Video marketing is something that every small business should take advantage of.

YouTube is the second-largest search engine and has billions of users around the world. If your business isn’t on YouTube, you’re missing out.

Beyond the power of YouTube, though, video marketing is worth its weight in gold because it can be used to enhance your other marketing efforts. Social media posts that use video get an average of 48 percent more views. And, a website that includes video is almost 53 times more likely to rank on page one. Video can also help to increase click rates in email marketing and increase the traffic to your website.

With stats like that, who wouldn’t include video in their marketing strategy? Here are a few ideas to get you started:

 

#1. Brand video

Brand videos are a great way to introduce people to your brand online. This is the perfect time to share your company’s mission and goals, and maybe a brief overview of how you started. Sharing stories can help you connect on a deeper level with potential customers because it makes a longer-lasting impact.

#2. Meet our team

Introduce your website visitors and/or social media followers to your team. With this kind of video, you can brag a little bit about your team and give your people much-deserved recognition for the hard work they put in day in and day out. Plus, you can build a little trust with potential customers, which can be helpful in your sales process.

#3. Product demo/explainer

Product demos are essential how-tos videos of your products. The product descriptions on your website give you an effective way to describe your products, but with a product demo video, you can show your customers everything that makes it great. This is also a great opportunity to demonstrate how your product works and how effective it is.

#4. Service demo/explainer

Service demos give you a chance to talk, in detail, about the services you provide. They can be helpful in the sales process because they allow your clients to familiarize themselves with how the service is provided, what kind of problems it’s meant to solve, and/or what benefits it provides.

#5. Sales demo presentation

A sales demo is the kind of video that your salespeople would want to use in a client meeting. Think of a sales demo as a “how-to” guide to your product or service. It’s designed to give your viewers a practical tool they can use to visualize your product or service in action.

#6. Commercials

Commercials are short ads about your business, and they should be thought of as a quick introduction to your product or brand. That means that you shouldn’t get too caught up in the details. Some brands have even found success by simply using an inspiring story with their logo at the end.

#7. Snackable content

Snackable content is essentially short content that’s designed to be utilized on social media. A perfect example of snackable content is a short animation with a tagline at the end of it. Think of these types of videos as animated banner ads. The best part is that you can continually share it across social media.

#8. Tip videos

You have a lot of industry knowledge to share, so educate your customers and social media followers with weekly or monthly tip videos. Tip videos will not only help to educate your clients, but they’ll help you become a thought leader in your space.

#9. Webinar/podcast

The idea behind recording webinars and podcasts is the same as the idea behind recording tip videos — you’re an expert in your field, and you can use that expertise to educate others. The difference is that tip videos are short and sweet, whereas webinars and podcasts are more like deep dives into a specific topic.

#10. Customer stories

There’s no better cheerleader for your brand than a loyal customer. If you’ve got a happy customer, ask them to share their story. Video testimonials show the world how your customers have succeeded with the help of your product or service. This will help others to get excited about doing business with you in the future.

#11. User-generated content

Ask your customers to send you content. This might include videos of them using your products or a video testimonial they took of themselves on their phone. You can always give them a reason to do it with a gift card or some other incentive. This kind of content works because of its authenticity.

#12. Project videos, demo reels, before and afters

Project videos can include demo reels, before and after footage, case studies — anything that demonstrates what you’ve done in the past. This helps to build trust because it shows potential customers what kind of results they can expect from working with you.

#13. Training videos

Is there any additional information your customers might need to get the most out of your product or service? This might involve future maintenance that might need to be done to extend longevity. Think about the things your customers might need more training or knowledge about.

#14. Company culture video

Think of this as a recruitment video. If someone is thinking about working for you, a company culture video can help them get a glimpse behind the scenes. This will help them get an idea of what the culture is like, how people interact with one another, what the day-to-day looks like, etc. A video like this is perfect to include on your “apply” page.

#15. Employee spotlight video

Pick an employee who’s been with you for a while, and highlight their story. Ask them to share what they were doing before they came to work for you, what they’re interested in outside of work, what their experience has been like with you, etc.

#16. Company annual party video

Do you host company parties? Create a video to show at that party that gives an update on the business and celebrates your accomplishments. Not only can you use this video to send an inspiring message to your team, but it can also be used on your website and social media.

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Content might be king, but video content is the ultimate tool to have in your marketing strategy.

Originally published on 4/15/20