagement with your audience and encourage them to watch your content all the way through.
3. To stand out from the crowd
By optimizing your Instagram Story video for the platform, you can set yourself apart from the competition. In a crowded social media landscape, taking the time to create high-quality, properly-cropped content can help you to capture the attention of your target audience.
4. To avoid distortion
If you try to stretch or squeeze your video to fit the platform, it can result in distortion or a loss of quality. By cropping your video, you can ensure that it looks sharp and clear, which is important for maintaining a professional image.
Cropping your Instagram Story video is an important step in creating content that looks great and engages your audience. By taking the time to properly format your videos for the platform, you can ensure that your content stands out and helps you achieve your social media marketing goals.
How to Crop Instagram Story Video using a tool?
Cropping Instagram Story videos can be done online. Unless you already have video editing tools, the simplest way to crop video to the proper proportions is to employ Kapwing. It’s a web application that allows you to upload your video and have it cropped for you.
- Go to Kapwing and click Upload.
- Upload your video into the app.
- Choose ‘Instagram story or IGTV’ from the options.
- Allow the video to be processed by the app.
- Once the video is finished, download it.
- Add it to your Instagram Story.
Wrapping It Up
And there you have it – everything you need to know about cropping your Instagram Story videos!
By taking the time to properly format your videos for the platform, you can ensure that your content looks professional, engages your audience, and helps you achieve your social media marketing goals. Whether you’re a business looking to promote your brand or an individual sharing your personal story, the simple step of cropping your videos can make all the difference.
So, the next time you’re creating content for Instagram Stories, remember to take a few extra moments to crop your videos and set yourself apart from the competition.
Happy cropping!
