Social media easy?
Think creating videos for social media is easy? Social media “experts” love to say “any idiot can do it”. But if you are new to computers, it can be nightmare. As someone with many years of IT experience, I spent days wrestling with tools to make simple videos. Here is why it is not normal for non-techies to tackle this, and how to survive.
The myth of “easy” social media
Gurus claim you can whip up a viral video in minutes. Wrong. Creating a 24-second video, like I do, took:
Multiple tools:
Open Office Impress (or Microsoft Powerpoint, LibreOffice Impress, Canva) for slides
Shotcut (or Clipchamp, DaVinci Resolve, Veed.io) for video editing
Kapwing (or Veed.io, DaVinci Resolve, Clipchamp) for cropping to 9:16.
You start with one program to solve a specific task, like creating slides for a social media video. Then, you want to create a video, which your first program maybe can not handle well, so you switch to another. Next, you face a new issue, like ensuring the video renders on Social media without a black screen, forcing you to try yet another tool. Some programs are simpler to use, even if they solve the same problem, so you add them to your workflow. On top of that, free tools often limit you to a few downloads, pushing you to pay for more exports or, you use yet another program. This cycle leaves you juggling more programs than necessary, complicating your social media content creation.
Tech jargon
Navigating social media video creation comes with tech jargon that can feel overwhelming. Every issue, from blurry videos to black screens, has a specific name. Below are clear explanations of key terms to help you understand and troubleshoot your workflow.
Examples
Resolution: the size of a video or image in pixels, like 1080x1920px (width x height). In many cases, 1080x1920px (full HD, vertical) ensures sharp visuals. Low resolution (as 480p) looks blurry.
Aspect ratio: the proportion of width to height, like 9:16 for vertical videos or 16:9 for widescreen. Wrong ratios cause black bars or cropping issues.
Codec: the method used to compress and encode video/audio, like H.264 (video) or AAC (audio). Most social media require H.264/AAC for videos to render without black screens.
Cropping: cutting parts of a video/image to fit a specific size (like 9:16). Proper cropping removes black bars and centers text for social media posts.
Shadow: a drop shadow effect added around part of an image, like text or a picture, to create a 3D look or make it stand out.
Bitrate: the amount of data processed per second, measured in kbps/Mbps (as 5 Mbps). Low bitrate (like 295 kbps) causes pixelation or rendering issues.
Frame rate: the number of video frames per second, like 30 fps. Higher frame rates (like 60 fps) make motion smoother but increase file size.
Export
Exporting your social media content, like slides or videos, sounds simple but often is not. You need to choose the right file type, PNG or JPG for images, MP4 for videos, while ensuring the correct format (as H.264 for videos) and size (1080x1920px for 9:16). The process gets tricky with download buttons, which might be labeled “Export”, “Save”, or just an arrow icon. Some tools use a two-step process: first, you prepare the file (rendering it for download), then click another button to actually save it. This inconsistency across programs adds confusion, slowing down your workflow and risking errors, like videos that won’t play.
Challenges for non-techies
Creating social media content is daunting for non-techies. Each tool has a steep learning curve with confusing menus, hidden settings, and quirky behaviors. Beginners can spend hours just finding the right button to crop a video to 9:16 or export an MP4. Troubleshooting adds more headaches: free tools often limit you to 3–4 downloads per day, forcing you to switch browsers, clear caches, or try alternatives when errors pop up. Non-techies might not know to disable or enable a VPN or check browser compatibility. The time drain is real, a “simple” video can take days to perfect, and without IT skills, it could stretch to weeks. Compatibility issues, like videos showing black screens due to wrong codecs, and platform restrictions, such as rejecting uploads for file size limits, further frustrate beginners. These challenges make content creation feel like a tech maze for non-experts.
The problem of folders
A logical folder structure is key to managing your social media content, like slides and videos. Create clear folders to find files fast and avoid losing your work. Always keep backups on your local computer and an offline storage device, like a USB drive, to protect against crashes or data loss. Downloads can be tricky, files do not always land in your Downloads folder. Some tools, like Canva or Clipchamp, let you set a custom download folder in their settings, so check these to stay organized. For tips on folder organization, visit my guide HERE to streamline your workflow and keep your content creation stress-free.
Tips to survive
Start small: make one slide, export as PNG, then turn it into a video.
Use one tool: skip complex workflows. VEED.io handles cropping and exporting without watermarks (free, up to 10 min).
Google errors: search “program name download not working” or “program name video not showing.”
Ask for help: join a forum like Reddit’s r/SocialMediaMarketing. Real users share real solutions.
Be patient: expect delays.
This brings us to the end of my post on Social media easy?.
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Disclaimer
All tips and methods mentioned in this blog are tested on Windows 11. Please note that results may vary on other operating systems or versions of Windows. Adapt the instructions accordingly.
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