Video marketing is getting its roots much stronger when it comes to external communication as people are likely to watch more videos rather than reading texts. But when it comes to internal communication, there are brands that are having full use of videos to spread the messages within their employees. No matter if that’s a Q/A session, or an important meeting announcement or even there are several video parts for any effective training – videos are always a powerful tool to be used!

What Are Internal Communication Videos?

Internal communication videos have been considered as internal corporate videos that assist in connecting with the employees of a company. These videos are useful as it empower and encourage employees on their fantastic and dedicated work, helps in improving internal communication and most importantly plays a key role in picking the best talent.

These videos are quite easy to make and delivers a great message without any difficulty. If someone has miss a meeting, they can get the videos and watch it to understand the purpose of the meeting or how the task is supposed to be done! Internal communication videos allow all the employees and managers to gather on a single forum and collaborate for a better reason.

Five Reasons to use Videos for Internal communication

We all have heard – good communication is the key to success. And none can deny the fact how a strong communication helps in achieving goals together.

1. Easy to manage

Luckily, there are various ways to interact with each other. Meetings and emails are one of them. But both of them comes with a price! If you are sending an email to an employee, it is possible that they may perceive the words wrong and a misunderstanding would occur. Also there’s a specific limit of sending emails. While considering online or regular meetings that is a much better face-to-face option. But still managers find it difficult to get time from their busy schedule and align the meeting in a way so all employees and team leaders can attend the meeting. It also eats up much of your time and you would be left with pending tasks and then the overtime. Let’s stop it here! Why not you try videos for internal communication? Easy accessible by everyone with just a few clicks, no overtime and zero pending work!

2. No miscommunication

You may convey your message clearly by using internal communication videos. As earlier stated, misunderstanding may be detrimental to your business, and it is extremely inconvenient to repeatedly clarify what you meant in your communications. Videos provide the employees an immediate access to the information, fostering a culture of close communication. This is far more impactful than a mere email.

3. Easily available

Writing emails is a hassle. It’s difficult to convey complex ideas, your tone can be easily misread by the reader, and they might take some time to reply back. It is simpler to use internal video as a communication tool. Your tone is seldom misunderstood, and once you’ve created a video, you can share it to people an endless number of time.

4. Visual attract more

According to a research, people are more of a visual learner that means they respond far more effectively to visual signals. Email correspondence does not activate a person’s visual sense when presenting anything. When you use videos for internal communications, your team is better able to digest and comprehend the information you are conveying.

5. Budget friendly

Last but not least, one of the finest strategies to assist you cut expenses in the workplace is to employ videos for internal communications. Rather than paying a costly instructor or someone else to deliver messages, you may simply use new technology to accomplish all of this. Your staff will be significantly more up to date on almost everything latest if you use video content. It’s as simple as playing a video on your phone.

5 Ways to Use Internal Communication Videos to Boost Your Company’s Performance

• Showcase your Company culture

Putting your business culture on view allows your workers to feel acknowledged and valued. You may demonstrate your corporate values by using video material for internal communications. Videos can help you convey your message more accurately. It is a unique and creative method for you to introduce your employees to one another. You can also take their help to highlight particular areas of your business.

• Announcement videos

An excellent way to show your staff that you care is to use video content for internal communications like announcements. The structure chosen for such video announcements is simple and effective in delivering the information to everybody. A video announcement makes sure that everyone hears it and can remember the message.

• Event promotion videos

The days of advertising future events through newsletters, emails, and posters are long gone. You can’t guarantee that all of your employees will read the email which is why video has become so important.

Using video to advertise a business event guarantees that everyone receives the message. You must include all important details about the event so it gets much easier to remember every single detail of the event.

• Testimonial Interviews

One of the finest methods to make your staff feel important and noticed at the company is to create video content by speaking to them. Instead of the traditional, dull newsletters, establish an interview series in which you question your workers about their journey at your firm, what they have learnt so far, their ambitions, where your company can work better, and much more.

• Introduction Videos / On-Boarding Videos

Sending your company handbook to prospective employees through email is no longer required. You need something more intriguing that will assist them discovers more about the corporation. Making onboarding videos is a genius method to demonstrate to newly recruited employees how your business stands apart from the competition. Videos used for internal interactions with new hires throughout the onboarding process may elevate and inspire them to perform to the best of their abilities.

Conclusion

You can too use videos for internal communication for your company that will help you to build the gap between your employees and your brand while giving a stronger knowledge about your work culture to your employees. Individuals would like to work with you as they will feel how you give importance to every person working at your firm!

The post How can video transform your internal communications? appeared first on Video Production London - VideoWorks.

Behind-the-scenes videos are a great way to intrigue both customers and prospects. Ultimately, it’s a way to build a better connection between your brand and its audience. According to Forbes, 53% of customers say they are likely to buy from brands that are transparent on social media. So, maybe it’s time to mix up the polished social posts with real, authentic content that sparks interest in your followers.

What is behind-the-scenes (BTS) content?

It’s the proverbial drawing back of your brand’s curtain. It’s often casual in nature and shows the employees, the process, the struggles and the wins of your company. The key to BTS videos is to focus on capturing the raw everyday runnings of the business to create a connection between your brand and your followers.

7 Behind-the-Scenes Video Ideas

Mixing up your behind-the-scenes video ideas will keep your content fresh and exciting.

1. Capture the raw everyday

Customers want to feel connected to a brand— this is what creates customer retention. They want to see what supporting your business means for the people running and working within the brand. This also takes the pressure out of always having to create really professional content— which is also important but is definitely time-consuming.

Fortunately, having more raw content means that you’re more likely to be able to offer consistent content for your audience.

2. Give exciting updates

Sneak peeks are such a powerful way of getting followers excited about a new launch. Springing a launch on your audience without any build-up doesn’t create the same level of hype.

Giving updates into the process before the launch of a new product or service helps to increase engagement levels. That means your audience is primed to commit to a sale by the time launch day arrives.

3. Give a tour

You may look around your premise and wonder what people would find entertaining about a tour of the place. And yet, this is a valuable marketing tool that gives customers a close up of the dynamic of your brand.

4. Get creative with showing off!

Showcasing your products needs to be exciting— interesting transitions, music and creative backdrops make all the difference in how viewers perceive your product or service.

5. Have a Q and A or fire round

These are great because they’re quick to organise and tend to be a laugh. Oftentimes, it’s hard to come up with something to say and throwing a Q&A out there gives you a chance to connect with your viewers on a personal level. Alongside this, fire rounds are always a laugh.

Both video ideas are a great way to get a deeper sense of what your viewers want to know about your brand and what areas of your brand intrigues them. As the old adage goes— if you don’t ask, you’ll never know!

6. Follow the trends

The best way to achieve this is to follow brands that do this well. Moreover, try to find brand’s in different industries rather than simply hopping on the bandwagon of a competitor. Whether it’s a trending song or humorous insights into the struggles of running a business, this gives you a chance of reaching a new audience by appearing on people’s FYP (for you page).

7. Show the highs… and the lows

When you’re in the thick of running your business in the middle of a crisis, the last thing you might think of is to point a camera at it.

But that’s exactly what you should do!

Showcasing the struggles and the resilience of your business appeals to the humanity in your viewers. People admire brands that get through the hurdles. Brands that make mistakes but turn it around.

Every brand has these moments, but if you don’t share them, you’re missing a chance for your followers to see the human side of your brand, which helps create a loyal following.

Also, perfection is boring. If you only show the shiny front of your business online, your followers won’t connect to your content in the same way.

4. Have fun with it

Finally, don’t take your BTS marketing strategy too seriously. The only real pitfall when recording BTS videos is to take the brand too seriously.

Sprout Social found that 71% of consumers watch videos on social media to laugh.

Have a think about your brand and what they’d find entertaining— for instance, some might find that overly “silly” content off-putting, other demographics will find it amusing.

It might take a few goes to relax in front of the camera, but it’s always best to have a laugh and keep it natural. Behind-the-scenes content works best when it’s not rehearsed, otherwise, you’re not giving viewers a true insight into the workings and personality of the brand.

Looking to finally take control of your video marketing strategy?

VideoWorks revolve around telling stories, which is the easiest way for people to digest and remember information. Our craft is centred around engaging your audience, and the experience built up in our small team gives you the professional edge.

If you’re looking for a top-quality animation video for your business, contact us here at Videoworks London. We can have a chat about your video marketing goals.

You can also get in touch with our sister companies, VideoWorks Dublin or VideoWorks Belfast.

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If your company is looking to showcase a product or service, having a video demo puts you at a significant advantage. We’ll explore in this article how a video demo creates buzz, saves time and connects and engages your target audience.

What is a product demo video?

A product demo video is fast becoming a critical part of the sales process of B2B and B2C companies. With these videos, you have a tangible opportunity to demonstrate the value of your product to a prospective customer.

However, they aren’t all creative equals. An uninspiring product demo can slow down close rates. Conversely, high-class product demos have the potential to rocket sales.

In essence, the demo often means the difference between closing a deal and losing a prospect. A great demo lets your prospects understand how your solution truly solves their pain points and enables them to become more successful in their job.

As Geoffrey James explains in, Give a Great Product Demo: 5 Rules, “There is almost nothing more powerful than a great product demonstration.

When done correctly, a demo allows the customer to see and feel how things will be better if they buy (and worse if they don’t).”

So, if you’re looking into why a product demo video might be the right marketing choice for your product, here’s the guide for you.

Key benefits of video demo for companies

1. Create a buzz around a new/product service

If you want to see the trend moving towards product demo videos, have a peek at Amazon. An increasing number of products have demo videos these days and they allow their product to stand out from others on the search page. There’s a big difference in the appeal that can be garnered between an image and text and video. Suddenly, you have music and movement to gather attention and keep it.

Your brand might be excited about releasing a new product and product demos allow your audience to feel that buzz. Whether you’re making this product demo in-house or with professionals, lighting, sound, even animation can help to give an insight into the key features and value that will positively impact your customers.

2. Evergreen

Although product demos are an expense upfront, their potential reach is great. Post on your social, use in ads, create a link in your email newsletter, upload to YouTube. If you’re going down the traditional route, the same video can be repurposed for TV.

3. Less intrusive

Rather than convincing people through words, a product demo lets your product speak for itself. Ultimately, this lets the customer decide for themselves if the product is suitable for their needs. Non-intrusive marketing means viewers are more likely to click into your CTA and explore the product.

4. Refine, recreate, reap the rewards

With product demos, you can track analytics to see how viewers engaged with your video. At what point did they click through, or conversely, at what point did they lose interest? There is no such thing as the perfect video, but over time there is huge potential with video analytics to refine content so it reaches your target audience and speaks to them.

5. Help your sales team

Running a sales team is costly. What with salary, commission and travel expenses, it can add up. Giving your sales team video content that they can send out before a meeting saves time, which reduces expenses for the business.

6. Solve your customer’s problem

Here is the crux of product demos. It is the core reason behind why so many businesses choose to create demos. Customers are short on time and if you can convince them in a quick video that your product will solve their problem, you’re setting your product up for success. When a customer sees a product in action, it’s far easier for them to see themselves seeing its benefits. Try to avoid filling the video with your business’ values and mission— this is the time to focus on the customer’s needs and wants and address them directly.

7. Combat concerns

To piggyback on the last point, this is also your chance to address why the viewer may be reticent to commit to your product. Research the potential barriers to purchase, and work with your video production team to ease these concerns. If the price is high, you need to showcase how your product is superior to competitors, for example.

8. Let your brand’s personality shine

If you’d like to learn more on how to achieve this, our previous article Top Product Demo Examples in 2022 gives plenty of food for thought. We’ve also included a list of definable goals for an outstanding product demo.

Need an epic product demo video?

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.

Let expert storytellers with years of video production experience, a healthy dollop of creativity and expertise 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, VideoWorks Cardiff and VideoWorks Belfast.

The post Key benefits of Product Demo Videos for Companies appeared first on Video Production London - VideoWorks.

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.

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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.

Video production is such a great tool to use both in the classroom and in marketing the school/university to potential students. Here at VideoWorks we are are market leaders in working with educational organisations of all sizes in creating video content that has made huge impact.

Video Production as a Classroom Resource

The educational sector is consistently changing and classrooms are more dynamic than ever before. One great way to create impactful lessons is to incorporate custom video content. This can serve many purposes. It can be used to support and provide real-world examples to a lesson-plan. Using animation, it can also be used as a fantastic way for complex ideas to be communicated clearly and succinctly.

Video Production as a Prospectus

Creating a school prospectus using video is such a great way to convince new students to enrol. The school or university can look its best and the messaging can be perfectly crafted. Different versions of the video can be distributed across social channels targeting different demographics. It can give parents and students deep insight into the school’s ethos, values and beliefs. It can showcase facilities at their optimum. 

How to Create a Video Prospectus?

We’ve travelled the world in creating high-quality video production for schools. We are a market leader and have worked with some of the world’s most elite school brands in creating superb video content. If you are looking for video production for your educational organisation, get in touch now by emailing info@videoworks-london.co.uk

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The post How video can be used in an educational setting? appeared first on Video Production London - VideoWorks.

Turbo PMS

Turbo PMS is a dedicated team of 20 software engineers, product designers and testers, and a support team based in Suffolk, UK. The company develops online solutions for the travel and hospitality markets.

Redburn Innovations first created the concept of Turbo PMS back in 2017. A group of accommodation and event providers told them they weren’t happy with their current Property Management System. So they were asked to build Turbo PMS, and with the input of those using the system every day, it would become the perfect PMS. After completing significant software development and fine-tuning, Turbo PMS launched its first module in 2019 and ever since, they have kept up the pace of upgrades, new features, and new modules.

Creating the animation

The owners of Turbo PMS wanted to showcase how to streamline, and easy-to-use this system is to use and exhibit the key features of the software. Animation is the optimum medium for this video. It allows us at VideoWorks to create scenarios that resonate with the viewer, mainly hotel owners and managers, and offer them a simple but effective alternative to their current property management system.

Benefits of animated explainer video for SaaS

#1 Give context to ideas – relaying the facts to your audience can often come across as dry or lacklustre. Animated explainer videos give you the scope to create scenes that capture the viewers’ attention and better grasp the ideas through storytelling. Stories build connection and strengthen understanding.

#2 Stopping the scroll – the average person is exposed to 5,000 ads per day. That is a colossal amount of content for the human brain to filter. With their gripping and memorable imagery, animated videos are far more likely to leave a lasting impression on the viewer.

#3 Easier to organise– there is a time and place for traditional video production. However, creating videos that require a shoot day comes with far more logistics, organising and, almost always, a bigger team. Animation video production tends to be on a much smaller scale.

#4 More affordable – animations are more malleable in terms of how you can simplify costs. There is still the need for creative professionals, software and time. Saying that, the overall costs tend to undercut live video production.

#5 Engagement – animating a concept simplifies it instantly. We know now that buyers are too busy to read long product descriptions, so it’s better to give a snappy animation with a clear CTA that helps convert your audience.

#6 Succinct information – just like our case study with Turbo PMS, many businesses need to convey key points to get their target market. They need to feel confident that this software will make a significant and positive impact on their business. Animation is king for condensing the information into sizable chunks. This video is just 32 seconds but relays all vital information to get hotels and university campuses using their convenient software.

Our animation videos at VideoWorks revolve around telling stories, which is the easiest way for people to digest and remember information. Our craft is centred around engaging your audience, and the experience built up in our small team gives you the professional edge.

If you’re looking for a top-quality animation video for your business, contact us here at Videoworks London. We can have a chat about your video marketing goals.

You can also get in touch with our sister companies, VideoWorks Dublin or VideoWorks Belfast.

The post Turbo PMS Case Study: SaaS Animated Explainer Video appeared first on Video Production London - VideoWorks.

Platform popularity means competition. This article is specifically for businesses looking to take actionable steps to build engagement, retention and loyal customers from Youtube.

7-step strategy to increasing visibility on Youtube

1. Get the basics right

Before posting another video or even uploading your first, it’s crucial to have an inviting channel page. Your channel art needs to be coherent, optimised for different devices.

A channel with noticeable and enticing outbound links has a higher chance of converting people to their site. With this article being geared towards businesses, we’re assuming that this will be the goal of your Youtube videos for most of you.

Your channel description doesn’t just give your viewers an insight into your business. Youtube’s algorithm has a better chance of placing your brand within the correct industry and hence suggest your videos to those most likely to connect with your content. So take time to craft channel descriptions, create outbound links and upload high-quality graphics.

2. Own your niche

With other social media channels, diversifying your feed tends to work in a business’s favour. With Youtube, it’s far better to laser focus on a niche. Again this isn’t about beating the algorithm but working with it.

Since Youtube is the leading platform for long-form video content, viewers commit a good chunk of time to a video. For a viewer to become a loyal follower of your page, you’ll need to focus on your niche so they can anticipate that new content from your channel is going to be engaging for them. It can be tempting to branch out, but your brand visibility should offer engaging, entertaining and informative content around your industry. If you’re a food tour in Dublin or a wine business in Clapton, know what your focus is.

3. Research and SEO

Rather than creating videos that you think will do well, you can take out the guesswork with some research.

You can purchase SEO plug-ins such as Keywords Everywhere that are reasonably priced. These will allow you to search for terms within Youtube and see the search volume per month. You can also filter the search based on country, which is handy if your content is location-specific.

If you’re new or have a small following on Youtube, search for terms that fit well into your brand but don’t have a massive search volume. The big channels in the industry will likely cover 1,000+ p/m search terms. Look for search terms that are more obscure and look at the quality of videos on the first page. Once you find a gap where the quality isn’t super or doesn’t quite fit the search term, it’s time to make a video!

4. Custom Thumbnails

It’s tempting to screenshot an image out of your footage. The problem is that the quality will never be as good as a photo. Have a think about what might draw in a viewer ad take time to lay out the scene. You can have an incredible video behind a mediocre thumbnail and caption, and it will never get the attention and views it deserves.

Peter McKinnon does a wonderful job of showing what viewers will get out of the next 10 minutes of viewing. If using text in your thumbnail, choose a consistent font, but play around with the layout. Font consistency combined with playful text placement keeps the thumbnails looking unique but still in-keeping with your brand.

5. Alert your followers

Drive traffic to your new video as soon as it’s uploaded.

Neil Patel divulges that, unlike traditional SEO, videos that perform well in the first 24 hours tend to do well for the life of the video. Have a trailer video prepared to upload to your other social channels.

Head onto your stories and discuss the ins and outs of the video, why you thought it was essential. Maybe let viewers in on the filming process. Essentially, get people curious enough about the Youtube video that they’ll click on your Youtube. Send an exciting email through your mailing. All of these elements will help boost that initial view, which will mean that the video will perform better in the long term.

6. Control traffic using cards and end screens

Cards and end screens help you have more of a say in what an engaged viewer will watch next.

Cards are clickable and interactive CTA’s that you can weave into your video. This can greatly influence view counts and promote other videos, or even playlists, in your channel.

Besides playlists, cards and end screens are two of the only tools that YouTubers can use to bypass the algorithm and directly influence our audience’s next choice.

Two top tips for cards:

• Limit the number of cards in a video as too many can disrupt the viewer’s enjoyment of the video.
• Place a card at the moment when there is a significant drop-off in viewership. This helps direct them to one of your videos that they might find more relevant or entertaining for them rather than leaving your channel altogether.

7. Add closed captions

YouTube has a simple feature for you to add closed captions to notate your video as it plays. Not only does this increase your video’s accessibility for those with hearing difficulties, but it’s also useful for those who don’t wish to play the video out loud.

The third benefit being Google and Youtube crawl these captions, which will help twitch the video’s SEO.

Engaging viewers through Youtube requires a blend of creativity but also a deep understanding of viewer behaviour and Youtube’s algorithm.

We’re a small team here at Videoworks London with a knack for storytelling and creating video content that connects people to your brand. If you’d like to collaborate on a Youtube video for your business, you can get in touch with us at Videoworks London.

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So much so that it is a commonly-used verb – you’ll commonly hear holiday-goers responding on their stay, “We Airbnb-ed in Paris”. Getting a brand to rise to that kind of infamy, especially as it’s not a legacy brand such as Coca-cola or Levis, requires innovation and marketing. 

Exploring how Airbnb got to where it is today gives plenty of insight for a company looking to head in the same direction – up.

In 2014, Airbnb’s revenue was $0.4 billion; in 2019, that number had risen to $4.7 billion. Even during the pandemic, where most people were under governmental orders to restrict their movement, Airbnb’s revenue only fell to $3.4 billion.  

Looking to the massive surge in Airbnb users, the number in 2012 lay at 6 million. By 2018, that number became 150 million. 

Experiential marketing 

Airbnb rose to fame right when experiential marketing was becoming a really effective method of securing loyal customers. Before Airbnb, travel had already become the norm for most people in the western world. The number of long weekend flights away had risen. However, there was also the element of people have seen everything before. There isn’t much that sets most hotels apart. 

With Airbnb, however, lies a platform where ordinary people can let you into their corner of paradise. Some even offer to do local tours or break bread with their visitors. It’s the sense of getting off the beaten track and into an old farmhouse cottage, a geodesic dome or a boutique townhouse that oozes personality. 

All of this is bang in the centre of what people want now – experiences. 76% of consumers prefer to spend on experiences than on material items. On top of that, consumers identify “inspiration and meaning” as the most sought-after quality in brands, a 200 per cent increase from 2012 for this particular set of attributes. 

So perhaps it’s worth asking how your business can provide that experiential element – even if you’re selling products. Is there a way to give a more meaningful brand-customer interaction? Find untold secrets to brand awareness in this article.

Investment in video content

In 2019 Airbnb announced a video strategy that simply lets branding and entertainment drive profits. 

“The more we put content out there, the more you’re going to bring people to the platform,” says Chris Lehane, Airbnb’s senior vice president of global policy and communications, in the Reuters interview. 

Airbnb has partnered with Apple’s upcoming streaming service for their docuseries “Home,” which features unique homes around the world and the stories of the homeowners. Although the show’s premise isn’t new to viewers, viewers can book these locations through Airbnb.

Showcasing the most exciting properties reminds people why Airbnb is such an enticing marketplace. Video content can be a subtle way of inspiring and entertaining an audience rather than the obvious hard-sell. Using unconventional marketing campaigns helps to set Airbnb apart from the hotel industry and online travel agencies.

Previously Airbnb gambled with launching its own magazine. However print has been dwindling for years now, and there isn’t much interest in new magazines hitting the shelves. Digital, and video in particular, has been a much more effective strategy serving viewers their dream getaways – especially during a pandemic. 

Email Marketing

Airbnb saw this as a real opportunity to build a community among users and ran with it. Their emails are highly personalised, and this is largely down to the fact that they have regional teams on the ground rather than one marketing campaign for all of their users. 

Airbnb’s marketing campaigns, especially their referral campaigns, are highly successful. In the referrals, customers will receive an email offering a discount for both themselves and a new customer should they sign up using your link. A quick copy and paste of the link into Whatsapp, or just pressing the “share to Facebook” link makes for quick work and easy to share discounts for both parties. Paypal had a similar offer when they started and was the source of their surge in signups. It certainly worked for both these businesses.

Cross-selling

The most successful companies know how to showcase what a customer wants. When going on holidays, tourists will enjoy excursions, activities and experiences. Airbnb knew this and so set up Airbnb experiences – an easy to find tab on the Airbnb homepage.

Airbnb experiences are also shared on the page just before checkout. This simplifies the person’s holiday planning, making it more of an all-in-one process. Using data analytics to their advantages to provide a personalised booking process makes customers come back.

How can your company simplify life for your customers and cross-sell to increase their likelihood of becoming loyal customers? 

Influencer marketing 

You may not be aware that Airbnb invests in influencer marketing. That’s because of how subtle and enticing this content appears on the social media user’s feeds. Their most common method is to collaborate with celebrities who share snap pics of their latest Airbnb stay and post to their socials. Simple but effective and has boosted its impressive growth over the years. It is a great way to find your target market – influencers across Instagram and Facebook have their own niche, and finding one that fits your own target market gives you a direct line to them. Site traffic to Airbnb website lies at 91 million in January 2020– influencer marketing is a leading driver of these impressive stats.

Airbnb’s success is directly related to their deep and adaptive understanding of what their customers want. They understand that needs and desires change and are willing to try unconventional forms of marketing for a fresh and welcome approach to brand awareness.

Finding that nuanced approach takes experience and talent to deliver. We’re a small team here at Videoworks London with a knack for storytelling and creating video content that connects people to your brand. If you’d like to get started with a video production project that boosts your brand’s awareness, you can get in touch here.

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It doesn’t matter how long you spend on post through social channels or cranking up on your ad spend. Not unless your brand stands out from the crowd. Otherwise, your brand isn’t going to reach its potential.

Brand awareness is one of the main pillars of building a successful business; that includes B2B as well as consumer-facing brands. Have a think about it; when you go to buy a car, you’re likely to be much slower to opt for the obscure brand that you’ve never heard of before.

That said, if you’d seen some crisp, professional ads displaying this car as the newest in motor performance and you’ve consistently seen trustworthy reviews, then you’re far more likely to at least be open to learning more about this car brand. The same can be said for any industry. Consumers are smart. They’re reluctant to invest their money into unknown products and services. Brand awareness is where you can build real momentum and start standing out from your competitors.

Top methods to build brand awareness

1. Referral strategy

Referral marketing is an incredible option because you have the opportunity to generate brand awareness and acquire new customers at the same time. There’s not a whole pile of other methods that have this capability.

Also, you’re working with your loyal customers. Those that trust and admire your business are the ones that will be spreading the word to their friends, family and perhaps their social media followers.

AirBnb is an excellent example of what can happen when a business focuses on its referral programmes. They committed to making the referral programme as simple as possible for customers to partake. This included the ability to share across multiple channels, so whether it was via a link, Facebook or email – people would still find it easy and quick to spread the word.

AirBnb also found a difference when A/B email testing with one crucial element. Each invite needed to appear as a gift, not a promotion. And that applies to a lot of referral marketing. Making it sound inviting rather than pushy, will make people a lot more open and excited about joining in on the programme.

Taru Bhargava, author at AppVirality, describes just why this person-to-person referral experience is so effective:

“We tend to follow the footsteps of those whom we value. Sometimes these actions imitate ‘the monkey see and monkey do’ approach. According to a Nielsen report, 84% of people go by recommendations from friend and family. If we observe it carefully, word-of-mouth via mobile app referral follows the same trend. In Airbnb’s case, it was further elevated by a personalized landing page, when a user installed an app via a referral link.”

2. Create a brand awareness campaign

It’s not going to shock any of you reading this that campaigns these days primarily involve video.

Here are the three reasons that hold businesses back from creating video campaigns:

• 66% of marketers don’t make videos because they think it’s too time-consuming.
• 41% of marketers don’t make videos because they think it’s too complicated.
• 37% of marketers don’t make videos because they think it’s too expensive.

If this is what’s holding your brand back, then it’s time to open to the advances in technology.

A good smartphone can create videos. The quality won’t be cinematic, but it will still effectively get your message across.

Another key to creating a campaign within budget is organisation. If your team has decided that the video quality needs to be impressive, then a top-quality video production crew can create multiple campaigns in a batch. This makes each campaign more cost-effective and saves time. It’s also great for a business to have content ready to roll out in advance. Having professionals in the creative process will provide refinement in defining and connecting with your target audience. It also gives you the expertise to make your brand memorable within these videos.

There are many formats to play around with, here are just a few:

• Animation videos
• Brand introduction video
• Event videos
• Explainer videos
• Interview video
• Testimonial videos
• Tutorials/How to videos
• User-generated content
• Vlog

This is just a taster, yet it still gives plenty of scope on different angles that enliven your business and allow prospective customers to see into what makes your brand worthy of their attention.

3. Epic storytelling

No matter what format or platform you choose for your content, even the simplest photo tells a story, has a mood, conveys meaning. According to research by Headstream, if people love a brand story, 55% are more likely to buy the product in future, 44% will share the story, and 15% will buy the product immediately.

A memorable brand tells wonderful stories that connect with the audience, invokes emotions, and sparks interest. Creating stories that make your brand unforgettable, and you’ll win the interest of your audience.

4. Retargeting Campaigns

Retargeting campaigns fosters brand awareness so effectively. This strategy reminds your website visitors of your products and services after they leave your website without buying. After visiting specific pages, it allows you to retarget them and show your visitors relevant visual or text ads when they visit other websites. These are your audience segment that have a high potential of becoming customers. They’ve browsed your website but perhaps need time to consider the purchase. Drawing from the infamous rule of seven, it takes an average of seven interactions with your brand before a purchase will take place.

Retargeting enables your brand to focus on perspectives that are most likely to become customers. This refinement boosts brand awareness and also offers personalisation in the content that you use to interact with this segment. They will see your content across various websites and social channels that they use. People will have a conception that your brand is successful and reliable as they’ll become familiar with your branding and learning more about your business ad by ad.

Brand awareness isn’t rocket science. If you follow these steps and ensure that your content is both high-quality, engaging and has a strong storytelling core– then you’ll see tangible evidence of growth in brand awareness. If you’re looking for a professional team of storytelling content creators, you can get in touch with us here at Videoworks.

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