Want to get noticed on the web? Video helps increase engagement massively and grow your community. Here’s how to do it effectively because if you haven’t noticed it’s getting harder to stand out.
On Facebook, organic reach is dropping steadily. On Twitter, content moves so fast, getting seen is almost impossible. Billions of sites compete for a prime place in Google’s SERPs (search engine result pages).
I’ll tell you a secret. Video can help you break through the noise and get noticed.
On Facebook, posts with native video get a 6.3% engagement rate. According to a survey by Brightcove, consumers tend to like five, share four and comment on three out of every ten videos they see.
And it’s not just on social media. A recent study by HubSpot found that 55% of people are more engaged when they watch a video than when they read a blog post. And, according to another study by Brightcove, using video as part of your marketing strategy can double your conversion rate, and increase the time users spend on your site by 105%. Those are some pretty impressive numbers.
More engagement means greater brand awareness and reach. This can help you grow your community and build your list. Let’s take a look at how video can help you increase engagement across your channels.
Enchant them on social media
In the dark days before the internet, we used to gather outside and chat about the things that mattered.
Today, you don’t need to leave the house to have a stimulating conversation. You can just jump on your social media platform of choice and engage with colleagues, friends, brands and smart people on the other side of the world. But as your brand grows, you won’t always have time for one-on-ones.
Watch this ‘Microsoft: Girls Do Science’ video, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eJYW4ew5eg
This Youtube video from Microsoft deals with a topic many people care about, and sparks a conversation. At under 2 minutes, it’s perfect for social media sharing
What are your followers, clients and site visitors passionate about? What problems are they trying to solve? What challenges do they want to overcome? Create short videos that address a single topic, and start a conversation. The type of video you make depends on your goals and what your audience likes.
Video can help you share ideas faster, and with a larger number of people. Use it to raise awareness about causes close to your heart, promote an event or spark a debate.
Draw them to your website
Your website is your online office. It’s how people can learn about you, what you stand for, and what you offer.
Watch this HubSpot video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sknnd-pkQ8A
HubSpot’s culture video perfectly encapsulates what the company is about. The voiceover, the music, the 80s-style team-up and the motion graphics show a company that isn’t afraid to be itself. They know who they are, and what they stand for.
Creating a similar ‘about us’-style video that captures what your website is all about is a great way to start a conversation with visitors. Pick an angle and tell your story.
Add life to your web landing pages
Landing pages with video can get an up to 80% boost on conversion rates. You can use a video to tell the visitor more about you and the product or service you offer.
True, a landing page isn’t where you head off for a nice discussion and a virtual cup of tea, but that doesn’t mean it can’t spark engagement.
The right landing page has a concrete purpose. Maybe you want to get people to sign up for an event, or maybe you created a great lead magnet that answers some key questions you’ve been getting from your community. A well-placed video can captivate your visitors and make them paying customers.
And it doesn’t stop there. After they’ve signed up, you can create a special video that thanks them in person, and ask them to share a link to the landing page. Double engagement twins activate!
Grow your web community
Whether you want to invite people to an event, ask them to sign up to your email list, or just talk, video can help you grow your community.
Something about seeing and hearing the other person makes it easier to forge a bond. The written word has power, but video puts you in the room where it happens. You can hear the speaker’s voice, see the enthusiasm in their eyes. A video can reach through the noise of our busy days and worries. It cuts through the barriers and asks us to listen.
Making and sharing videos that entertain, educate and inspire can draw people to you and spur them into action.
