Next week we’ll be investigating rumours that the president of the dairy council has become a Mason, and goes around giving his colleagues the ‘secret milkshake.’ Ronnie Barker

Retain us monthly to gather your evidence

This is no joke though; video gets 87% higher engagement on social media, ranks 4 times higher on Google & doubles lead generation – Are you using video for your business’ marketing?

I’ve been surfing video marketing news this morning and it’s amazing how many posts there are about the use of video in marketing. There are still business owners in the dark about the benefits of integrating video into their marketing. I remind myself that not everyone reads marketing news every day. Hopefully my network will take notice of my posts as i love spreading good advice and it goes hand in hand with my 1-2-1 digital marketing coaching. Today I want to press the truth that video is progressing rapidly and will reach new heights sooner than we think. This trend is fueled by businesses who invest in marketing intelligence, reporting real statistics, proving that video marketing gives them a good return on investment.

There is no longer a delineation between digital and traditional customers. Anyone with a smartphone traverses between online and offline activities without a second thought. As they do, they gain a penchant for modern conveniences, such as speed, utility and real-time assistance. Along the way, they also become more and more impatient and demanding. To engage today’s customer takes a modern approach to marketing where advanced technologies and customer optimization set the stage for what is called “adviser brands.” These market leaders know the power of using video in their marketing.

Video marketing is one of the newest additions to your business’ promotional toolbox. You might still have your doubts. Is it really worth considering using videos for promoting your business? Do you have enough resources to create and use video content in your marketing? Are you computer savvy enough to take the plunge?

The answer is simple: Yes, it’s worth it. Not only because everyone’s doing it, but because video is one of the most versatile and profitable digital marketing tools out there.

Would you like to speak to me about how we can incorporate video into your sales and marketing?

Making marketing videos for your business requires creativity and knowledge of human psychology. They should then be embedded into your sales and marketing strategy. The cocktail of these components makes it possible to create real miracles of advertising at minimal cost. If you’re anxious, or stuck for ideas, contact me for a chat about how i can help you :

It’s all about the leads you see….

Generating Leads.

Video can lead directly to sales. Adding a product video on your landing page can increase conversions by 80%.  There is a higher probability that users who watch an explainer-video about a product will subsequently buy it.

Return On Investment.

Even though video production is not yet the easiest nor cheapest task, it pays off to create it. Online video editing tools are constantly improving and becoming more affordable. If you can’t afford a video creation company to come and shoot one for you and help you with the script, you can in the right situation create videos you can use effectively off your smart phone. I’d suggest writing and practicing your script first of course, but the more you do the easier it’ll become. Work with a friend or colleague for perspective. Your videos don’t have to be perfect, just get them out there. Make sure you explain the product, or service clearly.

Trust is the Foundation of Conversions and Sales.

The whole concept of content marketing is based on trust and creating long-term relationships. Stop selling and let the people come to you by providing them with  interesting and useful information. Reach out and develop a trusted network of influencers so that they will give your content the thumbs up to their networks which should include your prospective clients, or customers. Think carefully about your networking; focus online and offline and join up this marketing effort. Some consumers are still skeptical about buying products and services on the internet because they fear fraud and cheating. But effective marketing videos present your products in a conversational form and even better if someone that consumer trusts shares your video.

Target Google.

This is clearly the case. Videos allow you to increase the time spent by visitors on your site. Thus, longer exposure builds trust and signals to search engines that your site has good content. You’re 53 times more likely show up first on Google if you have a video embedded on your website. Since Google now owns YouTube, there has been a significant increase in how much videos affect your search engine rank. Make sure to optimize your videos on Youtube for SEO. Write interesting titles and descriptions. Add a link back to your website, products, and services. Give potential customers the way to take the next step. And explore the world of interactive videos, to encourage actions even more.

Let’s Face Facts. Everyone Is On Mobile.

Video and mobile go hand in hand. Most consumers watch videos on their mobile. YouTube reports mobile video consumption rises 100% every year. Since people like to watch videos on the go, and the number of smartphone users is growing, your video audience can only keep getting bigger and bigger.

Age Old Advice.

It’s important to explain your product or service effectively to get a customer and keep them returning. Are you launching a new product or a service? Create a video to show how it works. 98% of users say they’ve watched an explainer video to learn more about a product, or service. That is why 45% of businesses who use video marketing said that they have an explainer video on their home page. Of those businesses, 83% said that their homepage explainer video was effective in increasing website hits.

Trying to explain a difficult concept? Create animated videos. Animation can bring concepts to life that no text or live video can. Besides, boring talking heads are not enough anymore to break through the clutter. Animated videos are a perfect combination of entertainment, nostalgia, and simplicity. Make sure you use a process that will get you results. Never be afraid to ask on for example on ‘Linkedin’ of video production ‘experts’ for tips. The right kind of people will want to help with useful advice even if you don’t become a customer of theirs straight away. Facebook has many apps to help create video which can be posted onto your page within minutes.

Understanding Customers.

Video is a great tool for learning, but it’s also very easy to consume. Today’s life is too busy to have time to read long product descriptions, or dig deep into services. The modern customer wants to see the product in action. Video preference is one of the most important driving forces of using video in your content marketing. Video marketing can capture a wide audience, and it works on many levels. Even the laziest ones. Make sure you target not only to the eyes but also to the ears of the potential client. Make sure you know who your client is by creating their persona in your marketing campaign plan before you start. This will help you put yourself in their seat when creating video content for specific personalities of consumer.

I think the process is one of using the camera and sound in the way a detective uses a magnifying glass: to find the clues. They’re discovery devices, not performance devices – you’re watching things the way a cat does. You’re not judging. You’re there to witness something. D. A. Pennebaker

You Want People To Share Your Content Online and Talk About Them Offline

In the 8th annual Social Media Marketing Industry Report Michael Stelzner stated that 60% of the social marketers used video content in 2015 and 73% of the total respondents planned to use it in 2016. And they sure did.

Social networks also encourage video content with their new features. Facebook has launched 3600 Video, Live Video, and Lifestage (A Video-Centric App for Teenagers). Instagram put in place 60-Second Videos & Instagram Stories, Twitter has Periscope. And YouTube is the second most popular social network in the world.

However, in a social media context, video marketers must remember that people share emotions, not facts. 76% of users say they would share a branded video with their friends if it was entertaining. So create fun entertaining videos to encourage social shares if it is appropriate to your marketing goals. Emotions are not exactly ROI but social shares can increase traffic to your site, and you can capture that traffic and funnel it from there through to purchase pages.

I never was that boy who loved gangster films, but when I was growing up, I was obsessed with the detective Dick Tracy. It was one of my favourite movies as a kid, and he really inspired me. I would have loved to be part of that golden age of Hollywood in the 1940s. It made me want to become an actor. Ryan Gosling

Email and Ads

When you’re creating videos already, make sure you to incorporate them into your email marketing campaigns. An introductory email that includes a video receives an increase click-through rate by 96%! That’s a great way to stand out from competition and get your message across.

Hear this: the average click-through-rate of video ads is 1.84%. That’s the highest CTR of all digital ad formats! And for a 15-second non-skippable YouTube video ad the completion rate is 92%. For skippable video ads, the rate is 9%.

Video ads are also highly effective on social media platforms. Facebook, clubbed with Nielsen, projected the value of video ads on its platform. They learned that 74% of the total Ad Recall can be achieved already within the first 10 seconds of the video. So, fight against banner blindness by making video ads instead.

When Planning Out Your Marketing, Think Like Detective, or Hire A Marketing Professional That Does.

Can anyone see the irony of my post yet? …

“Let’s start with what we can be thankful for, and get our mind into that vibration, and then watch the good that starts to come, because one thought leads to another thought.” –Bob Proctor”