Business Video Uses

by | May 4, 2023 | Digital Marketing Insights, Video

Video Uses for Business

How can businesses take advantage of video if almost 83% of all internet traffic will be video in 2023?

I have compiled a short list to briefly answer this question.  Each topic could have/will have a blog post about what goes into them, but I just wanted to list the most obvious opportunities for today.

Product demos: Videos can be used to showcase a product’s features, benefits, and usage instructions. This can help potential customers understand the product better and make informed purchase decisions.

Testimonials: Videos can be used to showcase customer testimonials, which can help build trust and credibility with potential customers.

Branding: Videos can be used to showcase a brand’s values, mission, and unique selling propositions. This can help differentiate the brand from its competitors and build brand awareness.

Training: Videos can be used to train employees on various topics, such as safety procedures, new software, or customer service skills. This can help improve employee performance and productivity.

Event coverage: Videos can be used to cover business events, such as product launches, conferences, or trade shows. This can help reach a wider audience and build buzz around the event.

Corporate communications: Videos can be used to communicate important messages to employees, shareholders, or the public. This can include company updates, announcements, or messages from the CEO.

Social media marketing: Videos can be used to promote products, services, or the brand on social media platforms. Short, engaging videos can be a great way to capture the attention of social media users and drive traffic to the business’s website.

Explainer videos: Videos can be used to explain complex topics, such as how a product works, or a company’s business model. This can help potential customers understand the business better and increase the chances of conversion.

 

These are just a few examples of how businesses can use video to their advantage. The possibilities are endless, and businesses can get creative with their video content to achieve their marketing, training, and communication goals.

For more information on how to incorporate video into your business, please contact us

10 + 9 =

Video Marketing in 2023

by | May 3, 2023 | Digital Marketing Insights, Marketing, Video

In today’s digital age, video has become a powerful tool for marketers to engage with their target audience.  Video has become the preferred medium for consumers to consume information and entertainment. As a result, video marketing has become an essential part of any successful marketing strategy. In this article, we’ll explore the overwhelming advantages of using video in marketing and why you should consider incorporating it into your marketing plan.

Captures Attention

One of the most significant advantages of video marketing is its ability to capture attention quickly. With the average attention span of people decreasing year after year, it’s become challenging to keep people engaged with traditional forms of advertising. However, video has proven to be an effective way to capture and maintain people’s attention. The movement, sound, and visual effects of a video make it easier to communicate your message and hold the viewer’s attention longer than other forms of content.

Increases Engagement

Video marketing can help increase engagement rates significantly. Compared to traditional forms of advertising, such as print ads and still images on social media, video can encourage people to interact with your brand. When people engage with your video, they are more likely to remember your message and take action, such as visiting your website, making a purchase, or sharing the video with their friends and family.

Video demonstration

Boosts SEO

Video marketing can also boost your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. By incorporating video into your website and social media channels, you can increase your visibility and improve your ranking on search engines like Google. Additionally, videos can encourage people to spend more time on your website, which can signal to search engines that your site is valuable and relevant.

Builds Trust

Trust is essential in marketing, and video can help build trust with your audience. By using video to showcase your products or services, you can give people a better sense of what they can expect from your brand. Additionally, video testimonials from satisfied customers can be a powerful way to build credibility and trust with potential customers.

Provides Flexibility

Video marketing provides a lot of flexibility for marketers. You can use video to showcase your products, tell your brand’s story, share behind-the-scenes footage, or provide how-to guides. Additionally, video can be used across multiple channels, including social media, email marketing, and your website. With so many options, video marketing can help you reach your target audience where they are most active.

Enhances Brand Awareness

Video marketing can also help enhance your brand awareness. By creating engaging, shareable content, you can increase your brand’s exposure and reach a wider audience. Additionally, video can help you communicate your brand’s personality and values, which can help build a deeper connection with your target audience.studio setting

Improves Conversions

Finally, video marketing can improve your conversion rates. When people watch a video about your product or service, they are more likely to make a purchase. In fact, studies have shown that adding a video to a landing page can increase conversions by up to 80%. Additionally, video can help reduce bounce rates and keep people on your website longer, increasing the chances of them converting into a paying customer.

In conclusion, video marketing offers overwhelming advantages for marketers looking to engage with their target audience. From capturing attention to improving conversions, video can help you achieve your marketing goals and grow your business. So, if you’re not already using video in your marketing plan, now is the time to start.

Benefits of Social Proof In Marketing

by | May 1, 2023 | Digital Marketing Insights, Marketing

Social proof is a powerful force in marketing that can be leveraged to increase brand credibility, trust, and ultimately, sales. At its core, social proof is the idea that people are more likely to take an action if they see others doing it first. In the world of marketing, this can take many forms, from customer testimonials and endorsements to online reviews and social media engagement.

In this article, we will explore the power of social proof in marketing and provide actionable tips for leveraging customer testimonials and endorsements to increase brand awareness and drive sales.

Benefits of Social Proof In Marketing

The Power of Social Proof

At its most basic level, social proof is a psychological phenomenon that is rooted in the idea that people are more likely to do something if they see others doing it first. This is because humans are social creatures, and we have an innate desire to fit in and be part of a group. As a result, we are more likely to trust the actions and decisions of others, especially if they are similar to us in some way.

In the context of marketing, social proof can be a powerful tool for building trust and credibility with potential customers. By showcasing the experiences and opinions of other customers, brands can demonstrate that their products or services are high-quality, reliable, and worth buying.

One of the most effective forms of social proof is customer testimonials and endorsements. These are statements or comments from real customers that speak to the quality and value of a brand’s products or services. They can take many forms, from written reviews and star or numeric ratings to social media posts.

The Benefits of Customer Testimonials and Endorsements

Here are some of the benefits of creating a mechanism to solicit customer comments;

  1. Increased Credibility: By showcasing the experiences and opinions of real customers, brands can demonstrate that their products or services are trustworthy and reliable.
  2. Improved Conversion Rates: Studies have shown that customer testimonials and endorsements can have a significant impact on conversion rates. One study found that including customer testimonials on a landing page can increase conversion rates by up to 34%.
  3. Enhanced Brand Awareness: By sharing customer testimonials and endorsements on social media and other marketing channels, brands can increase their reach and visibility, and attract new customers who may not have heard of them before.
  4. Differentiation from Competitors: In a crowded market, customer testimonials and endorsements can help to differentiate your brand from competitors. By showcasing the unique experiences and perspectives of your customers, you can demonstrate why your brand is the best choice.

How to Get Customer Testimonials and Endorsements

Here are a few ways to acquire customer ratings and testimonials;

  1. Ask for Feedback: The simplest way to get customer testimonials is to ask for them. After a customer has made a purchase or used your services, follow up with an email or phone call asking them to share their thoughts and experiences. Make it clear that their feedback is valuable and will be used to potentially improve your products or services.
  2. Offer Incentives: To encourage customers to provide testimonials, consider offering incentives such as discounts, free samples, or other perks. This can help to motivate customers to take the time to write a review or record a video testimonial.
  3. Use Survey Tools: There are many online survey tools that can be used to collect customer feedback and testimonials. These tools can be customized to include specific questions or prompts and can be shared via email, social media, or other marketing channels.
  4. Monitor Social Media: Social media can be a powerful source of customer testimonials and endorsements. Monitor your brand’s social media accounts for positive comments and reviews and consider asking customers for permission to share them on your website or other marketing channels.

When was the last time you looked online at an unfamiliar product or service without first checking what comments customers had left?

Dedication to Production

Though some might have assumed that podcasts would simply be a fleeting social media trend, statistics indicate that podcasts are here to stay.

Podcasts are a great way to “talk” a subject as well as provide access to dedicated audiences for companies wishing to communicate directly with specific interest groups.

That is why we have created the Drive Along podcast, to showcase the format.  That has prompted us to dedicate resources to develop and produce client-based podcast projects.

 

The Benefits of Podcasting

by | Nov 1, 2022 | Digital Marketing Insights, Podcasts

When Were Podcasts Developed

In the year 2000, the podcast concept was created by Dave Winer, a software developer and Adam Curry, a former MTV VJ who was very interested in early adaptation of broadcast via the internet.  Originally the two were talking about automated media distribution – specifically video.

Winer felt the internet simply had not evolved to the point where it would support large video downloads, not to mention the cost of delivering content. His analogy was that it was taking longer to download video than it was to play it, and many times the video was poor quality.

Curry’s idea was to look at internet connections differently, he wanted a software solution that could download items that he subscribed to. This really wasn’t a new idea, but there were no tools to do this in an efficient manner at the time.

Their collaboration in 2004, led to the first capture and download of an audio post Curry had hacked together using AppleScript and embedded in his weblog.

The term podcast is credited to the BBC journalist Ben Hammersley who in early 2004 coined it in an article he wrote for The Guardian newspaper.  Podcast is a portmanteau of “iPod” and “broadcast”.

 

Podcasting Today

Today there are a reported 2.4 million podcasts with over 66 million episodes. Globally there are 383.7 million podcast listeners as of June 2022. It is predicted that there will be about 424 million podcast listeners worldwide by the end of 2022. The number of podcast listeners is predicted to reach 464.7 million by the end of 2023 and 504.9 million by 2024.

Big numbers for a recorded medium that is still considered new in many circles.

Podcasts today are available on a variety of dedicated directories such as Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Audible, iHeartRadio and TuneIn as well as social media platforms such as YouTube.

 

Popularity

Why have podcasts become so popular?  Primarily because you can listen to them whenever and wherever you want.

There is a high demand for people to have access to online content whenever they chose to access it. Whether it’s music, news, TV, or social media, with mobile technology people now have instant access to the content they enjoy, no matter where they may be.

Unlike streaming video which dominates social media platforms, podcast users can listen to podcasts without needing to watch the screen, allowing them to listen virtually anywhere.  On walks, on public transit or when driving.

Podcasts are also generally longer forms of content with the optimal listening time around 30 minutes.

Whether you’re interested in cars, gardening, are an avid murder mystery fan or a bookworm seeking reviews and in-depth discussions of different books, there’s a podcast out there for you!

Once you find a podcast suited to your tastes, you will find that you become part of a community of like-minded people.  Podcast communities are more engaged than those you might experience with a film or television show, mainly because they are all interested in the same subject matter.  Plus podcast creators tend to be more engaged their listeners, which makes for a more personal and connected listening experience.

Dedication to Production

Though some might have assumed that podcasts would simply be a fleeting social media trend, statistics indicate that podcasts are here to stay.

Podcasts are a great way to “talk” a subject as well as provide access to dedicated audiences for companies wishing to communicate directly with specific interest groups.

That is why we have created the Drive Along podcast, to showcase the format.  That has prompted us to dedicate resources to develop and produce client-based podcast projects.