You have just created the perfect video. The music meets the right moments, your voice -over is crispy and this trend sound bite? Cook of the chef. But here is the plot – most of their audience will never hear anything about it.
Welcome to the reality of modern content consumption, in which your masterpiece is more likely to be observed in a quiet morning pendulum, in an overcrowded office or when scrolling in bed next to a sleeping partner – everything is switched off.
In this article I will show you how to create silent videos that drive the commitment forward, even if the audience does not hear it. We will treat best practices and examples in the real world that help you master the art of soundless video marketing.
Table of contents
- Why videos without sound more than ever
- Key elements of successful silent videos
- Best practices for creating quiet videos
- Scroll-stopping silent video skills that I love
Why videos without sound more than ever
The landscape of social media videos has developed dramatically and the numbers tell the story. After our The latest report by the state of State of Marketing:
- Short-form video leading marketing formats with 29.2% catchment rate
- Visual content (including images at 29%) dominate marketing strategies
- 17% of the marketers plan to increase their short form video investments in 2025
This shift is not just about pursuing trends – it’s about where the ROI is. Our data show that short form videos, pictures and live streaming consistently provide the highest returns between all content formats.
Key elements of successful silent videos
1. A platform -specific strategy.
Let’s immerse yourself in the platforms where marketers place their bets in 2025. According to our latest research, the investment flows here:
- YouTube (29.6% increasing investment): Users often watch with sound, but create for both experiences
- Instagram (28.8% increasing investment): faster, visually striking content dominates
- TIKTOK (27.6% increasing investment): fast -moving, trend -driven content victory
I have found that understanding of these platform -specific trends is of crucial importance for the success. For example, while YouTube receives the highest investment, each platform requires a unique approach for the quiet video strategy.
2. The “three-second rule” remains.
If you are not familiar with this rule, you have three seconds To attract attention before your viewer decides to clear away or click on something else. Here you can find out how to nail it:
- Use brave, striking images directly from the gate.
- Start with your most convincing data or insight.
- Create a “Cliffhanger” moment in which the spectators want to see more.
- Use bright colors or unexpected images to stop the scroll.
3 .. Concentrate on a clear visual stories.
Your video should communicate effectively without relying on his audio:
- Concentrate on action and movement.
- Use facial expressions and body language to convey emotions.
- Create a clear visual progress of ideas.
- Keep a high contrast for the mobile display.
This is not to stop you from adding audio to your video. Choose an audio or voice-over that adds your work, but make sure that the viewers can receive the message with or without them.
4. Use strategic text overlay.
When it comes to silent videos, the text on the screen bears the message. You must include professional caps that complement your graphics and convey clear views of action at strategic moments.
And if you are looking for a simple way to fold this valuable text overlay, in the right moments and for the right time, take a look at Drift Kings Medias Clip Creatorwhere you can easily add:
- Professional captions that complement your graphics
- Key statistics or data points as text overlays
- Clear views in strategic moments
- Brands lower thirds for the identification of the speakers
5. Including appealing levels of movement.
Although I am not the experienced video editor myself, most video editors simply make it easy to add smooth transitions between the scenes. Keep the spectators interested with:
- Animated symbols and illustrations
- Progress bars or schedules
- Dynamic text animations
After going through important elements, think of some best practices before publishing your next video.
Best practices for creating quiet videos
- Vorderlad important information: Place the key report in the hooks or the first 3-5 seconds.
- Stay visual hierarchy: Use consistent fonts and keep the text scannable.
- Design for mobile-first ads: testing readability on smaller screens.
- Of course, include brand elements: Strategically contain branded colors and subtle logo placement.
Scroll-stopping silent video skills that I love
1. Delicious on Buzzfeed
Delicious on Buzzfeed shares recipe videos that do not require so loud or a lot of time to enjoy it. While the premise of this channel appears so simple, delicious videos reach millions of people per month.
The social media virality of Tasty has something to do with the fact that the videos can be seen without sound and a few important things make them so successful.
What I like:
- The hyperlapse film films creates immediate visual interest
- Problem solving approach with “5 ingredients or less” format
- Fat prints complement each other more than the graphic
- Cooking demonstrations are the focus
Pro tip: Let the search behavior of your audience guide your content strategy – Tasty creates especially videos based on popular recipe search inquiries and trend topics.
2. Glam, Inc.
Glam, Inc. divides lifestyle videos Facebook And YouTubeAnd their most popular videos are their “100 years” regrospective, which deals with a century of changes in a popular trend.
And while the decades -specific background music in this video is fun, you can press silently and still get to know the story of the training wear from women.
- Clear focus on a single topic against simple background
- Time-based storytelling format (“100 years” series)
- Strategic timing with New Year’s resolution season
Pro tip: Time in which their content publishes to align themselves with the natural peak in the interest of the audience (such as New Year’s resolutions for fitness content).
3. Tech insider
Tech Insider is the Technology News Departments of Business Insider and publish unique science and technology Explanatory videos That does not require sound. This used Cool visuals break down a complicated concept.
The animations used in this video draw attention in busy social media feeds and work with the captions that illustrate the story of step by step.
What I like:
- Used animations to simplify complex concepts
- Answers joint questions
- Step by step visual storytelling
- Attention visual
Pro tip: Start with a common question that your audience has and break down the answer into clear visual steps.
4. Refinery29
Refinery29 publishes creative lifestyle inspiration videos such as the hairdressing demonstration video here. It used Brilliant colors to attract attention. Bright colors help this video to find the viewers against the lighter Facebook news feed, the YouTube homepage and other socials without sound.
What I like:
- Fat prints, bright colors that pack in social feeds
- The Pro tips format builds authority and trust
- Under 15-second format for maximum commitment
Pro tip: Use the color strategically to stand out in mostly white/light social media feeds and use recognizable names in titles for the immediate context.
5. Buzzfeed video
Buzzfeed publishes videos on various topics. This is popular for several reasons.
First and foremost it is funny.
Emotion is a useful tool in advertising and content that stimulates positive reactions such as laughter, the commitment. In order to communicate humor without sound, the content must be very visual, and Buzzfeed keeps content slightly over -locking – even if you cannot hear what you say.
What I like:
- Humorous approach
- Simple, clear concept
- Easily digestible format
Pro tip: Just keep the concepts – if you cannot explain the premise of your video in one sentence, this may be too complex to get breastfeeding.
6. Now
Now this news, a social media outlet, only video content -creates a good way to get the messages if you ask me. Now published video news segments that work with or without sound, as well as the subtitles and video content work together To show the audience and tell what history is about.
What I like:
- Headlines that have emotional effects
- Implementings and pictures work seamlessly together
- Strategic use of shock value for commitment
Pro tip: Select angles that trigger emotional reactions (surprise, concern, curiosity) in their headlines – now this has found that negative headlines exceed positive.
Get your message over – even if it is quiet
Regardless of whether you work for a B2B software company or a news organization, you can use video with video to tell the history of your brand in an exciting way. If your video does not require sound, it is all the better to share it on social media.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in January 2017 and has been updated for completeness since then.