How to Make Promotional Videos For Small Business Work in 2023

Video marketing is a must for small businesses in 2023. Yet, the thought of creating promotional videos can be daunting. With a myriad of options and platforms, it’s tough to know where to start. This article aims to simplify the process. It outlines easy-to-follow video production strategies, types of videos that resonate, and tips to boost views and engagement. Whether you’re on a budget, short on time, or lack in-house expertise, you’ll find it easy and affordable to use video content to build awareness and connect with potential customers. With the right approach, video marketing needn’t be complicated or costly.

Promotional videos are a powerful tool for small businesses. They can serve multiple purposes. Use them for product demos, customer testimonials, or even behind-the-scenes looks at your company. The key is to match the type of video with your business goals and target audience.

Leverage Social Media for Video Marketing

Social media is a fertile ground for video content. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter offer various ways to share videos and engage with your audience.

Use Influencers to Promote Your Brand Through Videos

Influencers have a ready-made audience that trusts their opinions. Partnering with them can give your brand a significant boost. Make sure to choose influencers who align with your brand values.
For example, if you sell makeup, consider partnering with beauty influencers to create tutorial videos featuring your products. Or if you have an outdoor apparel company, work with influencers who frequently hike and camp.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNVbl862HI0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov_zhCy2cOY

Create Bumper Ads for YouTube and Social Media

Bumper ads are short, impactful videos usually around 6 seconds long. They play before or during another video on YouTube. You can also use them as Stories on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Keep the video succinct and focused on one key brand message or product benefit. Use eye-catching visuals and text overlays to capture attention quickly. Test different bumper ad variations to see which perform best.https://youtu.be/cX8jlBYssik

Create Compelling Stories Through Vlogs And Video Blogs

Storytelling is an effective marketing tool. It allows you to connect with customers on an emotional level. Vlogs and video blogs are perfect for this.

Make Customer Testimonial Videos to Build Trust

Customer story videos featuring testimonials can be a game-changer. They offer a personal connection and build trust. Identify loyal, enthusiastic customers and feature their stories. Capture them speaking genuinely about their experience using your product/service and its benefits. Use these testimonial videos on your website and social media platforms.

Include Behind-the-Scenes Footage to Show Company Culture

Company culture videos offer a glimpse into your business ethos. They can feature anything from a day in the life of a sales rep to your product in action. These videos are great for internal training and can also be shared on social media for educational purposes.

Use Motion Graphics to Enhance Explainer Videos

Motion graphics can make your explainer videos stand out. They offer a creative approach to presenting complex ideas in a simple story.

Use Whiteboard Animation to Explain Complex Topics

Whiteboard animations have become one of the most popular video formats for businesses in recent years, and it’s likely that this trend will continue into 2023. Whiteboard animations provide a great way to break down complex topics into easy-to-understand visuals, making them ideal for educational videos. The simple yet captivating style of animation can also help to engage viewers and hold their attention for longer.

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Produce Corporate Videos to Build Your Brand Identity

Corporate videos are more formal and focus on the brand identity. They can range from introductory videos to in-depth interviews with key members of the team. These videos are perfect for your website and can also be used in email marketing campaigns.

Showcase Your Products With Product Demo Videos

Product demonstration videos are an effective marketing tool for small businesses to showcase their products and services. These videos provide potential customers with an up close and personal look at the features of a product or service, allowing them to visualize how it works and how it could benefit them.

Shoot Product Videos to Demo Features

Product features are best demonstrated through live-action videos. These videos can be short but should focus on the key ingredient that makes your product unique. They’re excellent for use on social media and your website.

For example, an app startup can record short clips of users navigating the app interface and accessing key features. A fitness brand can showcase exercises using their equipment. These product demo videos are excellent for use on social media and your website to educate potential customers.

Use Stock Video and Images to Enhance Production Value

Don’t underestimate the power of stock video and images. They can significantly enhance the production value of your videos, making them look professional even on a budget.

Sites like Shutterstock and Adobe Stock offer a wide range of HD stock footage and images at reasonable prices. Use establishing shots of locations to set the scene. Overlay appropriate lifestyle images and videos to complement your message. With some editing magic, you can make high-quality marketing videos using primarily stock assets.

Build Brand Awareness With Video Advertisements

Video ads are an effective tool for reaching a wider audience. They can be used across multiple channels, from YouTube to Facebook, to boost brand awareness.

Create Video Content for Multiple Channels

Different social platforms require different types of video content. For example, what works on YouTube may not be effective on Facebook. Tailor your videos to suit the platform they’ll be displayed on.

Host a Virtual Event with Live-Streamed Video

Live-streamed video offers opportunities for businesses to engage with current customers and attract new ones. Hosting a virtual event can be a cost-effective way to showcase your products or services.

Produce Videos For Different Platforms

In today’s digital landscape, your video content needs to be versatile. Your audience hangs out on a variety of platforms: from YouTube, to TikTok, to Instagram stories. Produce content that is optimized for each platform to maximize your reach. Different platforms have different requirements and audiences.

Create Video FAQs to Answer Common Questions

Video FAQs are an effective marketing tool for educational purposes. They offer a direct way to address common questions, making them ideal for your website or customer service channels.

Use Slideshows to Present Information Visually

Slideshows are a simple yet effective way to convey complex ideas. They’re particularly useful for educational videos and can be easily shared across various platforms.

Optimize Videos For Mobile Viewing

With the increasing use of mobile devices, optimizing your videos for mobile screen is crucial. It enhances the user experience and boosts engagement rates.

Optimize Videos for Search with Tags and Metadata

Tags and metadata are essential for video SEO. They help your videos appear in relevant search results, connecting you with your target audience.

Use Video Email Marketing to Connect with Customers

Emails with embedded videos have higher click-through rates. Video email marketing can be a potent tool for customer engagement and sales.

Keep Viewers Engaged With Calls To Action

A video without a call to action is a missed opportunity. Calls to action guide the viewer on what to do next, be it visiting your website or making a purchase.

Produce Training Videos to Onboard Employees

Training videos are an internal but valuable asset. They streamline the onboarding process, ensuring that new employees understand company culture and procedures.

Create a structured training program covering key topics. Produce engaging videos explaining each concept clearly. Make managers record intro videos as well. The production value of internal videos can be simple as long as the content is comprehensive. An organized video training program ensures a smooth onboarding process.

Check out a few training videos that we’ve created:

Produce Sizzle Reels to Pitch Your Services

Sizzle reels are short, dynamic videos that give viewers a taste of your brand’s energy. They’re excellent for pitching your services to potential clients or investors.

Keep sizzle reels under 2-3 minutes. Use fast-paced, upbeat music and editing. Show different aspects of your product/service through exciting visuals. Use client testimonials and statistics to build credibility. End with a clear call to action. Sizzle reels are ideal for trade shows, sales pitches, crowdfunding campaigns, etc. We’ve created sizzle reels that has produced successful product launches,

How We Optimize Promotional Videos for Various Platforms

With a range of marketing platforms influencing your brand reach, videos need to be tailored accordingly to drive maximum impact. In this section, we will explore top tips and strategies to optimize promotional video content specifically for leading platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

For YouTube:

Create a channel and customize it to align with your brand identity and niche. Include channel trailers and playlists.
Make use of YouTube cards and end screens to direct viewers to other videos or your website.
Include keywords in title, description and tags. Research keywords related to your niche and target those with decent search volume.
Create custom thumbnails that make people click. Use bold text overlays and include faces for higher click-through-rate.
Check and improve video SEO by looking at impressions, traffic sources, audience retention etc.

For Facebook:

Keep videos short, under 2-3 minutes is ideal. Use catchy thumbnail and title.
Leverage captions or subtitles. Enable auto-generated captions if needed.
Use Facebook Ad Library for inspirational video ad examples. Study what works for your niche.
Create video ads with clear CTA and messaging. Test different formats like carousel, stories etc.
Analyze performance through Facebook Analytics. Check completion rates, CTR, conversions etc. Refine based on insights.

For Instagram:

Keep videos short, preferably under 1 minute. Instagram videos can be up to 60 seconds long on feed and 15 seconds as Stories.
Showcase visually engaging, high-quality footage. Vibrant colors and visual effects tend to perform better.
Add text overlays and stickers to highlight key messages. Use minimal text and legible fonts.
Leverage relevant hashtags in captions to improve discoverability. Identify popular hashtags used in your niche.
Check insights to analyze viewer demographics and when your followers are most active. Tailor your posting schedule accordingly.
Promote your videos by running Instagram Ads and leveraging influencer marketing.

For LinkedIn:

Align video content with a business or professional context. Infographics, testimonials and thought leadership work well.
Utilize LinkedIn analytics to study audience demographics and consumption patterns to optimize your video strategy.
Promote your videos through employee advocacy. Encourage employees to share videos in their network.

Engaging Video Production with Proven Results – Motionify

At Motionify, we use video to tell powerful stories that connect with audiences and drive action.

Motionify is an award-winning video production agency recognized as the “Most Creative Video Production Company of the Year 2023” by BrandImpact.

With a 4.8 overall client rating on Clutch.co, we are leaders in the video production category in India.

Our video production services include:

Explainer Videos to clearly communicate your message
Promotional Videos to showcase your brand
Product Walkthroughs to highlight features
Augmented Reality to create immersive experiences
3D Animation for high visual impact
Corporate Videos to engage employees

We take the time to understand your goals and audience before crafting videos optimized for results across platforms. Our data-driven approach along with creativity and care brings your vision to life effectively.

Trusted by leading brands worldwide, we back our work with measurable impact. Let’s discuss how video can move the needle for your business – contact us today.

Our focus is on creating videos that work for you rather than flashy award reels. Contact us to get started with our video production project with confidence.

FAQs

How can I create professional-looking videos without expensive equipment?

You don’t need a Hollywood budget to create high-quality videos. Simple tools and editing software can yield professional results.

What types of videos resonate most with my target audience?

Understanding your target audience is crucial. Tailor your content to what resonates with them, whether it’s explainer videos, customer testimonials, or product demo videos.

What is an ideal promotional video length for social media?

The ideal length can vary a bit based on your specific niche and audience. But in general, short, focused videos work best to capture attention on social media. Use the following as guidelines:

Instagram – 30 to 60 seconds
Facebook – 1 to 3 minutes
YouTube – 2 to 3 minutes
Twitter – 30 to 60 seconds
LinkedIn – 1 to 5 minutes

What are the objectives of promotional videos?

The main objectives of promotional videos are:

Increase brand awareness – Promotional videos allow you to introduce your brand, products or services to a wide audience. They help build brand recognition.
Engage viewers – Promotional videos entertain and connect with viewers on an emotional level through storytelling. This helps build brand affinity.
Educate and inform – Explainer and how-to videos educate viewers about your offerings, their uses and benefits.
Drive conversions – Product demos, testimonials and call-to-action can persuade viewers to buy products or sign up for services.
Boost website traffic – Videos drive visitors to your website or landing pages through links in video descriptions.
Improve SEO – Videos can rank highly in search results and optimize SEO through title, description and keywords.

The goal is to strategically use promotional video content to engage your target audience and ultimately convert them into customers.