Mobile Video Formats
What is a video format, and why should I care? There are many ways to define video format. For our purposes we define the video's format as its aspect ratio, otherwise known as the video's dimensions (Width:Height). Video formats range from a 1:1 aspect ratio all the way to 21:9 (cinematic widescreen).
For years the standard video formats used on the internet were 4:3 and 16:9. Once social media sites launched the number of formats started to change. And with the advent of mobile phones the formats changed considerably. Literally, the 16:9 format was flipped on its head, resulting in the new 9:16 format (defined as vertical). This is the way most users consume content on their phones, vertically. Yet 9x16 is not the only mobile player in town. Some social media sites are optimized for the 1:1 format, and some, like YouTube, still use the traditional 16x9 format, all appearing in the mobile phone's vertical space. It can all be quite daunting, but not to worry as we got your back! Check out some of our client examples below in each format.
For years the standard video formats used on the internet were 4:3 and 16:9. Once social media sites launched the number of formats started to change. And with the advent of mobile phones the formats changed considerably. Literally, the 16:9 format was flipped on its head, resulting in the new 9:16 format (defined as vertical). This is the way most users consume content on their phones, vertically. Yet 9x16 is not the only mobile player in town. Some social media sites are optimized for the 1:1 format, and some, like YouTube, still use the traditional 16x9 format, all appearing in the mobile phone's vertical space. It can all be quite daunting, but not to worry as we got your back! Check out some of our client examples below in each format.
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9:16 (Vertical)
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Mobile First
We are all about mobile first and create all of our videos to fit the mobile experience. Be it any of the formats, we create our trailers to fit any mobile screen, across any site, be it social, or a standard video display ad.
So what's the big deal you ask? You just change the aspect ratio and the content will auto-fill. Actually, no. There are a number of things one needs to consider when creating a video for different formats. We have to think about how the content will show up in that space. How will the text appear? How large so it is seen? Where does the user's eye go? How does one image work with another in these unique aspect ratios? It is actually an art to design a video for the mobile frame, a skill that our team has spent a lot of time developing.
What if an author wants multiple mobile formats? Well that gets even trickier as one image or video clip may work in one format, but not the others. Again, it is an art. And after spending a lots of time in our edit suites we have optimized out how to make all the formats look great without breaking the bank, all without losing any quality or stretching any content in undesirable ways.
We are all about mobile first and create all of our videos to fit the mobile experience. Be it any of the formats, we create our trailers to fit any mobile screen, across any site, be it social, or a standard video display ad.
So what's the big deal you ask? You just change the aspect ratio and the content will auto-fill. Actually, no. There are a number of things one needs to consider when creating a video for different formats. We have to think about how the content will show up in that space. How will the text appear? How large so it is seen? Where does the user's eye go? How does one image work with another in these unique aspect ratios? It is actually an art to design a video for the mobile frame, a skill that our team has spent a lot of time developing.
What if an author wants multiple mobile formats? Well that gets even trickier as one image or video clip may work in one format, but not the others. Again, it is an art. And after spending a lots of time in our edit suites we have optimized out how to make all the formats look great without breaking the bank, all without losing any quality or stretching any content in undesirable ways.
How Do I Chose a Video Format?
So which Format is best for you? That of course will depend on which social site(s) you will use, and if you are uploading to just your own accounts personally, or running your video as a paid ad. Since each social media site handles video differently, it is important that you understand which mobile format works best and where, and then upload the right format for that experience. This is your book, your brand, and it needs to show up right! Below is our reference list that identifies the best optimized mobile format for each site application for the videos we produce. Some sites support multiple formats but what is listed below are the formats we find the most compelling, and engaging. All the format placement options are for both organic posts and paid media. Where a different format for paid media is recommended we will identify that. To learn more about paid media campaigns, please visit our Book Trailer Ad Campaign page.
Note that these mobile video format requirements are fluid and subject to change. As the format landscape evolves, we will keep this page updated.
For steps on how to post your videos, please visit our page here.
Facebook
Instagram*
TikTok
Snapchat
YouTube
Pinterest
LinkedIn
X (Formerly Twitter)
Amazon
Threads
Google Display Ads
Author/Publisher Website
* When posting at Instagram from a desktop computer, make sure you do not crop the video, but use "Original" size when uploading/posting.
** When posting make sure "auto captions" or "subtitles" are turned off as of course all of our videos have their own captions.
So which Format is best for you? That of course will depend on which social site(s) you will use, and if you are uploading to just your own accounts personally, or running your video as a paid ad. Since each social media site handles video differently, it is important that you understand which mobile format works best and where, and then upload the right format for that experience. This is your book, your brand, and it needs to show up right! Below is our reference list that identifies the best optimized mobile format for each site application for the videos we produce. Some sites support multiple formats but what is listed below are the formats we find the most compelling, and engaging. All the format placement options are for both organic posts and paid media. Where a different format for paid media is recommended we will identify that. To learn more about paid media campaigns, please visit our Book Trailer Ad Campaign page.
Note that these mobile video format requirements are fluid and subject to change. As the format landscape evolves, we will keep this page updated.
For steps on how to post your videos, please visit our page here.
- Feed - 9:16 (video will crop to 4:5)
- Feed - 1:1 (paid media)
- Reels - 9:16 (will also post to Feed)
- Story - 9:16
Instagram*
- Feed - 9:16 (video will crop to 4:5)
- Reels - 9:16 (will also post to Feed)
TikTok
- Feed - 9:16
Snapchat
- Story - 9:16
YouTube
- Standard - 16:9
- Shorts - 9:16
- Pin or Idea Pin - 9:16
- Feed - 1:1
X (Formerly Twitter)
- Feed - 1:1
Amazon
- Book/Author Page - 16:9
Threads
- Feed - 9:16
Google Display Ads
- 16:9
Author/Publisher Website
- 16:9 (Any format will work. It all depends on how the site is designed. If in doubt, use 16:9)
* When posting at Instagram from a desktop computer, make sure you do not crop the video, but use "Original" size when uploading/posting.
** When posting make sure "auto captions" or "subtitles" are turned off as of course all of our videos have their own captions.
Other Video Technical Specifications
There are other video elements that are part of the total video specification family. There is no need to go into a lot of detail here, other than to list these, along with the others we have already discussed, so our customers can have a clear understanding of all the technical specifications that social media platforms consider and will require of all their mobile upload customers. All of our videos meet every technical specification that a social site requires, so we got your back there. But for the curious mind, please find below each specification defined (note that the bold text represents the default spec we use).
There are other video elements that are part of the total video specification family. There is no need to go into a lot of detail here, other than to list these, along with the others we have already discussed, so our customers can have a clear understanding of all the technical specifications that social media platforms consider and will require of all their mobile upload customers. All of our videos meet every technical specification that a social site requires, so we got your back there. But for the curious mind, please find below each specification defined (note that the bold text represents the default spec we use).
- Video Format
- Video Resolution (Video Size/Dimension - WXH minimum and maximum sizes): 1080x1920, 1080x1080, etc.*
- Video Container: MP4, MOV, AVI, etc.
- Video Codec: H.264, HVEC, MPEG4, etc.
- Video File Size: 20 - 50 MB (Depending on video length)
- Frame Rate (Frames per Second, FPS): 30fps, 24fps, etc.
- Audio Codec: AAC, MP3, etc.
- Length: Total Running Time (TRT)
* Video Resolution
Note that the higher your video resolution is, generally the larger the video file will be. Why? Because in order to ensure good quality, the bigger your video is the more bits per second that the video needs to be encoded in. And the more bits per second, the larger the file. Think of it like dots per inch (DPI) in printing. The more dots per inch allocated to a document, the better its quality, and the larger its file size.
Below is the resolution for each of of the formats that we produce. In the rare case that a site calls for a lower resolution, we can accommodate that if need be. These formats are all optimized for the mobile playback experience
Format - Resolution
16:9 (Horizontal) - 1920x1080
1:1 (Square) - 1080x1080
9:16 (Vertical) - 1080x1920
Note that the higher your video resolution is, generally the larger the video file will be. Why? Because in order to ensure good quality, the bigger your video is the more bits per second that the video needs to be encoded in. And the more bits per second, the larger the file. Think of it like dots per inch (DPI) in printing. The more dots per inch allocated to a document, the better its quality, and the larger its file size.
Below is the resolution for each of of the formats that we produce. In the rare case that a site calls for a lower resolution, we can accommodate that if need be. These formats are all optimized for the mobile playback experience
Format - Resolution
16:9 (Horizontal) - 1920x1080
1:1 (Square) - 1080x1080
9:16 (Vertical) - 1080x1920