Online video continues to rise at a dramatic rate. By 2017, video will account for 69% of all consumer internet traffic, according to Cisco. When it comes to getting the edge on online marketing, video is where it’s at!
“The average user spends 88% more time on a website with video.” – Mist Media
The move from website text-based content to video content has been fast and businesses who don’t utilize this rapidly growing marketing trend will be left behind with an under-performing website. Take a look at 3 reasons why your business should include video in your marketing plan this year:
1. YouTube: Every Brand Needs a Presence
Let’s start with YouTube. It’s the second largest search engine in the world. We are watching over 6 billion hours of video each month – that’s almost an hour for every person on Earth. If you are operating a business or organization, not only do you want to have a great search result in Google, but you need to have your Brand presence on YouTube as well. YouTube’s search algorithm is pretty similar to Google’s web search algorithm – just with a higher churn rate. But, unlike in a Google search, on YouTube you can have your own channel and custom thumbnail next to your link – this helps users identify with your brand.
2. Be the Face of Your Business
Video is the perfect medium to share your story and communicate WHY you are so passionate about what you do. When clients ‘meet’ the person behind the brand, even if it’s virtually, it builds connections. It’s those pleasant connections that increase customer loyalty. This is why websites that use video are 46% more likely to convert visitors into buyers. People want to deal with people – so go ahead, share your story.
3. Video Content is More Engaging
Video is naturally engaging and, in an age of information overload, it’s vital for small businesses to offer content that is easy to digest; if not, consumers will simply move on. Video is also an effective medium for conveying information as it’s far more memorable than text. If a picture paints 1000 words, then one minute of video is worth 1.8 million, according to Forrester’s researchers. Think about how video plays into social media too. People are 37% more likely to share a video on social media than any other type of content. But is video really possible for small businesses? Absolutely. Not only is it possible, but we believe it has become essential to elevate your brand. Production costs have fallen significantly in recent years. Check out our blog “The Cost of Video Production” if you are wondering what a video is going to cost your business.