In this fast-paced digital world, there’s no time to waste if you want to stay ahead of the curve. If your business is to thrive in the coming years, you need to find ways to stand out from the crowd. One simple way to do that is by using video for your marketing. It has become second-nature for people to interact with video on almost every platform, from Snapchat and Instagram to YouTube and Facebook. And it makes sense: Video compels our attention in ways that other mediums don’t always manage. That doesn’t mean you have to be a Hollywood director or an expensive production company to take advantage of the benefits of video in your business. From shooting simple videos on your phone during launch events, interviews, or meet-and-greets with customers, here are 5 reasons why your business needs video
Video Builds Trust and Credibility
You don’t have to be a brand new company to take advantage of videos’ ability to build trust and credibility. Even established companies, brands, and businesses can benefit from adding video to their marketing strategy. A 2017 study found that over 60% of consumers said that video increased their trust in the brand. And almost half said that a video from a brand increased their willingness to buy that product. Another study found that consumers said they’re much more likely to purchase from a company that uses video in its marketing, versus those that don’t. With statistics like these, it’s clear that adding video to your marketing builds trust with your customers and increases their likelihood of buying from you.
Video Drives Sales and Conversions
If you want to boost your sales, then you need to focus on your conversions. By creating a clear path for your customers to move from the discovery stage through to purchase, you’re more likely to see those numbers grow. What do customers need in order to complete the journey and make a purchase from you? They need to be fully aware of your product, be able to understand how it can help them, and be given a clear call to action, with a seamless path to follow along the way. One way to facilitate this is by adding video to your marketing strategy. A study from Hubspot found that businesses that include video in their marketing drive 50% more website traffic from search engines.
Video Influences Consumer Behavior
Video has the power to influence the way that consumers make decisions. From the products they buy to where they choose to travel and eat, the effect of video in marketing is undeniable. A study by VIA and statistics from Facebook show that when people watch a video, they are eight times more likely to feel an emotion. They’re also 10 times more likely to have an emotional response to a brand. Video can even go as far as to change a person’s opinion on a specific topic. For example, a study found that when participants viewed a video that was pro-vegetarianism, they later had a higher rate of agreeing with vegetarianism compared to the control group.
Video Can Be Used for Market Research
If you’re trying to get a better understanding of your customers and their needs and desires, you can use video for market research. A simple way to do this is by hosting a video contest. You can record your customers answering a specific question or on the topic of a particular issue in their life that your product or service addresses. You can also try polling your audience on certain topics. This is a great way to get feedback from your customers without putting them on the spot.
Conclusion
Video is an incredibly powerful tool in marketing. It has the power to increase engagement, influence customer choices, and even help you get to know your customers better. When you pair video with the right marketing strategy, it can help you achieve your business goals faster.