Online marketing videos go on and on because people are fascinated by them. Many companies create videos to either educate their target audience about a product or service or to entertain the people they’re trying to reach.
Marketers tend to shy away from videos because they think people will grow tired of them. But if you look at the statistics, you’ll see that people are actually more engaged with videos than other types of content.
That’s because videos allow the viewer to imagine what’s going on behind the scenes. They can see how the product or service is made, meet the people responsible for creating it, and learn about its advantages and disadvantages. If you want to engage consumers, let them participate in the conversation by offering unique insights, giving testimonials, or even making a few jokes.
Videos Bring Traffic And Conversions
Anyone who’s ever run an online business or marketed a product or service online knows that videos bring traffic and conversions. When you run a video on your blog, for example, you’ll see a bump in both traffic and conversions. Why? Videos encourage people to look deeper into what you have to say, and they show you as a potential ally in their quest for information.
In a nutshell, videos let you show actual results from using a product or service, rather than just talking about it. If you run a video on your blog, you’ll start to see some conversions immediately. And you’ll continue to see growth as long as the video is getting views.
Of course, not every video will get conversions right off the bat. But the more you put into your videos, the better. You can use video software, like Vidyard, to get a visualization of how many views and comments your videos are getting. This will help you find the right video for your blog or website.
Videos For Different Platforms
Even if you don’t have a video camera, you can use software like Vidyard to turn your iPhone, iPad, or Android device into a video camera. This is important because not every platform enjoys the same level of video support. For example, iOS doesn’t officially allow video recording. So if you want to use video on your iPhone, you’ll have to do it in a private space. With a software-based solution like Vidyard, you can shoot videos privately or publicly and share them with the world.
If you want to use video on your site, but don’t have the budget for a professional-looking camera, you can always rent one for a few days, or purchase a used one from a reputable vendor.
Videos Help Consumers Feel Confident In Decision Making
There’s a reason why videos go on and on for Online Marketers: People like watching them. They find it helpful and interesting to learn about products or services through someone else’s eyes. This is especially beneficial for people who need to make important decisions but don’t have all the information in front of them.
For example, if you’re trying to decide between two products or experiences that are pretty similar, you can use a video to help decide. You can ask questions about the product or service, get answers from experts, and notice how the other person feels about using the product or service. This kind of thing can help flip an unbalanced scale and tip the scales in your favor. Video can be very effective at convincing people to choose your product or service when there’s a lot of competition.
On the flip side, if you’re selling a product or service that is mostly unique and has a lot of flaws, you can use videos to highlight these flaws. People hate to feel as though they’re being sold something that isn’t solid, so showing them a video of the product or service breaking or failing can help mitigate some of these fears. This is usually done through a review, where the company hands out sample products and the person using them gives their opinion on whether or not they like the item.
It’s All About The Marketing Team
Most marketing teams are responsible for deciding what content to produce and promote. This is a difficult task because there are so many moving parts involved. It starts with the idea generation stage, where you have to brainstorm new content to promote. Then, you have to decide what medium to use to reach the audience you’ve identified.
Depending on how much time you have, you’ll either want to do all of this yourself or hire a freelancer or consultant to help. You don’t want to burn out by trying to do too much, so it’s best to hire someone who can take care of the production end and can also help with content generation.
As a marketer, if you decide that videos are a good fit for your content strategy, it’s important to remember that not every one is created equal. There are a few tips you can follow to ensure that your videos are as effective as possible:
Focus On Quality
The fact that videos go on and on for some people proves that not every video needs to be perfect. Sometimes, you simply want to create a quick video to share with a key audience. If this is the case, you can use free video editing software, like Vidyard, to capture your thoughts and share them with the world.
The quality of the video isn’t as important as the quality of the content. In other words, while it’s important to get the audio and video levels right, you don’t need to run your video through a fancy editing program to achieve this. Sometimes, all it takes is a little ingenuity and an understanding of what makes videos go on and on.
Vary Your Videos’ Formats
It’s important to keep your videos interesting and varied. This will ensure that you keep your audiences interested, rather than making them sick of your brand or website. While longer videos generally perform better than shorter ones, there are exceptions to this rule. Especially since not every platform enjoys the same level of support for videos as others. For example, if you’re planning on running a video on Instagram, make sure that you upload a short version that will perform well, and then use the rest of your video real estate for a call-to-action.
Use Short-Lived Benefits
When somebody decides to purchase a product or service from your company, they’re doing it because they believe that there’s something special about the product or service that will benefit them. This is why it’s important to keep your videos short-lived. While you want to keep your subscribers interested, it’s also important to remind them that this content is designed to get them to click a link or order a product. And what is the ultimate goal of any marketing video? To get people to click.
Use Video Software To Track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Video software, like Vidyard, can help you track the performance of your marketing videos. With these tools, you can see how many times your videos have been watched, how many times they’ve been shared, and whether or not they’ve raised brand awareness. While you can get a good feel for video performance manually, using software can give you more accurate results and help you make better decisions about your videos’ content and strategy.
Don’t Forget The Entertainment Factor
Videos don’t always need to be educational to be effective. Sometimes, all it takes is a funny little video to get a point across. While this may not be the most suitable video for your blog post, it can certainly be used to entertain your subscribers while also delivering a key point about your product or service. Creativity is key, and it can make all the difference between a successful and a misspent marketing effort.
Even if you don’t have the budget for a pro-quality camera, you can always enlist the help of a friend with a smartphone. With today’s phones, it’s easy to record a short video using nothing more than the front-facing camera. If you want to have a laugh or make somebody smile, all you need are a few good friends and a funny story to tell.