Discover how to increase brand awareness using proven vertical video strategies for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts. Boost your reach and connect with your audience.
FlowVid Team
Trying to move the needle on brand awareness? You need to show up where your audience lives—and right now, that's on their phones, scrolling through vertical video. The most effective way to capture their attention is with consistent, engaging content on platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.
This isn't just another marketing channel. The 9:16 video format is a powerful tool that stops the scroll, builds real trust, and makes your brand unforgettable in an incredibly noisy world.
Let's face it, grabbing anyone's attention these days feels like a monumental task. With endless feeds and trends that change in a blink, how can your brand possibly cut through? The key to boosting brand awareness isn't about throwing more money at the problem—it's about fitting seamlessly into the palm of your audience's hand.
And that's where vertical video gives you a serious edge.
Unlike traditional landscape video, which often feels like a polished (and sometimes interruptive) ad, the native 9:16 format of Reels and TikToks feels personal and immersive. It completely fills the screen, commands total focus, and just feels right because it matches how we all naturally hold our phones. This creates an intimate, one-on-one viewing experience that a static image or a horizontal video just can't touch.
That direct, full-screen connection is what helps you build the one thing that truly fuels brand growth: trust.
Before someone ever remembers your logo or buys your product, they have to trust you. Today's consumers are incredibly sharp and can spot an inauthentic sales pitch from a mile away. Real, lasting brand awareness is built on a bedrock of genuine connection, not just seeing your name over and over again.
The data backs this up in a big way. A global survey revealed that consumer trust is one of the most powerful drivers of brand recognition. It found that a staggering 81% of consumers need to trust a brand before they even consider buying from it.
Even more telling, 77% of consumers prefer to shop with brands they already follow on social media. You can dive into the numbers yourself in the full brand awareness report. This shows just how much power these platforms have in forging that critical bond.
Vertical video is perfectly designed to build that trust because it feels raw, authentic, and direct. It’s the ideal way to show the human side of your business.
Think about the videos that make you stop scrolling. It’s probably not a slick, overproduced commercial. It’s more likely a relatable story, a genuinely helpful tip, or a behind-the-scenes look that feels real.
With vertical video, you can finally:
The goal isn't just to be seen; it's to be remembered. Vertical video makes your brand stick in people's minds by creating an emotional connection that lasts long after they’ve scrolled away.
The great news is that the barrier to entry for this kind of content has never been lower. You don't need a massive production crew or fancy equipment. In fact, overly polished content can sometimes feel out of place on platforms that celebrate authenticity.
The rise of AI-powered tools is leveling the playing field even more, making a consistent short-form video marketing strategy totally achievable for teams of any size.
For example, an AI video generator like FlowVid lets you create a steady stream of high-quality vertical content without the steep learning curve of traditional editing software. By automating the technical stuff, you can focus on what really matters: crafting a message that connects with your audience and builds a brand they'll actually care about.
To tie it all together, modern brand awareness isn't about shouting the loudest; it's about connecting the deepest. The pillars of this approach—authenticity, community, and consistency—are all amplified through the strategic use of video and intelligent tools.
| Pillar | Key Statistic | Actionable Strategy with FlowVid |
|---|---|---|
| Authentic Connection | 81% of consumers need to trust a brand before buying. | Use FlowVid to quickly create behind-the-scenes clips, Q&As, and "meet the team" videos that feel genuine and unscripted. |
| Community Engagement | 77% of consumers prefer shopping with brands they follow on social media. | Turn customer comments or questions into engaging video replies. Use FlowVid's templates to create user-generated content showcases. |
| Consistent Visibility | Brands that post video consistently see significantly higher reach and engagement. | Leverage FlowVid to batch-create a month's worth of short-form videos in a single afternoon, ensuring you're always top-of-mind. |
Ultimately, these pillars work together to transform passive viewers into loyal advocates, and a tool like FlowVid provides the engine to make it happen efficiently and effectively.
The best brand awareness campaigns don't just happen by magic; they're built with a smart, repeatable plan. This is your blueprint for creating a vertical video strategy that actually connects with your audience. We're going to skip the fluffy advice and get straight to the good stuff: defining your content pillars, building a posting schedule you can actually stick to, and figuring out which metrics really matter for brand growth.
Just throwing videos out there and hoping for the best is a fast track to burnout and mediocre results. If you want to build real brand awareness, you need a plan. And that plan starts with your content pillars—the core themes your brand will own. Think of them as the guardrails that keep every video you make on-brand, on-message, and valuable to your audience.
Your pillars are like the main shows on your own little TV network. For a fitness brand, they might be "5-Minute Workouts," "Healthy Meal Prep," and "Mindful Moments." If you're a SaaS company, you could go with "Productivity Hacks," "Breaking Industry News," and "Customer Spotlights."
So, how do you find your pillars? It's not about guessing. Start by asking a few key questions:
Once you land on three to five solid pillars, every video idea should tuck neatly into one of them. This is how you build consistency, let your audience know what to expect, and make your own life a whole lot easier when it's time to plan content.
A clear set of content pillars is the difference between being a brand that posts random videos and a brand that people actually remember and trust. It ensures every single video has a purpose.
This whole process, from brainstorming to creating, is a strategic loop. Here’s a great way to visualize how all the pieces fit together.
As you can see, solid research and smart optimization are the foundation for creating content that truly builds brand awareness.
Okay, you've got your pillars. Now it's time to talk about a sustainable posting schedule. On platforms like TikTok and Instagram, consistency is king. A schedule isn't just about accountability; it's about saving yourself from the last-minute "what do I post?!" panic.
Start with something you can actually manage, like three to five vertical videos a week.
This is where a tool like an AI video generator can be a total game-changer. Instead of grinding for hours to edit one video, you could batch-create a whole month's worth of content in a single afternoon. You can feed it blog posts, product descriptions, or even simple text prompts and get back dozens of video variations that align perfectly with your content pillars.
This system is all about working smarter, not harder. You can maintain a high-quality, consistent presence without chaining yourself to your video editor.
Your blueprint also needs a little room for spontaneity. Set aside time each week to see what's trending—the sounds, the formats, the challenges. The trick is not to just copy a trend, but to adapt it to your brand's voice and one of your content pillars.
This mix of planned, pillar-based content and quick, trend-based posts is the secret sauce for a powerful and balanced YouTube Shorts strategy and Instagram Reels creation pipeline. It keeps you relevant while ensuring you're always building your brand.
In a world where everyone is shouting to be heard, brand awareness isn't about being the loudest. It’s about building real relationships with real people. Let's be honest, you don't connect with a logo; you connect with personalities, stories, and brands that feel human. This is your chance to stop being just another account in their feed and become a trusted voice they actually want to hear from.
Vertical video is your secret weapon here. It's raw, it's immediate, and it feels like a genuine, one-on-one conversation. This is how you create an emotional spark that a static image or a polished ad just can't match. The goal is to make your audience feel something, because feelings are what stick around long after they’ve scrolled away.
One of the easiest yet most effective ways to build that human connection is to simply pull back the curtain. People are naturally curious; they love feeling like they're getting an exclusive peek at what goes on behind the scenes. This kind of content builds incredible trust because it’s transparent and feels completely unscripted.
And the best part? You don't need a big production budget. In fact, the less polished, the better.
These little glimpses into your daily grind make your brand feel less like a faceless corporation and more like a group of people who are passionate about what they do. This is a fundamental step in knowing how to increase brand awareness in a way that truly matters.
At their core, humans are wired for stories. A great story grabs attention, stirs emotion, and makes your message unforgettable. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram, with their short-form video formats, are the perfect stage for telling quick, impactful narratives.
So, instead of just rattling off product features, tell the story of the problem your product solves. Don't just announce a new service; share the journey of why you created it in the first place.
We're seeing a huge shift where emotional connections are driving business. Recent data shows that around 57% of consumers would rather buy from a company they feel a personal connection with. This isn't just a "nice-to-have"—it directly impacts sales.
What's more, these connections are often built on shared values. With nearly two-thirds of U.S. consumers making buying decisions based on a brand's social values, and 50% of consumers being more likely to buy from brands they recognize, the line between connection, recognition, and revenue is crystal clear. For more insights, check out this breakdown of top branding statistics.
The ultimate goal here isn't just to gather an audience; it's to build a community. An audience watches. A community participates, engages, and advocates. And vertical video platforms are tailor-made for this kind of two-way street.
Start small by actively engaging with every single person who comments. A text reply is good, but a video reply is next-level. When someone asks a great question, create a quick video to answer it and tag them. Not only does that person feel seen and valued, but you’ve also created useful content for everyone else.
Another incredibly powerful tactic is to embrace user-generated content (UGC). Encourage your followers to share their own experiences with your brand using a unique hashtag. Then, with their permission, feature their videos on your own profile. This is social proof at its most authentic, turning your happy customers into your most passionate advocates who build brand awareness for you.
Let's be real for a second. The biggest thing holding you back from boosting brand awareness isn't a shortage of ideas—it's a lack of time and resources. Churning out high-quality vertical video consistently can feel like a full-time job on its own.
This is exactly where AI changes everything. An AI video generator isn't just another tool in your kit; it's a force multiplier. It basically puts your content creation on autopilot, letting you scale up your output without having to scale up your team or your stress levels.
Imagine taking a single blog post or even a great customer testimonial and turning it into a dozen unique, snappy video clips for TikTok and Reels. That's the magic of modern AI video generation. Instead of spending hours storyboarding, filming, and editing, you can get started with a simple piece of text.
For example, you could grab the key takeaways from an article you wrote and plug them into an AI platform like FlowVid. From there, the AI does the heavy lifting, transforming your words into a dynamic video series, complete with:
A task that used to eat up half a day can now be done while you're drinking your morning coffee. It’s the ultimate shortcut to maintaining a strong and consistent presence where your audience hangs out.
You’re probably sitting on a mountain of killer content you haven't even considered for video. Blog posts, case studies, product descriptions, and even old webinar recordings can all be spun into fresh vertical videos. This is one of the smartest ways to build brand awareness because you’re not starting from a blank page.
Think about it. That in-depth guide you wrote last quarter? It could become a ten-part "tip of the day" series for your YouTube Shorts. That killer customer quote from a case study? Turn it into a visually compelling 15-second Reel.
AI acts as a creative bridge, connecting the written content you already have to the highly visual world of short-form video. It unlocks the hidden potential in assets you’ve already created, giving them new life and a much bigger audience.
This strategy doesn't just save you a massive amount of time; it also keeps your video content perfectly aligned with the core messages you've already worked so hard to establish. To see how this works in practice, check out our guide on using AI to create videos for more hands-on tips.
Beyond just automating the tedious parts of video creation, AI can also be an incredible brainstorming partner. If you're stuck in a creative rut, you can use an AI video generator to explore new angles and ideas for your brand.
By analyzing current social media video trends and your own brand's voice, AI can suggest video concepts you might not have thought of. It can help you find a fresh way to talk about your value proposition or jump on a trending format in a way that still feels authentic to you.
This collaborative approach is changing how marketers tackle Instagram Reels creation and come up with new TikTok video tips. Instead of staring at a blank screen, you can generate a handful of video drafts and variations in minutes. This lets you A/B test different hooks, calls-to-action, and visual styles to see what actually connects with your audience.
At the end of the day, using AI to scale your video production is all about working smarter, not harder. It frees you from the technical headaches of editing and empowers you to focus on what really matters: telling your brand’s story, connecting with your audience, and building the kind of awareness that drives real growth.
So, you want to take your brand global? That’s fantastic. But simply pushing your videos out to more countries won't get you there. To truly grow, you have to make your brand feel like it belongs everywhere it shows up.
The truth is, a one-size-fits-all approach to vertical video creation is a surefire way to get scrolled past. You have to connect with the unique cultural heartbeat of each community you’re trying to reach. What's hilarious in the US might be totally confusing in Japan, and a trending sound on TikTok in Brazil could be completely unheard of in Germany. A generic video that tries to please everyone often ends up connecting with no one.
This idea of "thinking local" isn't just a nice-to-have anymore; it's essential for any brand with big ambitions. The data backs this up, showing a huge shift toward brands that get and respect local culture. A recent McKinsey report, for instance, found that 47% of global consumers see local ownership as a big deal when deciding what to buy.
In massive markets like China and Japan, local brands are already running the show in major industries. This tells us something crucial: to build real trust and recognition, you have to tailor your message. Your video strategy needs to be less about a single masterpiece and more about a collection of regional hits. You can dive deeper into these trends by checking out the full state of consumer report.
Localization is so much more than just translating your script. It's about rethinking every piece of your video—the on-screen talent, the cultural inside jokes, even the background music—to make it feel like it was made right there. This is how you stop being a foreign company and start becoming a familiar friend.
Here are a few practical ways to start localizing your video content:
A truly localized video doesn't feel translated. It feels like it was created for that audience from day one. That’s the secret sauce that separates brands that are just there from brands that people truly love.
Of course, the idea of creating a dozen different versions of every video sounds like a logistical nightmare. That's where AI video generation tools like FlowVid come in handy. You can build a core video template and then use AI to quickly spin up localized versions by swapping out text, voiceovers, and even visual assets for each market.
And don't forget the basics—your message has to be crystal clear. That’s why accurate subtitles are an absolute must. If you're focusing on TikTok, you need to know how its captioning works. We put together a complete guide on how to add subtitles on TikTok that will walk you through making your videos accessible and powerful, no matter where they’re being watched.
So, you're ready to dive into vertical video to get your brand noticed. It's an exciting move, but it's totally normal to have a few questions swirling around. If you’re wondering where to start or how to focus your efforts for the best results, you’re in the right place.
Let's clear up some of the most common hurdles you might face so you can start creating with confidence.
This is always the million-dollar question, isn't it? While there’s no magic number for overnight fame, the one thing I can't stress enough is consistency. Your goal isn't just to have a single video go viral; it's to build a loyal community that sticks around for the long haul.
For brands that get into a good rhythm, posting 3-5 high-quality vertical videos a week, you can generally expect to see a real shift in your metrics within 3 to 6 months. We're talking more video views, a steady climb in followers, and more people mentioning your brand organically. Think of every video as one more brick you're laying for your brand's foundation.
The whole process is a loop of creating, learning, and tweaking. This is where an AI video generator can be a game-changer. By handling the heavy lifting of vertical video creation, you free yourself up to post more often, test out different creative angles, and quickly learn what your audience loves.
It's easy to get caught up in likes and comments, but those "vanity metrics" don't tell the whole story. To truly measure your brand's growing influence, you need to look at the numbers that show how far your content is traveling and how deeply it's connecting with people.
I like to group my KPIs into a few buckets:
Tracking a mix of on-platform and off-platform metrics gives you a 360-degree view of your brand awareness efforts. It helps you prove that your video strategy isn't just getting views—it's building a memorable brand.
This balanced scorecard ensures you're focused on building genuine, lasting brand equity, not just chasing fleeting moments of attention.
Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, that's the beauty of platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels. They're built to reward creativity and authenticity, not just big production budgets. This really levels the playing field for smaller teams and startups.
Your strategy needs to be less about broadcasting and more about participating in the culture of the platform.
Here’s how to make a big splash with a small budget:
This is where AI tools give smaller teams a serious leg up. An AI video generator like FlowVid lets you create awesome-looking videos—complete with dynamic captions, smooth transitions, and great music—for a tiny fraction of the cost of hiring an editor or production crew. It lets you compete on the strength of your ideas, not the size of your wallet.
Ready to stop guessing and start growing? With FlowVid, you can transform your ideas into a steady stream of high-impact vertical videos that build real brand awareness.
Join thousands of creators using FlowVid to generate stunning content.
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