As a small business owner, you are always on the lookout for ways to stand out in the crowded marketplace and grab the attention of your target audience. One way to achieve this is to take advantage of video marketing.
From short marketing videos to live streaming, video content is one of the most powerful tools for small businesses keen to increase their online presence and boost their revenue.
In this article, we discuss the benefits of video marketing for small businesses, the types, and the reasons why you should use it for your marketing strategy.
Let’s dive in!
Why Use Video Marketing?
Video reaches decision-makers, with 75% of business executives watching work-related videos weekly, and can help establish a strong brand identity and build brand awareness.
Video is a key player in your content strategy because it is short, memorable, and measurable. These features make it perfect for your audience who crave quick, engaging content and for you as a small business.
In a nutshell, video content is incredibly engaging and makes communicating complex ideas and products easy. Additionally, it can help with SEO, which is crucial for small businesses looking to increase their online presence. With the rise of platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, the opportunities to reach new audiences and showcase your products or services have never been more significant.
With its highly visual nature, video allows you to simplify complex ideas and convey them effectively, share heart-warming stories about your customers and inspire specific actions such as demos, trials, subscriptions, and more.
Also, when using video marketing, you can track results and clearly see what’s working and what’s not. Analytics helps to identify your most engaged leads faster and make data-driven decisions to take your marketing efforts to new heights. With its ability to engage, convert and track, video marketing is a game-changer.
How Do Video Ads Help Businesses?
Some reports suggest that video marketing brought 82% of all internet traffic in the last year, with audiences spending an average of 19 hours per week watching videos online. Therefore, it is clear that video is a vital component of any successful marketing strategy. Brands that want to thrive must recognize the power of video marketing.
Not only does video marketing encourage social shares, but it is also among the most widespread content types for increasing engagement on social media platforms. Even platforms such as Twitter, that don’t offer native video uploads, emphasize the value of video content on social media to drive more leads.
Additionally, video is becoming increasingly important on platforms like Instagram and Facebook. According to the Wyzowl video marketing statistics, more marketers are turning to LinkedIn videos to engage with their audience. With its emphasis on visual content, even Pinterest sees a massive surge in video viewership, with almost a billion videos being watched daily.
What are the Benefits of Video Marketing?
Online video marketing is a powerful medium that can offer numerous benefits for your business.
Including a video in your marketing strategy or even just mentioning the word “video” can significantly increase conversion rates. And when compared to other formats of content, it continuously receives the highest levels of engagement.
The benefits of video marketing include:
- Video marketing helps grow revenue and influence buying decisions, with 90% of customers saying that product videos help them make buying decisions.
- Consumers favor video content over other forms of content, like emails, social images, and blog posts.
- Video improves your website’s ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs) by increasing dwell time on your site and increasing the likelihood of ranking on the first page of Google results.
- Video can increase traffic and backlinks and boost click-through rates and conversions on your website.
The video format offers endless creative opportunities for businesses to convey information, express their brand personality, and create an emotional connection with consumers. You can choose the style, tone, and message that best aligns with your target audience, which helps you stand out, connect and make an impact.
In addition to its creative benefits video advertising also offers the following:
- Real-time benefits, such as fine-tuning campaigns based on viewer engagement, location, and feedback.
- Various formats to experiment with, like interactive, non-linear, linear, in-banner, and more.
- Affordability.
- Universal accessibility via mobile devices and smartphones.
- A boost in profitability when promotional content goes viral
Finally, with the potential to reach a global audience, video advertising can greatly boost the profitability of your business.
What are the Types of Video Marketing?
Video marketing is a valuable tool for promoting your business; you can be someone other than an expert to get started. With just a smartphone camera, you can create professional-looking videos. The key is to focus on the content and make it relevant to your audience.
Here are four types of video marketing types you can try on your own, along with some examples to inspire you.
1. Educational Videos
Educational videos can be an effective tool for building trust and authority with your audience. In addition, these types of videos can teach your audience something new, making them more inclined to trust you.
One popular style of educational video is a tutorial. These videos demonstrate the usage of your brand or product while also providing value. Companies like Home Depot do this well by showcasing DIY projects and providing a step-by-step breakdown of the tools and products needed to complete them.
Another approach is an industry update video. By staying informed on the latest trends and developments in your field, you can establish yourself as a thought leader and demonstrate that you are knowledgeable and credible. Companies like AT&T use this strategy by having a dedicated playlist on YouTube for industry updates.
You can also use explainer videos, short animated videos that break down complex topics or concepts into easily understandable terms. It is a great way to simplify explanations and showcase products or services creatively. Microsoft is an example of a company that uses this type of video marketing to illustrate the way its products work together.
2. Company Culture Videos
Company culture videos are a fantastic way to give your audience a behind-the-scenes look at your company. These videos showcase your small business’s unique personality, mission, and values and build trust. Not only that, but they can also be great for recruiting new hires and giving job seekers a sense of what it’s like to work at your firm.
Event videos are another great way to share information without saying much. For example, if your team volunteers together, you can create a video that shows your commitment to giving back to your community.
Even when you host a big conference, capturing footage or interviews with industry leaders can establish your authority and credibility. An excellent example of a company that uses event videos effectively is Apple, which posts videos of its events on its YouTube channel.
Another great way to communicate your company’s mission, values, and what makes you unique is through brand videos. Brand video content marketing allows you and your employees to sit down and talk about your organization and explain why customers should choose your business over the competition.
For example, McDonald’s illustrates a company that uses brand videos effectively by presenting its commitment to sustainability in a short video.
3. Product Videos
Product videos are a fantastic way to give your audience a closer look at what you have to offer. These videos help you show off your products engagingly and excitingly, making it more likely that people will want to check them out. Here are some examples of product video styles you can use to promote your products:
- Product demo videos help you show your audience exactly how your product works. You can either show it in action or highlight its features and benefits. The key is to ensure your audience understands how your product can help them and what it does. Nespresso is an excellent example of a company that does this effectively by using short, simple videos showcasing its coffee machine’s features.
- Product launch videos help create buzz and excitement around a new product. Whether teasing new features or telling the story of how your product came to be, it’s about getting your audience excited about it. You can live-launch it or pre-record it. The choice is yours. Goodyear is an example of a company that uses product launch videos effectively.
4. Testimonial Videos
Testimonial videos are a great way to show that people love your company and build confidence with your audience. They can be a practical addition to your video marketing strategy and help push people from the consideration stage to the purchase stage.
One is a customer testimonials video, where you can present people’s positive experiences with your company. They can be especially effective for convincing people to choose your products over your competitors. Amazon is an excellent example of a company that uses customer testimonials efficiently to establish trust with its customers.
Another is an employee testimonials video showing what it’s like to work for your company. Your employees are the best people to talk about working for the firm and what it is like to be a part of your team. It can be an efficient way of attracting job candidates. LoyaltyOne is a company that uses employee testimonials to exhibit its team and its offices.
Ready to Elevate Your Video Marketing Strategy?
Video marketing for small businesses is a potent tool to increase online presence and boost revenue. From increasing engagement on social media to simplifying complex ideas, video content is a key player in any successful marketing strategy.
If you’re new to video marketing or looking to take your efforts to the next level, LeadIn Media can help. Our experts specialize in creating personalized video marketing strategies that drive results.
Don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss how we can help you achieve your business goals. Get in touch with us today and start creating videos that delight your audience and drive conversions.
