It’s no hidden fact that in today’s world of marketing and social media, video is indeed king. Statista’s data as of January 2022, listed the top six most popular social media platforms for business, and two of them, that’s a quarter, were video centric (yes, that’s TikTok and YouTube.) Instagram was also listed there, another site that although not entirely video centric, leans heavily upon video (or Reels) for engagement – so that means that HALF of the most popular social media sites for business right now, rely on video.
So, it goes without saying that if you’re not using video in your business, you’re missing out.
Now, you might be thinking that video is too expensive or complicated for businesses but in our day and age that simply is not true. Gone are the days where we needed to lug around huge boxes of film and clunky cameras to shoot footage. It’s very likely that the little device you have to hand all day every day is more than capable. Of course, there are also plenty of services out there that offer it too if you are willing to pay a fee!
But WHY is video important? Aside from the above, here are a few reasons why you should start utilising video in your business today!
Your customers LOVE them!
A study conducted by wyzowl in 2022 showed that customers overwhelmingly preferred video when it came to deciding to spend their money on a product or service. Don’t believe us? Well, here are just some of the stats!
- 88% of people say they’ve been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a brand’s video.
- When asked how they’d most like to learn about a product or service, 73% said they’d prefer to watch a short video. This compares to 11% who’d rather read a text-based article, website, or post.
- People are twice as likely to share video content with their friends than any other type of content, including social media posts.
Videos are more accessible now than they ever were, and your customers want to view them!
YouTube is the SECOND largest search engine in the world!
You heard that right! You may have not expected it, but yes, the video platform YouTube is now the second largest search engine in the world, just under Google.
But what do people search for on YouTube?
Aside from the videos from the channels they’re subscribed to, customers use it to find educational videos, especially how-to videos. A study showed that searches for how-to videos went up 70% in just the last two years! It would be a crime not to ride that wave with your business, surely.
Videos have HUGE reach!
It’s been reported that video content boasts an audience reach of almost 93% worldwide. This is not only likely due to the stats we showed earlier, but due to the fact that videos are more convenient to consume and help people to process information more quickly. They also have an incredible amount of viral opportunity. You’ve probably seen a viral video or two in your lifetime on social media, but can you name a viral blog or social media post? Maybe not as easily…
Video is a lot more entertaining for customers and therefore, is far more likely to be shared by them. In fact, video gets 1200% more shares than image and text posts combined!
But video is expensive…
This could not be further from the truth, and any filmmaker in fact will tell you the same. Equipment is not important when it comes to making films, so why should it be important for creating video for business? As long as you have a compelling story to tell and something with purpose, your customers will want to see! After all, a large proportion of TikToks are made in someone’s bedroom!
In fact, on average, most people (40%) spend £0-£410 (converted) on a typical video, and 55% of marketers create their video in-house. So, the implication here is pretty telling – video IS affordable, and it IS doable!
What do I even make a video about?
When it comes to making video, the possibilities are ENDLESS. But mostly it’s down to what kind of a business you are and what you’re looking at getting out of them.
But to get you started, we’ll list the four most popular types of videos often found online!
Explainer videos
Explainers are the most widely used styles in video content marketing because they allow you to convey complex information in a clear, compelling, and memorable way. Want to show what your business or product can do for people? How it can solve a problem? An explainer video can do this for you.
Testimonials
Testimonials are videos that feature customers discussing their positive experiences with a business or its product – a bit like reviews but in video form. They’re perfect for building trust in your brand and company!
Product videos
If you’re a business with a physical product to sell, these types of videos help show your customers what your product or service is all about, in a fun and compelling way. Perhaps you can feature yourself showing off the product and what it does to add that personal touch, or even show behind the scenes of your business if you’re comfortable doing so. Not only will it bring trust and transparency to your business, but you get to show off the thing you’re proud of to your customers!
How-tos
How-to videos are educational videos, guiding viewers through a series of steps to show the viewer how to do something correctly. If your product has instructions on how to use it, why not use this fun way to show your customers how to use it? Not only do you get a chance to show off your product, but you get to show people how to use it too! And remember! The search for how-to videos has gone up by 70% in just two years, so they are definitely an incredibly popular form of video to make!
So, there we have it! What other reason do you need to start utilising video for your business today? Go out and start riding the wave of video!
