by Jace Vernon | Sep 20, 2019 | Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Video Content, Video Marketing, video online marketing
Quick Summary of 2019 Video Marketing Stats
- Over 80% of marketers acknowledge that video is taking over
- Over 50% of social media users who watch a video engage with the brand
- Money spent on video marketing has gone up over 50% in the last 3 years
- Almost 90% of marketers express satisfaction with their video ROI
- Almost 75% of consumers prefer video over written content before buying
- Over 3/4 of every second spent on cell phones is spent watching videos
- Interactive video is used by a quarter of all marketers
Video marketing is as important for businesses now as it’s ever been. The ever-increasing popularity of social media has played a big role in this development. Those who keep up with information in the world of video marketing have an edge over their competition. We want you to be that person. Benefit from not only having a digital marketing strategy that involves video but also from being informed on the subject.
Here are some promising statistics related to video marketing that will get you excited for the future. They should also help motivate you to give more attention to video marketing if you’re not already. These video marketing stats don’t lie.
1. Over 80% of marketers acknowledge that video is taking over
For many years now, video has consistently yielded really good results. It’s been in the last half-decade where we’ve seen lots of business owners finally jump on board. And industry experts fully believe that the importance of video marketing for businesses will continue growing. Honestly, there isn’t any reason to believe otherwise. Video is king. People prefer watching a video over reading an article when given the option.
Business owners must start creating video content now (or at least sooner than later). This is because in order to get it right you often need to experiment. What video type will work best for your business and for what you’re trying to accomplish? It may take some tinkering. Some trial and error. The sooner you go through this process, the sooner your business will reap the rewards.
2. Over 50% of social media users who watch a video engage with that brand
Of all the things a business can do to attract customers, few (if any) have a better success ratio than video content. They are so good at increasing site traffic and brand awareness. And in this case, “so good” means getting over half the people watching to engage with your brand! That’s crazy!
And this news gets better when you break down the numbers even more. If we just consider Millenials, that percentage goes up to over 65%! Almost three-quarters of every millennial who watches your video on social media will interact with you further. I think it’s safe to say that anything producing those kinds of numbers is worth your marketing dollars. Videos are essential to effective advertising and building a strong social media presence.
When looking even deeper, you’ll find that almost a quarter of the people interacting with your brand visit your site. That same amount of people will do more research on your company, Googling your brand to find out more. One study showed that Millenials actually prefer there to be a direct purchase link associated with the video. When people are clicking the link, you know the video is working.
3. Money spent on video marketing has gone up over 50% in the last 3 years
Companies are investing in video marketing more than ever. That includes both mobile and digital advertising. Since 2016, money spent on it has gone up over 50% and that percentage is rising still. Do you know why? Because it works. And everyone is starting to figure this out.
Fun fact: what industry would you guess spends the most on video marketing? The answer: household goods.
4. Almost 90% of marketers express satisfaction with their video marketing ROI
The statistic above is specifically referring to social media video marketing. But still, the ROI numbers associated with all kinds of video marketing climb ever year. Spending a few thousand to make many times that is appealing to business owners, it seems. In fact, referencing the same study, we learn that almost half of business owners polled agreed on something else. The marketing dollars spent on video sees the biggest ROI compared to other marketing efforts.
5. Almost 75% of consumers prefer video over written content before buying
Let’s say you have an online sales page. On the page, you’ve got written content and a video. Which one do you think most people will interact with first? Video. When someone goes online to learn about a product they’re interested in buying, they are hoping there’s a video. They want to see it. They want to hear an authoritative voice talking about it. Almost all of your potential customers prefer this. If you don’t have a video on your website, let alone a video marketing campaign, you’ve got work to do.
One of the reasons people love product videos is because seeing is better than imagining. Also, the total time a person takes to make a buying decision goes down with video. When your product or service has an accompanying video, more people are likely to buy. Videos feel more authoritative than text. And we haven’t even mentioned one of the main reasons people love video marketing. Because they can share it with people after they know how great your product is! People love sharing what they love on social media. They can’t do that effectively without a video.
6. Over 3/4 of every second spent on cell phones is spent watching videos
Did you get that? When people are interacting with their cell phones, almost 80% of the time they’re watching videos. Let that sink in. A large percentage of people watch video on their phones now more than on their TV. If any of these facts are clear about the importance of video marketing, it’s this one. You need to put your brand in the place where people spend there time. And today, it’s on their mobile phones.
There’s another aspect to this that you should know. There are videos that are recorded live and then there are static videos. The live videos we’re talking about here are things like behind the scenes clips, Q&A videos, tutorials, etc. Guess what? These kinds of live videos are watched 3x more than static videos! Get thinking about what kind of live content you can upload for further brand awareness and customer interaction.
7. Interactive video is used by a quarter of all marketers
An interactive video is a live stream or any other video content where people can interact in real-time. Customers love this! People feel truly connected to your brand when they have these opportunities. Interactive video has been shown to be great at developing loyal customers. Almost 25% of marketers polled said that they have used interactive video at some point. And most of them said they found success with it.
2019 Video Marketing Stats – Conclusion
This data is incredible for you! Information like this is so valuable. Take advantage of it by getting to work figuring out how you can implement video into your marketing plans. The positive proof behind these video marketing stats is overwhelming.
by Jace Vernon | Sep 10, 2019 | Animated Whiteboard Videos, Whiteboard animation, Whiteboard Video
Creating a whiteboard animation video for your business is a great idea. But don’t make the decision without putting in some thought first. It’s certainly a good idea to cover all your bases before putting your marketing dollars to work. But since you’ve haven’t given yourself the green light yet, let’s go over something important. You need to know what to consider before creating a whiteboard animation video.
Remember that there are a lot of companies out there that create whiteboard animation videos. The style and quality of work differ from one company to another. And as popular and effective as these videos are, a lot can go wrong in certain circumstances. This won’t happen to you, though, because we’re going to give you the information you need before moving forward.
Here’s what to consider before creating a whiteboard animation video.
Is a Whiteboard Animation Video Right For My Business?
There is almost no circumstance where the implementation of a whiteboard video wouldn’t help. They translate extremely well to virtually every kind of business. But we suppose it would be disingenuous to say with certainty that they’re perfect for every situation. The type of service or product you’re promoting, your long-term marketing goals, and your message should influence your decision.
But there are some circumstances where whiteboard animation videos really are a perfect choice. For example:
When You’re Explaining Something Technical or Complicated
If the message you want to deliver involves a complex system or innovative idea, whiteboard animation videos are ideal. Research has shown that retention increases almost 20% when information is delivered this way. When education is the goal, the whiteboard style excels. This kind of animation can unravel concepts in a fun and engaging way.
When You Have A Lot To Say
Whiteboard animation videos are great at presenting lengthy information in an appealing way. The best examples are whiteboard videos that animate speeches. You’ve likely seen some of these. The brain retains visual information better than auditory. So when animated explanations are paired with the audio of a speech, the speech is no longer, well, boring! It becomes exciting and twice as interesting when you see the speaker’s words come to life in a creative way.
When You Need A Corporate Training or B2B Video
Whiteboard videos are very popular in the corporate space for a reason. It doesn’t matter if the artwork style that matches your business is cartoony or realistic. With precise copywriting and good artwork, your B2B or training video will pique the viewer’s interest and keep their attention. Compared to other options, whiteboard animation should be strongly considered for corporate purposes.
Mistakes Companies Make When Creating A Whiteboard Animation Video
Not every whiteboard animation is created perfectly. Knowledge, experience, and asking the right questions are important to the success of your video. Some common mistakes in whiteboard animation videos are:
To Show The Hand Or Not To Show The Hand
Make sure you decide if showing the drawing hand is what you want. Most of the time, clients prefer to show the hand. It can bring a sense of realism and gives the video added character. But, sometimes showing the hand doesn’t mesh with the aesthetic. Communicate with your creative director to make this decision.
No White Background
We’ve seen whiteboard animation that presented content with a fully-colored background. In our opinion, this a mistake. It lessens the effect that this kind of animation can have. When the viewer sees the artwork manifesting on a white background, it becomes familiar. In a very real way, the white background makes the video more relatable. Only use color for background purposes to help emphasize certain points.
Be very cautious when thinking about doing a full-color background in whiteboard animation videos. It’s almost never a good idea.
No interconnected artwork
One of the calling cards of whiteboard animation is the seamless style of interconnected imagery. One thing always leads to the next with many images literally connected to each other. Some videos choose not to do this at all, resulting in a less-effective final product. We’re not saying the ink should literally connect everything throughout the entire video. But make sure that you break from connected imagery sparingly. Too much isolated imagery can hinder continuity.
Creating A Whiteboard Animation Video Using Multiple Artwork Styles
This adds confusion to the video that just isn’t necessary. Choose an art style and stick with it for the whole video.
Low-Quality Animation
Be sure that the whiteboard animation company you’re using has talented, experienced artists working for them. Bad artwork defeats the whole purpose of putting your marketing dollars toward a project like this. Look at artwork samples and previous videos the company has made to make sure it’s what you’re looking for.
What To Consider Before Creating a Whiteboard Animation Video – Conclusion
When choosing a whiteboard animation company, makes sure they’re actually a whiteboard animation company. Meaning, don’t go with a company that runs a different kind of business but offers whiteboard animation on the side. Hire professionals. Even if it costs a bit more, it will be worth it. When done right, commissioning a video like this can have far-reaching, positive effects. Do your best to stay informed and steer clear of easily-avoidable mistakes.
Contact Ydraw for the best customer experience and the best whiteboard animation videos in the industry!
by Jace Vernon | Aug 19, 2019 | Explainer Video, video, Video Content, Video Marketing, video online marketing, Whiteboard Video
Explainer videos are short, concise videos designed to explain an idea or system using animation. Through artwork, any concept can be presented in an engaging way and then easily understood. Political processes, scientific methodology, innovative business models, and everything in between can be brought to life through a well-made explainer video.
Hundreds of thousands of companies have commissioned them over the last decade to help deliver messages in an appealing way. Have you put marketing dollars toward an explainer video? If not, you should. Here are three reasons why.
Video is King
There are business owners out there who think the one effective thing they’re supposed to do to engage with their audience is upload a written blog to their site every so often. This is certainly better than doing nothing. But the fact is that video is THE most consumed type of content. Did you know YouTube gets more visitors in a day than Facebook? Today, video is king. It’s what people prefer. And if all you’re doing is creating written content and nothing else, you’re not doing what’s most effective.
When potential customers are visiting your site for the first time, there needs to be a quick video on your landing page explaining precisely what you want them to know. A 2015 Google poll showed that over half of internet users feel more comfortable with websites that have instructional video content. This is because video content helps to legitimize your company, in addition to effectively delivering your message. By the way, the same study showed that the probability of someone buying on online product goes way up if they watch a video about it first.
Nothing is More Effective
Explainer videos are fantastic at catching attention quickly and retaining it. A Forbes study last year concluding that 4 seconds is all you have to engage someone before they click away. This is why well over half of all sharing on social media is video. Why do explainer videos catch attention so well? Because animation is less predictable and more appealing than live footage which makes it more intriguing from the get-go.
Animated explainer videos also have an incredible charm about them. Using visual thinking and metaphors, topics come to life effortlessly in a fun and engaging way. People love them. Plain and simple.
ROI
But the real reason why you need an explainer video is because of the tremendous ROI. Companies who don’t employ video marketing grow more than 50% slower than those that do. A recent study from Adobe polled a large number of marketing professionals. Over half of them said that video has the best ROI compared to any other type of content they roll out.
Why You Need An Explainer Video – Conclusion
There’s no reason why an explainer video wouldn’t help what you’re trying to accomplish. Especially if what you’re doing involves complicated process or new ideas. If that describes you, contact us and let’s talk.
We’ll Leave You With This
In the early days of Dropbox, their first huge boost came from an explainer video. Within a year of posting it, their revenue increased by over $50 million. Their user count increased by over 10 million. All directly traced to their decision to create and publish an animated explainer video. Sit on that for a while.
by Jace Vernon | Aug 13, 2019 | Marketing, Video Marketing, Whiteboard Video
If you’re spending your marketing dollars on video content, good job. When done right, video content achieves incredible ROI. But just having Ydraw create an awesome video for you and then setting it free on the internet would be unwise. You need to track what it’s doing. Is your video actually working for you? You need to know how to measure the sales impact of your videos. Here’s how.
Conversion Rate
First of all, you need to track the conversation rate. How many people are taking the action you want them to after watching your video? If the percentage is lower than you expected, you’ll need to do some research. Maybe your call-to-action isn’t as compelling as it needs to be. Perhaps your target audience isn’t being found because you’re not using the right platform. These are only two of the who-knows-how-many reasons for your video’s performance. Dig in and get the data.
On the flip side, if the conversation rate from your video is good or better than good, find out why. Do research on what’s causing it to work so well so you can replicate those things in other areas of your marketing – including future videos.
Engagement Rates
Next, you need to measure engagement rates. Use analytics and software to get your answers. What percentage of viewers are watching the whole thing compared to how many are clicking away before it’s over? Is there’s a particular moment in the video that has the highest clickthrough rate? How many likes, shares, and subscribes is the video producing? Depending on your video host, there are many more metrics you can measure that are very helpful.
If your engagement rate is low, then you’ve got some figuring out to do. Video comment sections can be a helpful way to learn what people think about it. If there’s a pattern in the negative feedback, that should allow you to pinpoint some of the issues. Don’t be afraid to engage with customers directly and ask questions, whether via email or right there in the comments.
And, just like we mentioned above, if your engagement rate is awesome, do similar research to make sure that you understand what’s working. You’ll want to implement these practices in future marketing efforts.
Vanity Metrics
Do your best not to be fooled by vanity metrics. What are vanity metrics? These are things like the number of comments, likes, and views a video is getting. The reason we say not to be fooled by them is because even though those things generate excitement for you, a lot of times they don’t correlate to increased sales.
However, we’re not saying that more views is always disconnected from sales. You’ll have way more conversion opportunities the more views you get. You may just need to a little optimizing. Revisit how the video is placed on the page, the video’s size, and its thumbnail image. It’s common to do a lot of experimenting with these types of things to find out what generates the best results.
How to Measure the Sales Impact of Your Videos – Conclusion
Don’t make the mistake of failing to monitor the impact of your marketing dollars. You’re wise to spend them on video content. But just because video content has a historically high ROI doesn’t mean you don’t need to monitor it. Now that you know how to measure the sales impact of your videos, get in the habit of viewing the analytics. Don’t try and let the video do all the work. Lead and guide it to generate the most sales possible.
by Jace Vernon | Jul 17, 2019 | Animated Whiteboard Videos, Animation Video, Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Video Marketing, Whiteboard animation
Animated videos work wonders for social media marketing.
How? First off, remember what the 5 goals of social media marketing are: (1) increase brand awareness, (2) enhance public relations, (3) build a community of advocates, (4) research and development, and (5) driving sales and leads.
Animated videos address each one of these goals perfectly.
How Do They Increase Brand Awareness?
An engaging animated video with your brand’s colors and logo woven throughout sticks in people’s brains. The video delivers an extra-potent dose of memorability where your brand is concerned. It’s much easier to remember a particular brand if it’s associated with fun visuals as opposed to a stand-alone logo on a landing page or an article full of text.
Using animated videos also sets you apart from the ocean of business Facebook pages that are constantly posting uninteresting company photos and updates. If you’ve got a compelling animated video that autoplays on someone’s feed, chances are they’re gonna watch it. This will make your brand more interesting than your competitors.
How Do Animated Videos Enhance Public Relations?
A high-quality animated video shows that you’re serious about delivering your message efficiently. It shows the public that you care about being understood. Even fun or silly videos add an element of legitimacy and professionalism to your brand.
Also, social media is where you find the most accurate info regarding how the public feels about your company. Browsing comments from a meme you shared off someone else’s page is fine. But when you have original, animated content, the percentage of positive feedback is higher. Animated videos lead the public to view your organization as stable and confident.
How Do Animated Videos Build A Community of Advocates?
When someone shares your video, a seed of loyalty is planted. That action proves it spoke to them to the point where they wanted others to experience what they did. Whether your animated video made them laugh, cry, or think, them sharing it is a sure bet that you’ve stuck in their brains. This is the first stage of brand loyalty.
Animation has a way of making people feel comfortable. Helping your audience feel comfortable with your business is an important step toward turning them into an advocate.
How Do Animated Videos Promote Research and Development?
One of the best things about using videos in social media marketing is how easily traceable they are. You can combine the analytic data of both Facebook and the video hosting platform for your benefit. This makes gathering data and putting it to future use so easy.
There’s also evidence suggesting that for businesses, short, animated videos receive more engagement than live-action ones. This is because the nature of animation allows complex ideas to be more easily explained. More engagement means more data which leads to more refined processes.
Plus, they’re cheaper to produce than live-action videos. This leaves you with more marketing dollars to make more videos or put toward further research and development.
How Do Animated Videos Drive Sales and Leads?
Animation is less likely to come across as intrusive marketing. This means that viewers are more likely to get hooked within the first few moments and watch the whole thing. This does wonders for conversion rates.
Why are they less intrusive? Because animated videos are fun, even when they’re talking shop. Being entertained and persuaded at the same time is an age-old marketing tool, and it’s all over social media. Animated videos exude an element of fun, making the purchase more appealing.
There’s also something nostalgic about animation, and nostalgia is huge in our culture right now. It’s a very effective marketing tool, and animation is a great way to tap into that.
Conclusion
If you feel like your social media marketing is lacking and you haven’t commissioned an animated video of some kind, we highly recommend you consider it. It’s worked wonders for our clients’ social media efforts. There’s no reason it won’t work for you.