Is Vertical the New Horizontal?

In short, yes! Why? Because smart phones and social media have changed everything.

We use our phones vertically all the time when texting, scrolling social media, and using all the different apps on our smartphones. What does this mean? It means that vertical is the consumer’s native experience.

Don’t let that phrase scare you! It’s just a fancy way of saying that people use their phones vertically more than horizontally. Which means that when we create video content, we should be optimizing it for a vertical experience (in addition to horizontal…since that is how camera’s actually shoot and what you post on YouTube…for now anyways).

If you are creating content specifically for Facebook, Instagram, LInkedIn and beyond these platforms all have an optimal viewing experience (that is often changing). Your video producer should be savvy in creating multiple sizes for you so that you can post your video everywhere and showcase it in the best possible light that is contextualized to each platform.

Currently, we think that’s 1x1 on Facebook and LinkedIn, 9x16 for IGTV, and 4x5 for the Instagram feed (1x1 works on the Instagram feed as well, it just doesn’t take up as much of the screen). You can always post other sizes on other platforms, just be aware that it may not look as great or take as much feed space up on people’s phones (which is great for dominating the whole screen as someone scrolls through your content).

Here’s what you need to know in short:

1) When you’re shooting on your smart phone and your focus is people or it’s a selfie video, shoot vertically.

2) Keep an eye on how trends and sizes are changing so you know which size works best on a given platform.

3) Hire a video producer who is ready, willing, and able to make multiple sizes and exports of your video.

As smart phones, social media, and video continues to dominate the attention of our society make sure you know how to best contextualize your videos to each platform. Chances are you are doing something great. Help the world know about it.