Video advertising is a powerful marketing tool that can help boost small-business revenue, generate leads, and build brand recognition. But it can also be a huge challenge, as it is hard to produce high-quality content without following certain principles.
To help you create successful video advertising campaigns for your small business, Alpha Efficiency decided to share the list of 5 essential tips you should follow.
1. Hook the Audience
The first few seconds are crucial in video advertising. Give the audience a reason not to click the skip button when your ad appears. There are many ways to achieve that, and here are some of them:
- Mention a common problem: Say something many will relate to
- Ask a question: If it’s intriguing enough, the audience will wait to hear an answer
- Shock the audience: Make an unusual statement that you will back up with facts later
If you believe you’ve found an original way to connect with the audience in the first three seconds, feel free to test it. But always prepare a script before shooting a video, as there is no space for improvisation in video advertising.
2. Keep Videos Short
After the audience is hooked, deliver your message. Securing everyone’s attention for an extended period of time is difficult. Research suggests that an average human attention span got reduced to about 8 seconds thanks to lifestyle changes caused by technological advancement. A goldfish has a second longer attention span than us.
What was the duration of the last video advertisement that you liked? Probably not longer than 30 seconds or one minute. So when it comes to corporate video production in Sydney, for example, try to eliminate unnecessary content. Keep your videos short and straight to the point, otherwise, the audience might miss the best part you chose to leave for the end.
3. Educate Your Audience
Providing valuable information with your video advertising is another tip that could bring success to your video advertising campaign. Many people will rather watch an educational video instead of reading a book or an article. Research what questions trouble them and try to give a helpful answer. After you solve the problems of your audience, they will want more. Your small business will grow with incoming traffic.
4. Add Subtitles
People who find your video while in a public place often don’t have a chance to hear the audio. And part of your audience prefers to turn the volume down even at home. And what about non-native speakers or those with hearing disabilities? Subtitles will help you deliver your message to everyone. Here are a few quick tips you should have in mind when creating them:
- Adjust the contrast to increase readability: Text color should differ from the background color.
- Use keywords: They will help search engines understand your content. Also, use keywords at the beginning of your video to let people know the topic.
5. Include a Call to Action
Every video advertisement should aim to persuade potential customers to take a specific action. You can do it by placing a call to action at the end of your video. It does not need to sound like you are just trying to sell them a product. For example, you can call them to register on your website to get more educational material or other benefits. Placing a CTA in a video can help you guide your customers through a sales funnel.
Final Words
Not long ago, video advertising was reserved for big companies with deep pockets. Small businesses had no opportunity to get their name on screens. However, times have changed, and everyone today has an almost equal starting position in the race to the hearts of an audience.
Use the tips above to take advantage of this simple fact and create a powerful video advertising campaign to help your small business grow.