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How to add Captions to Reels to Hook your audience!

We all know how everyone is hooked to Instagram Reels nowadays.

In fact, we have heard the “Instagram is used by 2 billion monthly users wolrdwide” stat and the “Reels receive more engagement than other IG posts” stat more than James Bond says…

 

Many renowned brands and content creators utilize Instagram Reels like “business cards” and leverage its popularity.

To ensure that they achieve maximized engagement and increase their chances of becoming viral through reels, they use different techniques. And one of the simplest techniques they use is adding captions to their reel. 

Wondering how captions increase a Reel’s engagement?

1. Reels are short-form videos that keep playing in a loop. People watching may tend to get confused by the dialogues, background audio, etc. Captions will help hold the viewers’ attention and help them understand the content better.
2. Many users watch Reels on mute. If you share important information in your video, you wouldn’t want this “group-on-mute” to miss out, right? So, adding those captions is beneficial!
3. Reels are meant to be enjoyed by all, irrespective of their challenges. Subtitles are a huge help to those with auditory challenges.

Now that you know why even the Instagram biggies believe in subtitles, I am sure you would want to try out the same strategy in your videos and see the difference. 

So, here are two easy ways by which you can add captions to your Instagram Reels.

1. How to add captions to reels through IG’s in-built automatic captioning feature
2. How to add captions to reels using a Free online Subtitle Generator app

If you are someone who is out of time and will just be happy with limited customization, then you can create your captions using the captioning feature available with Instagram itself.

But if you are someone who wants elaborate customization and wants to make their captioned videos look uniquely cool, then you can use the Free subtitle generator app we have recommended.

For the purpose of this article, I will use a popular reel video from our IG feed to teach you how to add captions.

 

Without further delays, let’s jump right into learning how to add captions to your Instagram reel video through the in-built feature.

1. How to add captions to reels through IG’s in-built automatic captioning feature

Adding subtitles or captions would make the Reel more understandable and helpful for the viewer.

To add subtitles to Reels using the built-in captioning feature, follow the steps below:

• Step 1: Drafting a Reel
• Step 2: Uploading a Video
• Step 3: Adding Captions to the Reel

Step 1: Drafting a Reel:

Log in to your profile and click on the plus (+) icon on top to add a new post. Under the “Create” section, select ‘Reel.’

Step 2: Uploading a Video

This opens the camera. You can record the video using the camera or select a pre-made video to upload as the reel. Here, I select a pre-made video and click on ‘Add.’

Step 3: Adding Captions to the Reel

Once the video is uploaded, click on the ‘Stickers’ option on top. This opens a huge list of stickers.

Here, select the “Captions” sticker. Selecting this option makes Instagram automatically transcribe the audio and generate subtitles.

The transcription can take quite a while, 

But once it is done, here’s what the reel with the subtitles looks like!

That was very easy, wasn’t it? 

Now, let’s jump to the next method of adding subtitles to Instagram reel.

2. How to add captions to reels using a Free online Subtitle Generator app

Though the built-in feature is very easy to use, there are many situations where the subtitles generated by the app may be erroneous. Like this…

This might be caused due to bad pronunciation or overlap of background music with the dialogues, making the subtitle generator interpret the dialogues wrong. 

There are a number of generators out there that do the job. But as always, we are particular on presenting you with the best.

So for this, we will be using a tool called Animaker. Animaker is an online video-making platform that helps users create awesome videos in a matter of minutes. The vast library of Animaker is enriched with 150+ animated characters, 70K+ icons, 30K+ music tracks, 100M+ stock images and videos, etc.; you name it, you can add it! In short, you will be left spoilt for choice!

Recently, Animaker has developed the ultimate Subtitle Generator to help you add the perfect subtitles and avoid embarrassing situations, as in the GIF above. This AI-powered tool helps you generate subtitles that are 99% accurate. 

Where’s the missing 1%, do you ask? Well, the Subtitle maker highlights parts of the generated subtitles that might be an error, giving you the option to judge whether they are correct.

This makes it easy for you to identify and correct errors if necessary, rather than having to scout for mistakes by checking the subtitles line by line.

Animaker’s Subtitle Generator helps you add subtitles to your videos through three different methods:

a. Auto-subtitles – to generate subtitles automatically

b. Manual subtitles – to type them out manually

c. Upload subtitles – to upload a subtitle file and sync it with your video

Without any further ado, let’s see how to add subtitles using these three methods one by one.

a. Add captions to Instagram reel using the Auto-subtitle feature.

As the name clearly suggests, this feature is to generate subtitles automatically. The AI-powered tool does the magic of recognizing the audio and converting it into captions. 

To auto-generate subtitles using Animaker’s AI-powered Subtitle Generator, use the steps below:

Step 1: Creating a new project

Step 2: Uploading a video

Step 3: Auto-generating Subtitles

Step 4: Formatting the generated subtitles

Step 5: Downloading the Video

Now, let’s jump right in!

Step 1: Creating a new project

Signup/Login to Animaker. Once you log in, you will be taken to the dashboard.

Here, select the right arrow in the create button. This lists a number of create options. Select the “Create subtitle” option.

Step 2: Uploading a video

This opens a new project. First, you must select the video for which subtitles need to be generated. You can either upload the video from your PC/ choose a video you have exported from Animaker/ choose a video you have uploaded previously.

Since I have the video in hand, I am going to select the first option. To do the same, click on the “Upload your file” button and select the video from your file manager.

The video is uploaded. Before we learn how to auto-generate subtitles for this video, let’s quickly learn what the interface of Animaker’s Subtitle Maker looks like. 

• On the left is the library with the Subtitle, Settings, and Translation Tabs. 
• On the top is the menu with options to rename, preview, share, and download the video.
• In the center is the workspace. This is where you upload your video.
• On the bottom is the timeline. You can see the uploaded video on the timeline below.

Step 3: Auto-generating Subtitles

Now, let’s select the “Auto Subtitle” option. Tadaaa! In a few seconds, the subtitles are ready! You can see how the audio has been transcribed, and the subtitles have been generated perfectly for the right durations, as in the image below.

Simply click on the text or the duration to edit them.

Merge Text:

If you feel that some lines need to be displayed together, select the “Merge Text” option. After selecting, notice how the subtitle lines and their duration are combined in the Subtitles pane. Apart from this, you can also see the lines getting combined both in the workspace and in the timeline.

Add new Subtitle Line: 

If you want to add a new line, click on the “Add new subtitle line” option. Doing this adds a new line for a two-second duration by default. If you want to, you can edit the duration by clicking on it and typing, and later enter the subtitle for that duration.

Step 4: Formatting the generated subtitles

Now, let’s see how to edit the format of these subtitles. Go to the Settings tab. Here, you can change the subtitle’s font style, size, color, alignment, letter, spacing, etc. Choose from the 150+ font styles available and make your subtitle look absolutely amazing.

The best part is, you don’t have to get your hands dirty, trying to carve the captions perfectly. There are 15 premade text styles that you can apply to your subtitles, making it look cool and professional.

Step 5: Downloading the Video

Once you are done doing all the edits, you can download it by clicking on the download button. 

That’s it! That’s how Animaker’s AI-Powered Auto subtitle generator works!

Now, let’s move on to the next section, adding subtitles to your video manually!

b. Add subtitles to Instagram reel using the Manual Subtitles feature

This feature is mainly for perfectionists who are satisfied ONLY if THEY do the work. They can’t trust even AI to do the job, because they feel like…

So, for all those perfect nitwits out there, here’s how you can add subtitles to your Instagram reels ALL BY YOURSELF:

Step 1: Creating a new project

Step 2: Uploading a video

Step 3: Entering the Subtitles Manually

Step 4: Formatting the generated subtitles

Step 5: Downloading the Video

Now, let’s jump right in!

Step 1: Creating a new project

Signup/Login to Animaker. Once you log in, you will be taken to the dashboard. 

Here, select the right arrow in the create button. This lists several create options. Select the “Create subtitle” option.

Step 2: Uploading a video

This opens a new project. First, you must select the video for which subtitles need to be generated. You can either upload the video from your PC/ choose a video you have exported from Animaker/ choose a video you have uploaded previously.

Since I have the video in hand, I am going to select the first option. To do the same, click on the “Upload your file” button and select the video from your file manager.

Step 3: Entering the Subtitles Manually

After the file is uploaded, select the “Manual Subtitle” option. This opens the Subtitle pane. You will notice a blank provision (to enter the subtitle) for a duration of two seconds. By default, the duration of every new subtitle is two seconds.

Since I know the dialogue and its exact duration, I type it as in the GIF below.

Add new Subtitle Line: 

To add a new subtitle, click on the “Add new subtitle line” option. Every new line added has a duration of two seconds by default. After you add a line, you can enter the corresponding subtitle text.

Check out this GIF to learn how to edit the subtitle’s duration.

Did you notice how the duration changes in the timeline when you change it in the Subtitles pane? That’s cool, isn’t it?!

Step 4: Formatting the generated subtitles

Once you are done entering all the subtitles manually, you might want to edit the format of these subtitles. 

To do so, go to the Settings tab. Here, you can change the subtitle’s font style, size, color, alignment, letter, spacing, etc. Choose from the 150+ font styles available and make your subtitle look absolutely amazing.

The best part is, you don’t have to get your hands dirty, trying to carve the captions perfectly. There are 15 premade text styles that you can apply to your subtitles, making it look cool and professional.

Step 5: Downloading the Video

After doing all the edits, you can download it by clicking on the download button. 

And that’s how you manually add subtitles to Instagram reel videos using Animaker!

Next, let’s check out the final way – uploading a Subtitle File!

c. Add subtitles to Instagram reel using the Upload Subtitles feature

If you are someone who has the subtitle file ready (how smart of you!) and the only thing left to do is syncing it with your video, well, that’s exactly what the Upload Subtitle feature of Animaker’s Subtitle Generator is for!

Let’s see the steps for this method!

Step 1: Creating a new project

Step 2: Uploading a video

Step 3: Uploading the Subtitle File

Step 4: Formatting the generated subtitles

Step 5: Downloading the Video

Step 1: Creating a new project

Signup/Login to Animaker. Once you log in, you will be taken to the dashboard. 

Here, select the right arrow in the create button. This lists several create options. Select the “Create subtitle” option.

Step 2: Uploading a video

This opens a new project. First, you must select the video for which subtitles need to be generated. You can either upload the video from your PC/ choose a video you have exported from Animaker/ choose a video you have uploaded previously.

Since I have the video in hand, I am going to select the first option. To do the same, click on the “Upload your file” button and select the video from your file manager.

Step 3: Uploading the Subtitles File

After uploading the video, select the “Upload Subtitle” option. This opens the File explorer on your PC. Select the file you want to add.

Note: The allowed file formats are .srt, .vtt, and .ass.

Since subtitles files have the text and durations defined perfectly, Animaker’s Subtitle Maker takes not more than two seconds to sync it with the video, like this…

Amazing, right?! Now, you can go ahead and make changes to your subs if necessary!

Step 4: Formatting the generated subtitles

Once you are done, you might want to edit the format of these subtitles. 

To do so, Go to the Settings tab. Here, you can change the subtitle’s font style, size, color, alignment, letter, spacing, etc. Choose from the 150+ font styles available and make your subtitle look absolutely amazing.

The best part is, you don’t have to get your hands dirty, trying to carve the captions perfectly. There are 15 premade text styles that you can apply to your subtitles, making it look cool and professional.

Step 5: Downloading the Video

After doing all the edits, you can download the video by clicking on the download button. 

And that’s how you upload and sync a subtitle file to Instagram reel videos using Animaker!

Bonus Tip:

Now that you know how to add subtitles to an Instagram reel video using three different methods, here’s a bonus tip for you.

Apart from downloading the subtitled video, you can also rename and download the Subtitle File.

To rename the file, go to the Translations tab. You will notice the subtitled file. Click on it to rename. Alternatively, you can also select the three dots and then select the Rename option.

To download the subtitle file in .srt (or) .vtt, (or) .ass formats, use the download icon or select Download from the three dots.

That’s it, fellas!

It’s time for you to grow the habit of adding Subtitles to all your Reels! I am sure this newfound habit will have an immense impact on your IG profile!

Hope this article was helpful for you to learn how to add captions to Instagram Reels. Without any delay, jump right into uploading your reel video and adding subtitles for it using Animaker’s Subtitle Generator!

Got any questions? Please add them in the comments below. We will be more than happy to help you out!

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How to Make a Video? [Five Simple Steps to Awesome Videos]

Let us consider two different situations. Personal and Professional.

Personal: Your anniversary is soon approaching. You have booked a table at your favorite restaurant. You have chosen the perfect gift. You have even transformed yourself from your usual sleep-deprived, lazy self to a presentable person.

But you feel that something is missing and that a personal touch is required to woo your partner…

Professional: A critical client meeting is around the corner. It is a huge client. You want to floor them with your pitch and close the deal. You have a great idea in hand, but you do not want to bore them with the same old, lifeless PPT or Doc.

You are in dire need of an attractive, engaging method to impress the clients and your team. You want your pitch to be etched on people’s minds, convincing them to buy it. You want to impress them with your A-game…

As much as these scenarios have nothing in common, there is one solution that would deem fit. Good for you, cuz you have correctly sought the right and easiest way out. 

Yes, Videos! If you want to convey something in an appealing, likable manner, videos are the way to go! If you feel that visuals and sound can improve the overall experience… videos, it is!

So, to help you make that perfect video of yours here is a step-by-step guide. And you can refer to points based on the scenario you are looking for.

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Step 1: Understand the Goal

Step 2: Write the Script

Step 3: Choose your Video-making Path

Step 4: Make the Video

Step 5: Edit, Publish and Promote

Let’s see the steps one by one.

Step 1: Understand the Goal

A good start equals 50% of the job completed. And the first step in making a video is to understand the goal. Only if you know what you need to achieve will you work towards it clinically.

Imagine working towards the wrong goal from the very first place? It would end up being a waste of time, waste of effort, and so on.

You have to consider your audience’s minds. Certain things are a MUST, while others are a BIG NO-NO! Figure out these two and differentiate them.

For Personal, you might want to make your wife’s birthday special. It might even be a cute gesture from you of givingto give her a creative gift. For Professional, the goals may be to get your startup idea funded, getting your team motivated, etc.

So, find the purpose, understand the goal, and get going.

Step 2: Write the Script

You are going to make a video. And you SHOULD be writing a script. As much as the blueprint is essential for construction, a script is vital for a video. And for the script, order and flow are quite important. Your video would make sense only if it has a proper flow. It is 1 2 3 4 and not 3 2 1 4. With the proper flow, load your video with wow factors and carve that fantastic script! Carve it in a way where the audience asks for more instead of awaiting the end! Here’s an article that can be of huge help to your script-writing!

In short, become the audience and think like them. Make a proper plan and carve the script accordingly. Only then can you come up with an excellent video confidently like this…

Step 3: Choose your Video-making Path

Your script is ready. The next obvious step is to look for ways to create that awesome video of yours. You can use one of the following methods to make your video:

1. Appoint a new team
2. Choose Video-making agencies
3. DIY (Do-it-yourself) tools

1. Appoint a new team

Appointing a new team would involve a huge budget. It would require scriptwriters, video makers, editors, and other technicians. So, if you are ready to shell in those bucks, you can very well appoint a new team to create your video!

2. Choose Video-making agencies

If hiring a team did not pan out well, you can seek the help of the right animation studio. Such agencies would house professionals who have been creating such videos for years. So, it would go without saying that you can give them the job and expect a top-notch outcome. But quality comes with a price. So for this, you would have to make a huge investment.

3. DIY (Do-it-yourself) Tools

The easiest way to get your job done, under the supervision of the most trustworthy person (You, of course!), is to make use of DIY tools! DIY video-making tools like Animaker are a boon for both simpletons and the sophisticated. Since these tools are filled with everything you need to make a video, right from properties to background music, all you need to do is drag and drop the elements and compile them into a beautiful video. Even if you know nothing about video-making, these easy-to-use tools will help you on the go! 

The best part is, it is suitable for both personal and professional videos. The first two methods would involve the investment of money. This method, however, would involve only the investment of your effort.

Chop chop! It is time to make the video.

Step 4: Make the Video 

Now that your script is ready, it is time to buckle down and set the stage for the actual process: MAKING THE VIDEO!

If you are wondering how to make that video of yours, there are two different ways.

1. How to make a video with an in-house team/Video-making Agency
2. How to make a video using a DIY tool

1. How to make a video with an in-house team/Video-making Agency

When you are making the video with the help of an in-house team or an external agency, you should ensure that the team and you are on the same page. Only if you convey the idea and the requirements entirely will they create a video of good quality. So, here are some pointers for hiring a team/agency:

• Do a background check on the individuals/team. You do not want to be hung up with a bunch of make-believe video makers, do you?
• Make a comparison before zeroing in on an individual/team. You need the best at the end of the day.
• Once you are done selecting the team/agency, allow them to understand your company and its brand appeal to consider these factors while creating the video.
• Always convey the idea in an understandable, workable manner. If the creators do not understand what you are saying, poof! It is a waste of time for both ends.
• Do not wait for the final draft to land on your table. Ask the creators to provide WIP (Work in progress) so that you can point out changes then and there.
• Follow up. Be involved always. Sometimes, people can get a little lazy. That should not affect your work. So, keep an eye out for progress and check up on the creators so that they do not end up getting irritated!
• Be consistent throughout. Your idea/vision should be the same on the first and last day. Only then will the creator be able to meet your needs.
• Do not compromise on quality, trying to save money. Throwing in extra bucks for a top-grade video can be helpful in the long run.
• If you are thinking about saving some bucks, you can choose a team/agency associated with you for a long time. Choosing them for a one-time task can cost you more.

2. How to make a video using a DIY tool

Be it for personal or professional videos, the steps involved in creating a video is the same. But you can choose between two options as shown below:

• Edit a photo video template
• Create a Video from scratch

Edit a photo video template:

This is the easiest and quickest way to create your video. You will simply have to replace the text and images (if necessary) in the template, replace the background music, and download the video. Voila! You are done!

If you are not convinced yet, here are some videos from our Moments section that will help you.

Personal:

Use this template

 

Use this template

Professional:

Use this template

Use this template

You can select any video from above and start working on it. Or, you can very well visit our Moments page to check out the other templates too. Now that we have selected our Moment, the next step is to customize it according to our needs. Here are the steps:
1. If you are going to choose a video from above, all you need to do is select the “Use” button. This will open a new project.

But this will happen only if you are registered with Animaker already and are logged in. If not, click here to sign up. Once you are done signing up, click on the “Use” button above to open a new project.

If you are already a user of Animaker, click here to log in.

2. After you sign in, a new project will get opened. You will see that the template has everything needed for a video. All you need to do is, swap the pictures in it with yours. Let us start by uploading your images one by one to switch the existing photos. Choose the file that you want to upload from your local storage. Click the Upload button, navigate to the file, select it, and click on Open. You can also drag and drop the file from your local storage.

3. Likewise, upload all the pictures. After uploading, select the photo in the template. This will open the Item Menu. Select the Swap option from the Item Menu.

4. This will open the Images section from the library. Using the Swap option allows you to swap the existing image with an image or video, either from the Library or from the My Uploads section. Since we will use the uploaded photo, choose the My Uploads icon in the images section.

5. Select the image you want to swap the existing image with, and click on Apply. 

After swapping, you can resize the image by selecting it and then dragging its corners. 

6. If you feel that the text in the template does not go with your image, you can change it by clicking on it. Clicking on it would open the Text Settings window, from which you can modify your text’s font style, size, alignment, letter spacing, transparency, entry/exit effect, and arrangement. Also, you can use Smart Move on your text to give it complex animations. Check out this video to know how to use Smart Move.

7. Alternatively, you can also delete the existing text box and replace it with one from the Text Pre-builts section. The Library also has a massive list of Text Pre-builts, which are formatted with unique entry and exit effects. Apart from these pre-builts, you can also select a heading, subheading, or body text, format it, and provide it with your own entry/exit effects.

8. If you are confident enough, you can very well go ahead and create a scene from scratch. To do this, select the scene after which you want the new scene, and select the Add Scene option. If you want to add a new scene that does not have many changes from a particular scene, the easiest and smartest thing to do is duplicate a scene. Select the Duplicate Scene option and make your changes in the newly added scene right away. To delete a particular scene, select it from the Scenes section and select the Delete Scene option.

You can also add any asset from the Library to any scene and enhance your video. Refer to the screenshot below to know where each asset type can be found.

As and when you add an element to the scene, you will notice it getting added to the timeline below. For instance, when you add a photo that you had uploaded, this is how it gets added to the Workspace and the timeline.

To adjust the duration of the asset’s visibility on a particular scene, drag the black bars at the ends of the scene in the timeline or by clicking the + and – options at the bottom right.

Once you are done editing the text and replacing the assets the way you want, we will move on to the next step; one of the most critical steps for creating a cool video…

9. The final step is to add music to your video. For this, select the video timeline. 

To change the existing BGM in this template, click on the music track in the timeline. You will notice a pop-up with some options appear. Remove the track by selecting the Delete option.

To choose a new music track/sound effect, select the Music option in the library. This will list several royalty-free music tracks. Similarly, to add sound effects, select the option next to Music.

Hover over any track to preview it. Add a track to the video by simply clicking on it. From the timeline, you can preview the track, adjust its volume, duplicate it, and delete it. You can also move the black edges of the track to extend or contract it and match the track length with your video’s duration.

And if that is still not enough, you can upload your own music the same way you uploaded your pictures and add it to the video. 

We will see how to preview and publish/download the video in the fifth step.

Create a Video from scratch:

You do not want to make use of a template and start from scratch, huh? Well, we have options for that too! Here are the steps:

1. After logging into your account, Click on Create -> Create a video on the dashboard.

2. This will take you to the Moments page. This page lists three blank options at the top, along with the other predefined templates. Select one among the three blank templates (vertical, square, and horizontal), depending on the dimension you want.

3. Selecting a blank template will start a new project as shown below.

4. After the project is launched, start by uploading the pictures following the steps mentioned earlier.

5. Once the pictures are uploaded, our next step will be to add a good background to the video. Using Animaker, you can add four different types of backgrounds to your video. Check out this video to know more.

6. For this video, I would prefer to go with an image background. As it is an anniversary video, I will search for the keyword “love” in the search bar and choose one from the filtered list. To add a background you like to the workspace, simply click on it.

7. Now that our background is selected, the next step will be to add the uploaded photos to the workspace. Go to the Uploads section in the library and select the photo that you want to add to the workspace.

Resize the image by dragging its corners and place it properly. 

8. Here’s a subtle trick for you. Though adding the image would do, adding a frame to the picture can emphasize it. Wondering how? Look down. 

a. Click on Properties in the Library.

b. Since the image is in landscape format, we can choose the rectangle shape. To choose the rectangle shape, click on the plus symbol next to Shapes (With Text) under Properties.

c. This will expand the Shapes section. Select the rectangle to add it to the workspace. 

d. Besides using the corners of the shape to resize it, you can also change its width by using the rhombus icon in the shape. This will help you to scale the frame like this…

e. Once you have made the frame fit the picture perfectly, you can change the color of the shape and give it entry/exit effects from the settings.

f. Now that your frame is set, right-click on it and select Move to Back. This will help you in performing the next step without any hassles.

9. You can add text to a video by selecting the Text option from the library. Select a heading/subheading/body text or choose a style from the vast list of Text-Prebuilts.

For this video, I select the body text and enter the text to add to the video. 

Similar to the other assets, you can format the text the way you want it to be and also give it entry/exit effects from the Text Settings window.

10. Let us move on to the next scene. Now that our first scene is perfectly set, the easiest and smartest thing to do would be to duplicate it and simply change the picture and text for the other scenes. This would help you complete your video faster. To duplicate the scene, click on the Duplicate Scene option on the first scene under the Scenes tab.

11. Now, our task is to replace the image and the text, and we are done with the second scene. To replace the image, select it, and choose the Swap option from the Item Menu.

This will open the Images section from the library. Using the Swap option allows you to swap the existing image with an image or video, either from the Library or from the My Uploads section. Since we are going to use the photo that was uploaded, choose the My Uploads icon in the images section.

Select the image you want to replace the current image with and click on Apply.

You can resize the image by dragging its corners and fitting it into the frame.

12. Next, change the text accordingly. 

Similarly, you can duplicate the first scene and change the picture and text in forthcoming scenes.

13. The final step is to add music to your video. To choose a new music track/sound effect, select the Music option in the library. This will list several royalty-free music tracks. Similarly, to add sound effects, select the option next to Music. 

14. Hover over any track/effect to preview it. Add a track to the video by simply clicking on it. From the timeline, you can preview the track, adjust its volume, duplicate it, and delete it. You can also extend the black marks at the ends of the track to extend or contract it.

And if that’s still not enough, you can upload your music the same way you uploaded your pictures and add it to the video.

Check out the next step to know how to preview and publish/download the video.

Step 5: Edit, Publish, and Promote

To err is human. So, we are bound to make mistakes. But, a silly mistake should not end up ruining the time and effort involved. So, always edit, proofread, and present the best!

Let’s go ahead and carry out the final step to obtain the video! 

The steps involved in previewing and downloading/publishing the created video is the same for both options (Creating from a template and creating from scratch). Let us see the steps with the second option as an example.

1. After adding all the elements, preview the video to ensure that they have been added correctly. Select the Scene Preview option to preview a particular scene and use the Video Preview option to preview the entire video.

2. Once you are done, click on Publish -> Download video. You can rename it, select the preferred video quality, and then click on Download.

Your video is ready! Once the rendering is done, you can download it. Additionally, you will also receive the video link via mail.

Wasn’t that very easy? You will be able to create and download a completed, awesome video in a matter of minutes! All the best!

***

Hope this article was helpful! Should you have any questions/doubts, shoot ‘em in the comments section. We will be happy to help you out!

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Top 11 YouTube Channel Ideas [Based on most Subscribers & Views]

YouTube is a gigantic platform that houses billions of videos of different kinds. It is mammoth-like and gives solutions to any problem in the world. 

While there are platforms that might fail to provide a proper answer, it is tough NOT to find a video on a particular topic on YouTube. Well, it didn’t become the world’s second-largest search engine for nothing, did it?

If you are one among those willing to educate fellow humans (or any species for that say… no discrimination, you see!) using YouTube as the medium, well…

Now that you have decided to create a channel, you might be feeling wary of choosing the right idea/theme for it. And it is okay to feel that way because not all channels are successful. On the one hand, choosing the wrong idea in the very first place can backfire big time. On the other hand, the right notion poorly presented can affect the whole point.

So, to help you choose the right youtube channel idea and make you go…

Here we present our top 11 YouTube channel ideas, in no particular order.

1. Photography and Videography Channels
2. Educational Channels
3. Gaming Channels
4. Vlogging Channels
5. Tech Channels
6. Fitness Channels
7. Political Satire/News Channels
8. Comedy Channels
9. Makeup Channels
10. Experiment Channels
11. Toy Reviews Channels

To make life easier for you, I have included an example video and the corresponding channel link for each category.

Psst psst… towards the end, I have also mentioned a unique method. In addition to all these youtube channel ideas, this method can boost your channel and its audience.

It’s time to start taking notes to create the perfect channel!

1. Photography and Videography Channels

Not everybody is gifted with an aesthetic sense. Only some have the talent to view and capture things in an artistic manner like this…

Or make a radio station look like an alternate universe.

If you are amidst those with such an artistic sense, you can start either a Photography or a Videography channel, depending on your field of expertise and comfort. In your channel, you can talk about anything that involves these two niches, starting from the basics to techniques that can be followed while filming. You can even review gadgets and properties that can help while shooting, give your viewers editing ideas, tips, and more.

Check out these two experts.

• Photography – Peter McKinnon

Peter McKinnon is a photographer whose channel has 5.04 million subscribers and 383 million views. He is best known for his photography and cinematography tutorials, where he talks about different types of photography like Texture Photography, Underwater Photography, etc. He also reviews various types of cameras, their lens, and other gadgets that help him.

Besides, he suggests tricks that can help viewers better their photography skills. And wait, he doesn’t stop there. He also teaches how to edit photos and gives tips on using Photoshop and Lightroom. 

In short, this guy is a one-stop shop for photography. You can choose him as an inspiration and learn how your channel can be started and grown. Here’s a video from him.

• Video – Parker Walbeck:

Parker Walbeck is a Videographer who runs an online film school named Full Time FilmMaker [need I say more? 😉 ]. His channel has 1.18 million subscribers and 59 million views.

Like Peter McKinnon, Parker covers everything about videography in his channel, right from A to Z. While Peter talks about both photography and videography, Parker sticks to videography and educates all on the essentials of video making. Check out this video of his.

Both Peter and Parker make photos and videos that are a sight for our sore eyes. They focus on helping out fellow filmmakers and work towards forming a friendly neighborhood like…

2. Educational Channels:

Like I had mentioned earlier, people come to YouTube mainly to find answers to their questions. 

So it makes perfect sense to create videos that would help the audience find those answers and educate themselves.

Starting from students to adults, anybody who wants to learn online opt for YouTube videos. That’s because educational videos are free and readily available on YouTube. So, if you are one of those that want to educate fellow citizens, an educational channel is the way to go.

While there are numerous channels that do this, a great example of this is Khan Academy. Khan academy is a cool channel with 5.91M subscribers and more than 1.7 billion views. It focuses on helping out both teachers and students improve their skills to make education and learning more fun.

Here’s a video from Khan Academy.

3. Gaming Channels

Would you believe that the channel with the second-highest number of subscribers started as a gaming channel? 

Well, whether you believe it or not, that’s the fact!

PewDiePie is the proud owner of this channel with a massive 107 million subscribers and more than 26 billion views. He started by posting Let’s Play videos, which featured recordings of himself playing horror and action games. His gaming skills and eccentric humor helped him gain followers fast, and the rest, as we say, is history! Check out this video from him with over 9.6 million views.

So, if you are a hardcore gamer, start a channel and showcase your gaming skills to become the next PewDiePie or the first <insert your channel name here>.

Here’s a list of gaming YouTube channels for you to draw inspiration from.

4. Vlogging Channels

Vlogging channels have been gaining popularity since forever! And the best part about it is that you can choose any topic of your interest and vlog about it. As long as your content is catchy and you present it interestingly with passion and enthusiasm, you’ve set the bar right!

Check out this list to get inspired and hone your Vlogging skills!

For starters, here are some biggies from the different types of vlogs from whom you can draw inspiration:

• Lifestyle vlogging 

Lifestyle vlogging is the practice where a vlogger records their daily activities. They showcase their day-to-day life, their opinions, hobbies, and everything on their vlogs. And the pioneer of this style of vlogging is Casey Neistat.

Casey Neistat’s channel has 12.2 million subscribers and more than 2.8 billion views.

He is a legendary vlogger who had increased his subscriber count from 1 million to 4 million in 12 months. He is admired by many, thanks to his daily vlogs that lasted for 800 days straight.

His videos are too cool that Nike had approached him to make a commercial on the topic Make it Count. This guy, instead of making a proper commercial, used the money provided by Nike to travel the world. As usual, he made vlogs on his journey and compiled those vlogs into a commercial. Here is that commercial. Interesting, much?!

Here’s an awesome video of his.

• Travel vlogging

I am sure that the travel bug might have bitten every person in this world at some point in their lives. Especially after a long week at work, all of us would have felt the urge to drop everything then and there and go on a looooong vacation. As much as the idea of going on a holiday sounds good, not everybody is confident enough to go on a trip without prior research.

To get a good idea of the place they want to visit, all “travelers” lookout for sources that will provide authentic views and reviews. Starting such a travel vlog would turn out to be a huge favor for both ends: for the viewer, as they get to see raw footage of their next destination, for you, as your videos will automatically gain views.

These videos can cost you a lot in the beginning; there’s no doubt about that. But once you start posting awesome videos and start gaining popularity, you might even get sponsors coming your way (provided your videos are top-notch!). If you feel that you cannot shell out money, you can make life hack/advice videos for travelers to prepare themselves before and for the trip. 

Drew Binsky is one such traveler who posts videos daily from his travel adventures. His channel has 1.91 million subscribers and 372 million views. He aims to visit all the countries globally and is currently in the 191st country out of the world’s 197 countries. Check out this video of his.

Here’s a list of other travel channels for you to check out.

• Food vlogging

You might have caught yourself ogling at several cooking videos often. Even if you were not cooking or were not in a mood to cook, you might be into such videos. That’s because food has the best relationship with humans. It speaks to the heart, mind, AND stomach at the same time. Aren’t all these enough reasons to start a channel on food?

Suppose you are among those with “Gordon Ramsey” and “Maggie Bear” hidden inside, good for you! You can give a demo of your own/inspired recipes on your channel.

Or, if you are from the group that sticks to tasting food rather than cooking it, then voila! You can dedicate your channel to “Food review” like the Food Ranger.

The Food Ranger has over 4.49 million subscribers and 600 million views. He is known for traveling around the world and trying out local delicacies during his expeditions. Some of the dishes are quirky and not for the faint-hearted. But his videos sure do make our mouths water. Here’s a video from him.

Check out this list to know more about food channels.

The list doesn’t end here. There are Personal Vlogs, Business Vlogs, Comedy Vlogs, and many more. Find your niche, and keep soaring!

5. Tech Channels:

In this digital world, everything is dealt with and governed by technology. Right from kids to adults, we are all on our phones or tablets or laptops always. Saying that our mobiles are like our third hand wouldn’t be an exaggeration. And it proves that,

So to all the tech-savvy citizens… here’s the stage for you to showcase your knowledge and spread the word. You will also notice yourself learning a lot on the move, cuz technology is a big, wide world and offers a lot to the ones with their ears open.

This channel type will prove extremely helpful for all kinds of people: the noobs, the tech-savvy humans, and the “somewhere-between-a-noob-and-a-pro” person. Even if you are a pro, you might not remember all facts and specs regarding technology, smartphones, the internet, and gadgets. So, your channel can be a huge savior for those in doubt.

A great example of such a tech channel is Marques Brownlee. Marques has 12.2 million subscribers and more than 2 billion views. Starting from smartphones to speakers, headsets to cameras, laptops to robot dogs, he reviews and talks about anything technical. He has also interviewed big shots like Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Satya Nadella in his playlist named “MKBHD Interviews.” Here’s a cool video of his.

6. Fitness Channels:

At some point in time, people become conscious of their bodies and weight. They start taking special care of themselves, go on a diet, make a new year’s resolution to shed those extra pounds, and register in the gym, only to find their lazy selves not able to move their asses.

So, they come to the internet looking for ways to shed their weight from home. And this is where your channel can be a boon for them!

You can start working out like Chloe Ting. Chloe Ting has 14.8 million subscribers and 1.2 billion views. She is known for her famous “Two-week” video series that helps the audience tone their body. She also posts videos that show the before/after transformation of those who followed her workouts. Check out this video of hers.

Note: My kind suggestion is to ensure that the tips would suit your body type before trying them. Also, workout like this,

And not like,

7. Political Satire/News Channels:

Hear, hear! It is time to voice out your opinions, mi amigos! Gone are the days where you were afraid to ask for extra ketchup at McDonald’s. Gone are the days where you had your mouth shut during shameful acts of others.

So, if you

1. Have your theories of having a better economy
2. Feel that certain norms and practices are not suitable for our society
3. Want to address certain disturbances and unjust doings 
4. Want to react to certain situations, speeches, or advertisements

YouTube can be an excellent platform for you. Who knows? There might be many like-minded people who look up to your channel for inspiration, with respect. It is always better to be the change you want to see, right?

The Young Turks is one such channel. This channel uploads videos that comment on news of different genres. This channel was initially started as a radio talk show and later evolved into a YouTube channel. It has about 4.95 million subscribers and more than 5 billion views. Yeah! That’s what News can get you! Here’s an exciting video of them.

But don’t lose yourself on the quest for posting sensuous news! Remember that you are a good citizen and post the right thing. 

8. Comedy Channels:

Comedy can attract a vast audience. Though it is tough to create, making the right kind of humor can hit you the right way like this…

Also, humorous videos can create extraordinary results for your YouTube channel.

If you are wondering as to what kind of videos can be done, the list is endless. Right from prank videos as in The Ellen show to enacting like Superwoman, you can do anything.

Your Will is your way. So, start making those laughter riots!

Smosh is an extremely famous comedy channel with 25.1M subscribers and over 9 billion views. It is known for being the most subscribed channel thrice in history. They post videos once a week and are quite popular for their expressions on famous brands and phenomena. Check out this video from them.

Here are some channels for your reference.

9. Makeup Channels:

Everyone likes to look good and be presentable. But not everyone knows the steps to put on makeup perfectly…

If you can transform yourself into a Diva in no time, you can very well start a channel where you can demonstrate your skills.

Here’s NikkieTutorials. Nikkie is an influencer who focuses on reviewing Makeup products. She takes up many challenges and tries different methods to showcase the power of makeup and to prove how cosmetics can significantly enhance people’s features. Her channel has 13.6 million subscribers and more than 1 billion views. Check out this video of hers.

To know more about how such videos can be made, you can learn from this list.

10. Experiment Channels:

You would have seen such videos everywhere. And God knows why we get attracted to such videos! I have to admit this. Last week, I caught myself watching a 20-minute video of two men strapping a watermelon with elastic bands till it exploded!

Though videos like these sound silly, though we know that it is not of use to us, and though we know that we will not try it anytime in our lives, we end up watching them. And boy, aren’t they interesting?

Since YouTube is known for making us addicted to it for hours like this,

We must offer the audience some good content to watch. And if you post useful, fascinating content, the viewers are bound to come back to your channel looking for more such cool videos.

And experiment videos are a great way to catch their attention. Like reading a book or watching a movie, the audience is more interested in finding out how the video ends.

So, to make your viewers go,

Start such a channel. But please, please, please be cautious, even extra careful! It would be a shame to hurt yourself in the process of doing random experiments. Take precautionary measures and wear safety gear before doing such videos.

Haerte Test is such a channel where the creator conducts quirky experiments. Here are some for you:

• They run their car over objects such as Jello, light bulbs, iPhones (yes, you read it right!), of many other things.
• They fill their toilet with stuff like Orbeez balls, Firecrackers, Nutella (Sniff, Sniff!), etc., to see if they flush properly.
• They conduct weird one-on-one battles like iPhone Vs. Firecrackers, Samsung Galaxy Vs. Gun, Car Vs. Jelly, etc.

This would have given a gist of this channel. The exciting part is, the channel has 19.2 million subscribers and more than 2 billion views. Check out this video of the Haerte Test.

A kind suggestion from my end. Refrain from wasting food items for such channels. 🙂

11. Toys Review Channels:

Getting to know a toy before buying it is of utmost importance because it involves not only happiness but also the safety of your kid. Also, instead of tempting their kids to get a truckload of toys, they can expose them to a select set and make them choose one or two, thanks to your reviews!

Here’s an exciting channel named FunToys Collector Disney Toys Review. This channel has a whopping 11.4 million subscribers and 14 billion views. It is handled by an adult who buys the latest toys and reviews them. If you plan on starting such a channel, it can be a dream come true for the child in you. Check out this video of FunToys Collector Disney Toys Review.

For these toy review videos, you can even make your kids do a cameo! Or even better, you can make the kid review their toys. Seeing a kid explain things in detail can make viewers go awestruck.

If you think that this idea does not sound convincing, well… Meet Mr.Ryan, a cute nine-year-old who runs a YouTube channel named Ryan’s world with his family’s help. He has been doing this since 2015 and has 26.5 million subscribers with 41 billion views. They post a video every day, which has helped them accumulate a massive audience. 

This channel started out as Ryan’s ToysReview, but later went on to make videos spread across different categories, ranging from challenges to animation to pretend play! He also stars in educational videos from time to time, so viewers have fun and educate themselves while watching his videos.

Check out this interesting video of him testing Marvel Avengers Thanos Infinity Gauntlet!

More YouTube Channel Ideas:

In addition to these 11 categories, you can use one from the following too:

• Haul Videos (to show off your new purchases)
• Business Videos (to show off your mastermind)
• Collection videos (to show off your treasures)
• Prank Videos (to show off your loved ones getting whacked)

Pro Tip:

Posting content in your regional language can be of huge help to those who don’t speak English. Not only will it help you share your knowledge and establish your credibility, but it will also help the regional audience connect with you more. Ensure that the quality of your video and the content is intact; you will notice your subscriber count skyrocket. Adding captions to your videos can help a wider audience, helping you to increase the subscriber count. Here are some great examples of those who post regional content:

1. Yuya – 24.6M subscribers

Yuya is a Mexican vlogger with 24.6 million subscribers and more than 2 billion views. Yuya started her beauty vlog in 2009 at the tender age of 16 under the name lady16makeup, after winning a makeup contest. Her growth has been exponential, so much so that she has a star at the Las Vegas Walk of Fame. She posts videos in Spanish and they are trendy in the world of makeup.

2. Technical Guruji – 19.3M subscribers

This channel was launched in 2015 and has amassed a whopping 19.3 million subscriber count and more than 2 billion views. Gaurav, the channel owner, posts tech videos in Hindi and educates Hindi speakers on various technical and technological aspects. In 2018, Gaurav was ranked as the first Tech YouTuber to accumulate more than 10 million subscribers.

3. Raffy Tulfo in Action – 15.3M subscribers

Raffy (Rafael Teshiba Tulfo), the owner of Raffy Tulfo in Action, is a Filipino broadcast journalist. His channel has about 15.3 million subscribers and more than 7 billion views. He is extremely popular for his participation in a number of TV and radio shows. His channel features videos that address the injustice and issues performed by those in power.

Now that you’ve got all the youtube ideas, I am sure you will be like…

With no further delay, do all the prep work to get your channel started. Our hearty wishes for your channel to become a success!

If you have more youtube channel ideas, do add ‘em in the comments.

P.S: If you would like to create a video from scratch/edit your video, feel free to use Animaker. It comes armed with a plethora of features like Custom character builder, 100M strong stock asset library, Human-like TTS Engine, 4K video exports, Giphy integration, and more. You can check the entire feature list of Animaker here.

Check out this guide to know how to make a perfect YouTube channel.

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How to Start a Vlog? [Beginner’s Guide to Become an Influencer]

Are you pumped up and ready to start a vlog, but are worried about getting lost amongst gazillion other vloggers?

Well, if I say that there is no competition, it would be evident that I am bluffing. YouTube is indeed a sought after platform, and there are many users out there who are like…

So quality and consistency can come to your rescue here. Come up with the perfect plan for your vlog, follow it religiously, improve it to match the current times, and see yourself grow.

Luckily for you, we have put together some useful tips on how to start a successful vlog, the do’s and don’ts on maintaining your vlog, and just everything you need to know about vlogs.

1. KYN – Know Your Niche
2. KYA – Know Your Audience
3. KYP – Know Your Platform
4. KYI – Know Your Inspiration
5. KYG – Know Your Gadgets
6. KYE – Know Your Edit
7. KYL – Know Your Links
8. KYS – Know Your Subtitles
9. KYT – Know Your Thumbnail
10. KYB – Know Your Banner
11. KYM – Know Your Money

So, what are you waiting for? Scroll down!

1. KYN – Know Your Niche

Now that you have decided to start a vlog, you must have a good idea of what your vlog will be based on and what it will look like. This should be the first and foremost thing to be done, as having a good and right start is very important.

Since this will be a long-term plan, choosing a channel theme you are familiar with and comfortable with is of utmost importance. In other words, know your niche and choose that as your channel idea.

You can take Yuya, a Mexican vlogger, for inspiration. Yuya started her beauty vlog in 2009 at the tender age of 16 under the name lady16makeup, after winning a makeup contest. Currently, her channel has 24.6 million subscribers and more than 2 billion views. Her growth has been exponential, so much so that she has a star at the Las Vegas Walk of Fame. She released a perfume in 2015, wrote two books on Makeup by 2017, and launched a makeup collection in 2017. Now, THIS is someone who knows what they want to be doing.

For starters, here are some niches and the vloggers who are soaring in the corresponding niches:

1. Lifestyle vlogging – Casey Neistat (12.2M subscribers)
2. Travel vlogging – Drew Binsky (1.89M subscribers)
3. Food vlogging – Food Ranger (4.5M subscribers)
4. Fitness vlogging – Blogilates (5.35M subscribers)

Similarly, there is more to the list, like Business, Humor, Makeup, etc. Figure out your niche and watch yourself soar!

2. KYA – Know Your Audience

Posting content that suits your audience is essential. Your video content should be in line with your target audience. If your vlog is dedicated to a particular age group, you can very well use the slang and terms that your audience can relate to.

If you target an audience across different age groups, well, you must be very careful of the terms you use. If the viewer misinterprets even one word, you will end up losing a follower. Or who knows, the story might spread, and you might lose a chunk of your followers.

Other than this, the need to connect with the audience is vital. Posting boring stuff will make the viewers go meh.

Here’s an example from the channel, Best Ever Food Review Show. This channel has 5.63 million subscribers and more than 955 million views. Check out how Sunny Side, the host of Best Ever Food Review Show, connects with the audience and keeps it engaging.

So, assess and know your troops, carve your script accordingly, and impress them with your expertise.

3. KYP – Know Your Platform

YouTube has become your second home. So, you must be aware of every nook and corner of it. You should be mindful of the way its algorithm works. Just like you know your home, you should know the interface of YouTube well.

Most newbies’ common mistake is that they fail to understand the platform that they are going to work on.

There are certain metrics that help YouTube recommend your videos to others:

• Watch Time – It is the amount of time a viewer has watched one of your videos. The longer they watch, the better. And the more videos they watch, the more likely will your channel and videos be recommended for others.
• Engagement – This metric will show the percentage of how long viewers had watched the video and when they stopped. The engagement graph can help you in determining the quality of your videos and cut down parts that are not useful for the viewers.
• CTR (Click-through Rate) – This metric represents the percentage of viewers that click on the CTA provided. For a viewer to click the CTA, they should have noticed it. For them to notice it, the CTA must have been placed in a suitable place. This is where Engagement comes to help, as it enables you to understand how long a viewer watches your video.
• Conversion rate – This metric refers to the number of conversions gained from your video, in terms of subscribers. This metric is critical because the purpose of your vlog is to gain more followers. Only if you have an eye on this metric will you improve your videos’ quality.

Considering these metrics can be of extreme importance and help while structuring your video. Once you begin to understand YouTube and the way it works, you will start planning accordingly and adopt techniques that will be in line with YouTube’s algorithm. That’s why understanding the platform is of utmost importance.

In addition to these metrics, there is another crucial factor. Consistency. Like you have heard a thousand times, Consistency is the key. As much as starting a vlog is essential; you must also be consistent in posting videos. Designate a particular day as your video-posting day, plan a schedule, and stick to it!

And if you miss a day, apologize and avoid repeating it!

Many other factors help in improving your video. Wondering where to acquire all this knowledge from? Well, when in doubt, choose the experts. Here are the YouTube Creators. This channel gives you everything you need to know about YouTube, right from simple tips to the latest updates.

So feed on YouTube knowledge as much as you can before starting that vlog of yours!

4. KYI – Know Your Inspiration

Once you have decided on the channel idea and your vlog idea, you would notice many vloggers pursuing the same. They might be king/queen pins and incredibly successful at it. 

Find such pioneers, mentally adopt them as your F.P.G.s (Friend, Philosopher, and Guide), and start following them. Research their journey and figure out how they have grown to become an inspiration for newbies like you!

A great personality to be inspired by for vlogging is Casey Neistat. He started posting daily vlogs from 2015. He is most famous for increasing his subscriber count from 1 million to 4 million in 12 months. That is indeed an impressive feat! He is considered a pioneer in vlogging because of his daily vlogs that lasted for 800 days straight. His vlogs concentrated more on getting the story delivered right, so the audience was naturally attracted to his videos. He has been featured in all the “big names” like The Guardian, BBC, etc. Currently, his channel has 12.2M subscribers! Here’s an exciting video that shows how his vlogs were converted into a commercial for Nike!

Be smart in figuring out as to…

But don’t end up copying them. The purpose is to get ideas from the experienced ones in the same field and check if there is more than can be offered otherwise.

It doesn’t mean that the idea must be brand new and not be portrayed by anybody before. Just that it shouldn’t look like your channel is a rip off of another. That would be a shame, right?

5. KYG – Know Your Gadgets

Now that you have decided to start a vlog investing in a good camera can help significantly. Though many mobiles have top-notch cameras, you cannot post videos made using your mobile forever. As and when you grow and upgrade yourself and your channel, the equipment you use should also be upgraded.

You don’t have to own expensive equipment like those Nat Geo Photographers. Do some research on cameras used by fellow vloggers and the technology that should not be missed. Also, the channel idea/theme also matters for choosing the right gadget. A camera that is perfect for vlogs shot indoors might not be suitable for travel vlogs. So, as always, do the research. 

It doesn’t stop with a camera. Here are some of the needed equipment:

• A mike and right sounding equipment to record your voice. If the audience cannot hear your golden words, then the vlog will be of no use, right? 
• A tripod for your camera to be in a fixed position.
• Good lighting equipment. Your lighting setup needs to be on point. Else, when you are shooting indoors, there are high chances that the audience might miss your face or the video’s subject.
• A teleprompter. This can do wonders in reducing the number of takes while recording. 

If your budget does not allow you to invest in high-end equipment, start with your mobile cameras, accompanied by a low-budget mike. As you grow, you can invest in useful gadgets, depending on your budget.

Here’s a video where the types of essential gadgets are compared.

Just one piece of advice. Don’t end up getting a camera like this…

6. KYE – Know Your Edit

Out of excitement, some might think of posting their masterpiece as soon as they finish shooting it. Well, chill out, bro/sis!

Your task is not done yet!

As much as your confidence is to be appreciated, you should consider some essential things. 

1. Your video is going to be posted online under your name. Your image and credibility will be involved, and you would not want them to get affected by a video posted carelessly.
2. There is a possibility for many to watch it and judge you for it.
3. Even worse, they might catch and hang on to stuff that you had not intended to say or had wanted to remove.

Or, lemme make it more understandable… When we are so focused on editing our photos before uploading ‘em online, don’t you think our videos deserve the same respect and care?

So, to avoid getting embarrassed, you can follow a simple and most important step, i.e., editing your video.

Go through the video you have shot and try to make it as concise and clean as possible. It must be crisp and engaging. You can ensure this by introducing effects and transitions to make the video look professional. The viewer should feel that they have just seen a well-made video.

7. KYL – Know Your Links 

When you watch the videos of popular YouTubers, you would have noticed them giving links to similar/associated videos in the description or at the end of the video. Out of curiosity, the viewers would automatically click on these redirecting links when they appear at the end of the video.

This is an excellent technique to make the viewer stay on your page/playlist for a while. If you post your first video, you can redirect to your playlist or a registered link. Check out this link to know how to add links to your YouTube end screen.

Here’s a tip for you. IF you are thinking of collaborating, you can use the YouTube description section to attach affiliate links. But hey, this won’t happen immediately. It takes time, patience, and consistent uploading of quality videos to be recognized. But once you start growing and gain an audience in the thousands, you will notice big brands approach you. Groom your channel and see those brands flying towards you!

8. KYS – Know Your Subtitles

The purpose of starting a vlog was to express yourself and convey your ideas to the outside world through videos. But what if parts of your video are undecipherable and make your viewers go…

Awkward, right? To avoid this, the simple trick of adding subtitles would do. Since you would have the script handy, adding it wouldn’t be a monumental task.

While editing the video using Animaker, you can easily add your subs and make life easy for your viewers.

9. KYT – Know Your Thumbnail

We have all heard of the statement; the first impression is the best. Though all do not approve it, sadly, that is how most work. And that is the case for YouTube videos too!

Even if we consider ourselves, our eyes get distracted by the pretty and professional looking thumbnails, compared to the other mediocre ones.

In fact, Statistics say that…

Source: https://neilpatel.com/blog/4-quick-wins-to-increase-your-youtube-engagement/ 

Here’s more proof that YouTube thumbnails play a massive role in improving video views.

So, your thumbnail should be treated with as much importance as your video. Just like you had edited your video using Animaker, you can use the YouTube Thumbnail Maker to create a new thumbnail in minutes.

10. KYB – Know Your Banner

The rules for this are similar to the thumbnails. Banners are for your channel as thumbnails are for your videos. Pay attention to your YouTube channel’s banner as much as you pay attention to your FB cover picture. Got it? 😉 

Check out the banner of David Dobrik.

Not only is his banner too cool, but it also keeps his audience informed of how often he uploads videos, indirectly showcasing his consistency.

Like you had guessed already, Animaker also offers one of the best DIY YouTube Banner Maker to create those cool banners. To reach a wider audience, you can always link your social media handles in your banner using these steps.

11. KYM – Know Your Money

Like Joker rightly said,

So, once your videos start making a mark and gain popularity, all you have to do is…

One can earn money through their YouTube videos by including ADs. And for that, the best practice is to make videos that exceed 10 minutes. YouTube’s algorithm allows you to have only one AD in videos for less than 10 minutes. So, the more the ADs, the more the earnings!

To be eligible for including an AD in your video, the prerequisites for your channel are:

• A minimum of 1000 subscribers 
• 4000 valid public watch hours over the last 12 months
• Compliance with all YouTube’s policies and guidelines
• An AdSense account set up

Click here to know more ways to make money using your YouTube channel. Here are the eligibility requirements for turning on the monetization features.

So, chop-chop, start that vlog of yours, and start building your followers list!

Bonus Tips:

• Music – If you are demonstrating or reviewing something, feel free to add background music to your video, provided you have given proper credit to the music track as per all norms. Ensure that the music doesn’t overpower/overlap your voice! Here’s a list of royalty-free music websites!
• Username – Just like your banner, your username will steal viewers’ attention. Quirky, funny names are usually easy to remember and refer to. Coming up with terms that are in line with your vlog theme will be a plus!
• Social Media Accounts – You should never underestimate the power of social media. It helps to spread and to establish your presence across other platforms. Through your social media pages, you can share your videos and cross-promote to increase its visibility.

I hope you have acquired everything that you were looking out for on starting a vlog. Follow these pointers religiously and I am sure you will become an influencer in no time. 

Should you have any questions/doubts, shoot ‘em in the comments section. We will be happy to help you out!

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How to make a Cute Anniversary Video? [Quick guide!]

Your anniversary is just around the corner, and you wonder what might be a good gift for your loved one… 

As much as those expensive rings, shoes, and clothes will be a sight for the eyes, gifts with a personal touch can sweep your partner right off their feet!

And what better way to swoon your loved one if not for a video made with beautiful photos taken all through the years? Just the sound of it gives you a good feeling, right?

We have all felt a rush of happiness when we scroll through photos in our galleries, reminiscing the happiest moments.

After all, memories are eternal treasures of our hearts! And videos can be a great way to relive those memories. That’s precisely why we are going to make an anniversary video!

Now let me show you how to make that awesome anniversary video of yours in a matter of minutes!

There are two ways to do this:

1. Create using Animaker’s unique Anniversary Video Maker
2. Creating an Anniversary video from scratch

Whichever method you choose, we will be delighted to guide you!

So, with no further delay, let’s dive in!

1. Create using Animaker’s Anniversary Video Maker:

The Anniversary Video Maker is extremely easy to use, efficient, and completes most of the work for you. Above all that, it is free!

Let’s get started on the steps to collate the images into a beautiful video using this video maker:

1. If you are already a user of Animaker, click here to log in. If you are new to Animaker, click here to sign up.

2. This will lead you to the dashboard, where you will see tons of existing templates for different use cases. Look for “anniversary” in the search bar at the top.

3. This will redirect you to the Moments page with a list of anniversary video templates displayed. You can hover over any template and click on ‘Preview’ to get an idea of the template. Once you decide which one to use, click on the ‘Use’ button.

4. The template that you have chosen will get launched as a new project.

5. You will see that the template has everything, right from the emotion to the background music. All you need to do is, swap the pictures in it with yours. We shall start with this swapping by uploading your images one by one. Choose the file that you want to upload from your local storage. Click the Upload button, navigate to the file, select it, and click on Open. You can also drag and drop the file from your local storage.

6. Similarly, upload all the pictures. Once you are done, select the photo in the template. This will open the Item Menu. Select the Swap option from the Item Menu.

7. This will open the Images section from the library. Using the Swap option allows you to swap the existing image with an image or video, either from the Library or from the My Uploads section. Since we will use the photo that was uploaded, choose the My Uploads icon in the images section.

8. Select the image you want to swap the existing image with, and click on Apply.

After swapping, you can resize the image by selecting it and then dragging its corners. 

9. If you feel that the text in the template does not go with your image, you can readily change it by simply clicking on it. Clicking on it would open the Text Settings window, from which you can modify your text’s font style, size, alignment, letter spacing, transparency, entry/exit effect, and arrangement. Also, you can use Smart Move on your text to give it complex animations. Check out this video to know how to use Smart Move.

10. Alternatively, you can also delete the existing text box and replace it with one from the Text Pre-builts section. The Library also has a massive list of Text Pre-builts, which are formatted with unique entry and exit effects to make life easier for you. Apart from these pre-builts, you can also select a heading, subheading, or body text, format it, and provide it with your own entry/exit effects.

11. If you are confident enough, you can very well go ahead and create a scene from scratch. To do this, select the scene after which you want the new scene, and select the Add Scene option. If you want to add a new scene that doesn’t have many changes from a particular scene, the easiest and smartest thing to do is duplicate a scene. Select the Duplicate Scene option and make your changes in the newly added scene right away. To delete a particular scene, select it from the Scenes section and select the Delete Scene option.

You can also add any asset from the Library to any scene and enhance your video. Refer to the screenshot below to know where each asset type can be found.

As and when you add an element to the scene, you will notice it getting added to the timeline below. For instance, when you add a photo that you’d uploaded, this is how it gets added to the Workspace and the timeline.

To adjust the duration of the asset’s visibility on a particular scene, drag the black bars at the ends of the scene in the timeline or by clicking the + and – options at the bottom right.

Once you are done editing the text and replacing the assets the way you want, we will move on to the next step; one of the most critical steps for creating a cool video…

Adding music to a video:

Music is one of the essential elements of a video. Its absence can make a video lack flavor and make it seem…

To add the right amount of oomph to your video, you need to choose an apt tune that would go with your video’s overall essence. And that, my friends, is where Animaker comes to the rescue…

Apart from providing different elements like properties, special effects, images, etc., Animaker’s Library also offers a vast collection of ready-to-use, royalty-free music tracks and sound effects.

Also, just like you had added your photos, you can add tunes that you have composed or tunes from the internet, provided they are royalty-free like our tracks (You wouldn’t want to get sued or have your video removed for using others’ tunes without permission, right?)

You would have noticed that the pre-built template that we had selected comes with background music. If you want to change it, Animaker’s rich library gives you a whole host of options.

First, select the video timeline.

 

To change the existing BGM in this template, click on the music track in the timeline. You will notice a pop-up with some options appear. Remove the track by selecting the Delete option.

To choose a new music track/sound effect, select the Music option in the library. This will list several royalty-free music tracks. Similarly, to add sound effects, select the option next to Music. 

Hover over any track to preview it. Add a track to the video by simply clicking on it. From the timeline, you can preview the track, adjust its volume, duplicate it, and delete it. You can also move the black edges of the track to extend or contract it and match the track length with your video’s duration.

And if that’s still not enough, you can upload your own music the same way you uploaded your pictures and add it to the video. 

After adding all the elements, preview the video to ensure that they have been added the way you wanted them to be. After all, you need the video to be perfect, right?

Select the Scene Preview option to preview a particular scene and use the Video Preview option to preview the entire video.

Once you are done, click on Publish -> Download video. You can rename it, select the preferred video quality, and then click on Download.

Your video is ready! Once the rendering is done, you can download it. Additionally, you will also receive the video link via mail. Brace yourselves, cuz it’s…

Show your loved ones the awesome video that you’d created and see them go…

2. Create an Anniversary Video from scratch:

If you do not want to make use of a template and start from scratch, well, we have options for that too! Here are the steps:

1. After logging into your account, Click on Create -> Create a video on the dashboard.

2. This will take you to the Moments page. This page lists three blank options at the top along with the other predefined templates. Select one among the three blank templates (vertical, square, and horizontal), depending on the dimension you want.

3. Selecting a blank template will start a new project as shown below.

4. After the project is launched, start by uploading the pictures following the steps mentioned earlier.

5. Once the pictures are uploaded, our next step will be to add a good background to the video. Using Animaker, you can add four different types of backgrounds to your video. Check out this video to know more.

6. For this video, I would prefer to go with an image background. As it is an anniversary video, I will search for the keyword “love” in the search bar and choose one from the filtered list. To add a background you like to the workspace, simply click on it.

7. Now that our background is selected, the next step will be to add the uploaded photos to the workspace. Go to the Uploads section in the library and select the photo that you want to add to the workspace.

Resize the image by dragging its corners and place it properly. 

8. Here’s a subtle trick for you. Though adding the image would do, adding a frame to the picture can emphasize it. Wondering how? Look down. 

1. Click on Properties in the Library.
2. Since the image is in landscape format, we can choose the rectangle shape. To choose the rectangle shape, click on the plus symbol next to Shapes (With Text) under Properties.
3. This will expand the Shapes section. Select the rectangle to add it to the workspace. 
4. Besides using the corners of the shape to resize it, you can also change its width by using the rhombus icon in the shape. This will help you to scale the frame like this…
5. Once you have made the frame fit the picture perfectly, you can change the color of the shape and give it entry/exit effects from the settings.
6. Now that your frame is set, right-click on it and select Move to Back. This will help you in performing the next step without any hassles.

9. You can now add text to the video canvas by selecting the Text option from the library. Select a heading/subheading/body text or choose a style from the vast list of Text-Prebuilts.

For this video, I select the body text and enter the text to add to the video. 

Similar to the other assets, you can format the text the way you want it to be and also give it entry/exit effects from the Text Settings window.

10. Let’s move on to the next scene. Now that our first scene is perfectly set, the easiest and smartest thing to do would be duplicating it and simply changing the picture and text for the other scenes. This would help you complete your video faster. To duplicate the scene, click on the Duplicate Scene option on the first scene under the Scenes tab.

11. Now, our task is to replace the image and the text, and we are done with the second scene. To replace the image, select it, and choose the Swap option from the Item Menu.

This will open the Images section from the library. Using the Swap option allows you to swap the existing image with an image or video, either from the Library or from the My Uploads section. Since will use the photo that was uploaded, choose the My Uploads icon in the images section.

Select the image you want to replace the current image with and click on Apply.

You can resize the image by dragging its corners and fitting it into the frame.

12. Next, change the text accordingly.

Similarly, you can duplicate the first scene and change the picture and text in forthcoming scenes.

13. The final step is to add music to your video. To choose a new music track/sound effect, select the Music option in the library. This will list several royalty-free music tracks. Similarly, to add sound effects, select the option next to Music.

 

14. Hover over any track/effect to preview it. Add a track to the video by simply clicking on it. From the timeline, you can preview the track, adjust its volume, duplicate it, and delete it. You can also extend the black marks at the ends of the track to extend or contract it.

And if that’s still not enough, you can upload your music the same way you uploaded your pictures and add it to the video. 

After adding all the elements, preview the video to ensure that they have been added correctly.

Select the Scene Preview option to preview a particular scene and use the Video Preview option to preview the entire video.

Once you are done, click on Publish -> Download video. You can rename it, select the preferred video quality, and then click on Download.

 

Your video is ready! Once the rendering is done, you can download it, Additionally, you will also receive the video link via mail.

You would have noticed that the process is extremely simple. So, what are you waiting for? Unleash thy creative self, shower all those elements, and create the best anniversary video ever!!

Should you have any questions/doubts, shoot ‘em in the comments section. We will be happy to help you out!

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How to turn Video into GIF [The Quick Solution]

Who would have thought that a format, which was originally invented just as an attempt to exchange images between computers, would be a rage now?

Wondering what I am talking about? GIFs, of course!

Yes… GIFs were invented to provide a color image format at a time when the format supported only black and white. With more changes in its algorithm, GIFs have grown to what they are now.

Nowadays, you notice GIFs being used everywhere. Right from social media sites to chat communities. They serve their purpose well by helping the audience have a good time!

Like Jason Eppink, curator of digital media at the Museum of Moving Images had rightly said, “Before, GIFs were dressing up the content. But now, the GIF itself has become the destination.” From being used as mere comments/replies on social media or conversations, they have grown to be a stand-alone social media post. And the best part is, people love it, thanks to its quirkiness! 

Sometimes, they are also used as a part of blog posts. This can be a feast for the eyes cuz,

1. It will serve as a break from those long paragraphs.
2. Explaining a particular emotion can be quite a task with text. But with GIFs, this has never been easier.

Summing things up, GIFs are fantastic, and there are GIFs for every mood.

Did we blow your mind with those facts? Here’s a GIF for you.

Did we get you Excited about GIFs? Here’s another.

Did we Disappoint you? Here’s another.

You get the point!

Now, before we get distracted and start checking out the GIFs for different moods, let’s dive into the actual process and learn how to turn video into GIF.

Let’s say you have a cool video that you feel will make a good GIF. Why let this interesting idea go to the gutter?

To turn your video into the perfect gif, we’ll use Animaker, the user-friendly DIY platform that can help create both GIFs and videos in a matter of minutes.

Are you ready? Let’s dive in.

If you prefer learning by watching, click on the following video and learn how to convert your videos into GIFs. But if you are a reader like me, then keep scrolling for a detailed step-by-step tutorial.

1. First, start by registering on the website. If you are already a registered user, you can simply log in. Log on to Animaker and select “Create a Video” on the dashboard.

2. This would lead you to the Moments page. Select the template whose dimensions are the same as that of your video. As my video is horizontal, I choose the Horizontal template.

3. Upload your video. For uploading a file, select the Upload option present at the bottom left corner.

4. Please select the file from your local storage, drag and drop it. Otherwise, you can also select the Upload button, navigate to the file, and then upload.

5. After uploading the file, double click on the video file to add them to the scene. You will notice the video being added to the timeline, as shown below.

6. Now, let’s crop out the “GIF-worthy” part of the video. Since you would know the exact time the scene appears, you can crop it using the scissors in the Item Box.

7. Clicking the Scissors icon will open a new window that will enable you to crop the video. Use the purple tickers to adjust and cut the portions needed. Once you are done, click on the green tick to get the new video.

8. Once you are done adjusting the duration, your GIF is ready for publishing! You can download it directly, or you can add more effects, text, or elements with the different options available in the library. To add text, select the Text icon from the Library.

You can select any style from the list of Text pre-builts in the Library. These text pre-builts are formatted with unique entry and exit effects to make life easier for you. I have selected a text pre-built and have removed the entry and exit effects for this particular gif.

Apart from these pre-builts, you can also select a heading, subheading, or body text, format it, and provide it with entry/exit effects.

9. Once you are done, click on Publish and select Download GIF.

Let’s see how the final GIF looks!

Who would have thought that it was THIS easy to convert video to GIF? Now that you know how to turn video to GIF, it’s time to create those hilarious GIFs and make fun of your people!

Got queries/suggestions? Feel free to drop them in our comments section. We are always happy to get in a conversation with you.

 

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How to add music to a video [2 easy ways]

A video comprises many elements like scenes, transitions, effects, objects, and more.

But there’s a factor that is more integral to a video than many of the above elements. Its absence can make a video lack flavor. Since you have figured that out already, let’s introduce it with a drumroll!

MUSIC!

It’s one of the most underrated parts of any successful video.

Without Music, a video can only cause this…

But with Music, it can cause this…

And that is why learning how to add music to a video is essential.

How to add music to a video using Animaker:

Today, I am using Animaker to show you how this can be done for free in just minutes. First, start by registering on the website. If you are already a registered user, you can simply log in.

Now, let’s learn to upload a premade video to which you can add music.

After you log in, you will be redirected to the dashboard. Follow the steps below to upload your video.

1. Click on Create -> Create a video.

2. This would lead you to the Moments page. This page lists several predefined templates, along with three blank options at the top. Since you have a video ready for upload, select one of the blank templates depending on your video’s dimensions. I choose the horizontal template as the video I have picked for adding music video is horizontal. Once you click on it, you will be taken inside the application.

3. To upload your video, click on the upload button in the Library.

4. Now, you can pick the file you want to upload.

 

On the contrary, you can also drag and drop your video directly into the application to upload.

5. Once the upload is processed, the file you uploaded will be displayed here.

Click on the uploaded video to add it to the video project.

Now, you are all set to add more “appeal” to your video.

There are two different ways to add music to a video with Animaker:

1. Using the inbuilt music library
2. Uploading your track from your system

Let’s dig in!

1. Using the inbuilt music library:

Animaker has a vast collection of ready-to-use, royalty-free music tracks on the platform. After creating/uploading your video, you can select any background music from the Library. 

Let’s go ahead and learn how to add inbuilt music from Animaker’s library.

Selecting Music tracks from the Library:

Animaker has made life easy for you by categorizing music tracks based on the tempo and mood, so choosing the right track won’t be a big deal. The steps are as follows:

1. Select the Music icon from the Library.

2. Upon selecting this option, you will be able to see many tracks listed. You can hover over any track to preview it.

3. Upon selecting the track of your choice, you will notice a pop-up appearing, saying that the track has been added. Also, you will see the track appear on the timeline below.

From the timeline, you can preview the track, adjust its volume, duplicate it, and delete it. You can also extend the black marks at the ends of the track to extend or contract it.

Selecting Sound effects from the Library:

In addition to music tracks, Animaker has several sound effects in its library. 

Wanna add a popup sound effect? Animaker has it. 

Wanna add the sound of Glass breaking? Animaker has that too!

To choose sound effects, just click on the option that is present next to Music.

It lists many sound effects, categorized like the Music tracks.

The steps for adding a sound effect are the same as that for a Music track. After adding the sound effect, you can adjust its timing by moving it around on the timeline.

Once you are happy with the video that you’d created, click on Publish -> Download video. You can rename it, select the preferred video quality, and then click on Download.

 

2. Uploading your track from your system:

Animaker also allows you to upload an audio file of your choice. The only prerequisite is that the file must be in any of the following formats: mp3, m4a, and wav.

Let’s say you have created a cool piece of music that is ready for upload. Here are the steps to add it to the platform and enhance your video:

1. The steps for uploading the music file are similar to the steps we followed for uploading the video clip. Just click on the upload option and follow the same process.

 

Once the upload is complete, you can click on the music track. It will immediately be added to the timeline. 

As required, you can adjust the music track to suit your video. After you are done, you can click on Publish -> Download video to get your video.

Quite simple, right? Following these simple steps can create a significant difference in your video, making it replay on the audience’s mind and making ‘em groove!

PRO TIP:

If you have thought of a particular tune that would be a great BGM for your video, you can very well upload it to the library and add it to your video.

But be careful before using music or any creative for that say because not all creatives are copyright-free. It would be a shame to get your video removed for not giving proper credits to the creator! And sometimes, simply “giving credits” to the creator won’t be enough. You will have to get appropriate permission from the creator for legal usage, which will involve a fee.

To avoid such situations, you can check if the tune that you’d considered a “perfect-fit” is royalty-free, just like the music tracks from Animaker’s library. Read this article to get an idea of royalty-free music and the various sites that offer royalty-free music. Compare the websites before you zero in on a particular site.

After selecting a site and downloading the track of your choice, follow the steps above to upload it to the library and add it to your video.

Should you have any questions/doubts, shoot ‘em in the comments section. We will be happy to help you out!

P.S.: You can also use Animaker to create a video from scratch. It comes armed with a plethora of features like Custom character builder, 100M strong stock asset library, Human-like TTS Engine, 4K video exports, Giphy integration, and more. You can check the entire feature list of Animaker here.

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How to add music to Instagram story [The 2023 Way]

Since the inception of stories, social media platforms have evolved to a whole other level in terms of engagement. Gone are the days when you felt a little bit of guilt on seeing a message like this…

This means nothing anymore because there is a whole other type of content still available for you to consume called Stories. They have become so popular that nearly 500 million people use stories per day on Instagram alone.

What started as a novel feature exclusive to Snapchat is today a global phenomenon. Here’s how stories rose to prominence.

Source: https://www.instagram.com/fastoryapp/

Now, Even LinkedIn has introduced stories to its platform.

Though Snapchat started ‘em all, the introduction of stickers, filters, music, and other enhancements on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp have drawn users’ attention from across the globe.

Instagram’s continuous efforts to better stories have made it one of the most consumed content formats today.

That’s precisely why we are going to learn more about Instagram stories. 

To start with the basics, Stories is a feature that helps us post images or videos that last for 24 hours. The maximum duration of a story is 15 seconds. You can share stories publicly, privately (only to your followers), or close friends (a particular set among your followers). It enables you to add stickers, GIFs, emojis, effects, and enhancements, among which music is one.

Instagram has a massive collection of music from which you can select a song of your choice. A song chosen from this library will play for a minimum of 5 seconds and a maximum of 15 seconds per story. 

Here are the different questions we are going to address today about adding music to your IG story.

1. How to add music to Instagram story – With the music sticker?
2. How to add music to Instagram story without Sticker?
3. How to add a song as an Instagram story?

Let’s dive right in!

1. How to add music to Instagram story – With the music sticker?

The steps to do this are:

1. Press on the + icon at the bottom or long-press your profile picture and select Add to your Story.

2. Select the image or video that you would like to add to your story. Add the filters, text, and everything you want to your story.

3. Now, to add stickers to your story, select the third icon on the top. You can choose one or more from the many stickers and emojis as shown below. But for now, our focus is the Music sticker.

4. Select the Music sticker upon which Instagram’s collection of music gets opened. You can select any song of your choice. You can either search for a song in the search tab or browse for songs based on Genre, Mood, and Theme.

5. You can select the portion of the song that you want to play in the background. You can also adjust the duration of the song (between 5 and 15 seconds). If lyrics are available for the song, you can customize its appearance in six different ways. If lyrics are not available, you can customize the appearance in two ways, as in the first two images.

After selecting one from the different options, you can post the story by clicking on Your story or by selecting Send to -> Your Story. 

That was easy, wasn’t it?

2. How to add music to Instagram story without Sticker?

Sometimes, the song that you want to add may not be available on Instagram. You can create a video on a third-party app with that song and share it on your Instagram story during such times. Here’s where Animaker comes to the rescue!

With Animaker, you can create your videos with a wide range of shapes, backgrounds, elements, etc. For your Instagram story, you must have two things on mind:

1. Create it as a vertical video. Selecting the video layout before creating it would ensure a faster output. Using our Instagram video maker can be of great help to you!
2. Ensure that your video is not more than 15 seconds. If it is more than 15 seconds, the video will get cut and be posted as two or more stories.

Now, let’s add music to a video using Animaker 2.0.

Before you start worrying about how you will pay for such a tool, let me remind you that we will be using Animaker’s Free plan for our needs.

1. Now let’s get back to the steps.Log on to Animaker and select “Create a Video” on the dashboard. This would lead you to our Moments page. Select the Vertical template as IG’s story dimensions are 1080*1920.

2. Upload your video and audio on Animaker. For uploading a file, select the Upload option present at the bottom left corner.

3. Select both the audio and video files from your local storage, drag and drop them. Otherwise, you can also select the Upload button, navigate to the files, and then upload them.

4. After uploading the files, double click on the video and audio files to add them to the scene. You will notice the video and audio being added to the timeline, as shown below.

You can add more elements to this video and edit it the way you want to. Similarly, you can adjust the volume of the audio, extend its duration, etc. 

After creating your video, publish it, and add it to your smartphone’s gallery. Then, add the video to your story and post it. It’s as simple as that!

Let’s see how the video looks after uploading to the story.

Here, you can see how the video has been cut into four different stories, as it exceeds the maximum 15-second limit. So have that in mind when you consider posting stories.

If you don’t already have a pre-recorded or pre-made video in hand, and if you want to create a video from scratch, you can always create one using Animaker’s video creation platform! So Animaker has got you covered to take any route you want.

3. How to add a song as an Instagram story?

Some songs make us feel enlightened. And sometimes, we want to help the world feel the same way too, by sharing our favorite song with them.

For this bestowal, let’s learn to share songs on our Instagram stories. This method is different from the first two methods. In the first two sections, we had learned to post music as part of the story along with a photo or a video. In this section, we will learn to share a song itself as a story from external sources like Spotify, Shazam, and SoundCloud. Ensure that you have the mobile apps of these services before we start sharing the songs.

1. From Spotify:

The steps are as follows:

1. Open the Spotify app and search for the song that you want to share.

2. After opening the song, click on Settings (the three dots on the right corner) > Share.

3. Select Instagram Stories.

4. This would redirect you to Instagram. Click on Your Story or Send to -> Your story to post the song as your story.

5. This is how your story will appear. Viewers can listen to the song on Spotify by selecting Play on Spotify -> Open Spotify.

2. From Shazam:

1. Open the Shazam app and search for the song that you want to share.

2. After opening the song, click on Settings (the three dots) and select Share. You can also select the Share icon on the right corner.

3. Select Instagram Stories.

4. This would redirect you to Instagram. Click on Your Story or Send to -> Your story to post your story.

5. Your story would be published. Like the steps for Spotify, viewers can listen to the song on Shazam by selecting Play on Shazam -> Open Shazam.

3. From SoundCloud:

1. Open the SoundCloud app and search for the song that you want to share.

2. After opening the song, click on Settings (the three dots) and select Share. You can also select the Share icon at the bottom.

3. Select Share to Instagram Stories.

4. This would redirect you to Instagram. Click on Your Story or Send to -> Your story to post your story.

5. Your story would be published. Like the steps for Spotify, viewers can listen to the song on SoundCloud by selecting Play on SoundCloud -> Open SoundCloud.

Bonus Tip:

Stories on Instagram are muted by default. One must either tap on the video playing or increase the volume by adjusting their volume buttons to listen to the music.

So, here’s a bonus tip. Add the “Sound on” sticker or the microphone emoji to your story, so that your followers know that the story has some music. Win-win situation!

So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and start the party in your IG stories!

Here’s to Instagram stories and our obsession with them! 

If you are looking for super simple ways to add music to your video, then read How to add music to a video.

Should you have any questions/doubts, shoot ‘em in the comments section. We will be happy to help you out!

 

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How to Embed a Video in Powerpoint? [Supercharge your PPTs Now]

Ever since its inception, Powerpoint has been the go-to tool for presentations. But PowerPoint, by itself, is not considered alluring. Nothing can prove this more than the groans that we hear (from others and ourselves!) whenever a colleague opens a PPT!

It needs several inclusions to up its “oomph” factor. The plain old slides, being played one after the other with the boring text and bullets are way too “meh.” Adding Clipart and shapes with sound effects can help a bit. Images and music can make it even better. But there is one thing that tops the list…

And kudos to you for figuring out the one thing that can make even the most “boring” of things, engaging. 

Yes, Videos! A cool video can make any PowerPoint presentation interesting. And that, my friends, is why we are going to learn to embed a video in a PowerPoint.

The steps to add an offline video (from your PC) or an online video to Powerpoint will differ depending on the operating system and the version of Powerpoint you use. 

But! Don’t you worry!

Through this article, you will learn how to embed videos in your presentation on different platforms easily.

1. Windows:

• How to embed a video in Powerpoint
• How to embed a YouTube video in Powerpoint

2. macOS:

• Embedding a video in Powerpoint
• Embedding a YouTube video in Powerpoint
• Embedding a video on a Keynote

3. Online

• How to embed a video on Google Slides

1. Windows:

Let’s talk about the process of Windows machines first. The thing to note here is that, depending on your PC’s time of purchase, you might be using any of the different MS Office versions. To make things easy for you, we have built this table, which shows embed options available with each version.

Powerpoint Version	Offline video (From local storage)	Online Video (Using YouTube URL)	Online Video (Using YouTube Embed Code)
2010	✔️	❌	❌
2013	✔️	✔️	❌
2016	✔️	✔️	✔️
Office 365	✔️	✔️	✔️

In the below example, we have shown the steps for inserting a video in Microsoft Powerpoint version 2016.

1. How to embed a video in Powerpoint:

If you already have the video on your PC, then this method is the best direction.

1. Open a new PowerPoint presentation. Select the slide in which you want to insert the video. Click on Insert -> Video -> Video on My PC.

2. Select the video you want to add and click on Insert.

3. The video gets inserted. Select the video to make use of the Format and Playback toolbars. In the Format toolbar, you can resize and add effects to the video. 

In the Playback toolbar, you can make it Play Full Screen or Start Automatically when the slide plays, etc.

2. How to embed a YouTube video in Powerpoint:

Embedding a video from your PC is easy. But at times, you may not have the perfect video that goes well with your presentation. Where else to look for videos, if not for YouTube, our friendly neighborhood with an abundance of videos? YouTube is a gigantic platform that houses billions of videos of different kinds. It is nearly impossible for one not to identify a video that would be of use for them.

If you feel that a particular video is not helpful, there will be ten other options for your perusal. Well, it wasn’t named the second largest search engine for fun, was it?

Note: However, for this embed to work, you will need a working internet connection.

1. Open a new PowerPoint presentation. Select the slide in which you want to insert the video. Click on Insert -> Video -> Online Video.

2. A new window named Insert Video opens. Here, you can see that there are two options to embed a video.

1. Using YouTube search term/URL
2. Using Embed Code

1. Using YouTube search term/URL:

In the search tab for YouTube, you can search for a video either by using a search term…

Or by directly entering the video URL.

After selecting the video of your choice, click on Insert. The video appears on your slide, as shown below.

The downside of this method is that you require Internet Explorer 11 installed on your computer to play the videos. If your OS is Windows 10, IE 11 will be available automatically. Fret not, if you don’t have IE 11! We have another option for you.

 2. Using Embed Code:

1. Find the video on YouTube. Click on the Share > Embed.

2. Copy the code for embedding the video. The right code will start with <iframe width.

3. Open a new PowerPoint presentation. Select the slide in which you want to insert the video. 

4. Click on Insert > Video > Online Video.

5. Paste the copied code in the tab provided next to From a Video Embed Code and press Enter.

6. The video gets embedded. Select the video and select Playback.

7. Use the Start dropdown menu to select and check the way your video plays. It is vital to choose from the options here. Else the video won’t play.

AT times, upon embedding the video, the video will appear as a black box. As long as you have selected an option from the Start dropdown and as long as your internet connection is intact, the video will play without any hassle. Upon presenting the slide, you will be able to see the video, as shown below:

 

2. macOS:

There are over 100 million Mac users worldwide, of which more than half (51%) are new users. It is evident that Mac has been gaining more popularity than ever before. Its sleek design and customer satisfaction have been attracting more customers day by day. And it goes without saying that adding the steps for embedding a video in macOS’ Powerpoint is essential!

To all the Mac-admirers out there, video embedding in presentation software can be divided as:

• Embedding a video in Powerpoint
• Embedding a YouTube video in Powerpoint
• Embedding a video on a Keynote

a. Embedding a video in Powerpoint:

In macOS, we can embed online videos in versions 2019 and Office 365 of Microsoft Powerpoint. In this scenario, we are showing the steps for inserting a video Office 365 for macOS.

1. Open a new PowerPoint presentation. Select the slide in which you want to insert the video. Click on Insert -> Video -> Video from File.

2. Select the video you want to add and click on Insert.

3. The video gets inserted. Select the video to make use of the Video Format and Playback toolbars. In the Video Format toolbar, you can resize and add effects to the video. 

In the Playback toolbar, you can make it Play Full Screen or Start Automatically when the slide plays, etc.

b. Embedding a YouTube video in Powerpoint:

1. Open a new PowerPoint presentation. Select the slide in which you want to insert a video. Click on Insert -> Video -> Online Film.

2. A pop-up window that prompts you to enter the video link opens. Paste the video link and click on Insert.

3. The video gets inserted. Select the video to make use of the Format and Playback toolbars. 

Make use of the options from these toolbars to format the video.

Note: Version 2016 does not natively support online video embedding. To enable it, you need an add-in called Web video player. Here’s how you enable the add-in and add a video:

1. Select Insert -> Get Add-ins.
2. The Office Add-ins dialog box opens. Here, look for “Web Video Player” in the search bar.
3. The “Web Video Player” Add-in gets listed. Click on “Add”.
4. Select “Continue” after going through the Terms and Conditions.
5. Adding the Add-in automatically opens another dialog box, where you can enter the YouTube URL. You can also make the video Autoplay and enter the duration at which the video must start/end. Once you are done, select “Set Video”.

Tada! Your video is ready!

c. Embedding a video on a Keynote:

As some of you might be new to Mac OS, you might not have MS Office installed in your system. But you still want to make an impressive presentation tomorrow. Well, don’t worry. Apple includes its very own version of presentation software in its OS called Keynote. The best part is that Keynote allows video embedding too. So let’s see the steps for embedding videos from your local storage in Keynote.

1. Open a new Keynote. Select the slide in which you want to add your video. There are two methods to add the video.

      a. Select Insert -> Choose.            b. Another way is to select Media Icon on the top panel and then select Choose. 

2. Select the video of your choice from your local storage and click on Insert. The video will appear right away.

3. Format/Resize/Align the video as per your wish. You can make the video start upon a click, and you can make it run on a loop, etc.

Currently, there are no options to add YouTube videos in a Keynote. If you want to add a video from YouTube, you can download it to your local storage and follow the steps mentioned above.

3. Online – How to embed a video on Google Slides:

Almost everybody has a Google account nowadays. With that, we also get access to Google drive that allows us to store up to 15GB for free. If you are one among those, who need the input of a whole team for the presentation you are working on, creating a Powerpoint/Keynote and sharing it every time a change is made would be strenuous and confusing. 

So, a file that needs team collaboration and approval from many people needs to be created using Google drive apps, which is Google Slides in this scenario. If you have succumbed to carelessness and have forgotten to save your files on time, you would have lost a considerable number of offline data. But thanks to Google Drive, an active internet connection is enough to save your work instantaneously.

So, let’s go ahead and check out the steps for embedding a video in Google Slides. 

1. Create a new Blank Presentation. Select the slide in which you want to add your video. 

2. Select Video -> Insert. 

A window opens as below. 

As you can see, you can embed videos by three different methods in Google slides.

a. By YouTube Search

b. By URL &

c. By Google Drive

Let’s see them one by one.

a. Searching for the video on YouTube:

1. After selecting Insert -> Video, you must choose the Search tab to embed a video using this method. You can enter the search term in the search bar, which in turn would return many videos. 

2. Choose any video and click on Select.

3. The video automatically appears on your slide.

You can edit the video duration, when/how it must start, mute the video, etc.

b. Entering the YouTube URL:

If you know a YouTube video that would fit well in your presentation, good for you! All you need is the URL of that video. 

After selecting Insert -> Video, you must choose the By URL tab. Paste the video URL in the search tab. Upon pasting the URL, the video gets populated in the space below. Click on Select to add the video to your slide.

Voila! Here’s your video! You can format it from the options present on the right.

c. Attaching from Google Drive:

As mentioned earlier, Google Drive allows a person to store files up to 15GB for free. It is known for its powerful search and includes many apps that can make life easy for us all. It also has an option called Work Offline that enables the user to view their files offline, if their device loses internet connection.

Since you are working on Google Slides, you can attach a video from Google drive. Here are the steps for this option.

After selecting Insert -> Video, select the Google Drive tab. You can choose any video that either belongs to you or has been shared with you. After selecting the video, click on Select.

Your video is ready. It’s as simple as that!

For all the methods, I would recommend that you preview the presentations after adding them, to ensure that the videos play the way you want them to. When you embed YouTube videos in Powerpoint, ensure that you are online and have a working internet connection.

Now, we know all the steps on how to embed a video in Powerpoint. The only thing left is to embed that great video into your ppt. 

Good for you if you have a video available and ready to go. If you don’t, you can always use Animaker to start creating the perfect video!

With over 5 Million users on its platform, Animaker is one of the most advanced yet simple to use video making tools in the market.

So that’s it.

Now you have everything you need to embed a video in your presentation and impress the crap out of your audience. We wish you the best.

Should you have any questions/suggestions, shoot ‘em in the comments section. We will be happy to have a conversation! 🙂