Reaction videos are just what they sound like: these are dramatized videos of people reacting to various things or scenarios. 

The first reaction video was uploaded on YouTube by the Fine Brothers in 2010, and it was titled Kids React. The video featured kids between the ages of 5 to 13 reacting to viral videos of double rainbows, twin rabbits and more. The video not only provided entertainment but became an instant conversation starter. 

Since then, such videos have occupied prime real estate in social media, and the best ones have even managed to clock millions of views. There are several types of reaction videos that you can create on social media. For example, you can react to a popular video by another creator on YouTube, react to your viewers’ comments, or even react to old commercials.

Thanks to a free online video editor, adding a video overlay is pretty straightforward in your videos even if you’re a video editing beginner. 

While reaction videos can help you grab the eyeballs, there are certain guidelines you need to follow while creating one. Given that social media etiquette is constantly evolving, it can be difficult to stay on top of all the nuances. So here are the best practices to follow before you record the next video:

1. Always keep it professional

Creating reaction videos doesn’t require any expertise. Anyone is free to react to anything online. Unfortunately, one may get too caught up with the smaller details of the video they are reacting to and become overly critical. 

Any crude behavior can show you in a bad light and alienate your viewers. That’s why it is important to always remain professional while recording these videos. Don’t react in a manner that undermines the creativity and effort of another person. 

Remember that the primary purpose of these videos is to help everyone feel more connected to various experiences without questioning the competence of the creator. 

2. Make sure that you add a CTA

Even if you are recording a reaction video, adding a CTA is helpful to encourage the audience to do what you want them to do. Whether you want them to check out your other videos or just hit the like button of this video -- a powerful CTA button is useful to steer them in the right direction. 

You can use YouTube cards for adding CTAs but make sure that you pepper the entire video with CTAs. There's a chance that the audience may not stick till the end. 

3. Don’t end up infringing the copyright of another creator 

The process of creating a reaction video is a lot of fun. So the last thing you want is to deal with a copyright infringement claim. That can seriously dampen your video marketing efforts.

The easiest way to avoid a copyright claim is by emailing the creator whose video you will be reacting to. However, you’ll need to repeat the process for every video that you are planning to react to. You can also credit the other creator by adding an intro or outro screen in your video or add the name in the video description. Mastering a few video editing techniques and using an efficient video editor like Clipchamp can help you get the job done. 

Another way to avoid potential copyright infringement is by skipping 5-6 seconds of the video every 30-40 seconds. You can also reduce the volume of the original video to avoid getting flagged by YouTube’s content recognition software. 

4. Use a video overlay to make the reaction video more entertaining

A video overlay is a special effect you can add to make your videos more engaging. This technique allows you to display two video clips on the screen at the same time and create a picture-in-picture effect. 

Video overlay can be useful for reaction video as the audience can see your face side-by-side with the video you are reacting to. This will not disturb the flow and allow the audience to keep watching both the video and your reaction to it at the same time. 

Simply use the proper video editing methods to take the reaction video a notch higher and amp up the entertainment quotient. 

5. Dub the reaction video in different languages

If you have a mind-blowing reaction video, you want to show it to as many people as you can. Dubbing your video in different languages helps you to amplify the reach of your work. You can target a broader audience base and make an impression even though you don’t speak their language. 

The script for your original video can help you while you are dubbing. However, make sure to hire a translator to help you with an accurate translation of the script and tell you the words you can use to make it more conversational. You can also hire voice actors who can record in the dubbed video, especially if you are not confident about doing it yourself. 

Ready to create jaw-dropping reaction videos?

Reaction videos are a powerful way to build your personal brand. Just make sure that you stick to the proper etiquette so that your audience doesn’t get annoyed and scroll down.