Video is a powerful medium for
content marketing.
According to Forbes, the second
largest search engine in the world is YouTube. Billions of people are looking
for videos to watch every single day.
Maybe that’s because you can’t beat
video for storytelling. Need evidence? Look to films and television. The
combination of visuals, sound, and movement add up to emotional resonance.
Videos are also easy to digest –
just sit back and watch. They’re especially effective for how-tos, explaining
concepts and illustrating ideas. Plus, as technology gets better and better,
it’s becoming easier and easier to stream videos from anywhere, on any
platform, on any device.
Videos also hit some requirements
for good content – they’re useful and informative. For an example, check out
this tutorial from Express Writers that shows you how to order from our Content
Shop:
Finally, don’t forget videos are a
fresh type of content that adds energy to an already-crowded, staid sea of
blogs, articles, posts, and infographics.
These are all good reasons why video
marketing is so of-the-moment. There’s one quid pro quo, however.
Videos provide a level of engagement
that’s perfect for some types of content – but not all.
The question that remains: When
should you utilize the power of video marketing? When should you refrain?
Most importantly, what are some
low-cost, easy ways to produce videos for your content?
When Is Video Content Marketing the
Right Move?
You can’t produce videos for every
content need. Videos take a bit more time and effort than writing up a blog
post or researching an article. When you do decide to use a video as your
medium, it has to be worth it.
Content Marketing Institute says
that you have to ask yourself an honest question when thinking about creating
video content. If you removed the sound and visuals and the benefits they
provide, would anything about the story get lost in translation?
If the answer is “no,” skip the
video. You can tell your story just as effectively through written content. If
the answer is a resounding “yes,” then producing a video could take your
content to the next level.
Here are some ideas that could get
you rolling. Customize them depending on your brand, what you sell, and your
industry:
- Film a behind-the-scenes video that takes your viewers inside your operations, to an exclusive event, or some other place they wouldn’t normally get to access.
- Film a reaction video to a hot-button topic or event in your industry. Line it up with your brand values.
- Do thorough product reviews that showcase features, shortcomings, and benefits.
- Create a how-to video that simplifies a complex process.
To underline just how integral video
and visual content is for your marketing, take a look at this snippet of an
infographic from AdWeek. Bottom line: People crave it.
There’s a lot that video can do for
you. Now that you have some ideas to get you started, how do you go about
producing videos? Here are some tips, tricks, and tools that will make it
easier.
5 Easy Ways to Produce Engaging
Videos for Your Content Roster
You don’t need fancy equipment to
create compelling videos for content marketing. In fact, you probably have one
of the only tools you’ll need right in your pocket – your Smartphone.
This leads us to the first big tip.
1. Use the Equipment You Already
Have
You may not have the budget to
either buy or rent fancy video equipment. However, there’s a simpler option.
Nowadays, Smartphones are equipped
with great cameras. Use this to your advantage. The footage will have slightly
lower quality than if you used professional equipment, but you can mask that
with good shooting techniques and superb editing.
2. Invest in Accessories
Accessories for your Smartphone that
help you get a steadier shot are inexpensive investments. Did you know you can
get a tripod for your Apple device for less than 30 bucks? That cost is totally
worth it for a steady, smooth shot – i.e., no amateur, headache-inducing shaky
camera.
Another good, inexpensive investment
is a microphone that hooks up to your device via the headphone jack. This tool
will help you get clearer sound no matter the conditions. This means windy days
and background chatter are no problem.
3. Get Different Angles
While shooting, create more visual
interest by getting different angles of your subject. This is a good technique
to use if you’re filming wide-angle shots of an event or landscape, or if
you’re trying to show off the different features of a product.
Various angles will show your
viewers every detail. This will help them feel like they’re right there with
you, which is far more compelling than one long, steady, unchanging shot.
4. Use the Right Software
The right video editing software can
help you create the exact look and feel you’re going for. There are limitless
options for creating custom videos with your own footage, animated videos using
templates, slide presentations, and more.
To create fun animated videos quickly,
try one of these:
Here’s a screengrab that showcases
an animated video LinkNYC created using Powtoon:
To edit basic video clips, including
cutting footage, fine-tuning audio, tweaking brightness and contrast, and
adding text, here are some good options. Some of these are apps you can use
right on your phone:
Nutshell, in particular, is a
super-simple app that uses very few elements to create a fun video. Here’s an
example video from Buffer that shows us how it’s done (the possibilities for
this could be endless):
5. Use Stock Images, Clips, and
Royalty-Free Music
Many programs include the use of
backgrounds, stock photos, mini clips, and royalty-free music in their editing
offerings. However, if you’re using a basic program, you can nab these for
yourself to jazz up your video content.
Some good stock image sources:
Great sources for royalty-free music
(for background sound or mood music):
Stock videos (some of these are
free!):
There are so many fantastic
resources out there for video creation. Dig in and play around. You may come up
with something truly snazzy!
Add Zip and Pizazz to your Content
Marketing with Videos
If you’re struggling to stand out in
a crowded market, videos could be your way to the top. They’re a fresh means to
present information and speak to your readers. You could end up turning more of
those casual visitors into customers with this energetic approach.
Source: - http://www.sitepronews.com/2017/07/21/5-easy-ways-to-produce-engaging-videos/
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