Video marketing has long been the wave of the future, but with the future here, effective online video marketing is key to a successful online presence. With an explosion in social media sharing sites with video-enabled options, would-be-visitors ignore any website without videos. Businesses who forgo this powerful marketing tool are almost certainly hurting their brand.
Right now, research suggests that around 70% of consumer traffic on the internet consists of watching videos. And, with many us being visual learners, including video content on your website increases the chance visitors will take something away from your site, which is better for both of you.
With that in mind, finding the right balance of video marketing can be a challenge. That’s why we’ve compiled a few tips for creating an effective online video marketing campaign.
Focus Your Goals
You might be tempted to make sales your primary goal. While ultimately this is what most businesses are focused on, it is neither an effective, nor valid video marketing strategy. Viewers watch videos for a couple of reasons: Entertainment and education.
If you want your viewers to watch your videos through to the end, give them what they want. Make your videos entertaining or educational.
Hook Them Immediately
Research suggests that viewers will watch the first few seconds of a video to determine if it meets their interest—remember, entertainment or education. If they aren’t hooked, they will click away after those first few seconds. Immediately capture views with a taste of the quality to come.
It’s also worth noting that the longer a video goes on, the less likely viewers are to watch it until the end; shorter videos are more effective than longer videos.
Be Creative!
There’s a fine line between unique and off the mark. Searching for that line can make any business feel on edge. However, there are lots of proven methods of effective marketing. One of them is humor. Another is surprised. Find something that works for your purpose and be confident.
Help Them Find You
Most businesses today have heard of search engine optimization or SEO. The same principles that apply to the written word apply to video marketing. To use SEO for video, tag your content appropriately.
You’ll want to use strategic keywords in your video descriptions, as these will help internet search engines show your video to the appropriate audience.
Where to Share?
Whether your goal is finding the most viewers, or finding the right viewers, there are many places to get your video content into the hands of consumers. Landing pages, websites, and blasts are a good place to start. However, don’t overlook the power of social media. Sharing between sites can garner engagement you might not have found otherwise.
Equipped with knowledge, you too can capture viewers and drive traffic to your site with the addition of effective online video marketing.
I am an entrepreneur, marketing consultant, author and speaker. I help companies and individuals build their brands and convert more leads into opportunities & I love to write content about technology and marketing that help people to grow their business.