Some people say video marketing is the “new” marketing of the future but if you think about it, we’ve really come full circle. First marketing started out as print material, then we started adding images, and then we used sound on the radio. When television came about, we started putting our pictures and text via the sound of voiceovers on the television in the form of advertisements.
The internet started out largely text based. Then we started experiencing audio through audio files like .wav files, and finally the technology allowed for images. And now due to fast internet speeds and upgraded technology like tablets and smartphones, we can watch streaming video from anyplace with the ability to receive the information digitally.
So really, video isn’t anything new. But, because of the fact that the internet is getting faster and it’s getting easier for people to enjoy streaming video, it’s just a matter of time before video becomes more important than text-based content. Text based content will never be replaced entirely, but the split will more than likely even out.
Just because we had ads on TV didn’t stop us from having ads on the radio or in newspapers or magazines. The same will hold true with the internet. There will always be a variety of forms of content, as well different types of advertising and marketing mediums.
Visual content is going to become more important to go along with your text-based content. Inserting pictures that help illustrate your blog post or article, along with demonstration videos, will go far in making all your content more interesting, engaging, and actionable. Video accomplishes all of that easily. Video is easily understood, and it’s not really that hard to create either.
Visual content like video activates both sides of the viewer’s brain, helping them to truly understand and imagine what it would be like to have what they desire and get what they need. There is hardly anything more powerful than the ability to affect both sides of someone’s brain when trying to market something to them. They will connect to your brand on an emotional level as well as an intellectual level.
The advent of more mobile devices with streaming capabilities makes even more likely that video marketing will only become more popular as time rolls forward. Most people, not just children, like to choose to read and view content that has visual elements. If they can have both visual and audio elements, so much the better. That is why the movie industry is so powerful. We love a good story and we love to truly see and visualize how people are affected.
If you don’t have a video marketing strategy yet, it’s time to get one. You can start small with very few tools. You just need a camera, or the ability to record your desktop with a software program such as Camtasia Studio, to make a “how to” video for your clients or future customers, and you’re in the video marketing game. Just like that. If you don’t do it, you’re going to be left behind. Don’t let that happen.
Links:
Camtasia Studio – http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.html