This Ain't Your Average Video Marketing Strategy Guide - A Streetwise Take
Strategic Approach to Promoting Videos Online
Let's cut to the chase. You don't need a half-baked video marketing plan, and you definitely don't need one that's generic. This 10-step guide will give you a savvy strategy that'll help your business make a big impact.
Step 1: Get Familiar with Your Brand and Set Clear Goals
Know your brand values, mission, unique selling proposition (USP), and what your business needs. Keep in mind that over 50% of consumers love videos from brands more than other content types. And above all, set specific goals for your videos. What should these bad boys achieve, exactly?
Figure out how you'll measure your progress—that is, the metrics you'll track. For example, if you're aiming for increased sales, determine by what percentage. If you're targeting a specific product or service package, decide on a specific number.
Step 2: Know Your Peeps
Who are you making videos for? Know 'em, understand 'em, and target 'em. If you haven't created buyer personas yet, start by jotting down the demographics and psychological traits of your potential customers.
Then, flesh them out into personas to reflect the broad types of people you want to reach. The goal is to figure out what problems they've got that you can solve—and what makes them want to buy what you're selling.
Once you know who you're talking to, create targeted video content that speaks directly to them.
Step 3: Choose Your Video Types
Decide what types of videos will best resonate with your audience. Testimonials, how-tos, explainer videos, product demos, whiteboard videos—there's a world of choices, my friend.
Find out what your audience wants by exploring their posts on social media, questions asked on Quora, and conversations on Reddit and message boards. You can even talk directly to your existing customers or create a survey for your social media followers to get their opinions.
Step 4: Host and Publish Wisely
Where will you store your videos? Places like YouTube are popular, but they're definitely not the only options. You can also host your videos on your own website or upload them directly to social media sites.
Most importantly, if you want people to actually watch your videos, make sure you provide a transcript or closed captioning file— Remember, folks often watch videos without the sound on.
Check out the most-watched content on YouTube and make it incorporating it into your video content strategy. You can also find other video sites like YouTube where you can post your video content.
Step 5: Decide Whether to Do It Yourself or Hire Experts
You can handle video production yourself, but there's no escaping the fact that good videos take time, effort, and skill. If you don't have those, consider hiring pros. A well-crafted animated video, for instance, doesn't have to break the bank—and it might even pay for itself by attracting new customers who share it with their followers.
Step 6: Check Out What Your Competition Is Doing
Find out what videos your competitors are publishing, how they're performing, and where they're succeeding (and failing). This will help you identify potential opportunities that you can take advantage of to stand out from the crowd.
Step 7: Plot Your Content Around Your Buyer's Journey
Generally, prospects will go through fixed stages—from awareness of a product or service to research to making a decision and purchasing. Tailor your content to the stage at which your prospects are, and you'll be more likely to engage and persuade them.
Step 8: Create a Style Guide for Your Videos
Establish a clear brand identity for your videos, including their tone, structure, length, and visual elements. This will help ensure consistency across your video content.
Step 9: Plan Your Promotional Push
Once your videos are ready for the world, share them as widely as possible across multiple platforms. Spread the word on email, social media, your blog, and even good ol' fashioned word of mouth.
Step 10: Keep Your Strategy Flexible
Don't be afraid to adapt your strategy as you go. If something isn't working, try a different approach. Your video marketing strategy isn't set in stone—it's a living, breathing thing that should always be evolving to help you reach your business goals.
Need help with your video marketing strategy? We got you covered. Let us assist!
- To effectively use this strategy in your business finance, it's crucial to allocate resources for quality video production and consider hiring experts if need be.
- To maximize business growth through video marketing, analyze the video content strategies of competitors to identify gaps that can be exploited.
