By the end of 2019, internet video traffic will account for 80% of all consumer Internet traffic, up from just 69% of Internet traffic in 2017.
As smartphones, data packages, and 5G make it easier for us to stream content on the go, we’re waving goodbye to traditional blog posts and social media content, and instead, prefer to watch videos to find out information.
Because of this, businesses must work hard to stand out in the increasingly crowded video sphere – after all, why should someone sit down and watch one of your videos when they could watch their favorite YouTuber or Netflix show?
Below, we’ve rounded up 5 ways to take video marketing to the next level, using the technique to generate leads and increase brand awareness…
Grow Your YouTube Account
If you’re producing video content, then the chances are that you’re going to be posting it on YouTube.
The world’s biggest video platform attracts half the world’s internet users – 1.9 billion – to log in and consume content every month, and even more interesting is that 96 percent of 18- to 24-year-old internet users use YouTube.
Make it your effort to promote your channel by posting lots of regular content on social media, and optimize your video to boost their visibility. 58% of viewers arrive at videos through YouTube Search, and there are a few tools you can use to increase your viewers.
Check out this vidIQ review to learn more about such tools, and consider trying them out for yourself to see whether or not you get a return on your investment.
Transcribe Your Content
Although video consumption is on the increase, it makes sense to transcribe your content for those who are hard of hearing, and for search engines.
What’s more, users don’t always want to watch video content – perhaps they’re looking for specific information or want to copy and paste a quote into their articles? Make it easy for search engines and humans, and your videos’ reach will increase. What’s more, the more content you have, the better your SEO.
Partner With Influencers
If you’re looking to increase your products’ reach but don’t have the audience, then partner with an influencer on YouTube or social media, who can feature your products and brand in one of their videos.
Influencer marketing can be expensive and it’s easy to make mistakes if you’re not familiar with paying for promotions, so do your research and be sure you’re going to get a return on your investment before handing over the big bucks for a brand mention.
Update Your Website
Rather than sending all of your traffic to YouTube or another video hosting platform, make sure your website is video-friendly.
Create a library of content for users to flick through, convert your top-performing blog posts into videos and embed them at the top of the page, and add tools and functionality that makes watching content on your website simple.
Don’t auto-play videos as you’ll annoy your followers, but play around with different sales and lead generation techniques that incorporate video content, and you’ll soon be on to a winner.
Hire a Presenter
If you’re not naturally gifted in front of the camera, then consider hiring a presenter or sending a member of your team on a presenting course.
Having one person to host and present all of your content will add some familiarity and consistency to your content, and encourage people to come back time and time again.
Never underestimate the power of building a personal brand – with the right strategy, you could become the go-to resource for content in your niche, and drive potential leads back to your website in the process.
There’s no denying that video marketing requires time, effort and a bigger budget than a weekly blog post.
However, if you get it right, you could be on to a winner. Best of luck!