ADDITIONAL VIDEO CREATION CONSIDERATIONS

Choosing the right platform and video length are also important factors to consider when creating videos through Villanova.

Consider your audience and platform. If you intend to share the video content on social media, it is recommended to keep to under one minute.

• Short form (e.g., 5-15 seconds, under 30 seconds)
  
• Intermediate (e.g., over 30 seconds, 60-90 seconds)
  
• Long form (e.g., 2 min or longer)

Note: If content is compelling enough to run longer, consider ways during the planning process to chop-it-up into multiple shorter videos.

Each social media or digital platform has its own guidelines for using multimedia content, including images and videos. Specifically, many of these have time requirements for the length of video content. Take the time to learn about each platform's requirements and guidelines prior to producing your video to ensure that you will be able to utilize your desired platforms.

Know BEFORE You Go: Livestream and Premiere Events

• Livestreaming can take many forms and requires planning for costs, technology and time. Please consult with Marketing and UNIT about your options for livestreaming.
• Premieres, specifically on YouTube or Vimeo, are a way to provide a live video experience. Please consult with Marketing and UNIT about your options for premieres.
  • Please note, Vimeo is currently blocked for any Villanova users who are accessing the network through the Gateway or VPN.
• Things to consider:
  • Why go live or schedule a premiere?
  • What platform is best for your needs?
  • Are you equipped with the appropriate technological infrastructure and support?
  • Do you have a communication strategy for promoting and managing this event?

• Facebook
  
• Instagram
  
• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• Vimeo

General Tips

• Use mp4 or mov files
  
• 16:9 is a standard aspect ratio for landscape; 
• 9:16 is a standard aspect ratio for portrait/vertical video. (Please note that the 1:1 (square) video format is primarily used for (Instagram, Facebook) to maximize screen space on mobile devices. 
  
• 1080p resolution or higher for HD quality

YouTube and Vimeo are powerful search engines for content. Optimizing your content for people to find while searching is important.

• Add Titles, Tags and Keywords: Once you finalize your video, be sure to give it a descriptive title and a thorough description, and tag any potential keywords someone would search to find your video. For example, for videos on Villanova’s YouTube channel, “Villanova University” is typically used in all titles, tags and descriptions.
• Choose or Create appealing thumbnails: Thumbnails display a still picture of the video or a photo uploaded with your video. This is the first impression of your video that viewers will see. Making the thumbnail eye-catching or attractive in some manner is a great way to help spark more video views.
  • 1280px x 720px for YouTube
  • 1920px x 1080px for Vimeo
• University YouTube Channel: We recommend that videos be housed on the University YouTube channel, so long as they are properly captioned and keyword tagged.