Product demos are not news. It’s an age-old method of introducing customers to a brand’s products in the hopes that it will convince them to purchase. So, how do we convince a customer with a product demo? What constitutes an outstanding product demo? And crucially, how can we stand out from competitors?

We’ll be giving you definable goals to apply to your product demo so that you can move viewers through the funnel to close sales. After that, we’ve got product demo examples to inspire your next video!

Definable goals for an outstanding product demo

1. Settle on your audience

Who is your audience? Before creating a product demo, you need to be clear on who they are including their lifestyle, habits, goals and pain points. There’s no point in creating a sleek, stylish video if it doesn’t resonate with your target audience. Too many businesses skip over this step and are left scratching their heads when their campaign doesn’t achieve the expected impact.

Take time to draft and refine your target audience.

2. Create tangible value

If your target audience views the product demo and doesn’t want to reach into the screen for your brand’s product, then it’s not doing its job. Again, it’s why point one is so crucial. Knowing the ins and outs of your target audience mean you can creatively design a demo that makes this product feel like it’s already missing from their life.

3. Creativity

It doesn’t matter who you’re selling to, there is always room— and need— for creativity. Expecting incredible results with hum-drum videos will leave you frustrated with your brand’s video marketing. Focusing too much on the features and specs of a product won’t inspire your audience. Create an entertaining product demo, and you’ll extend reach and build a brand connection with viewers.

3. A beginning, middle and end

Great product demos tell a story. Why? Because that’s how we as humans make sense of the world. Land viewers into the world of your brand and product with a grabbing introduction, The middle of the demo is when you can showcase product features and benefits. The finale is how you’re going to create enough intrigue to create sales, which leads us onto…

4. Call to action

Seal the deal. Give them a clear calling on where to go next. You’d be surprised how many product demos just fade into the ether. As Robert Riefstahl expresses in a Forbes article, “ You need to stick the landing in your demo like a gymnast does at the end of an Olympic routine.”

5. In-house or agency?

The temptation to cut costs here is understandable, everyone has a camera stuck to the back of their phone today. Generic copyright free music is but a download button away. Even apps on the phone means you can cut and edit a video in a couple of minutes. What can go wrong?

Although anyone can create a product demo video, this doesn’t mean that anyone can create a video that will make an impact. Top video production agencies don’t get there by chance. Understanding people, inviting viewers in with compelling stories and compiling expertise, talent and marketing knowledge gives your video the best chance of succeeding.

Five Epic Product Demos

We’ve cherry-picked four product demo video examples that are “best in class”. So whether you’re looking

1. Headspace

This product demo is truly evergreen. Looking at the Youtube stats, the video has 18 million views over the last four years. Headspace, the mindfulness app, is known for its calming whimsical animations. The voiceover is calm and centred, the sound effects bright and cheerful. That’s what Headspace embodies. It’s not a serious app, but a relaxing, upbeat and helpful one. The viewer can clearly see the brand’s values and how Grammarly’s features will positively impact their life.

2. Turbo

Turbo is one of our own clients. If you’re looking to simplify concepts and stop the scroll with memorable imagery, animation is the way to go. Another bonus to this format is it’s far easier to organise, requires a smaller team and so, is often more affordable than live video production. Of course, there is still the need for creative professionals, software and time. Saying that the overall costs tend to undercut live video production.

Find more ways to use animation in your video marketing strategy.

3. Grammarly

This Grammarly product demo is completely geared towards the struggles of college students. “Grammarly means better results”— what student doesn’t want a software package designed to tidy up their assignments?

Take note of the call to action, it’s clear, persuasive and a no-brainer “Try for free today”. Here’s exactly what we’ve been discussing; if you know your customers inside and out, you’re far more likely to create a video that excites them.
This video posted in August 2021 has over 158 million views. They’ve segmented their audience in their product demos which is really helpful if you’re investing in paid promotion. They have completely different styles and tones for their product demo geared towards working professionals. This might be something to think about for your brand if you’re trying to appeal to a fairly broad audience base.

Need an epic product demo video?

Let expert storytellers with years of video production experience, a healthy dollop of creativity and expertise to create your next product demo video.

Give your product the video marketing it deserves by getting in touch with us at VideoWorks London today!

You can also connect with our sister companies, VideoWorks Dublin and VideoWorks Belfast.

The post Top Product Demo Examples in 2022 appeared first on Video Production London - VideoWorks.

A release form between a video production company and contributors to a video is a vital step in a video production process allowing us to use the footage and ultimately allowing our clients to use the footage. A large part of our work is with real people (as opposed to actors) and everyone has a right to privacy and control over the image and voice. Having a release form that has been sourced via professional legal services is vital in making sure permission to film, record and license the footage of a real person is vital.

What to include on a release form?

All contracts share the same characteristics and a release form is in no way different. A release form should include:

• the parties involved and their definition (company and participant)
• the duration and scope of the permission to use the footage
• the consideration given – how much is given to the participant?

What should a contributor release form look like?

 

COMPANY:                                        COMPANY NAME (the Company)

 

ADDRESS:                                        

 

 

TITLE:                                                

 

DATE OF FILMING:                           ___________________

 

NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR:              __________________________

 

EMAIL:                                               __________________

 

 

 

 

In consideration of the opportunity afforded me by the Company to participate in the video provisionally entitled“PROJECT NAME” (the video) and the payment of one pound (£1) (the receipt and sufficiency of which I hereby acknowledge) and for other good and valuable consideration, I hereby consent to the filming and recording of my contribution to and participation and performances in the Video, the nature and the content of which has been fully explained to me.

 

I hereby grant all the consents, if any, which the Company may require under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

 

I agree that the Company may transfer and assign this Release or all or any part of the Company’s rights under it.

 

The entire copyright throughout the world for all purposes in the Video and in all products of my services hereunder shall vest in belong and is hereby assigned by way of assignment of present and future copyright by me irrevocably to the Company its successors and assigns exclusively TO HOLD the same unto the Company absolutely throughout the world for the full period of copyright and all renewals and extensions thereof and thereafter in perpetuity and the Video and any part or constituent thereof and any such other products of my services hereunder may be altered adapted added to reproduced exhibited exploited dealt with or sold by the Company by any means whether now known or hereafter devised for any purpose whatsoever and whether my engagement hereunder is still subsisting or not.

 

I hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waive to the fullest extent possible any so-called moral rights that may be deemed to be in existence in relation to my contributions to and my participation and performances in the Video and I hereby agree not to institute support maintain permit or support any action lawsuit or proceedings on the ground that the Video produced and/or exploited by the Company in any way constitutes an infringement of any moral rights. I acknowledge that the consideration set out above is inclusive of equitable remuneration for the purposes of any rental or lending rights vested in me.

 

I acknowledge and agree that my contributions towards and performances in the Video and my name and/or likeness may be advertised and used in exploitation of the Video at any time and from time to time throughout all countries of the world in perpetuity.

 

I acknowledge that the Company shall have no obligation to use my contribution or performance in the Video. I acknowledge that I am not entitled to a credit in relation to my contribution to the Video. I hereby waive any claim(s) I may have for loss of opportunity to enhance my reputation as a result of the non-inclusion of my performances and contributions in the Video.

 

I confirm, and warrant that I am entitled to enter unto this Release and I am not under any contractual or other obligations precluding one from doing so.

 

I undertake to keep confidential any matter which comes to my attention in relation to the Video.

 

 

 

AGREED AND ACCEPTED:  ____________________________

(Signature)

 

The post Template Contributor Release Form for Video and Documentary Productions appeared first on Video Production London - VideoWorks.

We all know video is peaking every year. We’re consuming more of it and with that there is also an explosion of content. Cisco predicts that more than 82% of consumer online traffic will consist of online videos by 2022. Marketing and video marketing have become synonymous at this stage, and moving with this change means adapting to consumer preferences.

Do enough of your target audience consume video?

Is it a good idea to allocate part of my marketing to creating video campaigns?

Will it be worth it?

The answer to all of these is: yes.

Now, that we’ve that cleared up, let’s get onto in-banner video ads. First, the different types and then why they’re a brilliant addition to transforming your sales.

We’ll give you the insights on how to create a banner that truly stands out and connects.

It’s time to see what benefits lie for your company by creating in-banner video ads.

What is an in-banner video ad?

In-banner videos are banners with videos embedded within them. These are short loops that are embedded into a webpage. Say you sell cameras, you can have these ads feature in the middle of a photography blog.

Viewers respond far better to animated rather than static forms of advertising. Videos, after all, have a higher engagement level compared to text or image. Once viewers decide to click on the ad, they can either expand the video or go to your specified domain.

Taking the time to create the story that your target want to see and learn more about is the key to making a worthwhile in-banner advertisement.

Types of banners

This is a straightforward aspect of IBV (in-banner video). You’ve got three choices:

1. Click to play – the banner is static until the viewer clicks on it.
2. Autoplay with no sound – video plays on mute until the viewer clicks on the banner.
3. Hover to play – video plays once the user hovers mouse over your ad.

Benefits of banner video advertising

Strengthen brand personality

There’s so much potential in IBV to capture your brand’s charisma, trustworthiness, creativity… whatever it is that makes your business unique and worth checking out. Working a dynamic team of video professionals helps you to capture and showcase the standouts of your company, its products and services.

Charged on a pay-per-click basis

You’re only charged when a viewer engages with your ad. This works far better than paying for impressions as it ensures you’re only paying for genuine interaction with your brand. However, those impressions still work to extend brand awareness, so it’s a nice benefit on the side.

Seamlessly fits into the user experience

Take Youtube, for example, you’ll generally fit into relevant searchers. Your content isn’t jarring or intrusive, viewers aren’t peeved by an advertisement that doesn’t fit their interests or needs.

This is because the bidding style means that placement is dependent on search queries and keywords. Having this advantage makes it more likely that the viewer will click on your ad – as long as your content is high quality and engaging!

Customer retention

Let customers know about a new line drop or exciting advances in your brand. A lot of businesses neglect ad promotions when it comes to their established customers. However, it’s important to keep them in the loop and engaged with your brand to extend lifetime value. Obviously, this can be true of all advertising but as we’ve established the power of video leaves a greater impression than the static banner.

No video length limitations

This differs from instream ads, you know the ones that pop up during a Youtube video?

With in-banner, there’s no time limit, just a storage limit. This gives you creative scoe, however, we’d recommend still leaning towards the more conservative end for ends. Anything under three minutes tends to work best.

Tips on creating an engaging banner video

Tell a story

The thing about website banner videos is that they usually only have seconds to catch their viewers’ attention.

And the best way to do this isn’t with flashing buttons demanding them to sign up. Instead, open up a story, one that captures the curiosity of your target audience. One that draws them to your site gladly. The power of video allows you to encapsulate a tone, emotion and style with a blend of creativity and video expertise.

Develop brand recognition

This isn’t just slapping a logo in the corner – having a recognisable brand takes consistent messaging and themes. You want your customers to recognise your branding within the first five seconds. It’s best not to rush this phase, learn what works, see what competitors are doing, and create a dynamic and unique flow to your content.

Personalise

Setting up you’re campaign with personalisation in mind is a big trend to stay ahead of in 2021. Create a series of videos and set your campaign so that viewers see different ads depending on their personal preferences and whether they’ve seen your ads before. This creates a dialogue and gathers interest in your brand.

Connecting with your customers this way makes it more likely that over time they’ll approach your brand and stay in their mind.

Anyone that tells you one ad will cover all your marketing leads is probably trying to pull the wool over your eyes.

I’m sorry that marketing miracles don’t exist. You can learn more about customer interaction and the power of seven here.

Format

One of the most common ni-banner video formats is a product release. However, this ad style also works well with testimonials, explainer videos, or just a general insight into your business. Whichever one you choose will impact your connection with a different stage of the consumer funnel. This blog breaks down the different styles and which one best suits your campaign.

If you’re looking to create a suite of ads to accelerate brand reach, site visits and conversions – then you’ve come to the right place. Videoworks is where good ideas happen, maybe your business can be our next successful client campaign.

Here’s where to get in touch.

The post How In-Banner Video Ads Can Transform Your Online Sales appeared first on Video Production London - VideoWorks.

Video has never been more important. The Facetime calls to grannys and granddads have helped to ease the sting of isolation. All of us have experienced the call to rally our resilience and get through this together. Many of these messages have hailed from the power of compelling video content.

Businesses have also created videos not only to stay in touch with their customers but to expand their reach and send essential messages of safety and hope during the pandemic.

One thing is certain– the economy is going to take a battering over the next couple of years. Hopefully, the incentive packages will help companies to get back on their feet. But companies are getting creative and thinking outside the box for themselves. This list contains companies that make content creation during COVID look like a stroll through the park.

As internet use has spiked by 70 percent, it’s a great time to get a video campaign out. Here are some of the video production trends that are really connecting with people as they live in this strange dystopian-like time.

1. Live-streaming events through social platforms

Here lies the biggest change in video production. Live events were not all that commonplace before, but they have become pillars in modern marketing these past few months. The demographic of people who partake in live events is also broadening. Plus, the moment to moment interactions is an incredible way to connect with your audience.

Once everyone suddenly wasn’t able to interact with the world in the way they once did, people naturally found alternatives. For instance, when Italy became the epicentre of the virus back in March, Instagram Live views doubled in just one week. It just goes to show how human adapt and find ways to cope, even when faced with months of isolation.

Live broadcasts on social media have been used from everything from the massive trend of live workouts, to live, unscripted gardening shows and yoga classes. These trends are unlikely to go anywhere quickly, as although a lot of people are eager to return to normality, learning from home has brought with it a slower lifestyle that many are hoping to take with them even as the world opens back up.

2. Lockdown’s shown that video production isn’t everything…

Before we get into any of the other points, people have something essential in video production during this lockdown. And it’s this – content is what people are craving and not all of the bells and whistles. Obviously, with social distancing, it’s impossible to have the production scale that we saw in 2019. And guess what? People are enjoying clips more than ever. Think Tik Tok. Those videos are hardly masterpieces in cinematic art – and yet the app enjoys 800 active users worldwide.

So if you’re thinking of putting your video campaigns on hold until things pick up again, perhaps think again.

3. Animation

Before the coronavirus, animation was a vastly underestimated and under-utilized storytelling medium. The flexibility and endless opportunities to make your ideas come to life make animation a rich tapestry that instantly creates moods and tones from the first scene that are hard.

The Canadian government created a lego animation thanking Canadian children on their commitment to tackling the coronavirus. This masterpiece is such a wonderful example of how animation works to tug at the viewer’s heartstrings.

4. Live-action

It’s a refreshing take. Everything goes these days. Smartphones, tablet cameras and GoPro footage have all been accepted into advertisements of even the behemoths of advertising. Before all of this, all of us expected ads and commercials videos to be polished, high budget, glossy and flawless. However, this new style of video production relaxes the imagery and gives your audience an insight into real life and maybe reflect their own back at them– which is a welcome novelty for many.

5. The Human Touch

The coronavirus has made us more aware of our shared humanity and some companies have made us seriously sniffle through their video – even if it’s barely a minute long.

Behold the 2020 Uber ad

The power in this ad is in capturing emotions. It’s the frustration, the laughing through the pain, the glowing, hopeful eyes of children and those that are just holding themselves together as they wish everything would just go back to normal.

When creating an ad, it’s vital to know how you want your viewer to feel. Uber obviously wanted to reflect the ups and downs people are experiencing right now and acknowledging people’s struggles.

6. Humour

Moving on from this, another route that businesses have taken is to help lighten the situation. British Gas have certainly taken this approach in their stride:

Playing on the regular routine of the “man in the van” from a flask of tea to filling at the petrol station and adding in the full and heroic orchestral music is a stroke of genius. You’d also have to be made of stone not to crack a little smile at the toddler acting as customer care support help for her mother.

British Gas shows that capturing your business in its every day right now can be pretty hilarious material for your audience.

7. Mobile viewing is down

In this brilliant article from The New York Times, The Virus Changed the Way We Internet, we can see how the use of websites have shot up while app usage has declined.

So while mobile-first has been drilled into us over the past five years, suddenly we see a spike in computer viewing. As Koeze and Popper put it we “appear to be remembering how unpleasant it can be to squint at those little phone screens”. So while your mobile is, of course, still prevalent, don’t expect all your view to come from a 4.5-inch screen anymore.

If you’re looking for help to create video campaigns and reach your audience now, then you can contact us here. Whether you’re looking to educate an audience, inspire your clients or ignite their imagination – we help to turn concepts into beautiful videos that capture your viewers.

The post The 7 Biggest Video Production Trends During COVID-19 appeared first on Video Production London - VideoWorks.

Creating a live demo for your SaaS has some key benefits. First off, it’s going to give a strong visual on how your product solves problems, streamlines processes and makes for a more efficient running business. Whatever area your SaaS is designed to improve, quality animation helps to engage your audience and build brand awareness.

And here’s how you can create an animated live software demo that stands out and showcase the solutions you provide in five steps.

1. Decide whether to hire or DIY the project

If you’re on a tight budget, there are apps available to design and create your own animation. If you’re looking to skip the steep learning curve and hire a team, then they can work with you to ensure you create a visually stunning end product.

2. Start with the storyline, then the script

A lot of SaaS can go wrong out the gap by jumping headlong into the script. However, what you need to realise is that the best live demos aren’t listing out benefits but telling a story. By weaving in the pain points of your clients and your solutions within even a simple plot makes your service more entertaining but also, crucially, more memorable. So it’s best to start with the angle you want to take, whether it’s a customer scenario or something quirkier and then you can starting filling out the script.

3. Choose your animation style

We have a whole article dedicated to animation types for you to check out – but essentially, you’ll be choosing between:

• Motion graphics
• 3D animation
• 2D animation
• Whiteboard
• Typography

All of these have specific benefits; some lend themselves to simplifying complex or dense information (whiteboard and typography). Other types come into their own when you want the demo to capture their imaginations and showcase how your SaaS can make a difference to businesses. More info about animation styles with examples can be found here.

4. Stir emotions

Even in the B2B industry, emotions play a part in the buying process. If you’re marketing to high-stress accountancy practices, then leveraging relaxing music and a calm narrator will portray your software as one that is going to reduce their workload by taking care of tasks in a user-friendly way. Think about the emotions you want your audience to feel and how you can build these into your animation.

5. Integrating your animations with the live demo

Animations during a live demo might seem like a complex process or an unnecessary complexity that’s going to glitch last minute.

So why bother?

Essentially, you’re amplifying what your SaaS does best. Animated videos speak can showcase your understanding of your customer’s needs. Along with the increased engagement levels you can expect, it also sets a standard for your SaaS.

Give your team some time to practice your talk, setting up a system that makes the transition to join the speaker and animation aspects together seamlessly.

Whether you’re looking to create an animated product showcase video or customer solutions animation, then you can get in touch with us here at Videoworks so we can create the perfect animated video for your business.

The post Why Your Software Live Demos Will Benefit from Animation appeared first on Video Production London - VideoWorks.