Whip out Your Camera: Maximizing Videos in Marketing
Would you rather read a blog that’s all texts and wordy or would you prefer to see a photo or a video here and there every now and then? I know this question is a mouthful and Grammarly actually underlined it but I ignored it. The truth is words (as much as I love them) can get boring sometimes; and for it to keep your attention, it must be really good.
Folks have apparently discovered this truth and that is why every business or venture that seeks to be consequential in today’s world must incorporate photos and videos in their marketing efforts. To further highlight the importance of videos in marketing, look at the extent at which YouTube and Instagram have risen bigger than most social media platforms today. This is why videos should be taken importantly for marketing.
The question becomes, how then should one maximize videos in marketing? But before we answer this question, the first question you should be asking is why am I making the video in the first place? And here are a few suggestions I’m guessing are your reasons:
1. Videos are more real and so I want to be able to relate better with my audience
2. Videos will capture my followers or audience better and I really want them to hear this thing I want to say
3. Through the video, I will be able to summarise quickly the solutions to their problems which would have otherwise been lengthy if I were to write it.
4. My type of audience appreciate videos better
5. To experiment and hope to gain more conversions afterwards, etc.
So these are some of the reasons people want to use videos to better connect with their audience. The common factor here is you want more engagements and hence more conversions or sales
Now, let’s take a look at a few steps to take in order to maximize your videos in marketing:
Make the first few seconds catchy
This is where you have to be creative. I know you are tempted to show or talk about your stuff in a hurry in order to cram up a lot in a short time. But while that is smart, you must endeavour to ensure the first few seconds are attention-grabbing. Having watched a lot of Youtube videos myself, here are a few reasons I have watched a random video to the end;
· Video quality — this is important. Invest in a good camera and video set up equipment. Some of which will include, lighting, tripod stands, backdrops, microphone, etc. but if you can’t afford these, you can start with what you have even if it’s just your phone and your room. Maximize the benefits of editing apps (if you must) and you just might get yourself a mind-blowing video. Like I said earlier, be creative.
· Be enthusiastic — even if you have to fake it, nobody will know, I mean if you do it well. Some days especially if you’re doing what you love, the enthusiasm comes naturally but it’s not always that easy some other days. These are the days you want to get your mask on, don’t feel bad I used the word ‘mask’. We do it all the time, we just don’t know it. I love writing but trust me some days, I don’t even want to think about it.
· Keep something special for the end of the video and tell them at the beginning — this always works! People can be so curious and this will go a long way to indulge them. Most of my favourite YouTubers do this and I think it’s cool. It makes you feel rewarded for your time and patience for watching their video. For instance, you could tell your audience, you’re going to show them a tip on the behind-the-scenes of how you did something.
Alright, we move to the next.
Your video should be centred on a story
You’ve heard this with content creating, advertising and yes, you’ll still hear it with video marketing as well. Don’t get tired of the concept of storytelling. Good thing, it’s actually fun and it works okay. Look, if your video is not centred on a story, it better be about a chemistry publication and even that could use a story you know.
“How do I do this?” you may be wondering. It’s quite easy when you’re authentic and just being yourself. For example, if I wanted to make a video about a product review, say, a product I didn’t particularly enjoy, I’ll just go on to narrate what happened. I’ll say things like “I didn’t expect that!” I’ll roll my eyes, make funny faces, etc. I don’t have to google it up or do some research. That may sound professional but that won’t be authentic and you want your review to be authentic and honest.
Use the power of humour
Humour is totally the best thing you would do to your video. I know you may not be a comedian and humour might not come naturally to you. But it’s a skill that can be learned. Humour makes you seem more likeable and interesting. It reduces the tension in your audience and a bonus, it helps relieve their stress and yours. I mean who doesn’t love what or who helps relieve their stress? The humour here, mustn’t be the rib-cracking kind, it could even be a dry joke or a witty line of thought. It will go a long way in making your video stand out and getting your audience more interested in listening to you and by extension, what you offer.
Optimize the Video for SEO
This may be the only real technical part of maximizing your video in marketing. The keyword here is keywords (pun intended). Keywords are what people type into search engines when they are looking for something online. Research the keywords to use for the title of your video- preferably the most searched keyword and you also have to understand how to place it in your title. For example, titles that begin with “how to” are the most searched, etc. There are also some tools and resources (websites or apps) that help with keyword optimization e.g. SEMrush, app tweaks, Moz, etc.
Also, ensure the keywords appear not only in the titles but also in the description, tags, and the speech in the video itself.
Go on now and whip out that camera as you maximize the power of videos for your business and marketing. Never has there been a better time for videos in centuries than now!
