If you’re reading this it’s probably because you’re new to video or have never really thought about it. After all, when was the last time you sat down to watch a full-length documentary or bought a digital camera just to play around with?

Well, times have changed. Video is at the heart of digital marketing and it’s now possible to connect with your audience anywhere, anytime. Thanks to new platforms like YouTube and the rise of TikTok. These social media platforms are completely platform agnostic and that means your video content can live across all of them.

So whether you’ve just started a YouTube channel or are already creating videos for your blog, this is the list for you. Here are 10 things you need to know about online marketing pixels.

Videos Aren’t Just For Fun

When you first get started, it’s natural to want to upload cute kitten videos and funny memes to draw in your audience. But guess what? Those funny cat videos can grow into full-length documentaries about feline behavior. And the best part is you don’t have to do any of the filming.

Here’s the thing about video marketing. You can take any topic – be it fitness, food, culture, or religion – and turn it into an informative and entertaining video.

And yes, you could use your favorite studio or shoot any of your scenes on an iPhone. But the best results usually come from filming with a skilled team and using high-quality equipment. The simpler the better – as long as you know what you’re doing, you can make a pretty good video with your smartphone.

Videos Can Be Fun And Educational

A common mistake newbie video marketers make is thinking their job is just to entertain their audience. But that’s not the case. Video can, and often does, provide valuable information to viewers. And since viewers are more likely to learn something new from a video than they are from a text-based article, that means you’re doing your job correctly.

Here’s one big misconception about video. Many people think they have to be perfect to be successful. But that’s not true. As long as you have a good story to tell and it’s presented in a engaging manner, don’t worry about a few scratches here and there. As long as you can keep the attention of your audience, you’ll be fine.

Also, a big plus of video is you can include lots of little tips and tricks along with the main information you’re presenting. Think of all the valuable information someone could learn from a video about creating a better salad dressing. Or how to properly cook a bird. Or how to navigate an airplane.

All of these little tips and tricks could potentially be added to a master guide that accompanies the video content. Think of all the additional value that would provide. And don’t just limit yourself to cooking and fashion tips either. You could cover anything under the sun.

Videos Can Increase Your Conversions

When Google first rolled out the new Google Analytics back in 2018, they gave us a shout out for all the videos we’ve uploaded to YouTube. And it’s definitely worth mentioning since the video is one of the most effective (and free) ways to grow your blog, or new channel.

Here’s how video can help you grow your blog. Say you’ve got a blog that focuses on travel. So you write about destinations like Bali, Thailand, or Italy. Or you might write about the history of Italy or the fashion styling tips for men who want to look like James Bond. Whatever it may be, you’ve got content that’s rooted in some sort of expertise. What you need now is to start forming videos to support those articles. Or you can see it as an opportunity to create a truly bespoke video for each of your articles.

Now, you don’t necessarily have to create a video for each article, although that’s certainly the recommended approach. Instead, you can create a template video and then tweak it based on your individual blog’s needs and style. This way you’ll maintain a consistent look and feel throughout your videos while still being unique to your blog. And when you include keywords and tags in your video content, you’re not only telling search engines what your video is about, but you’re giving yourself a better chance at being found by potential audience, as well.

You Could (and Should) Use Video In Many Ways

One of the things that makes YouTube and other similar platforms so effective is the fact that they don’t just focus on one area of digital marketing. They provide a place for creators to grow and develop their projects, offering both a creative environment and a place to share their work. And as we’ve established – video can (and often does) provide valuable information to viewers. So it’s only natural that creators would want to incorporate it into their marketing strategies.

Here’s a question for you. Imagine you’ve built a really popular blog around handbags and fashion – what would you say to a client who came to you wanting to expand their reach to include video content? How would you advise them to grow and develop their brand?

The answer is simple. Use video!

The fact is, even if your target audience is largely composed of educated city-dwellers, the suburbs aren’t entirely worthless. If you can engage with people where they are – whether that’s online or on their mobile phones – you can find your audience and connect with them. And for that matter, so can anyone else. Which means everyone – no matter your target audience – can potentially have access to video content.

The Rise Of Meme-Based Video

Here’s where video content is evolving and changing. More and more people are realizing the value of short-form content. Specifically, memes. People are catching on to how much fun it is to create and share memes, and aren’t afraid to use them in their videos.

Think of all the funny photos, memes, and videos you’ve seen on TikTok. If you include a meme in the content of your blog post, you’ll not only be creating fun content, but you’ll also be teaching your audience something new. And that’s valuable information, not to mention the fact that you’ll be engaging with your audience on a new platform.

Here’s another thing you need to know about video. It’s completely platform-agnostic and that means your content can live across all the major social media networks.

It’s Time To Experiment

If you’ve been reading this whole article, you’re probably wondering what type of video content you should create. Well, that’s up to you. But here’s a big tip. Start with what you know. And more importantly, try out different things and see what works best for your specific audience. Remember, you’re marketing to the individual, not the mass. So your objective is to connect with your audience and gain their trust. That means you need to experiment with different styles and platforms until you find what works best.

For example, maybe you’ve got an existing Instagram account and you decide to try out TikTok. On one hand, you’ve got all these fun, playful videos with all-white backgrounds and bright, contrasting colors. On the other, you’ve got more serious-minded videos with a focus on educational content. Which one do you think your audience will prefer?

You’ll never know unless you try. And that’s one of the things that makes this industry so interesting. There’s always something new to learn, and something new to try. So never stop questioning and exploring. If you keep that up, you’ll be able to stay ahead of the curve and make videos that your audience wants to see.