The upward trend in video marketing is hard to deny: More and more entrepreneurs are realizing how efficient and far-reaching a good video can be by now. The fact that larger companies have been relying on the moving image for a long time is neither new nor a secret.

The difference is that the decline in the price of video equipment as well as the possibility of reaching the desired target group via the Internet without any great effort makes video marketing interesting for small and medium-sized companies as well as founders.

7 Reasons Why Video Marketing is So Important

1. Video Engenders Commitment

In a world where we all have less and less time available, it is of course much more efficient to watch a video for a few minutes than to read long articles. In addition, video can reach a wider audience by providing content easily assimilated even by the most “lazy”. If you want to reach young targets, it is purely and simply THE mode of information of choice.

Today, people love seeing a product or service in action. So why deprive yourself?

2. Video Dramatically Increases Conversion

Videos can allow you to increase your turnover and thus earn money! Adding a video demonstrating your product or service on a landing page can drastically boost conversion (sometimes a boost of up to 80%). An American study showed that 74% of users who viewed a video demonstration about a product finally ordered it. And this is, in my opinion, not a surprise when we know that human vision remains the sense of privileged perception for human beings. Images are good but a video is MUCH better! Think about it, prepare a great video presentation and see the result on your sales!

3. Video Builds Trust

Trust has always been a key element for the consumer and therefore for sales. Building and cultivating the trust of our customers is a strategic mission for the entrepreneur! Video helps to develop an emotional attachment relationship much stronger than any other means of communication. However, we must truly understand and accept that digital marketing does not work if we remain focused on a pure sales objective! It is therefore imperative to deliver value to your audience by producing interesting and useful content. In this sense, video is the ideal tool to create commitment, develop emotion and confidence.

4. Google Loves Videos

This creates a commitment and with its content increases the degree of confidence in its business (website, products, services, and business). In addition, Google’s algorithms include the presence of videos in their ranking calculations, which increases your chance of appearing in the best places in the search engine. Let’s not forget also that YouTube belongs to Google which should convince us of the usefulness of SEO video (Search Engine Optimization).

So, if you use YouTube to host your videos, consider optimizing your content for SEO. We are talking here about working on titles strategically and descriptions in a “keywords” spirit. Integrate a “call to action” to your videos to launch your funnel conversion.

5. Video is Suitable for Mobile Users

Our smartphones have become the remotes of our lives today. They accompany us almost from sunrise to sunset and allow us to consume content anywhere at any time. Video and mobile are the best friends in the world. It’s easy to watch content while waiting for the train or in the waiting room of your doctor. Between the years 2012 and 2014, views of video content grew by more than 400% globally! And Google recorded a 100% increase each year since. In summary and as the number of smartphones increases continuously, the use of video for your business allows you to reach a wider and wider audience. Be careful, however, to consider the constraints of viewing content on a mobile device to provide an optimal and personalized experience to your prospects.

6. Video Increases Sharing on Social Networks

All actors of social networks are currently putting a strong emphasis on video solutions (live or delayed). Whether Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Periscope or Snapchat, all regularly launch new features related to video (360, ephemeral or more traditional content).

The use of a video, therefore, makes it possible to maximize the “natural reach” of your publications according to the algorithms of the platforms concerned. In addition, and if you are able to create a real emotion through your content, you will directly encourage sharing in your community.

Your messages will reach a wider audience and you will be able to develop your brand awareness more widely.

76% of users say they are more likely to share a video with their friends if it’s fun!

Think about it when you take out your camera … Once again, delivering value is the key to successful communication!

7. Videos Have a Very Strong Explanatory Potential

When launching a new product or service, one of the key issues is to “educate” future consumers. How and why does your offer fully meet their needs? How to anticipate any questions that could block their purchase? In this area, video is an extraordinary tool for simply explaining sometimes complex solutions.

Types of online videos

There are many different types of online videos and also different ways of producing them. The effect is very different. This article only describes the types of online video that may be relevant to video marketing online. So, no self-produced music videos, comedy, etc.

Corporate Video / Image Video

Whoever wants to use real video formats should make an image or corporate video no longer than five minutes because many viewers stop watching a video after a few minutes when it seems too boring or uninteresting. To capture an audience for a longer period of time, choose an interesting introduction and in addition to the presentation of the company, additional information on employees, corporate philosophy and special products and services that you offer. The following video for Team Referral Network’s “Big Event” is a great example of a corporate video, specifically promoting an important corporate event.

Product videos help attract customers when they provide a comprehensive insight into the product. Humor, emotions and memorable images are good approaches for a successful video that can spread virally. Here’s an example that will make your mouth water:

If you want to explain a complex process, explanatory videos are well suited. They are often created in comical cartoons, drawn, or made with trick animations. These videos are very versatile and can explain within minutes complex ideas and concepts. For example, things as wide-ranging as explaining the causes of a banking crisis to a corporate philosophy. The technique makes the ideas vivid and interesting. The style can range from childish-funny to graphic-sophisticated and uses the branding colors and shapes of the companies creating them. Here’s a good example of a corporate video for international company PCI Gases, that both explains a complex process, and sells:

Pure product videos can be interesting, but many customers are often interested in more details such as the construction of the devices or the possibility of combining the products. The instructions can either be presented by a company employee or by self-testimonials. You should pay attention to vivid images and interesting combinations to keep the audience happy. If there are a variety of products, a do-it-yourself web series can make sense, because you can always introduce new products.

If there are experts in the company who have great knowledge in their field, a regular or one-off interview on current issues may be useful. It should briefly introduce products, services and specialties and the expert should answer competently and in detail. In this way, even complex processes can be simplified, without having to produce a long explanatory video. However, the interest in static interviews is usually less than on short explanatory clips or moving interviews at trade fairs or events.

Webinar, Video Conference and Hangouts

If you’re running Google webinars, video conferencing, Hangouts, you can publish a video as an online video. How often do you register for a webinar and then do not have the time to attend? And if the webinar is available on video, you can watch it later. Here is a video by ON24 that explains how to conduct a webinar in a very entertaining way.

Companies that operate internationally, for example, can use “classic” reports to capture impressions from the producing countries, to inform them about production quotas, and other progress items. This can result in transparency and new communication channels with customers and business partners.

Viral Video

The goal of viral videos is for individuals to share them without prompting to get as broad a reach as possible through word of mouth. Viral videos are easy to “consume”, arouse emotions and encourage sharing. They can entertain, make fun, tell stories, show grievances, etc. There are many examples of successful viral videos that have impacted sales growth. Here’s a fun one from Simple Nursing.

Recruiting Video

Many companies are breaking new ground in recruitment. The internet and social media offer many possibilities. Recruiting videos are intended to introduce potential employees to a company, department or advertised position in an authentic manner. In this recruiting video from Covenant Health, we see a very well made Nurse Recruiting Video.

7 Tips For Effective Online Videos

Short videos – up to 5 minutes

Arousing curiosity – conveying action, excitement, emotions, security, analyzing threats, satisfying demand

Place on the Internet at relevant target groups – own website, social networks, video platforms, participate in competitions

Using Product Placement – visually appealing / promoting the advertised brand/product

Transparency and credibility – use real people, do not make empty promises with pretty pictures

Short descriptions, simple content and understandable texts – the attention span is very short

Collect and analyze video clips, playing time, distribution and comments

Production Standards and Equipment

It is possible to use tablets and smartphones to create videos that go viral on the net. However, the use of professional equipment to meet today’s quality standards is recommended. However, with the right idea and enough post-production, stunning videos can also be created on smartphones and tablets, as in this example from the automaker Bentley – made with an iPhone:

The right idea ultimately makes a good product and so companies and startups should put the most energy and production costs into the idea and development because ultimately, the budget is not the only key to success.

Getting It Out There: Platforms and Distribution Channels

The Internet thrives on content, so companies should take advantage of all opportunities, always keeping an eye on the target audience. Social networks are popular among all age groups and videos can be spread very well within seconds. Whoever publishes videos on Facebook, should allow sharing the content and promote a video accordingly. A new video can also be announced via Twitter, and whoever is involved in this on its own homepage can address its customers in many ways.

YouTube and Vimeo are the largest video sharing platforms, allowing you to post an online video on your own channel in minutes. Again, embedding and redistribution of content should be allowed. After all, viral marketing is about viewers and clicks.

Also, consider that videos are searched for in the top search engines. So Google often displays videos in the SERPs of the web search in the search results (Universal Search) and offers a search for videos in addition to the classic web search.

Do you want to reach business customers with your video? Then you can also publish your video in business search engine posts such as “Who delivers what” or in the corporate profiles of business networks like XING or LinkedIn. For this, you need in some cases just a paid entry/profile.

YouTube SEO: How To Optimize Your Video For a Good Ranking On YouTube

There are many factors that influence the ranking of search results pages (SERPs) on YouTube or Google Google:

video properties are about resolution and length. Videos in HD with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels in 16: 9 format are now standard. In length, there is evidence that a video that lasts only a few seconds is placed lower in search results than a video that is more than a minute long. Using relevant keywords in video settings is the first step in getting a good ranking on YouTube.

Use relevant keywords in video settings

Use of relevant keywords in the channel settings

User signals to the channel or video

You can use video properties, the use of relevant keywords in the video and channel settings to ensure that your videos do not get lost in the multitude of other choices

Filename: Before uploading a video, use the most important keyword as a file name.

Title: Place the most important keywords in front of the title.

Video description: In the description, the important keywords should be in the first two lines. This should not be missing the call-to-action. Because the first two lines are displayed as a snippet in the search results of the Google and YouTube search. In the descriptions, links can be placed. If the link matches a video thematically, this could also have a positive effect on the ranking. For the user, it is definitely helpful if he wants to get further information.

Tags: Assign relevant tags to a video. These can also be higher-level terms and terms that are relevant to your channel.

Also important is the use of relevant keywords in the channel settings. Think carefully about which keywords you place here. If you’ve made a video on how to chop wood properly, but if your other videos in your channel are not just about chopping, but home improvement tips, then you’re more likely to like DIY, tinkering, tips, tricks, guides, wood , Interior design, renovate, make yourself, paint, tools, etc. relevant. Use the most important keyword in the channel name and this and other important keywords in the channel description.

In addition to these factors, which you can influence yourself, the behavior of users in relation to your video or channel plays an important role in the rankings in the hit lists. These include channel subscribers, clicks, clickthrough rate, length of stay or bounce rates (is the video watched to the end or where do users drop off?), Comments on the video, likes and dislikes (thumb icons below the videos), inclusion in playlists, social -Signs on Number of Likes, Shares, Tweets, +1 on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ & Co.

Check out this infographic on the top ranking factors on YouTube

More Tips on YouTube Marketing

In addition to the ranking factors, there are other ways to use YouTube successfully. Here are some tips:

Thumbnails: displayed in the hit lists. If these match the term you are looking for and are appealingly designed, they will ensure a high CTR. If the picture but raise false expectations in the viewer, this leads to high bounce rates. You can thumbnail your own pictures in verified YouTube accounts. YouTube Help provides instructions for custom video thumbnails.

Watermark: With the help of a watermark, you can easily set a visible copyright. Use your logo as a watermark, thus additionally strengthening the perception of your brand (English branding). You can set a watermark for your videos in the Channel Settings under “Branding”.

Check subtitles: If you have activated the subtitles in your video, check the texts in the Video Manager via “Edit” and then select “Subtitle”. Speech recognition is very advanced, but not without error.



Mobile Video is Here!

Internet usage on mobile devices from smartphones to tablets is becoming increasingly popular. And so, information and entertainment can be spread virally quickly. There is over 31 percent of web traffic globally, so business owners should adopt this market for future commercialization. Depending on what and whom you want to reach, you must consider the mobile use of online videos.

Conclusions

Due to the increasing use of online videos, video marketing has become an important measure in online marketing. Video marketing can pay into many corporate goals, from awareness, through image, to sales and customer loyalty. However, you will only succeed if you meet the needs of your target group with your videos. For more amazing videos that take full advantage of what Video Marketing can do for those willing to use it, Check Out Our Channel!