How Video Marketing Can Help You Find Prospects Online

In today's fast-paced online world, video marketing has become the most powerful way to reach potential customers. Just like a friendly face in a crowd, videos stand out in the sea of online content. When you're trying to find new customers (or prospects) online, videos can be your secret weapon.

The Power of Moving Pictures: Marketing Materials Photos vs Videos

Think about the last time you were scrolling through your phone. Did you stop to read a long post, or did a video catch your eye? Most people are like you – they prefer watching over reading. While photos can tell a story, videos bring that story to life. It's the difference between static vs dynamic content, kind of like comparing a photograph to a movie.

When businesses use photos in their marketing, they can show one moment frozen in time. But with video marketing, they can:

• Tell complete stories that connect with viewers emotionally
• Show how products work in real situations
• Let real customers share their experiences
• Take viewers behind the scenes of the business

Why More Businesses Are Hiring Video Marketing Services

More and more companies are working with a video marketing agency to create their content. Why? Because making great videos takes special skills and tools. These agencies know how to:

• Create videos that grab attention in the first few seconds
• Tell stories that make people want to learn more
• Use the right music and visuals to create emotion
• Make sure videos look professional on all devices

The Rise of New Video Game Marketing Roles

Even the video game industry has jumped on board, creating special video marketing roles just for gaming content. These experts know how to make game trailers, streaming content, and behind-the-scenes videos that get gamers excited.

What Makes Video Marketing So Special?

Recent studies show that videos are 40 times more likely to be shared than other types of content. When people share your videos, they're helping you find new prospects for free! Videos also help people remember your message better – viewers remember 95% of a message when they watch it in a video, compared to only 10% when they read it as text.

The first thing to understand about video marketing is that it's not just about making pretty videos. It's about creating content that helps you connect with potential customers. Whether you're a small business owner or part of a big company, video marketing can help you:

• Build trust with potential customers by showing real people and real results
• Explain complex ideas in simple, visual ways
• Stand out from competitors who are still using only text and photos
• Reach people who prefer to learn by watching rather than reading

Types of Videos That Attract Prospects

Let's explore the different types of videos you can use to find new customers. Each type serves a special purpose in your marketing plan.

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Welcome Videos: Your Digital Handshake

Think of a welcome video as your friendly "hello" to potential customers. These short videos should:

• Introduce your business and what makes it special
• Show the real people behind your company
• Give viewers a quick look at how you can help them
• End with a clear next step for viewers to take

For example, a local bakery might make a 60-second welcome video showing their kitchen, introducing their bakers, and sharing their most popular treats.

How-To Videos: Teaching Builds Trust

When you teach someone something useful, they're more likely to trust you. How-to videos are perfect for this because they:

• Show that you know what you're talking about
• Give viewers something valuable for free
• Make complex things easy to understand
• Keep people watching longer than text instructions would

A video marketing agency often starts with how-to content because it's so effective at building trust. For instance, a garden center might create videos about planting tips or choosing the right flowers for different seasons.

Behind-the-Scenes Videos: The Human Touch

People love seeing what goes on behind closed doors. These videos work well because they:

• Show the real people in your business
• Make your company feel more approachable
• Build trust by being transparent
• Share stories that photos alone can't tell

This is where the difference between static vs dynamic content really shows. A photo of your team might be nice, but a video of them working together and solving problems is much more engaging.

Customer Story Videos: Real People, Real Results

Nothing builds trust like hearing from happy customers. These videos should:

• Feature real customers telling their stories
• Show how your product or service helped them
• Include specific details about their success
• Feel natural and honest, not scripted

Many video marketing services focus on creating these testimonial videos because they're so powerful for finding new prospects.

Quick Tips and Updates

Short, helpful videos keep you connected with prospects. These might include:

• Weekly tips related to your industry
• News about your products or services
• Answers to common customer questions
• Quick updates about your company

These videos don't need to be long or fancy. In fact, shorter is often better - just 30-60 seconds can work well.

Remember, the key is to make videos that help your viewers, not just talk about your business. When you focus on being helpful, you'll naturally attract more prospects.

Making Your Video Marketing Strategy Work

The best way to find prospects is to use video marketing as part of your bigger marketing plan. Let's look at how to make everything work together.

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Social Media: Where Videos Shine

Social media platforms love video content. Here's why it works so well:

• Videos get more shares than posts with just text or photos
• Most platforms show videos more often in people's feeds
• Live videos get even more attention
• Short videos keep people scrolling through your content

A video marketing agency usually starts by looking at which social platforms your potential customers use most. Then they make videos that work best on those platforms.

Email Marketing Gets Better with Video

Adding videos to your emails makes a big difference:

• Emails with video get opened more often
• People click links more when there's a video
• Viewers remember your message longer
• It feels more personal than just text

For example, instead of just writing about a new product, you could include a short video showing how it works. This helps prospects better understand what you're offering.

Your Website: The Video Hub

Your website should be the home base for all your video content. Here's how to use it well:

• Put a welcome video on your homepage
• Add how-to videos to your blog posts
• Include customer stories on your testimonials page
• Use product videos on your sales pages

Remember the marketing materials photos vs videos debate? Your website is where videos really prove their worth. While photos can make your site look nice, videos keep people on your pages longer and help them understand your business better.

Making Videos Work for Search Engines

Just like with regular content, you need to help search engines find your videos. Here's how:

• Use good titles that include your main topic
• Write helpful descriptions for each video
• Add tags that relate to what's in the video
• Include transcripts when possible

Many video marketing services include these SEO steps as part of their packages because they're so important for getting found online.

Measuring What Works

To know if your videos are helping you find prospects, you need to track:

• How many people watch your videos
• How long they watch
• What they do after watching
• Which videos get the most engagement

This information helps you make better videos next time and understand what your prospects like most.

Making Videos That Connect and Convert

You don't need expensive equipment to make good explainer videos, but you do need to get some basics right. Let's look at what makes videos work well online.

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Video Length: Finding the Sweet Spot

Different types of videos need different lengths:

• Social media videos: 30-60 seconds
• YouTube how-to videos: 3-10 minutes
• Welcome videos: 1-2 minutes
• Customer stories: 2-3 minutes

The key is keeping your videos only as long as they need to be to share your message. Any longer and people might stop watching.

Quality Matters More Than Ever

When choosing between video marketing services, look for ones that understand these important points:

• Clear sound is more important than perfect pictures
• Good lighting makes videos look professional
• Steady camera work keeps viewers watching
• Simple backgrounds work better than busy ones

Even if you're making videos yourself, focusing on these basics will help your videos look more professional.

Static vs Dynamic: When to Use Each

While videos are powerful, sometimes simpler content works too. Here's when to use each:

• Use videos when you need to show movement or explain complex ideas
• Use photos when you want to highlight specific details
• Use videos to share stories and emotions
• Use photos for quick reference information

Many video game marketing roles focus on knowing exactly when to use videos versus other types of content.

Making Videos That People Share

To get more people sharing your videos, make sure to:

• Start with something interesting in the first few seconds
• Keep the energy level up throughout the video
• End with a clear call to action
• Make it easy for people to share

When people share your videos, you reach new prospects without spending more money.

Budget-Friendly Video Ideas

You don't need a huge budget to make good videos. Here are some affordable ideas:

• Use your smartphone with a simple tripod
• Record short tips and updates at your desk
• Film customer testimonials when they visit
• Create simple screen recordings for tutorials

Many successful businesses start with basic videos and upgrade their equipment as they grow.

Getting Started with Video Marketing Today

Starting something new can feel overwhelming, but video marketing doesn't have to be complicated. Let's break down how to begin.

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Creating Your Video Marketing Plan

Start with these basic steps:

• Choose one type of video to focus on first
• Make a list of topics your prospects care about
• Plan out your first month of videos
• Set realistic goals for what you want to achieve

Many businesses start by working with a video marketing agency to learn the basics, then start making some videos on their own.

Simple Equipment to Start With

You don't need Hollywood equipment to make good marketing videos. Here's what you really need:

• A good smartphone or basic camera
• A simple microphone that clips to your shirt
• Basic lighting (even a well-placed window works)
• A quiet place to record

As your video marketing grows, you can invest in better equipment or video marketing services.

Where to Share Your Videos

Start by sharing your videos where your prospects already spend time:

• Your business website
• Your social media pages
• Email newsletters to your customers
• Professional networking sites

Remember that different platforms prefer different video styles and lengths.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Learn from others' mistakes by avoiding these common problems:

• Making videos too long or complicated
• Focusing too much on selling instead of helping
• Using poor quality sound or lighting
• Forgetting to include a clear next step for viewers

Looking to the Future

Video marketing keeps changing as technology improves. Stay ready for:

• New types of interactive videos
• Better ways to measure results
• More ways to share videos
• New platforms where videos work well

Taking Action

Start your video marketing journey today by:

• Making a simple welcome video
• Sharing it on your website and social media
• Asking customers what they'd like to see in videos
• Learning from what works and what doesn't

Remember, every successful video marketer started somewhere. The key is to begin, learn as you go, and keep improving.

The difference between marketing materials photos vs videos isn't just about which looks better. It's about which helps you connect better with your prospects. In today's online world, video marketing gives you that connection in ways that static content can't match.

Whether you work with a video marketing agency or create videos yourself, the most important thing is to start. Your prospects are out there, waiting to hear your story through video.

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