10 Ways to Level Up Your Content Marketing Strategy with Video
If your content marketing strategy doesn’t include video, you might want to reconsider. Video rules the web, and by all indications, it won’t surrender the throne any time soon.
Want your content marketing strategy to make an impact? You should sprinkle in a little video.
To get your creative juices flowing, here are 10 video marketing ideas.
1. Repurpose text content
Do you spend hours researching and writing blog posts to attract traffic to your website? If so, make the most of your invested time: Repurpose that compelling content in video form.
When you do, you may reach an audience that you might not have otherwise — four times as many consumers would rather watch a video about a product that read about it. (Plus, repurposing your articles allows you to create videos faster and easier since you’re not starting from scratch.)
When reusing text content for video, you can take two approaches:
- Share the full content in “talking head” or monologue format. This requires little in the way of video production skills — just turn on your camera and talk about what you wrote.
- Create short, animated text videos that highlight key points. This is a good option if you’re camera shy or don’t have the equipment you need to capture quality footage.
2. Film your podcast episodes
Next to video, podcasting is arguably the hottest medium in the content marketing space right now. If you have a podcast, why not film yourself as you record the episode?
(Noticing a theme here? I believe a smart content marketing strategy prioritizes repurposing creative assets to achieve maximum results with minimum effort.)
This technique can add a layer of depth and intimacy, especially for interview-style podcasts.
The reverse of this tactic — filming interviews and repurposing that content in your podcast — can work well, too. For example, independent maker Justin Jackson did a live video interview and then later used the audio from it in his podcast.
3. Feature customer testimonials
In psychology, the rule of social proof states that we’re more likely to do something if we see other people doing it.
Social proof is the reason customer testimonials are so powerful. And though simply quoting your happy customers can be effective, telling a story with video is usually much more compelling.
When they see people praise your brand or product, your potential customers will be more likely believe and relate to the message.
The video will resonate most when the customers you choose to feature are similar to your target audience (e.g., if your primary audience is middle-aged soccer moms, film a testimonial from a middle-aged soccer mom).
To get you started, Laci Texter at SproutVideo has six handy tips for shooting great customer testimonials.
4. Record product demos and walkthroughs
One of the best ways to build trust around your product — especially in the software-as-a-service, or SaaS, industry — is to show how it works.
By reducing anxiety and fear, a simple product demo could be what finally convinces a fence-straddler to buy.
If your product is digital, use a screen recording tool to showcase major features and talk through benefits.
5. Include video in your emails
As a communication channel, email can sometimes feel a bit old school and sterile. But including video adds a touch of personality.
Not only that, video can increase email engagement (e.g., clicks, reading time, shares, forwards) by 50 percent!
And according Experian, simply including the word “video” in your subject line may boost open rates.
For more ideas and examples, check out these five ways you can use video to enhance your emails from Meryl Ayers at Wistia. And if you want to take it up a notch, this enterprise email service specializes in embedded video.
6. Offer a video course
If you know a lot about a particular topic, consider sharing your expertise through a video course. Since it’s perceived as a high value type of content, a course can help you build authority, capture leads, and even directly generate revenue.
There are a number of ways you can create and host your own video course. But if you’d prefer to borrow the audience of an established online learning platform, you have several to choose from, including:
7. Broadcast live
Facebook, Instagram, YouTube… there are a number of platforms you can use to easily share real-time videos with your audience. And you should — it seems people get a little mesmerized by live video.
On Facebook, for example, viewers watch live videos three times longer than normal videos. (This is likely, in part, due to what’s known as the the fear of missing out, or FOMO.)
What should you broadcast live?
Events, such as conferences and major announcements, make for live video gold. Another common type of live video (or, usually, live video presentation) is the webinar.
Depending on what industry you’re in, webinars can be an effective tool for collecting — and converting — qualified leads.
Want a few pointers on best practices for live video? Social Media Examiner covers the topic often.
8. Advertise with video
Admittedly, this is my least inspired idea. After all, videos have been a successful advertising medium since the ’40s!
But thanks to social media, getting your videos in front of your ideal customers is easier than ever before.
Not sure where to start? Learn how to make video ads that win customers here.
9. Supercharge your customer service
Most people may not consider customer service a part of a typical content marketing strategy. But when performed creatively, it can be.
Take Dell and Warby Parker, for example. Both brands received free coverage by major publishers simply because they responded to customer questions on social media with short, helpful videos.
Beyond the potential public relations benefits, you’ll likely get a few likes and shares out of sheer surprise since so few brands are responding with video.
10. Share your company culture
An old sales truism says that before people will buy from you, they must know, trust, and like you. Behind-the-scenes videos of you and your team can accomplish all of these goals by humanizing your brand.
Try sharing funny moments or the latest office shenanigans with Instagram Stories. If you’re recruiting, providing a peek at your company’s culture may also attract potential employees.
Ready to add video into your content marketing strategy mix?
Thanks for reading! I hope the information above helps you craft a successful content marketing strategy. If you need background music as you start making more videos, check out my library for royalty-free tunes.
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