Video Marketing Basics. Lets Start Simple!
Why you should definitely consider Video Marketing
As technology becomes more accessible, our means of marketing continues to evolve. Over the past decade we have seen a significant increase in video marketing efforts from brands both large and small. The reason people are so ecstatic about video marketing is because it works!
Not only has the costs of producing a video dropped significantly over the years, the means of promoting your video have become much more sophisticated, helping brands reach the right target audience much more quickly.
Below we’ll dive into the main reasons why you should definitely consider making space in your marketing budget for video, and some of the best ways to reach your ideal buyer in no time.
Get your Message to the Masses
They say that an image is worth a thousand words, however, video is estimated to be worth 1.8 million words according to Dr. James McQuivey. People are predominantly visual by nature, meaning that by implementing video you cater your marketing message to the masses.
While a striking image may captivate the attention of a person rather quickly, the moment you add motion to it, you significantly increase engagement and retention. This is why video marketing has seen a steady increase in use over the past few years.
People are waking up to the fact that in a world where everyone is bombarded with information on a consistent basis, it is important to be able to draw their attention away from the clutter and look at your message.
The Viral Potential
Video marketing done right can reach millions of viewers with a small budget. Above any other content format on the internet, video has the quickest potential to go viral. It’s much more memorable to share a video as opposed to a blog post. An image may impact people, however video captivates them and keeps them talking.
Facebook has shown to be one of the best video marketing platforms for viral video marketing. While YouTube is still the king of video on the internet, the advertising platform and precise targeting options within Facebook, allows you to put your brand video or product video in front of the eyes of a very precise demographic.
However, it is important to understand that both YouTube and Facebook are two different platforms that ultimately serve different purposes. On both platforms, videos can go viral and drive in heaps of traffic seemingly overnight.
Understanding Different Types of Video Marketing
Video is versatile and can be utilized in many different areas of your business. Whether you use video for promoting a product or your company, to facilitate customer engagement or simply to add value to your brand, there is no downside to using this marketing method.
Quick Ads – These ads are typically no longer than 30 seconds and most are even shorter. For the most part, this format is used on popular video platforms like YouTube. These are the videos that appear in between your video playlists that give you an option to “skip this ad” after five seconds. This means that if you are going to implement this strategy, you have to hook the viewer within five seconds. It’s a good way to break into relevant markets if you don’t have any followers or to push a time sensitive promotion.
Tutorials – These videos are typically longer in nature and can last up to 20 minutes. While you aren’t ‘selling a product’ directly, you provide value to the viewer by giving them insight into a product/service you might be promoting. Tutorials are also excellent for SEO as it keeps the viewer on your page meaning that the ‘on page time’ increases and bounce rates decrease.
Explainer Videos – These videos are typically no longer than 2 minutes. However, for the vast majority of these videos 90 seconds is the goal. These videos are dynamic as they could be used to introduce a brand or product and should establish a problem and solve it within the timeframe. Most brands implement these types of videos in their marketing campaigns.
Sales Videos – These videos can range anywhere between 5-10 minutes and are typically used on landing pages or squeeze pages. As opposed to explainer videos, these videos can go into greater detail about the product/service you are promoting and should have a clear call to action at the end. Sales Videos are designed to make it easier for your prospects to understand what it is you are selling.
Viral Videos – For the most part, viral videos are quite short. Similar to Explainer videos, this format typically is no longer than 2 minutes in length. However, the ideal timeframe you should be shooting for is roughly 30 seconds. The purpose of a viral video isn’t to sell but to drive in traffic. You optimize a CTA to drive people to your squeeze pages after the video has gone viral. In essence, these videos should contain a strong emotional link to your target demographic and your CTA should relate to the contents of the video.
What to Consider when Using Video for Your Brand
Your budget will change depending on what type of video you need. There are a few elements you need to consider when making a video:
- Script – This is the heart and guide of your video. Without a compelling script a video cannot be made. Depending on the writer you get, a script budget could range from anywhere between $50 USD – $100 USD. Scripts are presented in Audio-Visual format. (Two Column Format)
- Voice Over – Once the Script has been created, voice over is required. There is a great wealth of ‘voice talent’ online and the type of voice actor you require will influence your budget. These V.Os can range from $30 and upward depending on the experience and portfolio of the V.O artist.
- Production – Once you have the script and the voice over completed, you will commence with producing the video. Typically people use programs like After Effects or other video editing software. The format you chose for your video will influence the price. Don’t “skimp” out on the price–the quality of your video will have a direct impact on your conversions rates.
- Platform and Promotion – Once everything has been produced, you will need to load it on the appropriate channels and apply an advertisement budget to it. The price tag associated with this action is entirely up to you.
We hope this in-depth overview of video marketing provided you with the necessary tools to engage in video marketing for your brand. If you have any questions or doubts, be sure to get in touch with us today!