Thinking of newer ways to get your brand out there? Then look no further than video content. Videos have proved time and again to be effective in engaging and entertaining customers while driving up sales exponentially. According to Wyzowl, over 85% of businesses with a digital marketing strategy use video as a marketing tool. So if you’re not yet on board, you might be a little late to the party. But not to worry, now is as good a time as any to incorporate it into your content toolbox. 

It is estimated that by 2022 video content will make up more than 82% of all consumer internet traffic. Google says that people aged 18-49 years watch more YouTube videos than all cable networks combined. Another study claims that the average internet user watches over 16 hours of online video content every week. And if that’s not enough – how about the 84% of people who say they’ve been convinced to make a purchase because they watched a brand video? 

There are many more stats detailing the importance of video content for businesses, showing its effectiveness in lead generation and growth. Video is the most versatile medium of brand expression in marketing, and will soon take over as the mainstream form of social media. Even bite-sized videos, like the ones on TikTok which can be as short as 15 seconds, are attracting customers in droves- with conversion rates higher than Facebook and Instagram for products below $200. 

The numbers don’t lie; video content is worth it for your business. But if you’re still having second thoughts about incorporating into your marketing strategy, here are 5 reasons why you should reconsider:

1. Search engines love videos

Here’s another statistic- websites with video content are 53 times more likely to rank on the first page of Google than those without. In other words, if you don’t have any video content on your pages, every time a potential buyer searches something on the web related to your field, they’re 53 times less likely to discover your website compared to your competition. How does this work? Well, Google’s algorithm uses “dwell time” to decide how relevant a web page is. If you have videos on your website, it is more likely that users who land on your site spend more time on it than if you just use plain text. The longer people “dwell” on your website, the higher you rank on Google. 

This is not a slight to text- it’s also important to have well-written content as part of your brand marketing strategy, but currently, search engines show a bit more love to videos. So if your SEO strategy has not been giving you a great ROI, it might be time to incorporate video content.

2. More videos = higher conversion

Everyone is competing for the attention of the modern-day consumer. From the time we wake up, till we shut our eyes to sleep, we’re constantly bombarded by ads asking us to spend our time and money. Because of this, you must ensure that all your content stands out, otherwise your audience will forget about you easily. That’s why it’s not enough to just rely on text. You need content that will linger in the minds of your audience even when they’re not interacting with your brand in real-time so that when they’re finally ready to make a purchase, you’ll be the first they consider. 

The effectiveness of videos in marketing is not rocket science. It engages our visual and auditory senses, so it’s easier to recall. In fact, scientists suggest that we process visuals 60,000 times faster than text. In application, it has been shown that something as simple as adding description videos on your landing page can increase conversion by 60%. So if you haven’t done that already, you are missing out.

3. Video is an expressive medium

You can say more in a 30-second video than you would in 3 pages of text. 

Let’s circle back to the modern consumer and their fickle nature. Our attention span has greatly reduced over the years, especially with so many distractions around us. So when consumers are focused on your brand, you want to make sure that you tell them as much as you can in your limited time. That’s why TikTok is doing incredibly well; the content is compressed into 60-second, easy-to-swallow packages that the consumer can watch without feeling imposed upon. 59% of executives also prefer to watch videos than read text; it’s faster and more effective at getting the message across.

Videos can help you connect better with your audience. You can respond to feedback, demonstrate how to use your product, or just go about your general advertising. Whatever message you want to deliver, video is probably the most efficient way to go.

4. Higher returns on your investment

Video content may be more expensive to create, but don’t let that deter your efforts. 89% of business owners from a survey reported that their videos had higher returns than other forms of content. So although the creation process might be a bit taxing, it’s worth it in the end. What’s more, sites like YouTube give you an in-depth analysis of your content- the viewership, shares, likes, and other analytics to help you create more engaging videos.

You also don’t have to be a professional to shoot videos. You can capture, edit, and post videos using your phone or computer easily. Let your creativity shine through your content! 

5. Videos connect you to mobile users effectively.

Smartphones have taken over our lives. We use them for almost everything, and watching videos is no exception. YouTube reports that the bulk of its viewership (70%) comes from phone users. Therefore, as you roll out a video on your website, make sure it’s optimized for mobile users because they’re more likely to watch your videos than PC users. 

Where to start?

So you’ve read about the benefits of videos for your business but now you’re wondering where and how to start creating them. If you’ve never dabbled in video creation before it can be overwhelming, especially if you want your videos to have a professional feel to them. That’s where freelancers come in handy. Whether you want to create a one-off video or generate lots more in the space of a few days, they’re the way to go. Aside from being highly experienced, freelancers also have flexible schedules and fast turn-around time so you’ll always have your videos ready when you need them. You don’t have to pay expensive retainers to companies that might weigh you down with content you might not like. With freelancers, you can switch up styles and providers with ease until you find the one that fits your brand best.

Need to hire a freelance video editor and want to be in the hands of experienced, accessible professionals who will cater to the unique needs of your business? On Ureed.com, there are over 2,000 freelancers who specialize in video editing, visual effects, live-action editing, and 3D animation. Hire an expert now.