Square Videos: Pixigon's Next Step in Flexible Video Marketing
At Pixigon, we believe in responding quickly to real-world needs. While our platform has successfully served users creating 16:9 videos for websites and YouTube, we constantly look for ways to enhance versatility. Thus, we decided to implement support for square (1:1) video format - a decision driven by both practical implementation considerations and the format’s remarkable adaptability across platforms.Why Square Videos Matter
The landscape of video content has evolved dramatically with the rise of social media. Square videos have become increasingly important for several key factors:
- Square videos occupy significantly more screen space in social media feeds than landscape videos
- On mobile devices, where the majority of video viewing occurs, square videos provide an optimal viewing experience without rotation
- Across major social platforms, square videos have shown strong engagement metrics in feed-based environments
A Strategic Evolution
Our journey to supporting square videos reflects Pixigon’s core approach to product development:
- Identify Real Needs: Through our own marketing efforts, we experienced firsthand the limitations of being constrained to landscape format
- Quick Investigation: We evaluated multiple format options, considering both technical implementation requirements and user benefits
- Efficient Implementation: The square format offered an optimal balance - straightforward to implement while maximizing user value
Format Flexibility: A Comprehensive Guide to Video Formats
Understanding which format works best for each platform is crucial for marketing success. Here’s a practical breakdown based on current platform characteristics:
16:9 (Landscape, 1920x1080px)
- YouTube: Optimal format for desktop viewing
- Standard format for the YouTube player
- Recommended for embedded website videos
- Business Websites: Professional standard
- Compatible with most web video players
- Ideal for hero sections and product demonstrations
1:1 (Square, 1080x1080px)
- Instagram Feed: Maximizes feed presence
- Natural fit for the standard feed display
- No cropping or black bars needed
- Facebook: Effective for mobile engagement
- Optimized for mobile feed viewing
- Strong presence in both mobile and desktop feeds
- LinkedIn: Professional visibility
- Clear visibility in professional feeds
- Maintains professional appearance across devices
9:16 (Vertical, 1080x1920px)
- Instagram Stories/Reels: Native format
- TikTok: Platform standard
- YouTube Shorts: Optimized format
Looking Forward
Square video support represents more than just a new feature - it demonstrates our commitment to evolving alongside our users’ needs. We’re actively monitoring video consumption trends and user feedback. With the growing popularity of vertical video content on platforms like Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts, we’re already exploring the possibility of adding 9:16 vertical video support to our platform. The continual evolution of social media platforms and user preferences guides our development roadmap, ensuring Pixigon remains adaptable to changing market needs.