How to Get Started with Video Marketing

Video marketing continues to increase in popularity as we make our way through 2017, and the impacts cannot be denied. A recent report reveals that marketers who are utilizing video are growing their revenue 49% faster than non-video users. You may also be surprised to learn that YouTube is the second largest search engine, only outranked by its parent company – Google.

Depending your video marketing strategy, videos may even outrank other results in Google. For instance, how-to and demonstration videos will be more popular than written articles for the same subject. Additionally, when you have a video on your website the video itself will rank in search engine results, while also improving SEO rankings because it will create backlinks to your website/video. With all of this in mind, it only makes sense that if you want to increase your brand awareness online, including video marketing in your digital strategy could give you the boost you need.

What kind of videos are we talking about?
A variety of video formats can be used to enhance a business’ reach online. We previously mentioned demonstration and how-to videos, which can be a great way to show off a product. Tutorial videos are something that customers will look for prior to purchasing a product, as well as while they’re working on a task. A quality demonstration could easily influence them to purchase their product, and later share the video if they complete the task at hand with your company’s assistance.

Question and answer sessions are another great way to engage customers. As a business owner, you probably have a mental list of frequently asked questions and this is a great way to get them answered for the masses! It’s also a good way to connect with customers in specific situations, for example, if you sell lawncare products you could do season Q & As to answer questions customers may have regarding seasonal lawn maintenance. These videos are an easy way to share your knowledge and expertise, generating trust and credibility.

Videos featuring aspects of company culture can also do wonders for your business. Featuring your team and “behind the scenes” moments can help people feel more connected to your brand. These can include anything from one-on-one interviews and team building activities to birthday celebrations and inter-office pranks. It’s a great way to exercise your creativity!

And if for some reason you’re still on the fence about video, keep this in mind: Online shoppers are 1.81 times more likely to purchase a product than non-viewers. That’s almost twice as likely, just because of video content alone.

So, how do you get started?
In the digital age, there are a lot of options for video marketing and you’ll need to figure out what works best for you. Of course, YouTube is going to have SEO benefits that help them stand out, but you shouldn’t could others out just yet. Facebook’s video platform, Facebook Live, Instagram, Instagram Stories, and Snapchat, among others, have all been used to successfully carry out video marketing campaigns. Some of those options even have a feature that notifies your fans and followers when you go live, allowing them to tune in immediately if they’re interested, increasing your reach and awareness.

Once you have a platform, here are some tips for your videos:

• Keep your message short and to the point.
• Include subtitles for users that view videos without sound.
• Add your own thumbnails at the end of videos that link to more of your own content. (This keeps random links from generating, some of which could lead customers to the competition.)
• Don’t forget to end on a call-to-action!
• Use effective keywords to increase your SEO.

Not equipped for video marketing? Have a strategy, but it just isn’t working? We would love to help! We have the capability to assist you in creating quality videos to help market your business online and increase awareness of your brand. Contact us to learn more.