Why Vertical Videos Rule Facebook and Instagram?

Vertical Videos Rule Facebook and Instagram

You know what’s funny? Most of us never flip our phones when watching videos. And guess what? Neither does your audience. That’s why vertical videos on Facebook and Instagram have taken over, they just fit the way we naturally use our devices.

Let’s explore why vertical videos are dominating Facebook and Instagram, and how you can use them to supercharge your brand’s engagement and ROI.

If you’re planning to create thumb stopping content for mobile users, check out our Social Media Video Production services designed for platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

Vertical Videos Rule Facebook and Instagram

 

Fact 1: Mobile Usage and Video Optimization

  • Comscore’s 2016 U.S. Cross-Platform Future in Focus report.

  • Mobile devices, especially smartphones, dominate digital media consumption.

  • Smartphone apps alone accounted for nearly 50% of total digital time spent.

  • Social media users are primarily mobile-first in their behavior.

  • To align with viewing habits, create mobile-optimized, vertical-format videos.

 

Fact 2: Vertical Videos Outperform in Engagement

  • Video format plays a key role in social media performance.

  • Marketing studies consistently show that vertical videos outperform square and horizontal formats on mobile platforms.

  • Platforms like Facebook and Twitter prioritize native vertical content, leading to improved visibility and interaction.

  • This trend aligns with the mobile-first consumption habits of users.

  • Conclusion: Brands looking to boost engagement should consider prioritizing vertical video formats.

Fact 3:

Mediabrix, a mobile advertising platform revealed that:

  • 90% of videos watched vertically have a higher completion rate than the videos watched horizontally.
  • To watch an ad, less than 30% of users will turn phones sideways.
  • On top of it, these users who turn their phones sideways watch only 14% of the video.
  • Deduction: Well, ouch for people with a 16:9 horizontal video ad strategy!

Fact 4:

  • 57% of video recorded worldwide come from mobile devices.
  • Deduction: it means more than half of the world netizens are filming videos vertically already.

Fact 5:

If this didn’t convince you, well consider the fact that:

“Smartphone users tend to hold their phone vertically about 94% of the time.”
These numbers tell a story, you need to hear at once. Vertical videos are not the future, they are the present. You might have some queries, which may sound like…

 

Will vertical video take over social media marketing trends? Can vertical video maximize the ROI?

Well, soon and yes. Let’s break down the benefits that suggest why vertical video is crucial for your brand on social media channels.

 

1) Vertical videos are the second nature to individuals

We are glad to break it to you that vertical only stories videos are the new focal point of social media platforms, particularly, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. People tend to film and post in the vertical format which is why it comes naturally.

 

2) Lower CPM and better ROI

Yes, that’s right! Branded vertical video content reaches 58% more people. Also, as we mentioned earlier, vertical videos attract more engagement than square videos on Facebook. How cool is that! You get more engagement and better ROI for your natural instinct to film a video.

 

3) Get improved video completion rates with vertical video

Vertical videos get a 90% completion rate which is a record to break. You can maximize your social media marketing efforts by publishing vertical videos as it helps in retaining the audience’s attention.

 

Conclusion

If you offer videos that blend naturally into users’ feeds that is the portrait format for video content, your tracks to maximize ROI through social media marketing are right. Mobile-first and vertical-video focused approach is the leading option for brands who seek to cultivate their image. This era makes it easiest for you to produce and publish branded content with least efforts and added benefits. Start rolling now!

Want to see how animation can boost results too? Check out our blog on How an Animated Explainer Video Can Boost Your Conversions.

About the author

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are vertical videos more effective on Facebook and Instagram?
Vertical videos match how people naturally hold their phones. With over 90% of users consuming mobile content in portrait mode, vertical videos feel seamless in the feed and lead to better engagement, longer watch time, and more visibility.
They perform better across every metric. Studies show vertical videos get up to four times more engagement and 90% higher completion rates than horizontal formats. This gives brands a stronger return on attention and more interaction from their audience.
Short, visually driven stories, product demos, quick tips, and behind-the-scenes content are all perfect for vertical video. At Motionvillee, we help brands adapt content specifically for Instagram Reels, Facebook Stories, and other mobile-first placements.
Yes. Brands using vertical videos on platforms like Instagram and Facebook often report lower cost per thousand views (CPM). In some cases, CPM drops by 20 to 30 percent, while reach and engagement go up, offering a better return for the same budget.
Not at all. With the right approach, vertical content can be designed from the start without needing a second version. Motionvillee creates platform-ready videos that are built for vertical layouts, helping brands avoid awkward cropping or re-editing later.

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