Do looping videos increase views on TikTok and Instagram?

A majority of users can't log on -- or out of TikTok for that matter -and not fall into a rabbit hole of endless entertainment. Videos that loop, AKA short video clips with autoplay make it easy to watch repeatedly.

It's a great opportunity for marketing looking to boost engagement. However, knowing when to post videos loops on TikTok or Instagram can be a challenge. How do you know what content is suitable for video loops? What about the effect it has on your video's views or even participation?

In this article

1.    What is a looping video?
2.    Can looping videos increase views?
3.    Three reasons to think about looping your videos
4.    Frequently asked questions about looping videos
5.    The whole thing

What is a looping?

A looping video is one that repeats itself automatically. It could be short like an gif with a humorous message or like a step-by-step recipe tutorial. Videos autoplay and play for a long time, until the user interacts with new content (or stays on an infinite loop).

Videos can be looped to repeat in full or in a smaller amount, based on the platform's requirements and the content's goals. You can, for instance, decide to loop only the content that is most pertinent to the video or loop a video to maximize your reach.

Does looping a video increase viewers?

Short-form video usually have greater watch-time as compared to longer videos. The looping of videos contributes to the desire to have shorter videos because it automatically plays the same video file over and over.

When an video loops counts as a new view. Views continue to increase and increase your views count. If a video plays three times by one user, it counts as three views.

Derick Rhodes, VP of Marketing & Industry Relations at , clarifies how, according to the TikTok algorithm viewing count is greater than any other metrics when it comes to deciding what is shown.

"Looping videos may be an idiocy however "completing this loop" has also become the the primary gauge of how successful on TikTok in the moment -over comments or views which historically have been the primary focus."   Derick Rhodes, from Industry and Influencer Relations

Three reasons why you should consider looping your videos

Loops can enhance the amount of video views. But it aren't the only factor behind your decision to loop videos.

Get the attention of the user

In the average, viewers watch an average of 17 hours of online video content each week. This may seem like a lotof time, but most users simply browse through an endless stream of content without truly engaging. TikTok as well as other social media platforms such as Instagram are extremely fast. You need to grab an individual's attention immediately or you may risk losing them to the infinite scroll.

Looped videos feature continuous movement that may catch an user's eye as they scroll through their feeds, making it stand out from regular videos or static images.

Videos that loop can also spark users' curiosity. When a video loops the viewer may find themselves wanting to revisit it to determine if they missed something or understand the meaning more clearly.

A lot of social media platforms such as TikTok as well as Instagram include an autoplay feature that lets videos play as users scroll through their feeds. Looped video clips take advantage of this feature since they will automatically resume and continue playing increasing the chances of catching a user's eye.

Speak a an interesting story

The ability to loop a video will assist in telling your story in a short and captivating manner. By repeating a key sequence or event, it could enhance the story and create a lasting impression for the viewers.

If you're sharing humorous content video looping can improve comedy through repetition of a humorous action or gesture, making your video more enjoyable to viewers.

Looping is also a great option when it comes to music-related content, such as looping dancing routines, music covers, and lip-syncing content. Because 93 percent of TikTokers are using the platform with audio on, and 88 percent say the sound feature is "essential" on the platform, sound loops are another way of catching viewers' attention and getting them to rewatch before scrolling further.

Tutorials also work well for loop formats. If viewers miss the very first stage, they are able to go back and watch the video until they see the complete version.

Stick to platform-specific content requirements

If you're looking to post an image that is shorter than the maximum playtime for a particular social media platform you could play it in loops to increase the time and video exposure. As an example, Instagram has a maximum time limit of 15 seconds for Stories , and 60 seconds for the feed. If your video was only 7 seconds long, you could loop it two times to meet the limit of 15 seconds for the duration of a Story.

"A majority of us fall into the trap of creating a iconic asset, then later creating cutdowns for different platforms/formats However, the way media is constantly evolving and changing, it is crucial for creators to consider making specific content for every platform first."

The author adds that creating native to platforms content is a great way to improve participation. "Calm The meditation app is a great example of this, creating these Instagram-specific loops to allow viewers to take a minute to relax, as opposed to trying to modify a traditional :30 ad to work on the same platform."

A lot of frequently asked questions on looping videos

 1.) What exactly are benefits of looping video clips?

Looping videos on social media provide a variety of benefits for marketers for example:

• More time to view. Looping videos can make viewers want to stay with the video for longer as they play automatically without requiring users to replay manually the video. This can result in higher view counts and duration of time spent watching which gives an indication to the algorithms that indicate more interest in the video.
• Reduce time. Looping videos are usually shorter which can make it easier for users to match social media limitations in terms of file size or length.
• Stronger message delivery. Videos that loop are useful for communicating messages or stories that profit by repetition or reinforce. This could include product demos, tutorials, or other content that is educational.

 2.) What's the different between an elongated loop and a repeated?

A video loop and a repeat sound like the same thing, however they are two distinct concepts for video marketing. A loop video is a video clip that continues to play in an infinite loop without interruption. Once the video loop reaches its conclusion, it instantly restarts from the beginning making a looping playback.

Replay is usually the feature that allows users replay videos from the beginning after it has reached the conclusion. Users may be required to tap an onscreen button in order to trigger the replay. It could be that there is a brief delay or interruption between playbacks.

3) Do looping videos boost views?

The looping of a video could increase viewers on social media platforms like Instagram as well as TikTok. Looping videos can grab the attention of viewers and encourage them to watch multiple times which encourages algorithms to show the content to other users.

All that is needed to put it all together

Video loops can create captivating visually-rich experiences. They're an easy way to keep your audience hooked, and potentially boost your content's visibility, viewings, and overall involvement.

Keep in mind that looping videos don't guarantee success on social media. It is better to focus on creating platform-specific video content that resonates with your viewers firstthis is the best way to get to win their hearts (and screens).