The Covid-19 pandemic was a major blow to the economy. But, it also created an opportunity for individuals and businesses to work together. To collaborate, marketers have had to find new ways to engage with potential customers. And video has become a crucial tool in the fight against Covid-19.
Videos can help businesses establish trust and transparency. Many businesses have used video to communicate important information during the pandemic. They’ve also used video to engage with potential customers and establish relationships.
While video isn’t a silver bullet, it’s a powerful tool that can help your business grow. Whether you’re a B2C or B2B business, videos can be used to market your products or services. And, thanks to platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which are owned by tech giants Google and Facebook, respectively, marketers have a huge audience to target.
If you’re looking to utilize video to grow your business, here are some tips on how to create a free marketing video for your business.
Gain Trust With Your Potential Customers
If you’re totally new to video or haven’t done so in a while, it can be hard to remember the tricks of the trade. Like many tools of modern marketing, video can be complicated to master.
Whether you’re making a sales video, which pitches a product or service to potential customers, or you’re creating a general marketing video to engage with potential customers, you need to make sure that you build trust with them. This means that you take the time to establish your credibility. Before you start shooting, learn what makes your business special. And, when you do start filming, make sure that you’re being authentic and honest.
Even if you don’t sell equipment, you could still use video to show how you’re different from your competitors. For instance, you could compare your services and expertise with those of your competitors. Or, you could show how you’ve improved your processes since the last time your customers were here. Establishing trust takes time, but it’s essential for attracting and retaining customers. Video is a valuable tool for doing this.
Determine The Purpose Of Your Video
Like many marketing tools, video can be used for many different purposes. Depending on the target audience, marketers can use video in a number of different ways. For example, if you’re creating a sales video for a B2C business, you might want to show images of the products that you sell. Or, if you’re creating a general marketing video for a B2B business, you might want to include interviews with industry experts to demonstrate your company’s thought leadership. Regardless of the purpose of your video, there’s a right way to do it.
As a general rule of thumb, when creating video content, always think about the recipient. What would make this video special and unique? What do I want my audience to learn from this video?
Choose Who You’ll Be Telling Your Story To
One of the primary purposes of marketing a product or service is to tell your company’s story. This is especially relevant when you’re marketing a service-based business. In these sorts of businesses, your customers are essentially your audience. And, since you’re the one providing the service, it’s important that you choose your audience carefully. Tailor your messaging to match the needs and wants of your intended audience. Otherwise, you may end up with a bunch of frustrated customers who feel that your product or service doesn’t match their needs. Or, you might even lose a sale or two.
If you’re looking to sell equipment to businesses, you might want to consider creating a niche video for specific industries. For example, if you’re marketing a server provider, you might want to create an educational video to show how experienced you are in supporting businesses in their operations. Or, if you’re marketing a cyber security firm, you might want to create a humorous video to show how light-hearted you are while also demonstrating your seriousness as a business.
Consider Sponsorships And Affiliations
If you’re looking to create a marketing video, you’ll most likely need money to fund it. One potential solution is to look for sponsorships or affiliations. You might be able to secure some money from an investment bank or a venture capital firm. Or, you might be able to get corporate sponsorships to fund your video project. Depending on your budget, you can choose the most appropriate option for you.
Look For Supportive Tax And Legal Advice
As a business owner or investor, it’s important to remember that if you’re paying for video content, you’re not advertising. And, since you’re not advertising, you don’t need to comply with the same rules that you would if you were literally throwing away money on ads. This means that you can spend as much as you want on video content without having to declare the income. Not to mention, you don’t have to pay for commercials as you would if you were using traditional advertising.
However, just because you don’t have to comply with the same rules as an advertiser doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t. Taxes and legalities surrounding video content are still complicated. Even if you’re doing nothing more than creating a short video to promote your business, you might still need consultation from a professional.
Create A Plan For Editing And Post-Production
When you’re creating a marketing video, you’ll most likely want to include a number of different perspectives and angles. This means that you’ll most likely need a crew – at least two people, preferably with different expertise. Depending on your budget, you can choose the team that makes the most sense for you.
Decide which story you want to tell. And, once you have that, break it down into scenes. Think of the plan as a movie. With each scene, you’ll need a couple of different takes. Some might be better than others. But, by varying your settings and perspectives, you can often find the best one. And, like many good stories, the ending will surprise you.
After you have your scenes and beats, choose the one that you think will be the most effective in telling your story. Then, map out an order in which you’ll need to shoot the video. With each scene, add a little bit more narrative, whether it’s from your perspective or that of an individual interviewed for the video. This way, you’ll have something to work with when it comes time to edit the video. Once you have your storyboard, you can start setting up your shoot.
Learn The Basics Of Video And Editing
To create a marketing video that will be effective, you’ll need to learn the basics of video and editing. While there isn’t a formula for creating a great video, there are some basics that you can follow to get started. And, don’t worry – it’s not as complicated as it seems. Like many tools of the trade, with practice, you’ll be able to master this technique.
Decide on the most appropriate video platform for your business. Then, find a couple of people who know how to use the platform effectively. If you don’t have the budget for a professional team, consider getting a friend or family member to help out. They can learn the basics of video editing and you can take your pick from their various skills.
To create a marketing video to promote your product or service, you first need to determine the purpose of the video. Then, you can choose the platforms that make the most sense for you.