You get it: Video marketing is important. But how can you get started?
Most internet traffic is now video. And that’s only going to increase over time.
More than 90% of Americans own a cell phone, and most of those are smartphones. With today’s lower-cost plans and incredibly high data caps, nearly everyone who interacts with your business can access video from anywhere, at any time. And they do – man, do they ever.
Video is the biggest form of traffic on smartphones, accounting for about 60% of all data accessed by phone. In 2023, video accounted for about 65% of internet traffic, up from just 51% in 2016. And there’s no sign that we hit the saturation point yet: In another ten years, video could add up to 80% of all internet traffic.
For businesses like yours, that means the time to get involved with video marketing is now.
Here’s the catch: Video has a high barrier to entry.
You need the right equipment, the right software, and the skills to pull it all together. Oh, and …
It helps if you know a thing or two about how to actually speak on camera (and most people, understandably, do not.)
With all that in mind, Tampa business owners usually fall into three categories on video:
- The enthusiastic adopters go into video with everything they’ve got, figuring it out as they go.
- The cautious adopters take weeks or months to get everything they need before they record.
- The no-shows sit on the bench, worried about the ever-present risk of a “social media faux pas.”
No matter where you are right now, that’s totally okay. It’s true that the enthusiastic adopters get the best results – you can’t win the game if you don’t play – but they usually do it through guesswork, trial and error, and plain old good luck. Want to speed through all that and get to the fun part?
A video marketing partner can help you do it.
And, hey – even if you don’t decide to bring on a video marketing partner, Paper Jacket still wants you to get off to the best start. So, we’ll tell you exactly what we would do in your shoes. Our four best ideas for getting started in video marketing are all things completely covered by our subscription product.
Plus, they can each get done in just a half day of shooting.
Let’s take a look:
Brand Photo/B-Roll
A photographer and a videographer are the ultimate team. Together, they can help you build a massive library of content that will fuel your marketing and social media for years to come. No more downloading stock photos from the big photo services that make you look like everyone else and fail to deliver a memorable experience for your customers.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Frequently Asked Questions are one of the best ways to conduct interviews with key staff and present some of the dynamite “inside info” that sets your business apart. This is a great move for disarming your potential customer’s concerns ahead of time: they’ll see that you already understand and can address their unique circumstances.
Old-fashioned, text-heavy FAQs are dead. Today, first-time visitors AND established customers want video. A video-driven FAQ can answer questions fast – in as little as 30 seconds. When it comes to making a genuine connection, video is the next best thing to being there.
Spotlight Interviews
“Spotlight interviews” are used to capture customer success stories – video makes your testimonials and case studies hard-hitting. Instead of having to read through them, website visitors can hear the story straight from the people impacted. That’s terrific for showcasing your work through the eyes of your customers.
Spotlight interviews need to be relatable, not messy. Customers aren’t looking for grainy smartphone videos. Professional videography helps you win their trust so they know you’re running a professional and credible business. Plus, customers who advocate for your brand are more likely to stick with you.
Brand Film
The single best way to tell a compelling brand story? Video.
A brand film is a curated combination of all your best visual content: interviews, B-roll, and photography that comes together into a meaningful video about your business. A well-crafted brand film leaves people with the sense they know, like, and trust you.
With a brand film, Paper Jacket works to highlight your core values and differentiators. It cuts through the clutter and connects people with your business in a way that feels authentic, real, and worthwhile. This is content you’ll need if you want raving fans – the kind who’ll be responsible for 90%+ of your referral business.
(Psst: It doesn’t just create new customer relationships. It also deepens your existing ones.)
On their own, all these methods are powerful.
But you get bonus points if you do them in order. That gives you the flexibility to stack your visual and video content so it delivers the maximum long-term advantages. At Paper Jacket, we think strategically about your media content so everything we produce for you gets exceptional reach and ROI.
Video is impressive, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. With help from a team that gets you, you’ll see your vision come to life without having to micromanage the process. Paper Jacket is proactive, trusted, and ready to optimize your content for success. We’ve been doing it since 2016 from right here in Tampa and across the country.
Contact us to find out more or get started. Together, we will make your brand’s voice heard.
