Gerald Pagdato - Upgrade Your Video Skills

There’s a saying in social media: Video content is king. We beg to differ. We believe that engaging video content is king. With the advance of technology and its increasing accessibility, anybody can make videos. This is because videos capture the attention of audiences and effectively communicate a message — making it an ideal medium for building brand awareness and engaging potential customers. That’s why if you want to stand out, creating videos that engage with your audience is vital. In this article, we'll explore the importance of creating video content for marketing, how video can build brand awareness, why videos are a good way to engage an audience, and provide you with 11 tips for creating an engaging video. Why You Should Create Video Content for Your Marketing Strategy There are several reasons why video content is an important part of any marketing strategy: Video is more engaging than other forms of contentVideo has the ability to capture the attention of audiences in a way that text and images just can't. It is a more immersive and interactive medium that can engage viewers on a deeper level. Video can effectively convey a messageVideo allows businesses to effectively communicate their message through visuals, dialogue, and sound. This makes it an ideal medium for conveying complex or abstract concepts in a clear and concise way. Video can drive conversionsVideo has been shown to increase conversions and generate leads. By showcasing products or services in a visual and interactive way, businesses can persuade potential customers to take action. How Video Can Build Awareness For Your Brand Surely, your brand isn’t as big as Disney or Nike that you don’t need the additional push for brand awareness (and if so, then we are flattered that you’re reading our article!) Always keep in mind that videos are extremely good at bringing your brand closer to the awareness of other people, not just your target audience. If you’re still not convinced, here are a couple of reasons why videos can build awareness for you and your brand: Video establishes a personal connection with the audienceIt allows businesses to showcase their products or services in a more personal and interactive way, which can help to build trust and loyalty with the audience. Video showcases the personality and values of the brandVideo allows businesses to showcase their personality and values through the visuals, dialogue, and sound of the video. This helps differentiate the brand from competitors and establish a unique identity. Video is highly shareableAs mentioned above, video content is highly shareable. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Twitter all have built-in video players and make it easy for users to share videos with their friends and followers. This helps increase the reach of the video and drive the brand to people's awareness. READ MORE: The Role of Videos in Your Social Media Marketing Plan Why Videos Are a Good Way to Engage an Audience Video is more immersive and interactive than other forms of contentVideo allows businesses to create a more immersive and interactive experience for the audience. This can engage the audience on a deeper level and increase their attention and interest. Video is more entertainingVideo has the ability to entertain and engage the audience in a way that text and images cannot. By creating entertaining and engaging video content, businesses can keep the audience engaged and interested. Video evokes emotionsHappiness, nostalgia, or inspiration, depending on how you create your video, it elicits a response from those that watch it. This can create a sense of connection with the audience, thus, increasing their engagement. A strong narrative is essential for creating engaging video content Now here are 11 tips on how you can create your own videos that are sure to increase your engagement with your audience. Identify the purpose and goals of the video: Before you start creating the video, it's important to have a clear understanding of the purpose and goals of the video. This will guide the direction of the video and ensure that it is focused and on point. Know your target audience: It's essential to have a deep understanding of your target audience, including their demographics, interests, and behaviors. This will help you to craft a message and tone that resonates with them and keeps them engaged. Tell a compelling story: A strong narrative is essential for creating engaging video content. By using a good story, you can make the video's message more interesting, exciting, and relatable to the audience. Use strong visuals: Visual elements are a key component of any video. It is important to use visuals that would support the message and vibe of the video. Choose the appropriate graphics, like text, animations, or images, that would aid in capturing your viewer's attention. Incorporate sound: Sound effects and music can enhance the overall experience of the video and help to engage the audience. You don't want a happy tune over a serious scene. Make sure that the music you use plays a supporting role to elevate the scene it is playing over. Keep it concise: It's essential to keep the video straight to the point, as viewers have extremely short attention spans. Focus on the key points or themes you want to convey and eliminate any unnecessary or distracting elements. Use a clear and compelling call to action: it's important to have a clear and direct message that encourages the viewer to take some sort of action. Whether it's visiting your website, subscribing to your channel, or purchasing a product, your message should be direct and easy to follow. Optimize for different platforms: Different platforms have different best practices for video content. So do some research and learn how to best optimize your video for the platform you'll be putting it in. After all, you wouldn't want your video not reaching your target audience after putting in all the effort of making it. Use the best equipment you can get: Imagine watching a video in low resolution, doesn't stop shaking, and has bad lighting. It's distracting and a huge turn off, right? So it's important to use the best equipment you can get your hands on to ensure that the video looks professional and polished. Edit the video carefully: Editing is a crucial part of the video-making process, and it's important to spend time editing the footage to ensure it flows smoothly and that the final output looks nice. Test and analyze the videos: After the video has been published, it's important to track key metrics, such as views, likes, comments, and conversions, and analyze the results to see how the video performs. This will serve as a good benchmark to improve future videos that you create. At the end of the day, creating video content that makes your audience feel good will make them come back to your brand for more. So start incorporating these tips in your video marketing strategy and begin creating more engaging videos today! READ MORE: 4 Tips for Using Video to Boost Trust with Your Audience