Industry News

12 Video Trends You Should Follow in 2024

By Victoria Greywing and laurauscreen
8 Min Read
Couple watching videos on a laptop

Do you find yourself scrolling through social media, watching one video after another without thinking? We all do. Video content is everywhere, and its reach is only growing.

How can you make sure your video stands out? Knowing what’s popular helps you create content. It is all about staying one step ahead and using trends to catch attention exactly.

In this collaboration between Uscreen and Movavi, we outline popular video trends for 2024 and tips on how one could create videos people would actually watch.

Let’s go!

The video industry trends are evolving rapidly, and 2024 is a year with exciting new video trends. Let’s take a look at 12 popular video trends today.

1. Livestreaming & Live Shopping

Live streaming platforms aren’t exclusively about gaming streams and events. The global live streaming market is expected to go over $3 billion in 2027, compared to $1.5 billion in 2023.

This growth is fueled in part by the increasing use of live video by individuals, enterprises, and brands to connect with audiences in real-time, showcasing or reviewing products and engaging with viewers through Q&A sessions.
One such example is Bricksie, an AFOL (Adult Fan of Lego) who frequently livestreams his building process and interacts with his audience in real-time.

Screeshot from a Bricksie video with live chat enabled

This way, brands can arrange a more direct and personal touch with the audience to showcase products and create strong relationships.

  • Product launches & demos: Sneak peeks, exclusive deals, and live demos.
  • Q&A sessions & community engagement: One-on-one interactions, audience polls, and a sense of exclusivity.
  • Virtual events & workshops: Immersive learning gives participants a rich experience from home.

2. Vertical Videos 

Creating vertical videos is leading the way in capturing the mobile audience and, therefore, is among the major trends for the future. 
It’s tailor-made for mobile viewing, fitting neatly in most social media feeds. And with video editors for YouTube and other platforms, creating vertical content has become easier than ever.

See for yourself how Nike does it on TikTok.

screenshot from Nike's tiktok of one of its vertical videos
  • Storytelling & personal vlogs: Mobile-first experiences leverage personal charisma to build relationships with audiences.
  • Product reviews & marketing ads: Close-up views are useful for highlighting features and details.
  • Music & performance videos: A visually powerful experience for mobile media.

3. Short-Form Video Content

Humorous, educational, and musical clips are short, quick, and easy to view. The trend is getting a lot of attention. Further, it seems the trend will move even faster. 

LISA’s rockstar dance challenge on TikTok is a fine example of content that instantly connects with the audience.

Screenshot from LISA's rockstar dance challenge on tiktok
  • Comedy & entertainment: Funny skits, relatable scenarios, and memes.
  • Information/education: Quick tips, DIY tutorials, and learning demos.
  • Music & dance: Trending dances, song covers, and creative choreography.

4. AR/VR Immersive Experience

Augmented reality and virtual reality are the emerging ways to experience videos. AR drives virtual try-ons, while VR offers a fully immersive experience. This is how AR and VR make videos more interactive, engaging viewers in new ways.

Check out this one video from InVRsion, showcasing a VR shopping experience.

shelfzone vr shopping experience with labels and pricing displayed when looking at items
  • Interactive shopping & try-on experiences: Virtual try-ons for clothes, makeup, and furniture.
  • Travel & exploration: Guided virtual tours and immersive exploration.
  • Virtual events and performances: Concerts, conferences, or any other gatherings like online meetings, exhibitions, or webinars.

5. Interactive Videos

Viewers may engage more actively with what’s happening in interactive videos, and also make decisions and change the story. The more choices viewers make, the more personalized the content can be. 

People will more likely remember Interactive content if it keeps them interested. That’s how Wirewax pulls it off in a bedroom video made for IKEA.

An example of an interactive video from Ikea where viewers can click on hotspots within the video to see what product is being featured
  • Viewer’s choice: Choice-based interactive storytelling, quizzes, and puzzles.
  • Learning experience: language lessons, recommendations, and adaptive learning paths help to create tailored learning experiences.
  • Product demos & tutorials: Click-to-reveal features, product ideas, step-by-step guides.

6. AI-Generated Video Content

AI is getting smarter by the second and is ready for many different tasks. Therefore, AI tools can help you create video content from script to animation efficiently.

And here we have a fully AI-made Pepperoni Hug Spot pizza commercial video.

screenshot from Pizza Later's ai pepperoni hugspot commercial

AI can also streamline digital tasks like video editing, transcribing, and generating subtitles, saving time and effort.

  • Animated explainer videos: Engaging animations for product demos, brand storytelling, and education.
  • Custom video content: AI helps adapt videos to users’ preferences and past behavior.
  • Design & personalization: Various design tools can automatically set the video layout according to your brand style and personalize it to match the target audience.

7. Micro-Influencers & Smaller Creators

While big-name influencers still hold sway, smaller creators are on the rise. Many micro-influencers have more engaged audiences and are considered niche experts in their topic areas. For example, the Ortega Twins are known for their fashion and lifestyle content, with a following of over 30k subscribers.

screenshot from micro-influencers, The Ortega Twins', video called 'We're addicted to shopping'

Micro-influencers provide a truly authentic piece of content and get much better engagement with the audience.

  • Niche communities & interests: Content about specific passions/hobbies for the target audience.
  • Community-driven content: Collaborations, shout-outs, engaging on community platforms.
  • Genuine recommendations: Honest reviews and advice from trusted sources.

8. Sustainability & Ethical Focus

Consumers are increasingly requiring transparency and sustainability from brands.  According to the survey, 66% of consumers are willing to pay for socially responsible products. Videos can really help demonstrate how a company operates its business ethically and responsibly.

Fortunately, even some free video editing software comes with useful tools like branching points, clickable hotspots, and calls to action to make interactive elements easy to implement.

Videos expressing sustainability efforts can establish trust and loyalty among viewers.

Here’s an old but good interview with Jessica Alba on her brand, The Honest Company’s sustainability mission.

Screenshot from interview with Jessica Alba for her sustainability brand, The Honest Company
  • Behind-the-scenes: Videos on how something is produced, focusing on sustainable methods.
  • Impact stories & advocacy: Stories about positive change, environmental efforts, and social justice.
  • Sustainable product advertising: Highlight eco-friendly features and raise awareness on how to make sustainable choices.

9. User-Generated Content

User-generated content is everywhere, from encouraging users to create and share content to turning viewers into brand ambassadors.

UGC is authentic, and people even collaborate to make videos; hence, it’s so powerful for brand engagement. 90% of businesses trust UGC to be more authentic for product and service marketing.

Take a look at this UGC content for a skincare brand.

Screenshot from a UGC video for a beauty/skincare brand
  • Contests & challenges: Engaging users with creative contests and challenges to promote brand awareness.
  • Unboxing & product reviews: Authentic customer feedback, reviews, and insights into product use.
  • Community-driven storytelling: User stories, experiences, and testimonials fleshed out.

10. Video Storytelling

Storytelling has been an integral part of human communication since the beginning of time, and it continues to be a powerful tool in video content. Videos that tell a story are more likely to captivate and engage audiences than those that simply present information or sales pitches.

Brands can use storytelling in their videos to connect with their audience on an emotional level, create a memorable experience, and build brand loyalty. A great example is a Shopify’s video on how a small business owner used their platform to grow their business.

Screenshot from a Shopify video that tells the story of an entrepreneur who helped put a rural community on the map

Immersion in video storytelling helps increase viewer’s engagement.

  • Brand story & values: Share the history, mission, and values of the brand in an engaging way.
  • Customer success stories: Showcase satisfied customers and their experiences with the product or service.
  • Influencer collaborations: Leverage influencers to tell a story that aligns with your brand’s message. 

11. Video Customization

Personalized content is a more relevant and engaging experience for the viewer. When you think of how to start a YouTube channel, you want to offer customized content based on the audience’s interests and tastes.

As an example, Netflix has a feature to suggest movies based on a user’s viewing history.

Screenshot from Netflix showing trending videos and suggestions related to the viewers history
Source: Netflix
  • Personalized recommendations: Custom content based on user history and preference.
  • Dynamic content based on user behavior: Content transforms from the actions and engagement done by a user.
  • Targeted ads & promotions: Ads & promotions are in line with the user’s interests.

12. Social Commerce & Shoppable Videos

Nowadays, entertainment and commerce often merge together. Social commerce weaves shopping into video content for viewers to click and buy more. 84% of consumers say they’ve been persuaded to buy after watching one.

This is how Charlee Atkins, a fitness trainer, looks like during her livestreams on Instagram:

Screenshot from a Charlee Atkins social video
  • Product demos & reviews with buy links: Demos and reviews with direct links to buy.
  • Live shopping events: In-event shopping where creators go live in front of viewers.
  • Shoppable video ads: Ads with integrated shopping capabilities.

10 Tips on How to Post Using New Video Trends

Ready to take your video content to the next level? We put together 10 practical tips on using video industry trends, covering everything from short-form video to immersive storytelling. 

1. Mind the Quality

1. Mind the Quality

Shift your focus into creating top-quality video content to clearly communicate your message. While video editing software is essential for smooth cutting, natural color correction, and seamless transitions, leveraging professional video editing services can take your content even further. These services offer advanced tools and expertise, helping you refine every aspect of your video.

Whether it’s creating a consistent visual style, perfecting the finer details, or enhancing overall production quality, ensure your message is delivered in the most polished and engaging way possible. You can also integrate AI tools to streamline the process and maintain visual consistency across your content.

2. Make Your Content Shorter

Fast, entertaining, and engaging clips are the main video types to create viral content. This is one obvious reason why TikTok and Instagram Reels have focused on short-form videos as the mainstays of online content. 

Screenshot from a short cat video on tiktok

If you’re looking for shorter, more engaging content, you might want to skip the long, drawn-out videos. Instead of a 10-minute-long cooking tutorial, post a minute-long clip of just one yummy recipe.

3. Explore the Trend Feature on Social Media

Most social media platforms have dedicated places for trending topics. TikTok and Instagram have tools like trending sounds, challenges, and hashtags to help you find the most popular content. 

This is a goldmine for finding out what’s hot right now and, eventually, one of the ways to make money on TikTok and similar platforms. You can achieve the video’s reach and engagement soar exponentially, jumping onto actual trend stock.

4. Experiment with New Video Formats

Video content doesn’t need to be in traditional forms anymore. Experiment with new video formats and observe how things go. 

It could include stop-motion animation, time-lapse, or 360-degree videos — anything to create a clear distinction.

5. Use Trending Music and Sounds

Music and sound effects can capture attention and make moments memorable. 

For instance, TikTok and Instagram Reels allow users to add trendy music to their videos. These bangers draw more attention and add a familiar, exciting, or even humorous effect.

Using popular TikTok sounds is a great way to make funny videos. You can take a trending sound and use it in a skit about something everyone can relate to. It’s a good way to be part of what’s popular and make people laugh.

video by ghettotwins featuring miley cyrus song

6. Join Popular Challenges 

The challenge is a great way to increase your reach because it capitalizes on humans’ natural desire to be part of trends. 

Creating or participating in challenges lets you ride on the popularity of a trend to engage with a larger audience sharing your interests. This helps you attract new audience, gain visibility, and boost your content.

Choose a challenge for your first dance video to enjoy and put your unique spin on it.

7. Keep an Eye on the Latest Technology

Video production and playback methods change day by day. Keep updating yourself with innovations like vertical video formats, AR filters, and 3D animation.

Experimenting with these technologies will help you stand out and come up with unique and engaging content, but don’t jump on the bandwagon if it’s not a good fit for your audience.

8. Collaborate with Other Creators

Collaborate with other creators to reach their audiences. Working with those who share similar interests will help you draft conditions. It both benefits scales your reach, boosts engagement, and grants you new followers in some cases.

You could create a video centered on viewers’ preferences, publish a sponsored post on your social media accounts, give shoutouts to one another, or even host a live session together.

9. Monitor and Refine Strategy

Take due time to track your performance and analyze the results. Some very crucial metrics involve engagement, reach, and views. 

This information will help you identify what’s working and what isn’t, so you can refine your video strategies and see better results. Adjust the strategy accordingly, refine the approach, and tailor it to target audiences.

10. Be Real and Be Consistent

The most crucial thing in making successful video content is ultimately being authentic: just be yourself, show what you like to do, and let your personality come through. 

Moreover, consistency is critical. Posting consistently on a set schedule helps build anticipation and keeps viewers engaged.

Video Trends 2024 Wrapped Up

From best-in-class short-form video to AI-powered editing, there’s no shortage of ways to level up for content.

But here is the thing: knowing trends is just half of the battle. The other half comes from experience and learning from your mistakes. 
Don’t be afraid to try new video trends and enjoy the process of creating videos. The farther out you push, the more likely you’re going to stand out within this dynamic video landscape.

Video Trend FAQs

How Can I Find Out What’s Trending in Online Video?

To keep up with online video trends, start by following industry blogs, YouTube channels, and social media accounts that focus on video marketing and production.
Subscribing to newsletters and attending webinars or virtual events can also help you stay in the loop. You can learn a lot by watching what’s popular on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, where new trends often take off. Tools like Google Trends are also useful for spotting what’s gaining traction.

What Type of Content is Most Viewed on YouTube?

The most viewed content on YouTube generally falls into a few popular categories. Entertainment leads the way, with music videos, movie trailers, and viral content consistently attracting huge audiences. Gaming content is another top category, including gameplay walkthroughs, live streams, and reviews. How-to and tutorial videos are also massively popular, as people turn to YouTube for learning new skills and solving problems. Additionally, unboxing videos, product reviews, and reaction videos tend to rack up millions of views, as they offer insight and entertainment around consumer products. In recent years, YouTube Shorts (short-form videos) have also exploded in popularity.

How Can I Find Out Which Videos Are Trending on Instagram?

You can start by heading to the explore page, where the platform curates popular content based on your interests and what’s currently trending. Another great place to spot trends is Instagram Reels – scroll through Reels to see which formats, challenges, or audio clips are gaining traction. You can also follow popular hashtags related to your niche, as trending content often appears under these tags. Tools like TrendTok, Later, or Hootsuite can help you track emerging trends and viral content across Instagram. Finally, keep an eye on influencers and creators in your industry – they’re often among the first to jump on new trends.