April 2023 Event Recap

Local social media influencer Tiffany Klinger joined Social Media Breakfast Madison to share her takeaways and guidance as she has transformed her online presence from static images to viral videos.

View the event replay and check out the awesome photo recap of the event on the SMBMad Facebook page. You can also view the presentation deck here.

Have you noticed short-form video content taking over your social media newsfeed?

Video has a long history of bringing more engagement to the content we produce and consume, but over the recent years we’ve seen it blow up across all media platforms. Where we used to be flooded with aesthetically pleasing photos on Instagram, we now see more Reels than static images. Video exclusive platforms like TikTok continue to dominate the way people of all ages find entertainment, education or a way to space out at the end of a long day.

After managing social media channels for a startup, Tiffany was “bitten by the entrepreneurial bug.” She started her own social media account called Barbell Babes to encourage other women to start weightlifting, a hobby that was all-consuming for her prior to having children.

Motherhood is now what Tiffany focuses on across her social platforms under the account name “Keeping it Klinger.”

Making The Shift to Video

“My original Instagram content was all static images,” Tiffany explained. “A lot of my content had a specific style and was very posed.”

Tiffany expressed her initial hesitation to move toward video.

“I really liked the photos we were creating at the time and I don’t enjoy being the center of attention so the transition was initially difficult for me,” Tiffany said.

After showing the difference in her Instagram feed from the static image years to today, you still see family life content coming through but with a renewed focus on fun.

“My motto is to not take life too seriously and that definitely reflects in my content,” Tiffany shared.

How To Get Started With Video

Tiffany’s advice for those who are looking to add more video is to start with normal, everyday routines/activities/visits and capture little moments on video.

“For my first Reel I just saved video clips, during an outing with my family, onto my phone and pulled them all together into one post for my feed,” Tiffany explained.

She continued on to explain that our attention span for video has shrunk.

Her first Reel was 40 seconds long. After playing the video, she remarked that it was a long one to watch. This really forces content creators and social media managers to get to the main message quickly and keep it interesting so viewers watch until the end.

Tiffany also shared advice for those who are uneasy about being on video.

“If you’re uncomfortable with being on camera, see if someone else on your team or in your family is more comfortable,” Tiffany advised. “I have two little girls who are often the star of the show.”

Instagram vs TikTok

Tiffany shared her observations on what differentiates the platforms.

Here’s how she thinks of the two platforms:

Instagram:

• All about aesthetics
• 30-second Reels have turned into 8-10-second Reels
• Takes longer to go viral
• People want to get to know you/your brand
• Trending audio is important to algorithm

TikTok:

• Fast paced
• Keeping up with the latest trends
• Trending audio isn’t as important as content
• Need to capture attention fast
• People will watch for longer, if engaging content is shared

Pro Tip: Videos don’t always have to be created with video clips. There have been trends throughout the year of photo compilations set to trending audio.

Video Equipment

Tiffany stressed that fancy, professional quality equipment is not needed to create great social content.

Her advice is to use your phone, especially as you are getting started. She added that it can be useful to have a tripod and showed off one she uses to hold her phone that can be extended several feet tall or shortened to sit on a table top.

Tiffany, as a photographer, also has a more professional style camera that she uses on occasion.

“I make a lot of content on my phone but when it comes to brand deals, I tend to lean more on my camera to capture video,” Tiffany explained.

She showed two videos – one created on her phone and the other on her camera – the audience was split on identifying which was done with each piece of equipment. This further demonstrated that making high quality content is more accessible than ever.

“Amazon is a great resource for affordable tripods and other video equipment – you can go a long way with tools from Amazon,” Tiffany shared.

Other Thoughts

Going viral is top of mind for many content creators and Tiffany says while it’s rare, it is possible. However she advises staying true to yourself and your brand rather than focusing too much on going viral.

“Instant gratification is often what we’re looking for, but it can take days or weeks for a post to take off,” Tiffany explained. “Just stay true to yourself and consistent with your content.”

Whether you’re just getting started with video content or looking for new inspiration, Tiffany encouraged attendees to create behind the scenes content in addition to finding ways to promote giveaways or share product announcements.

“I’ve had so much fun doing videos,” Tiffany shared. “Motherhood inspires me to create content and putting my own spin on trends others have started gives me an idea to run with and make it genuinely my own.”

Thanks to SMBMad board member Sarah Hetke for writing this month’s event recap.

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT:

The mission of Gilda’s Club is to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and
sustained by community. We work toward our mission by offering emotional support, education, advocacy, and wellness activities for men, women, and children touched by any kind of cancer at any stage. Membership and all programs are offered at no cost.

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Gilda’s Club was an awardee of one of the SMBMad 2022 DreamGrants. We look forward to sharing the grant’s impact story in the future!