Why you should use video for your business

By now, I'm sure that you've heard all about the virtues of video. Video is one of the most powerful ways to communicate and is one of the most shared types of content on social media. It is also one of the greatest ways for businesses to connect with their audiences. It allows you to get your brand out in a way that engages, informs and possibly, entertains your audiences.

Statistics show that people would rather watch a video about how to change a tyre than read about it; but "explainer" videos are just one of the many types of videos that you can create to benefit your business. Whatever type of video you would like to make, the benefits are substantial and long lasting.

What are the reasons?

The first great reason to create a video is because it will boost your website's SEO. Embedding a video in your website that you are hosting on YouTube, Vimeo or any other hosting platform will make your website more "valuable" to Google. The videos must be optimized and a video site map is necessary for you to be found by Google and other search engines. If you are unsure of how to do this, contact a professional company like Webbed Feet ^UK to assist you.

Video will also help you get and retain viewers' attention. Surveys show that viewers will spend more time on your website if you have a video. You can also drive traffic to your website through promoting your video via social media or even through email. You can create a marketing email with a screen shot or engaging image that is hyperlinked back to your video on your website. That will actually increase the chances of your email being opened, read and driving traffic to your website.

Here's an example of an embedded image:

It's a fact; video will increase your conversion rate! If you are selling yourself or a service, it allows potential clients to get to know you and decide that they "like and trust you", allowing you to build a connection with your clients. If you are selling a physical product, it will simply and concisely allow your customers to see how your product works and view all of its benefits.

So, now that you know how video can work for you, let's get into how to do it!

With the advent of technology, video production capabilities are everywhere! You don't have to have a huge budget to create a great video. People can shoot great videos on mobile phones, pocket cameras and DSLR's. All you have to do is come up with an idea, script it, and shoot it. Many computers have easy "beginner" software such as Movie Maker already installed, that allows users to edit and add minimal effects and even audio overlays and music. This helps to take some of the mystery out of creating engaging videos, but beware; a poorly made video can do more damage than good! This can happen in a variety of ways. How many times have you seen a video that looks OK but the audio sounds like the people are talking in a tunnel, or worse, you can't make out what they are saying at all. You will instantly lose any credibility and very likely turn a potential customer off from doing business with you.

If you are unsure of your video producing skills or would like to get a professional video company involved, you don't have to engage a marketing company first. Most reputable video companies will have a background in business and marketing and be able to assist you with your questions and come up with a plan of action. If you are unsure what type of video you would like, do a little research. Find a similar product or service and do a Google, YouTube or Vimeo search. You will more than likely find a few examples out there that can help you hone your ideas. Make notes of what you like and what you don't like. If you engage a video production company, your project manager can assist you in identifying what style you like and what will work for you.

A few styles are:

"About" videos are a great way for people to get to know you or your company and see what the benefits of doing business with you are. They can be very simple and straight forward such as the one we created recently for Waxing Lyrical, an automobile detailing service. This video only required a great piece of royalty free music to bring it to life!

A slightly more informative "about" video will contain some third party testimonial as well. Viewers trust third parties and you can gain your viewers' confidence quickly this way.

"Explainer" videos are a great way to showcase a product. One simple and quick one we recently produced for Croydex, a bathroom fixture company, only required a few hours to shoot and very little time to edit. This one will show the benefits of a voiceover artist.

And then there's the (fun) "awareness" video which can tell people about an organisation or event, such as the one we created for Prince Charles' Campaign for Wool to raise awareness of an event being held at the London Zoo last fall.

So, what next?

Jump in a give it a try! If you have the equipment and the inclination, shooting and editing your own video can be a great learning and VERY fun experience! If you would rather seek the assistance of a professional company, ask your peers or look online. Look for a video partner who is happy to discuss your ideas and offer assistance. Also, look for examples of their work. Make sure that they can do what you need them to do. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, look for those third part testimonials! Ask to see what their previous clients have to say about them. Here at ProMotion Media, we proudly put our testimonials on our website for everyone to see.

If you have any questions on how to make a video or you'd like to know more about how we work and how we can create a fantastic video on any budget for you, please visit our website at www.promotionmedia.co.uk or feel free to contact our team on 01722 770 770.