Imagine a pair of your old jeans. What if instead of throwing them away, you could refashion them? Turn them into a stylish tote bag, phone or tablet covers, or even denim coasters and give them a new leash of life.
Similarly consider your video content properties. They offer significantly higher returns on investment (25 percent) over other content formats. However, videos also consume more time, energy and resources. With the pressure to produce fresh videos mounting, why not repurpose your videos just like your favorite pair of jeans?
What Do We Mean by Repurposing?
Say you just released a detailed product tutorial. You can adapt this tutorial for different formats and platforms like 15 second mini-clips as teasers on YouTube Shorts, a 90 second highlight Instagram reels, animated graphics, and more. This is the essence of repurposing.
Repurposing offers a multitude of benefits. First and foremost, it’s a huge time saver. For one thing, you leverage the hard work you’ve already invested in creating a video. It also extends the reach of your content, allowing you to tap into new audiences on different platforms.
Additionally, repurposed content also caters to different audience preferences. For example, a lengthy tutorial might overwhelm some viewers on Twitter. Yet chopped-up snippets with clear takeaways can be highly engaging. Finally, repurposing allows for targeted messaging across platforms. You can tailor the message to each platform’s specific audience and format.
Identifying Repurposing Opportunities:
The first step to identifying repurposing opportunities within your existing video library is analyzing your content. Here are a few factors you should consider when analyzing your existing video library:
- Video length: Long tutorials can be broken down into social media snippets.
- Topic: Extract key takeaways for blog posts, infographics, or presentations.
- Target audience: Tailor repurposed content to resonate with specific platforms.
- Content richness: Testimonials can yield soundbites for quotes and captions. Product demos can be repurposed by highlighting different features for each platform.
Let’s illustrate with the example of your product tutorial. Repurposing would involve transforming that content into:
- Teaser clips to pique audience interest.
- Highlight reels showcasing key features.
- Animated summaries for easy digestibility.
- Bite-sized social media snippets with clear takeaways.
7 Smart Hacks To Repurposing Your Video Content
1) Become a Snippet Master: Bite-Sized Brilliance for TikTok:
The popularity of short-form video on platforms like TikTok presents a golden opportunity. Identify “golden nuggets” within your video – key takeaways, funny moments, or visually stunning segments. Turn them into bite-sized snippets with your editing tool and upload them to TikTok. Bonus points for brands/marketers who can tailor their content and seamlessly ride the wave of the latest trends on the platform.
Pro Tip: Create captivating snippets with clear text overlays and attention-grabbing intros to hook viewers in the first few seconds.
2) Story Time! Repurposing for Instagram:
Break your video down into bite-sized snippets. Create Reels with captivating moments using music and text overlays (up to 60 seconds). Engage your audience by turning these reels into interactive stories featuring polls and questions. You can even create carousel posts that combine video snippets with images, enticing viewers to see the full video elsewhere.
Pro Tip: Remember to optimize for Instagram by using trending features and hashtags. Ensure your videos fit the platform’s dimensions (portrait) for maximum impact.
3) Thread It Together: Building Engagement on X (Twitter):
X (formerly knowns as Twitter) is a powerful tool. However, the platform’s character limit shouldn’t hold you back. Leverage the concept of threads – a series of connected tweets with video snippets. Craft a captivating narrative that unfolds across multiple tweets, keeping viewers hooked and scrolling for more. Spark discussions with Twitter polls related to your video’s topic. Create anticipation for live streams with teaser videos. Remember captions and hashtags! For longer content, direct viewers to the full video elsewhere with a clear call to action. You can even download these snippets with a free Twitter video downloader to be repurposed even further.
Pro Tip: Remember, each tweet can hold a short video clip, so you can create a mini-series within the thread.
4) Beyond the Feed: Repurposing for Facebook Groups:
Organic reach on Facebook can be a challenge, but repurposing video content for Facebook Groups can be a gamechanger. Turn your video into bite-sized snippets that spark discussion and cater to the group’s interests. This creates a two-way street: you get targeted viewers and the group gets engaging content. Plus, active participation builds trust and fosters a community around your expertise. Ultimately, repurposing for Groups can boost organic reach and build a loyal audience for your long-form videos.
Pro Tip: Tailor your repurposed content to the specific interests and discussions happening within your group.
5) Blog It Out: From Long Video to Blog Post Powerhouse
Review and summarize key points to create a structured blog outline. Don’t just copy the video, add details and explanations. Break down complex parts with visuals. Grab attention with a captivating thumbnail and strategically embed the full video. Include screenshots and diagrams to complement your writing. Include screenshots and diagrams to complement your writing. Link back to your full video for viewers who prefer that format. This way, you get a valuable blog post and extend the reach of your video content.
Pro Tip: Boost SEO by using relevant keywords and crafting a compelling meta description. Promote the blog post on social media and encourage discussion in the comments.
6) Landing Page Hero: Repurposing for Conversions
Extract key sections showcasing product demos, positive customer testimonials, or data-driven results. These bite-sized clips can highlight the value proposition and build trust with potential customers. A before-and-after video showcasing the problem your product solves works great. Remember, landing pages are concise, so keep video snippets short and impactful.
Pro Tip: Craft a clear call to action at the end of your repurposed video, directing viewers to take the desired action on your landing page, like signing up for a free trial or making a purchase.
7) Cut. Captivate. Convert: Turn Your Long Video into Click-Worthy Ads
Transform your long video into a captivating video ad! Extract the most impactful moments – humor, product demos, impressive results—and condense them into a short, attention-grabbing format (ideally under 30 seconds). Utilize strong visuals, clear messaging, and a compelling call to action to entice viewers to learn more. Remember, video ads compete for fleeting attention spans, so make every second count.
Pro Tip: Tailor your repurposed video ad to the specific platform (e.g., YouTube vs. Facebook) by considering its audience preferences and video length limitations.
Taking Your Repurposing Strategy to the Next Level:
Now that you’ve mastered the art of repurposing individual videos, consider these strategies to take your content strategy to the next level.
- Create a Content Calendar: Plan your repurposing strategy in advance. Allocate specific repurposed content for each platform throughout the week or month. This ensures a consistent flow of fresh content across your social media channels.
- Track and Analyze: Monitor the performance of your repurposed content. See what resonates with your audience on each platform. Use this data to refine your approach and tailor your repurposing efforts for maximum impact.
- Repurpose for Paid Ads: Consider repurposing high-performing video snippets into short, engaging video ads for platforms like Facebook or Instagram. This is a powerful way to reach a wider audience and drive targeted traffic to your website or landing page.
Conclusion:
The world of social media is a content creation marathon, but repurposing your video content is the secret weapon that helps you win the race. It’s a time-saving superpower that allows you to stretch the life of your content, reach new audiences, and keep your social media channels buzzing with fresh and engaging material. So, the next time you look at your video library, don’t see a collection of past projects—see a treasure trove of repurposing possibilities!
