Can we be blunt real quick? We are TIRED of seeing talented creators committing the same mistakes over and over again. Not even mistakes that are difficult to fix, just simple things that make a big difference.
Remember that in the age of social media, making a great first impression is more important than ever. So before you even shoot your next Reel or TikTok, do these three things!
#1 Clean your damn camera lens.
No, for real, clean it.
Your phone is 10 times dirtier than a toilet seat…. Read that again… 10 times dirtier than a toilet seat.
Nasty.
But it makes sense. Your phone goes everywhere you go, and most people set their phones down on random tables, chairs, benches, etc.
We know it seems simple, but you would be shocked by how much content quality goes down just because of a dirty lens. So before you shoot the next video on your phone, double-check that your camera lens is spotless (and we mean spotless).
Cleaning your camera lens the right way is also crucial, so you don't end up scratching it. You should always check with the cleaning instructors for your specific phone, but a good rule of thumb is to use a microfiber towel and non-alcohol-based glass cleaner.
We recommend you keep one of these handy-dandy cleaning packs in your bag or pocket, so you are always ready to catch the perfect shot.
So again, clean your camera lens and thank us later.
#2 Don't use the filters built into your phone's camera. Instead, record videos from your phone in the highest quality possible.
We see it all the time. Creators who very obviously recorded their video using a built-in filter directly on their phones. Don't be like them. Always record videos without filters and set them at the highest recording quality possible.
If you're unsure how to do this, go to your camera settings. See if the maximum possible resolution and FPS are enabled. If they are perfect, you’re set. If they aren’t, enable them.
Also, when you are filming, remember to keep the aspect ratio at 9:16. More than likely, your phone is preset to film at 9:16 anyway, but double-check to be sure.
And as always, make sure you're not filming shaky or blurry videos. The only time that is allowed is if it's the intentional vibe for a scene. Otherwise, clear and steady is key.
Pro-tip:
Did you know there is a setting in Instagram that lets you enable high-quality uploads? Yep yep!
All you have to do is go to Settings > Account > Cellular Data Use > High-Resolution Media and enable its use for both cellular + Wifi.
Voila!
Instagram will no longer compress your video to upload quickly. But know, this will use your data and a lot of it…so be prepared.
#3 Edit your videos directly on Instagram/TikTok whenever possible.
We know there are endless third-party apps that you can use to edit your Reels and TikToks, but we encourage you to edit your video content directly in the app you will be uploading to. Why?
Well, both IG and TikTok favor videos edited through their platform over videos edited externally.
Maybe you already have a go-to editing app that you don't want to give up, but IG and TikTok have very comprehensive tools. The quality will not suffer. And honestly, getting an extra boost of visibility from the algorithm is worth the slight inconvenience.
Remember, you are still able to save edited videos to post at later times; just make sure the editing is happening on the app itself!
Conclusion
You know by now that we genuinely want you to succeed on social media, and we hate seeing such talented up-and-coming creators committing rookie mistakes as they go through their growth journey. So please bypass these mistakes and put into practice today's #3 simple tips.
We know they feel basic, but you would be surprised by their impact on the quality of your Reels and TikTok videos!
Happy creating!
