Recording and uploading your first video
Format, length, what works on the feed, how to tag a product, and what to avoid.
Videos are how buyers find you
Static product photos sell — but videos sell more. The KampalaSnap home screen is a video feed, and that feed is where most buyers discover new shops.
If a buyer follows you, your videos jump to the top of their feed. If they don't, the algorithm decides — and the algorithm strongly prefers videos with high watch time. So getting good at short videos is the single biggest growth lever you have on the app.
What kind of video are we talking about?
- Short. 15-60 seconds is the sweet spot. The upload cap is 2 minutes, but most successful videos are under 30 seconds.
- Vertical. Portrait orientation (the way you hold your phone to scroll). Landscape videos get cropped.
- One product, one moment. Don't try to show your whole inventory in 30 seconds. Pick one thing and show it well.
Think TikTok or Instagram Reels, not a YouTube product review.
What works on the feed
After looking at thousands of videos, the patterns are clear.
Videos that perform well
- Showing the product in use. A dress being worn and moving. A boda spare being installed. A jar of pickled mangoes being opened and tasted.
- Close-up detail shots. A 5-second pan over the fabric, the texture, the stitching. Buyers can almost feel it.
- Side-by-side comparisons. Before / after. With / without. The cheap version vs your version.
- You talking to the camera. "Hi, I'm Sandra, this is the new kitenge wrap I just got in — check out this stitching." Personal
- product, 20 seconds.
- The "unboxing" feel. Show what arrives, in the bag, getting opened. Helps buyers visualize what they'll receive.
Videos that don't perform
- Slideshow of still photos set to music. The algorithm marks these down — they're not really "videos."
- Long intro / no product shown for the first 5 seconds. Buyers swipe away before the product appears.
- Shaky, dark, or out-of-focus. Even one bad video can train the algorithm to deprioritize you.
- No sound. A silent video doesn't get the same engagement. Use voice, music, or ambient sound.
- Too much text on screen. Buyers can't read 5 lines of text in 3 seconds. Keep on-screen text to a single short phrase if you use it at all.
Filming basics
You don't need fancy gear. A phone with a clean lens and decent daylight is enough.
Light
The single biggest factor. Film:
- Near a window in the morning or afternoon.
- Outdoors in shade (not full sun — that creates harsh shadows).
- Indoors with one big light source rather than the ceiling fluorescents.
Sound
Phone microphones are decent within 2 feet. If you're talking to the camera, hold the phone close-ish. If you're filming the product without talking, ambient sound works.
Background music is fine but don't crank it over your voice.
Steady
Either:
- Hold the phone still with two hands.
- Lean against a wall so the phone doesn't move.
- Use a tripod or phone stand if you have one.
Shaky video is the #1 viewer drop-off cause.
Framing
- Vertical. Always.
- Product centered. Don't put it in a corner.
- Show, then explain. First 2 seconds show the product clearly. Then narrate / move.
How to upload
In the Seller Hub:
- Tap the Videos tab.
- Tap the + button.
- Pick: - Upload from gallery — if you already filmed it. - Record now — opens the in-app camera.
Step 1 — Pick or record the clip
If recording in-app, tap-and-hold the record button to film. Release to stop. You can re-do as many times as you want.
If uploading, pick the video file from your gallery. The app accepts MP4 and MOV format up to 100 MB.
Step 2 — Trim (optional)
The app shows you the video with a trim slider. Drag the start and end points to cut the boring bits.
Aim for 20-40 seconds. Anything under 10 seconds doesn't have time to tell a story; anything over 60 risks losing the viewer.
Step 3 — Add a caption
Up to 200 characters. This is what buyers see below the video.
Caption styles that work:
- A direct sell: "New kitenge wraps arrived — only 5 left at this price. WhatsApp me to reserve."
- A question: "Which colour would you pick — burgundy or olive? Comment below."
- A tip: "Quick fix for a sticky scooter throttle — here's what worked for me."
Avoid:
- 10+ hashtags. The algorithm doesn't reward hashtag-spam.
- All-caps shouting.
- Generic captions like "New product!"
Step 4 — Tag the product (recommended)
If the video is about a specific product in your shop, tag it. Tagged products show up as a small "Buy now" button on the video. Buyers can tap it and go straight to the product page.
To tag:
- Tap Tag products.
- Pick the product from your list.
- Done.
You can tag up to 3 products per video. Don't over-tag — pick the ones the video actually shows.
Step 5 — Add hashtags (light touch)
Hashtags help the algorithm categorize your video, but 2-3 are plenty. Examples:
#kitenge #kampala#bodaparts #kampala#vegan #pickles
Search for hashtags other sellers in your category use and copy the common ones. Don't make up niche ones nobody searches.
Step 6 — Pick a thumbnail
The thumbnail is the still image people see before the video plays. The app picks one automatically; you can override with the Change thumbnail option, choosing a specific frame from the video.
Pick a frame where the product looks great.
Step 7 — Tap Upload
The video uploads to KampalaSnap's servers. Processing takes 1-3 minutes (the app compresses and prepares it for the feed). You can close the app while it processes — uploads continue in the background.
You'll get a notification when the video is live.
What happens after upload
Within minutes:
- The video appears on your shop's Videos tab.
- The video appears in your followers' feeds.
- The algorithm starts testing the video — showing it to a small audience to see how they engage.
- If engagement is good (people watch, like, share), the video gets shown to more people.
- If engagement is bad (people scroll past in the first 3 seconds), the video gets de-prioritized.
This is why the first 3 seconds matter most. Get the product on screen immediately.
Editing a video later
You can edit the caption, hashtags, tags, and thumbnail at any time after upload. Open the video → three-dot menu → Edit.
You can NOT edit the actual video footage after upload. To change the footage, delete and re-upload (you'll lose any likes/views the original had).
A few common myths
"I need professional gear."
You don't. A phone from the last 3 years, in good light, beats a DSLR in bad light. Many of the top-selling shops on KampalaSnap film everything on a phone.
"I need to post every day."
You don't. Consistent quality beats daily quantity. 2-3 good videos a week from a small shop is plenty.
"I need to be on camera."
Not always. Product-focused videos (just hands and product) work fine. But if you're comfortable on camera, your videos with you in them will probably outperform anonymous product shots.
"I need editing software."
The in-app trim tool is enough for 80% of cases. If you want fancier (text overlays, music, transitions), CapCut is free on Android and works well. But don't make editing the blocker.
What about videos that don't sell anything?
Not every video has to be a direct ad. Some sellers post:
- Behind-the-scenes clips of making their products.
- Tip videos related to their niche (a salon sharing hair care tips).
- Day-in-the-life clips from the shop.
These don't have a "Buy now" tag but they build your shop's personality. Mix them in — 1 personality video for every 2-3 product videos is a good ratio.
Common questions
Can I post a video without a product attached?
Yes. Behind-the-scenes, tutorials, personality content all work without product tags.
My video flopped. Should I delete it?
Wait a week. The algorithm sometimes picks up videos late — a video that did nothing in 24 hours can suddenly take off 5 days later.
If a video genuinely has nothing going for it after a week, deleting is fine. It doesn't hurt your shop.
Can I cross-post videos from TikTok or Instagram?
Yes — re-uploading your own videos is fine. Just make sure they're vertical, under 60 seconds, and don't have someone else's watermark plastered on them.
What music can I use?
Any music you have the rights to. Original music, royalty-free music (epidemicsound.com, audiojungle.net), or music you've personally licensed.
Copyrighted commercial music (top 40 hits) without permission can get your video taken down — and repeated infringements can suspend your account. When in doubt, use royalty-free.
Videos that show real shop activity (chaos, mess, etc.) — do those work?
Authentic-but-messy often does great. A clip of you running the shop on a busy day, customers in the background, you packing an order at speed — that builds trust in a way polished videos don't.
Just make sure the product is still clearly visible and recognisable.
What's next
- When orders come in — what happens when a video does its job.
- Setting up delivery — be ready before the orders land.