Fortunately,
video advertising
doesn’t have to break the bank. Although today’s viewers expect an
exceptional level of quality, a small investment of time and money can
result in the next viral video.
We outline the steps involved in developing a scalable video marketing strategy on a startup budget.
Step 1: Understand the purpose of your video marketing strategy
A video marketing strategy is going to struggle if its sole objective
is to “sell more widgets”. Though that may be the ultimate goal, but if
you incorporate too much self-promotional content in your marketing
strategy, it will be perceived as spammy and go unnoticed.
The goal of your video marketing strategy should be to educate,
entertain, and inspire your viewers – this is the content that gets
shared and remembered.
Although you still want to drive the viewer to the next step, your
goal shouldn’t be for them to walk away feeling like you’ve just
assaulted them with a sales pitch.
When is a video, memorable and sentimental, who doesn’t want to share it?
Because your content will be shared on your social media accounts and
website, it won’t be difficult for people to find your brand if they
enjoyed the video. So don’t worry so much about trying to make the
commercial a promotional platform for your company. Instead, make it an
experience the rest of
us will want to be a part of.
In short, to determine the purpose of your video marketing strategy be sure to:
Know who your target audience is.
Understand what makes them share, like, and buy.
Create content that you know they want, need or will appreciate.
Step 2: Determine what topics and formats to include in your video content
Once you understand who your target audience is, it’s time to determine which format and topic will connect with them best.
Should your videos be instructional “how-to’s”, brand stories,
narratives, etc.? The goal is to provide something that your viewers
will appreciate and want to share.
Meanwhile, what topics will be discussed? The more related they are to your brand, the better.
Research and experiment to determine the most effective style and
topics for your niche – and don’t be afraid to borrow ideas from those
that have already been successful. Some of the greatest marketing
campaigns have been those that took a strategy from an unrelated
industry and integrated it into their market.
Step 3: Decide who will develop your video content
When it comes to creating videos, you have several options:
You or your team can develop the videos themselves. If you plan to
develop videos on a regular basis with a low budget, this may be the
best option for you. However, if you do this you still want to ensure
that the videos maintain a level of quality – even if they’re amateur
productions. Spend some time researching how to create great video and
consider taking a course that can provide you with additional insights.
You can work with an agency to develop the videos. This option is
more expensive, and you will often end up spending thousands of dollars
on a single video. However, you get what you pay for. If you’re looking
to create a single, impactful video (or if you have a healthy marketing
budget), working with professionals is certainly a beneficial option.
You can work with bloggers or influencers to create and promote
videos. Rather than dealing with making the videos yourself, or paying
someone else and then having to find a way to promote them, why not work
with someone who can make and promote your videos?
When deciding the best way to develop your videos, keep in mind your
target audience, your budget, your time availability, and your
creativity. By reviewing these elements you should be able to decide
which option will be best for your brand.
Step 4: Leave your viewers wanting more
When watching television it’s rare to want a commercial to keep
going; they’re largely an unwanted interruption to what we’re actually
watching!
However, if you can create videos that actually leave the viewer
wanting more, they will share, like, and subscribe to see what video
content is coming next. And this is when you know that your video
marketing strategy has become a success!
Step 5: Know where and how to promote your videos
Recording a video and publishing it to
YouTube isn’t enough – you have to strategically promote it.
This partnership resulting in a massive influx in shares, likes, and views that continue to grow.
It’s important to know how and where to effectively promote your
published content. Find bloggers, other businesses, and friends who are
all willing to help spread the word about your new content.
Provided your videos are valuable and worth watching in the first
place, it shouldn’t be difficult to find people willing to share and
promote them for free.