I have a secret identity. (Shhhh. I’ll tell you, but don’t tell anyone else!)
Along with being a professional copywriter and marketing consultant, I’m also a professional musician. I play the harp (yes, the kind that angels play) and I used to tour with a Celtic band called The Muses. I don’t play anywhere near as much as I used to, but I still do shows a few times a year.
Last Thursday, I performed as part of something called 5 to 10 on Hennepin. It’s an event put on by Hennepin Theater Trust, one of our local arts organizations here in Minnesota. They’ve started bringing in performers and musicians every Thursday evening to highlight the arts scene in downtown Minneapolis.
Well, during my stint, I decided to record a couple of Facebook Live videos to my Tanya Brody – Words and Music page, just to see how it worked and if they’d get any traction. I had a friend of mine record while I was playing. No crazy cameras or extra tech. Just my smartphone and a person holding it.
I was incredibly pleased with the results.
One of the videos reached 354 people and got 88 views. The other reached 1,641 people and got 646 views. That was without boosting the posts. I didn’t have to pay Facebook for exposure for either of these videos, and they got a great response. (Well, for me, anyway.)
Why does this matter?
Consider this. As of my writing this article, my Tanya Brody – Copywriter page has 233 likes. That means any post I put on that page should show up in the feeds of 233 people. (So long as Facebook doesn’t change its algorithm.)
My Tanya Brody – Words and Music page has 120 likes. So those videos only showed up in the feeds of 120 people. Yet those two videos got far more views than anything I’ve posted on my copywriting page in the last month and a half.
I only put up my copywriting Facebook page recently. I’ve had my music page for years. And it’s gotten more exposure in the last week than anything I’ve ever posted on there before.
Why am I telling you this story?
It’s a really roundabout way of showing you that video marketing is the current (and future) trend.
2016: The Year of Video
Actually, people have been using video in marketing for years, on and off line. But it’s become so popular that many of the social media platforms are giving it preference in people’s feeds.
But a lot of major companies, like Red Bull, Netflix, GoPro and Amazon, are using a lot more video to engage with their audiences. YouTube reports that mobile video consumption is rising by 100% every year. Right now, 1/3 (yes, that’s one third, desktop and mobile,) of all online activity is spent watching videos.
And, most people spend 1 to 2 minutes watching a video. That means more time spent engaged with your company, product or service.
Perhaps you’ve noticed that when a friend of yours is using Facebook Live, they show up at the top of your feed. Their post will even show up at or toward the top of your feed for several hours after they posted it.
It turns out that native video uploads to Facebook (meaning not linked from somewhere else) have 10 times the reach of those posted on YouTube. Facebook is definitely on the video bandwagon.
That’s a lot of video. And it’s a great opportunity for you to get more exposure for your business.
Think about it. If my little Facebook Live videos got as much engagement as they did, without any additional work on my part, imagine how much video could increase your bottom line. According to Aberdeen Group, businesses using video marketing grow their company revenue 49% faster, year after year, compared to companies that don’t use video marketing.
How to Add Video Marketing to Your Marketing Plan
Yes, like me, you’re a small business. You don’t have a lot of money to make fancy, expensive videos showing off your products or services. Fortunately, you don’t need them. All you really need is a cellphone with video capability and a way to keep it stable while you record.
As an example, here’s a short video I recorded with my smartphone and a little tripod. It’s a list of topic ideas for videos:
I’m seeing an increase in people recording videos for their businesses in their cars, or while they’re putting together their products. Yes, you want your video to look as “good” or “professional” as possible. But the real goal is to insert your personality into the video so you (and your video) stand out from your competition.
“Hey, Why Are You, a Copywriter, Talking About Video?”
Because I’m also a marketing consultant. My job is to help you find the best ways to market your business. Video is quickly becoming one of those “best ways.” So, yeah, I’m going to talk about it.
Besides. You’ll still need me to write the landing pages you’re going to stick these videos on, and the scripts for the videos, or the video sales letters (VSL) you’re going to use to sell your products or services. So I’ve got plenty of job security.
Speaking of that whole marketing consultant thing, click on the button below to download my Video Topic Stimulus List so you have ideas for your videos going forward.
Download the Video Topic Stimulus List
I added a few more ideas than I mentioned in the video above, so you’ll have even more fodder for your new video marketing series.
How do You Use Video in Your Marketing?
What kinds of videos do you make? Do you use video at all? If not, why not? Tell me about it in the comments.