If you are content marketer in 2015, it seems that in some way, shape, or form…video is a part of your daily life.
And with Kalatu’s latest 100 Videos in 72 Challenge (#100in72Challenge) coming into the picture, we know you are dying for some inspiration.
Let’s take a hard look at this video-focused revolution…
Honestly, when we look at the big picture, this video revolution really stems from social media.
Think about it…
Social media has revolutionized the way online users interact and engage
We no longer communicate in extensive, grammatically-immaculate letters written on scrolls and delivered via carrier pigeon.
No.
Short, concise sentences (if you can even call them that at times) rule our social networks, text messages, and instant messaging.
We no longer wish to read more than we absolutely have to (even though you should).
Typographic images, memes, gifs, and (best of all) videos stand out easily on your social media and give viewers an easily-digestible message.
Let’s throw some numbers at you now….
- 13% of online video advertisements run less than 15 seconds (and all 13% are probably those pesky YouTube ads)
- 36% of online video advertisements run longer than 30 seconds
- Including video in your content increases the change of a front page Google result by 53%
- When video is included, email click-through rates increased by 2-300% (wow!!!)
- Consumers are 27x more likely to click-through video ads than standard banner ads
(And here is the craziest one….)
85% of customers are more likely to make a purchase after watching a product-related video
Source: Visitmetrix & Business2Community
What a load of numbers, huh?
Here are some more in this infographic….
Really cool, right? But now I am sure you are asking…
“What are some ways I can leverage video marketing in my business?”
We thought of some basic and cool ways you can use videos to your advantage…
1. Tutorial Videos
Of course, this is our Support Team’s favorite option, since we love tutorials! Just check out our Knowledgebase and you will see. Some of our tech-savvy affiliates, like Emily LaGrange, make tutorial videos geared for Kalatu users. Michelle Shaeffer does SEO- and WordPress-related tutorials geared toward bloggers in general.
Creating tutorial videos is a fantastic way to exercise Dave Wood’s encouragement to teach while learning. As you learn something, spread the knowledge to others! This is a great way to position yourself as an authority figure to your audience.
2. Ask a Question
Shoot a quick video and ask your viewers a question, and maybe tell a story to go along with it. Perhaps, “What is your favorite thing to do with your family?” or, “Where is the coolest place you have traveled?”, or maybe even “What is your favorite blogging tool?”
Lisa Torres Allen regularly does this in her vlogs – pose a question to get your thoughts going, and engages the viewer to comment and interact with her.
3. Call to Action
Record a video that inspires your viewers to take action, whether this be to subscribe to your RSS feed, purchase a product from you, subscribe to your mailing list, or even to just read a blog post and leave a comment. Using Kalatu’s light box feature would be a great outlet for a video of this nature.
4. Bridge Page
If you own the Empower Network core product line up to the Top Producer Formula, you might already have access to our Bridge Page tool. A bridge page is an introductory page, usually connected to a lead capture page or a sales page. If you are a sponsor in an affiliate opportunity, or are selling a product, it helps to build a “face-to-face” relationship with a client. Seeing who you are and what you have to offer can develop a sense of trust and make the lead more likely to make a purchase.
Remember, bridge page videos do not need to be a video of your face. You can do a voice-over on a set of powerpoint slides. This is a great alternative for those who are a bit more camera shy!
You can create bridge pages using Empower Network’s new squeeze bridge page widget.
5. Problem & Solution
Did you just lose a blog post that didn’t save? Or maybe you had a formatting error you couldn’t figure out until BOOM, the answer hit you? Think about all the bloggers who might be having the SAME issue as you. Shoot a quick screencast explaining your problem, and then show how you fixed it.
A quick, easy way to “teach as you go” and to save someone else a headache.
P.S. Download Jing immediately if you do not already have it.
6. Behind the Scenes
Any blogger can benefit from doing this. Show your readers what you do in your downtime. Take a walk and discuss your thoughts. Shoot a silly video of your toddler or teenager. Talk about your life as if you were writing your autobiography or talking to your best friend.
Hint: Jot down some notes or topics you want to hit. Get a selfie stick.
7. Short-Form Videos
These are the types of videos that are currently going viral, thanks to social media. Short-form videos are created in apps like Instagram and Vine – Short 3-15 second videos that get a message across instantaneously. If you are marketing to a younger generation, short-form videos can become instantly viral.
8. Interview
This is a very popular outlet for online marketers currently. Interviewing leaders, your peers, or newcomers in any industry creates a video that people want to watch. It is enticing to hear information from a different perspective, whether it be a personal story, professional goals, someone’s “why”, or helpful tips or inspiration.
Empower Network’s Rising Star series draws crowds of readers by uplifting and highlighting new, up-and-coming members in our company.
9. Live Webcast Series
Google Hangouts are a great way to generate leads and build relationships. These hangouts can serve to boost enthusiasm, discuss interests, or answer questions in your business or about your product.
10. Product/Company Reviews
Personally (Vanessa speaking), I am addicted to product review videos. I can hardly make a decision anymore without searching the web for a few reviews. Cnet is great for technology reviews (definitely handy, since most of these items are high-dollar purchases), and various bloggers review products (everything from a toothbrush, to make up, and even kids’ toys) and companies (Empower Network, for example) alike.
11. Testimonials
Testimonials are a great way to put your team to work! By simply asking for testimonial videos from team members or peers in your industry, you may just learn something about yourself, and build friendship.
The testimonial itself can be a great alternative to telling the world about yourself from your own perspective. Sometimes, it just helps hearing that second voice.
12. YouTube Syndication
One of Empower Network’s savvy affiliates, Garry McLachlan, has a different strategy when it comes to video marketing. Garry posts “teaser” videos on his YouTube channel that direct to a correlating blog post. That blog post has a full-length video about the subject that the prior video “teased” about.
Not only does this method keep traffic coming to Garry’s blog (who doesn’t fall victim to a teaser?), but provides double the SEO opportunity, since both videos are ranking!
13. Video Infographics
Now this one’s really cool, but will take a bit more time than just point+shoot=video. Textual elements in images and video are incredibly shareable and viral. Here is an awesome tutorial and example of this.
14. Tell a Story
This made the list to serve as a reminder that you can always keep your videos simple. Did you have a frustrating day and just want to vent about it, or maybe reminisce about a good memory with an old friend? Just turn the camera on, and talk.
15. The “Double Whammy”
This one was cleverly coined by an “ex-corporate robot” Lynn Brown. Lynn actually combines text and video when she adds videos to her blog posts. Not only does this help drive the content home for her readers, but is also a “double whammy” for the search engines. As we already learned, video content often helps an article rank higher in the search engines.
The bottom line is: Video marketing is a tool that you can easily leverage in your business.
In Kalatu, adding a video to a blog post is as easy as this, and adding your entire YouTube channel is as easy as this.
No need to complicate things.
How do YOU leverage video marketing in your business, or what do you plan to leverage after reading this blog post?
Let us know in the comments!
