Why Entrepreneurs Need Video Marketing

If you are an entrepreneur and are using (or thinking of using) social media to market your business, you have undoubtedly heard the phrase, “content is king.”

In fact, you’ve probably heard it so often that you’re a bit sick of it.

But the reason you’ve heard it so much is because it’s absolutely true. Content IS king; you cannot have a meaningful online presence without great content.

But what kind of content is best? Written content? Photo content? Podcasts? Animated GIFs?

All of these formats are great, but one type of content is rising above and beyond and taking the Internet by storm.

Video content is hands down becoming the most effective way to market your business online.

If you are hesitant to engage in video marketing, you are not alone. After all, creating video content for your business requires more time, thought, planning, and equipment than creating written or photo content. You might even have to invest some dollars in order to create videos that are true to your brand.

But it’s worth it. Here are 5 reasons why every entrepreneur needs video marketing to promote their business:

Everyone’s doing it

It started with YouTube. But now Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and any social media platform that matters to business owners are incorporating native video to their platforms. What does this tell you? If the people behind the biggest, most powerful social media platforms are jumping on the video bandwagon, chances are, they’re on to something. Their main priorities include keeping their users engaged, and their content relevant. So if they’re all over video, they know it’s because their users respond to video. And as a business owner, as a marketer, you’d be crazy not to follow suit.

People like video

People like video. A lot.

Video is easy to digest, it strikes an emotional chord, and it makes you, your business, your product or service instantly more interesting and personable.

Think about it: would you rather read about the latest features on the newest camera you’re thinking of buying, or watch a video featuring an expert (such as the owner of a pro camera shop) demonstrating this technology for you?

Similarly, would you rather follow step-by-step written instructions accompanied by photos showing you how to make fancy designer cake decorations, or would you rather watch a master chef show you how in a well-produced video?

Exactly.

Video is an excellent communication and teaching device. And there are statistics to prove this.

According to an infographic published by HighQ:

• 78% of people watch videos online every week and 55% of people watch videos online every day.
• Using the word “video” in an email subject line boosts open rates by 19%, increases click-through rates by 65%, and reduces unsubscribes by 26%.
• It’s predicted that by 2018, video will take up 79% of consumer Internet traffic.

Furthermore, according to YouTube:

• YouTube has over a billion users — that’s almost one-third of all people on the Internet
• YouTube overall, and even YouTube on mobile alone, reaches more 18-34 and 18-49 year-olds than any cable network in the U.S.
• Growth in watch time on YouTube has accelerated and is up at least 50% year over year for three straight years.

Video is engaging

An important thing to note is that people don’t just randomly click on videos; they actually stay engaged and often stick around until the end. According to HighQ, 65% of video watchers watch at least ¾ of a video.

This additional “dwell time” is important when you consider the struggle it is to keep someone on your business website long enough to convert a casual by-passer into a solid sales lead. Having a video on your business website will keep a visitor on your site for two minutes longer than if your site didn’t have video.

Video is serious SEO

The go-to place for online videos is YouTube.

The thing to remember about YouTube is that it is not – repeat NOT – merely a video-player. It is so much more. It is in fact a tremendously powerful search engine. It’s the second most important search engine in existence. That is, second only to the almighty Google. In fact, it’s owned by Google.

Why does this matter to business owners?

It matters because it means that by creating videos and putting them on YouTube, you are building a powerful SEO (search engine optimization) machine for your business. So when people are searching for answers to their questions, or for something to feed their interests, Google and YouTube will lead them to your business.

Getting on the first page of Google is no easy feat. But when you search on Google for anything, do you notice all the videos that float to the top of your search? Having a video gives you an advantage: your message will get preferential treatment by the most powerful search engine in the world for the simple fact that it is a video; instead of getting lost at sea with everyone else’s written content.

Video is easy to share

There was a time when watching a video online was tedious: you had to download or stream a video in order to watch it, and that could take the patience of a saint. Those days are thankfully behind us.

Finding a video on your phone, device or computer is easy. Watching a video on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter is easy. Sharing or liking a video on social media is easy.

Video is incredibly accessible and easy to share. The ultimate goal, of course, would be to have your business video “go viral,” but that doesn’t happen every day and truthfully, you don’t need to put that kind of pressure on yourself.

The thing is, your business video doesn’t necessarily have to “go viral” in order to be a huge success. It just needs to reach a good amount of the right people.

Hope you found that useful! Got any questions? Leave me a comment below.

 

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