What’s the Ideal Marketing Video Length? A Platform-by-Platform Guide

When it comes to video marketing, length matters, but not in the way most people think. A great 15-second video can outperform a polished two-minute one if it’s built for the right platform and purpose. Whether you’re sharing on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, or your website, understanding how long your video should be is the first step to actually getting people to watch.

Let’s break it down by platform so you can plan smarter, waste less, and get more out of every shoot.

Filming at H-E Parts in Perth, capturing team, process, and purpose in action.

1. Website: Keep It Clear, Not Long

On your website, video is there to support, not steal the conversation. The sweet spot for most homepage or hero videos is 30 to 60 seconds. That’s long enough to introduce what you do, show your vibe, and give visitors a reason to scroll or click deeper.

If it’s a detailed product or service video, you can go up to 90 seconds, just make sure it earns every second by staying focused.

The goal? Make your value crystal clear within the first 10–15 seconds. That’s when most viewers decide whether to keep watching.

This is where a sharp product video production or brand story video can work beautifully on your homepage without dragging attention away from your CTA.

2. Instagram: Short, Scroll-Stopping Content

Instagram is built for speed. Attention spans are short, and content needs to hit immediately. For reels and feed videos, the ideal length is 15 to 30 seconds. Anything longer risks getting skipped unless it’s highly engaging or emotionally punchy from the first frame.

That doesn’t mean you can’t tell a full story, you just need to do it in pieces. A well-structured social media video production strategy will break your story into fast, engaging clips that stop the scroll and get remembered.

Pro tip: always front-load value. Whether it’s a bold visual, a question, or a reaction, your first 3 seconds are everything.

On location with Alexander Scanlon of Barton Gold, capturing leadership, scale, and story deep in South Australia's remote mining landscape.

3. Facebook: Engagement Over Everything

Facebook’s algorithm rewards interaction, likes, comments, shares, so your video needs to capture attention and keep people watching. For feed videos, the sweet spot is 30 to 60 seconds. If it’s a story-style video or testimonial, you can go up to 90 seconds, especially if the content is relatable or emotional.

Facebook is also autoplay-driven, so your video should work without sound. Use bold visuals, captions, and movement to keep people hooked.

This is where client testimonials, story-driven explainers, or short corporate video content clips really shine, they feel authentic, get shared, and start conversations.

4. LinkedIn: Lead with Value Fast

On LinkedIn, people scroll with purpose. They’re open to learning, but only if you get to the point. For most content, the ideal length is 30 to 60 seconds. If you’re sharing thought leadership, behind-the-scenes footage, or a client win, you can go up to 90 seconds, but your hook needs to land fast.

The first 5 seconds should answer one of two questions: “Why should I care?” or “What’s in it for me?”

This is a great place to post short professional video content that builds trust, showcases your team, or explains your offer in a way that sounds like a conversation, not an ad.

Want to go deeper? Include a short intro in the caption and use the video as a visual punchline.

5. YouTube: When Longer Marketing Video Length Works

YouTube is where longer content lives, but only if it delivers. For most marketing videos, aim for 1 to 2 minutes. You can go longer if you’re sharing deep educational content, client stories, or explainer-style breakdowns, but make sure every second has a purpose.

Your intro needs to be clean, and your thumbnail needs to grab. Don’t drag people through a slow buildup, hit them with value straight away.

This is the platform where brand story videos or full recruitment video productions can shine, giving potential clients or team members the full picture in a polished, narrative format.

Filming with Andrew Bales in Kalgoorlie, capturing real moments, real stories, and the atmosphere of one of WA’s most iconic regional towns.

Wrap-Up + CTA

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to marketing video length, it depends on your audience, your platform, and your message. But with the right planning, you can create video content that feels natural, performs well, and fits each platform perfectly.

Whether you need a short scroll-stopper or a full story-driven piece, we help businesses get more out of every shoot, from Instagram clips to website brand videos.

Let’s talk about your next video.