Quiet but powerful: how silent videos are winning social media [+ 2025 Data]
You’ve just created the perfect video. The music hits at the right time, your voiceover is crisp and that trendy sound clip? The chef’s kiss. But here’s the plot twist: Most of your audience will never hear about it.
Welcome to the reality of modern content consumption, where your masterpiece is more likely to be viewed on a leisurely morning commute, in a crowded office, or while browsing in bed next to a sleeping partner – all with the sound firmly muted.
In this article, I’ll show you how to create silent videos that stop scrolling and drive engagement, even when viewers can’t hear it. We’ll cover best practices and real-world examples to help you master the art of silent video marketing.
Table of contents
Why soundless videos are more important than ever Key elements of a successful silent video Best practices for creating silent videos Examples of silent scroll-stop videos I love
Why audio-free videos are more important than ever
The social media video landscape has evolved significantly and the numbers speak for themselves. According to our latest state of marketing report:
Short-form video dominates marketing formats with an adoption rate of 29.2% Visual content (including images at 29%) dominates marketing strategies 17% of marketers plan to increase their investment in short-form video in 2025
This shift isn’t just about following trends, it’s also about going where the ROI is. Our data shows that short-form videos, images, and live streaming consistently generate the highest returns among all content formats.
Key Elements of a Successful Silent Video
1. Have a platform-specific strategy.
Let’s take a look at the platforms marketers are placing their bets on in 2025. According to our latest research, here’s where investments are flowing:
YouTube (investment up 29.6%): Users often watch with sound, but create for both experiences Instagram (investment up 28.8%): Fast-paced, visually striking content dominates TikTok (investment up 28.8%) by 27.6%): fast-paced, trend-driven content wins
I’ve found that understanding these platform-specific trends is crucial to success. For example, while YouTube may have the largest investment, each platform requires a unique approach to silent video strategy.
2. Respect the “three-second rule”.
If you are not familiar with this rule, you have three seconds to capture attention before your viewer decides to scroll down or click on something else. Here’s how to achieve it:
Use bold, eye-catching visuals from the start. Start with your most compelling data point or insight. Create a cliffhanger moment that leaves viewers wanting to see more. Use bright colors or unexpected images to stop the scrolling.
3. Focus on clear visual storytelling.
Your video should communicate effectively without relying solely on its audio:
Focus on action and movement. Use facial expressions and body language to convey emotions. Create a clear visual progression of ideas. Keep contrast high for mobile viewing.
This shouldn’t deter you from continuing to add audio to your video. Go ahead and choose audio or voiceover that complements your work, but make sure viewers can receive the message with or without it.
4. Using strategic text overlay.
When it comes to silent videos, the text on the screen will carry the message. You should include professional captions that complement your visuals and convey clear calls to action at strategic moments.
And if you’re looking for an easy way to embed that valuable text overlay, at the right time and for the right duration, check out HubSpot Clip Creatorwhere you can easily add:
Professional captions that complement your visuals Key statistics or data points as text overlays Clear calls to action at strategic moments Lower thirds marked for speaker identification
5. Including attractive animated graphics.
While I’m not the most savvy video editor myself, most video editors make it easy to add smooth transitions between scenes. Keep viewers interested with:
Animated icons and illustrations Progress bars or timelines Dynamic text animations
Now that we’ve gone over the key elements, keep a few best practices in mind before posting your next video.
Best Practices for Creating Silent Videos
Front Loading Important Information: Place the key message in the hook or in the first 3-5 seconds. Maintain visual hierarchy: use consistent fonts and keep text scannable. Design for mobile-first viewing: Test readability on smaller screens. Naturally incorporate brand elements: Strategically include brand colors and subtle logo placement.
Examples of Silent Scrolling Videos I Like
1. Tasty on BuzzFeed
Tasty on BuzzFeed shares recipe videos that don’t require volume or a lot of time to enjoy. Even though the premise of this channel seems so simple, Tasty videos reach millions of people every month..
Tasty’s virality on social media has something to do with the fact that the videos can be watched without sound, and there are a few key elements that make them successful.
What I like:
Hyperlapse-style filming creates instant visual interest Problem-solving approach with “5 ingredients or less” format Bold captions complement rather than dominate the visuals Cooking demonstrations take center stage
Pro Tip: Let your audience’s search behavior guide your content strategy: Tasty specifically creates videos based on searches for popular recipes and trending food topics.
2. Glam, Inc.
Glam, Inc. shares lifestyle videos on Facebook And YouTubeand their most popular videos are their “100 Years of” retrospectives which examine a century of changes in a popular trend.
And while the decade-specific background music in this video is fun, you can hit the mute button while learning about the history of women’s workout clothes.
Clear focus on a single topic against a simple background Time-based storytelling format (“100 Years of” series) Strategic timing with New Year’s resolution season
Pro Tip: Plan your content release to align with natural peaks of audience interest (like New Year’s resolutions for fitness content).
3. Tech Insider
Tech Insider is the technology news division of Business Insider and publishes unique science and technology articles. explanatory videos which do not require sound. This one uses cool visuals to break down a complicated concept.
The animations used in this video attract attention on busy social media feeds and the caption work illustrates the story step by step.
What I like:
Uses animations to simplify complex concepts. Answers common questions. Step-by-step visual narration. Eye-catching visuals.
Pro Tip: Start with a common question from your audience, then break the answer into clear visual steps.
4. Refinery29
Refinery29 posts creative lifestyle inspiration videos, like the hairstyle demo video here. He uses bright colors to attract attention. The bright colors help this video stand out to viewers compared to the lighter-colored Facebook News Feed, YouTube homepage, and other social networks without sound to rely on.
What I like:
Bright, bold colors that pop in social feeds. The professional advice format builds authority and trust. Format under 15 seconds for maximum engagement.
Pro Tip: Use color strategically to stand out in predominantly white/light social media feeds and leverage recognizable names in headlines for immediate context.
5. BuzzFeed video
BuzzFeed posts videos on a variety of different topics. This one is popular for several reasons.
It is first and foremost funny.
Emotion is a useful tool in advertising, and content that elicits positive reactions, like laughter, drives engagement. To communicate humor without sound, content must be highly visual, and Buzzfeed makes it easy to skim through content, even if you can’t hear what it’s saying.
What I like:
Approach focused on humor Simple and clear concept Easy to digest format
Pro Tip: Keep concepts simple: If you can’t explain the premise of your video in a single sentence, it may be too complex for silent viewing.
6. Now this
NowThis News, a social media outlet, only produces video content – an interesting way to get information, in my opinion. NowThis publishes video news segments that work with or without sound, as well as captions and video content work together to show and tell viewers what the story is about.
What I like:
Headlines that create emotional impact Captions and visuals work together seamlessly Strategic use of shock value for engagement
Pro Tip: Choose angles that trigger emotional responses (surprise, concern, curiosity) in your headlines – NowThis found that negative headlines often outperform positive headlines.
Get your message across, even if it’s silent
Whether you work for a B2B software company or a news agency, you can use video to tell your brand’s story in a more engaging way. If your video doesn’t require sound, all the better for sharing it on social media.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in January 2017 and has since been updated for completeness.
