The business climate today is all about how to make your marketing message heard above all the “noise” of competing marketing messaging in an age where we are all faced with “information overload” to the nth degree. Business owners are always looking for ways to maintain a competitive advantage and to be able to connect with their customers and potential customers to create a personal connection.
With the increased usage of the latest technologies, it also becomes a challenge for the business owner to figure out how to use all the technology that is available to increase brand exposure and deepen relationships with customers and potential customers.
Online interactive video is the future, the latest trend, and continues to rise in popularity. Key indicators point to corporations embracing online video as an essential marketing tool. Interactive Marketing study, Research predicted a compound annual growth rate of 72% throughout the year – the most robust of all interactive investments. Online video is expected to grow significantly more than search engine marketing, display ads, and email marketing.
When you see an interesting video on the Internet, you tend to post the link on Twitter, or Facebook, or share it by emailing it to friends. They pass it on to their friends and the effect multiplies spreading your message quickly, resulting in massive exposure. This is called viral marketing and carries tremendous power via brand exposure at very little cost. Using video helps others connect with your brand because it now has a face that others can identify with and adds that personal touch that is so important in establishing, maintaining, and enhancing relationships.
Online video is going to increase in popularity. Video adds a new dimension to the written word. If one uses videos of themselves speaking their message, they can use humor, physical expression, and eye contact adding a new layer of personalization. If one chooses to use an animated video, the element of entertainment is added and the musical background adds an emotional effect as music brings out emotions in people.
Using video turns a static website into a dynamic, interactive destination. Video requires the viewer to use more of their senses making your message more memorable.
You can use video to demonstrate a product that will educate your customers, show your product or service in action, save time and money on customer service by being proactive, train clients remotely save time and money on travel expenses, and expand your target market beyond your local geographical area
Businesses that use video to promote their brand are giving a human face to their corporate website. You can include a short video welcoming visitors to your website, introduce yourself and other members of your company, or record a customer testimonial to show your value to others.
Using interaction design encourages engagement with your brand and in this day where relationships carry so much weight, this is a very important aspect of video marketing. If you regularly provide valuable video content, you will be encouraging repeat visits to your website.
Even though the use of video is increasing and studies indicate it will continue to increase, there are still many industries that don’t use video as a common practice. If your competitors don’t yet use video, you’ll be able to set yourself apart by using video on your website.
In this age where people want instant gratification and easily accessible information, videos provide an easy method of relaying information to others. At the click of a button, you can promote your brand, advertise a special, make an announcement, sell your service, etc. rather than requiring your target market to read text.
When compared to traditional methods of promoting products like text ads, banner ads, and printed promotions, videos are more cost-effective and provide a much more valuable and memorable experience for the end-user.