Are you looking for ways to promote your business?
Check out these nine types of videos that every business should use to succeed.
Video has become an essential tool for businesses of all sizes and industries. From introductory videos to live-action footage, video can help you promote your business, teach customers how to use your products and services, and show off what you’re all about.
Here are nine types of videos for small businesses that you can use to succeed:
1. Introductory Videos: Get to Know Your Business
An introductory video is a great way to give potential customers an overview of your business. Small business owners can use them on their websites, social media platforms, or other video marketing campaigns.
According to Wyzowl, 88% of people say they’ve been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a brand’s video.
And one of the easiest ways to make an introductory video is to sit in front of a camera and talk about your business. This type of video doesn’t need to be fancy or production-heavy, but it should give viewers a good idea of your business.
Company culture videos are another type of introductory video that small business owners can use to give potential customers a behind-the-scenes look at your business. This type of video marketing can be a great way to show off your business’s personality and build trust with potential customers.
When creating a company culture video, however, it’s essential to ensure that it doesn’t come across as too sales-y. Instead, focus on showing off your company culture and values to resonate with your audience.
Introductory videos are best for:
- building brand awareness
- getting to know your business
- building trust with potential customers
Now that you know why an introductory video is important let’s look at how you can make one for your small business.
Tips for Successful Introductory Videos:
- Keep it short and sweet – your viewers’ attention spans are shorter than you think!
- Introduce yourself and your team – let viewers get to know the faces behind the business.
- Talk about what you do and why you do it – ensure viewers understand your mission and values.
- Include a call-to-action – tell viewers what you want them to do after watching the video (visit your website, sign up for your newsletter, etc.).
Now that you’ve let your target audience know about your business, it’s time to show them how your products or services can help them.
2. How-To Videos: Show Them How It’s Done
How-to videos are an excellent way to showcase your products or services in action. These types of videos can be used to teach viewers how to use your products, how to make the most of your services, or even how to cook or assemble a product you sell.
Not only are how-to videos helpful for viewers, but they can also be a great way to improve your SEO. That’s because people often search for a faq video to answer their questions.
So if you create a video that ranks high in search engine results, you could drive a lot of traffic to your website.
How-To Videos are best for:
- showing off your company’s products or services
- teaching viewers how to use your products or services
- improving your SEO
Now that you know why this video format is important let’s look at how you can make one for your small business.
Tips for Successful How-To Videos:
- Keep it simple – focus on one task or concept per video.
- Make it visual – use graphics, demonstrations, and on-screen text to help viewers follow along.
- Edit carefully – remove unnecessary footage, so your video is concise and to the point. Use multiple edits if necessary.
- Include a call-to-action – tell viewers what you want them to do after watching the video (visit your website, sign up for your newsletter, etc.).
Now that you know the importance of how-to videos for your business, it’s time to take your video marketing to the next level with animated explainer videos.
3. Animated Explainer Videos: Bring Your Business Story to Life
Animated explainer videos are a great way to engage viewers and explain your business in a fun, engaging way.
Small business owners can use these videos to tell their brand story, introduce viewers to their products or services, or even show off what makes their business unique. And since they’re so visually engaging, they’re perfect for sharing on most social media platforms or using in marketing campaigns.
Consider this:
Explainer videos have shown to be an effective tool for marketing. It’s a great way to boost sales. In 2009, this video style helped Dropbox improve its conversion rate by 10%, resulting in 10 million more customers and around $48 million in additional income.
Explainer videos are best for:
- telling your brand story
- introducing viewers to your products or services
- showing off what makes your business unique
As you can see, explainer videos can significantly impact your business. But how do you make one?
Tips for Successful Animated Explainer Videos:
- Keep it short – most explainer videos are under 2 minutes.
- Make it visually appealing – use engaging visuals and animation to tell your story.
- Focus on the problem – start by addressing the pain points of your potential customers.
- Explain your solution – show viewers how your product or service can help them.
- Include a call-to-action – tell viewers what you want them to do after watching the video (visit your website, sign up for your newsletter, etc.).
Now that you know about increasing your sales with explainer videos let’s move on to the next type of video to incorporate into your video marketing — telling success stories with customer testimonial videos.
4. Customer Testimonial Videos: Show Off Your Raving Fans
Customer testimonials are a great way to show off your happy customers and build trust with potential customers.
These videos feature your customers talking about their experience with your business, and they can be used on your website, in social media posts, or even in email marketing campaigns.
Customer testimonials are so effective because they’re real people talking about their experiences with your business. And when potential customers see that other people have had a positive experience, they’re more likely to trust your business and give you a try.
They’re also great for showing off your happy customers and building trust with potential new customers. After all, 91% of 18-34-year-olds trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, and 93% of consumers say online reviews influence their purchase decisions.
Clearly, customer testimonials can be powerful marketing tools. But for testimonial videos to be effective, they need to be well-produced and feature genuine, relatable customers.
Testimonial videos are best for:
- showing off your happy customers
- building trust with potential new customers
- influencing purchase decisions
Now let’s discuss creating a successful customer testimonial video.
Tips for Successful Customer Testimonial Videos:
- Feature real customers – avoid actors or paid spokespeople.
- Include a mix of video footage and on-screen text – this will help to keep viewers engaged.
- Edit carefully – remove any footage that doesn’t add value to the video.
- Keep it genuine – use unscripted footage or have your customers speak extemporaneously.
- Make it relatable – choose testimonials from customers your audience can relate to.
- Include a call-to-action – tell viewers what you want them to do after watching the video (visit your website, sign up for your newsletter, etc.).
(Undoubtedly, you see some underlying themes with creating successful videos for your business. These tips aren’t just for one type of video but all videos!)
Now back to customer testimonials. These videos are fantastic for building trust, but they’re also great for giving potential customers a peek into what it’s like to work with your business. If you want to take things one step further, consider creating case study videos.
But…
5. Case Study Videos: Take Your Customer Testimonials to the Next Level
Case study videos take customer testimonials one step further by telling an in-depth story about how your business helped solve a problem for a specific customer.
These videos usually feature interviews with both the customer and someone from your business and footage of your products or services in action. Case study videos are great because they show potential customers that you’re not just talking the talk – you’re walking the walk, too.
Case study videos are best for:
- Telling an in-depth story about how your business helped solve a problem for a specific customer
- Showing potential customers that you’re not just talking the talk – you’re walking the walk, too.
- Showing existing customers that you care about their success.
Now let’s discuss how to create incredible case study videos.
Tips for Successful Case Study Videos:
- Keep it focused – choose one specific customer and their problem to showcase.
- Explain how your product or service helped – don’t just show the before and after, but explain how you got your customer from point A to point B.
- Tell a story – case study videos should have a beginning, middle, and end.
- Make it relatable – again, choose a customer your target audience can relate to.
- Include a call-to-action – tell viewers what you want them to do after watching the video (visit your website, sign up for your newsletter, etc.).
(We know, you see many of the same tips here. That’s because they work! These tips will help you create successful videos across the board.)
You might think, “My business isn’t big enough to warrant a case study video.” But that’s not necessarily true. These videos don’t have to be overly produced or expensive – you can create a great case study video on a small budget.
Now that you know about case study videos that can help show your potential customers what it’s like to work with you let’s move on to live-action product videos.
6. Live-Action Product Videos: Show Off Your Stuff
If you sell physical products, a live-action product video is a must. These videos give potential customers a close-up look at your products and show them being used in real life.
Product teaser videos are great for giving viewers a sense of what it would be like to use your products, and they can be used on your website, as social media videos, or even in email marketing campaigns.
Live-action product videos are best for:
- giving potential customers a close-up look at your products
- showing your products being used in real life
- creating product teaser videos.
But it’s not about just banging our new videos and blabbing about your product’s features. It’s about creating live-action product videos that are interesting and engaging. Here’s how:
Tips for Successful Live-Action Product Videos:
- Keep it short – no one wants to watch a 10-minute video about a product.
- Show the product in action – don’t just rely on footage of the product itself, but show it being used.
- Include a call-to-action – tell viewers what you want them to do after watching the video (visit your website, sign up for your newsletter, etc.).
- Make it visual – use footage of your products or services in action.
With live-action videos, your products are the stars of the show. So, it’s essential to make sure that your products are well-lit and in focus. If you’re not using a professional videographer, use a tripod to keep your shots steady.
Now that you know all there is to know about live-action product videos let’s move on to videos for your advertising campaigns.
7. Advertising Videos: Get Your Name Out There
Advertising videos are a great way to get your business in front of potential customers who might not be familiar with your brand. You can use this video marketing strategy to promote your products or services, introduce your brand, or even get people talking about your business.
When it comes to advertising videos, you have a lot of options. You can run ads on social media, TV, or even before other people’s videos on YouTube, TV, or podcasts (pre-roll ads). You can also use advertising videos on your website or in email marketing campaigns.
No matter what social media platform you’re using, there’s a good chance that you can run video ads on it. And with more and more people watching videos on social media, this is a great way to get your business in front of potential customers.
Advertising videos are best for:
- promoting your products or services
- introducing your brand
- getting people talking about your business.
When creating advertising videos, it’s essential to keep your target audience in mind. Who are you trying to reach with your video? What message do you want to send? Keep these things in mind when creating your ad,
But how do you create a great advertising video? Here are a few tips:
Tips for Successful Advertising Videos:
- Keep your target audience in mind: Who are you trying to reach with your video? What kind of message do you want to send? Keep these things in mind when creating your ad.
- Make it attention-grabbing: You only have a few seconds to grab people’s attention, so make sure your video is exciting and engaging from the start.
- Keep it short and sweet: no one wants to watch a long, drawn-out commercial. Get your point across quickly and leave viewers wanting more.
- Use engaging visuals: Make sure your video is visually appealing and easy to follow, whether you use live-action footage or animation.
- Use persuasive copy: write a clear, concise, and compelling script. You want viewers to understand your message and be motivated to take action.
- Direct viewers to a specific landing page on your website: when running video ads, you want to make it easy for viewers to take action.
Include a link to a specific landing page on your website (such as a product page or sign-up form) in your call-to-action. This way, viewers can quickly and easily find what they’re looking for and take the desired action.
Plus, you can track the customer journey and see how many people who viewed your ad went on to take the desired action.
Like we always say, if you’re not using data to influence your decisions, you’re flying blind. By mapping out your buyer’s journey and tracking the data, you can see what’s working and what’s not. Then, you can adjust your strategy accordingly to get the best results possible.
Once your advertising campaign is finished…
Tuck your video away and repurpose it later. For example, you could upload it to your website or chop it up into short videos to build brand awareness, enhance your sales process, or support your product.
Now, let’s discuss event promotion and recap videos.
8. Event Promotion and Recap Videos: Get People Excited About Your Events
If you’re hosting an event – whether it’s a concert tour, a conference, seminar, or trade show – event promotional videos are a great way to generate interest and get people excited about attending.
You can use this video style to promote your event, give people a sneak peek of what they can expect, or even just share some highlights after the event is over.
Event Videos are best for:
- promoting your event
- generating interest in your event
- giving people a sneak peek of what they can expect at your event
- sharing highlights after your event is over.
Want more people to attend your event? Consider creating personalized event videos. These personalized videos are tailored to each viewer. Send videos to your target audience to get them excited about attending your event.
Since it seems the recipient of the video is getting a personal invite from you, they’ll be more prone to attending your event.
Why?
Because the video focuses on them, and when you make someone feel special, they’re more likely to do what you want them to do.
And once your event is over…
Event recap videos are also a great way to keep the momentum going after your event is over. This video
You can use them to thank attendees for coming, share some of the best moments, and announce any plans for future events.
Tips for Successful Event Promotion Videos:
- Create a sense of urgency: use language that makes viewers want to attend your event.
- Leverage FOMO: highlight all the fantastic things attendees will miss out on if they don’t attend your event.
- Use engaging visuals: Make sure your video is visually appealing and easy to follow, whether you use live-action footage or animation.
- Highlight the event’s key speakers or performers: let viewers know who they can expect to see at the event.
- Include a call-to-action: tell viewers how they can buy tickets or sign up to attend.
For event recap videos, focus on the event’s highlights and what made it special. You can also include testimonials from attendees or speakers.
Now, let’s discuss the last type of videos your business should use – training and tutorial videos.
9. Training and Tutorial Videos: Teach Your Customers How to Use Your Products or Services
If you offer products or services requiring some training, tutorial videos are a great way to teach your customers how to use them. These videos can be used on your website, social media posts, or even as part of an email marketing campaign.
And, if you offer many different products or services, you can create a series of tutorial videos and release them over time. This will keep your customers engaged and coming back for more.
Product promo videos are another type of video content that you shouldn’t overlook. These videos showcase your products in all their glory and get people excited about using them.
Additionally, instructional videos are perfect for software companies or businesses that offer online courses. If you have a lot of content to cover, breaking it up into bite-sized videos is a great way to keep viewers engaged.
Lastly, educational videos are another video marketing strategy that business owners can use to tell their audience about something new. Introduce a new concept, start a conversation about a controversial topic, or simply share some expert insights.
These types of videos are best for:
- promoting your products
- teaching customers how to use your products or services
- introducing a new concept
- starting a conversation about a controversial topic
- sharing expert insights (think TED talk)
But only if done correctly. Here’s how to ensure they’re most effective:
Tips for Successful Training and Tutorial Videos:
Keep it simple: don’t try to cover too much ground in one video. Choose one specific topic and stick to it.
- Use clear and concise language: explain things in a way that is easy to understand.
- Use visuals to help explain concepts: use screenshots, graphics, or even live-action footage to help illustrate your points.
- Include a call-to-action: tell viewers where they can go to learn more or get started with your product or service.
These videos are a great way to show your customers how to use your products or services.
Sidebar: Look at how far we have come. Here’s a training video from the 1980s by Wendy’s.
But, you can also use them to show your employees how to do their jobs better. If you have any processes or procedures that you want your employees to follow, consider creating training videos for them.
Thought leadership videos are another type of educational video. They showcase your company’s expertise and thought leadership in a particular industry or subject matter.
You can use them to introduce a new concept, start a conversation about a controversial topic, or simply share some expert insights. Use them to position your company as an authority in your industry. Just be sure to:
- Choose a topic you’re passionate about: if you’re not interested in the topic, it will be challenging to stay engaged.
- Do your research: Before you start filming, make sure you know what you’re talking about. This will help you stay on track and avoid going off on tangents.
- Be engaging: no one wants to watch a boring video. So, make sure they are exciting and interesting.
So as you can see, using video content in your business is essential to success. There are many different types of videos that you can create, so there’s no excuse not to get started.
Whether you’re starting a video blog or creating a product promo, there’s a video type that will suit your needs.
Don’t wait any longer – start incorporating video into your business today!
Plus
How to Use Your Video Content
Now that you know the nine types of videos your business should use, it’s time to put them into action. Not sure how to get started? Here are some tips:
Start a Video Blog
A video blog is a great way to connect with your audience and give them a behind-the-scenes look at your business.
To get started, you only need a camera and a few minutes. Start talking about your business, products, or industry and hit record. Then, post them on your website or blog, or share them on social media.
If you’re unsure what to talk about, consider doing Q&A videos or product demo videos, or you can even interview other experts in your field.
Create a Video Series
Consider creating a video series if you have a lot of information to share. This is a great way to keep your audience engaged and coming back for more.
To create a video series, start by choosing a topic you want to focus on. Then, break down that topic into smaller subtopics. From there, you can create a video for each subtopic.
Here’s a great example:
If you want to create a series about starting a business, you could cover topics like choosing a business idea, writing a business plan, and marketing your business.
If you’re unsure what type of series to create, consider doing a tutorial, an educational, or even a behind-the-scenes series.
The sky’s the limit! Just be sure to plan your series before you start filming so you can stay on track.
Create a YouTube Channel
YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world, so it’s a great place to showcase your videos. Plus, it’s free to create a channel and start uploading.
To get started, just create an account and upload away! Then, optimize your channel for search engine optimization (SEO) by including keywords in your titles and descriptions.
And don’t forget to promote your channel on your other social media channels and your website.
Incorporate Video Into Your Email Marketing
Email is still one of the most effective marketing channels, so why not use it to promote your videos? Add a video thumbnail to your email and link it to your YouTube channel or website.
People love watching all types of videos. As a matter of fact, according to Sendspark, adding video to your emails can double email open rates from 40% to 80%.
You can also embed videos directly into your email, but be sure to keep them short and Sweet (under two minutes), so they don’t bog down the loading time of your email.
Remember, people are watching on their own time and may not have the patience to wait for a long video to load.
And, as always, make sure they are mobile-friendly since more and more people are checking their email on their smartphones.
Use Video to Drive Traffic to Your Website
If you want to increase traffic to your website, embedding videos on your site is a great way to do it. We suggest posting them on your YouTube channel and then embedding them into your website or blog.
Not only will this help increase traffic to your site, but it will also keep visitors on your site longer, which is a key ranking factor for search engines. Plus, it will allow you to promote your other content, such as your blog articles or white papers.
Add schema markup to the pages you embed your video for an added search engine optimization boost. This code helps search engines understand the content of your web pages and can help them rank higher in search results.
Add Videos to Your Social Media Channels
Social media is a great place for video marketing. Whether you’ve got an awesome explainer video, a compelling testimonial video, or a funny brand video, social media is the perfect platform to share it.
Not sure where to start?
Post your videos on all of your social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Just be sure to optimize them for each platform by using the correct image sizes and descriptions.
And don’t forget to use hashtags to reach a wider audience. No matter what video form you include in your content strategy, ensure you use video to promote your business. It’s a powerful tool that can help you achieve your marketing goals.
Consider Live Streaming
And don’t forget about live streaming. Every small business owner has a story, so why not use live video to tell it? You can use live video streaming platforms like Facebook Live, Periscope, and Twitch to connect with your audience in real time.
Not only is broadcasting live events a great way to connect with your customers and followers, but it’s also a great way to promote your brand and drive traffic to your website or blog.
Remember to keep them short, sweet, and to the point. No one wants to watch a live streamer take over their social platforms for an hour.
Here are a few quick tips for live streaming:
- Schedule your live stream in advance and promote it on your social media channels and website.
- Go live at a time when you know your audience will be online.
- Have a clear purpose for your live stream.
- Engage with your viewers by responding to comments and questions in real time.
- End your live stream with a call-to-action, such as subscribing to your YouTube channel or following you on social media.
Create an Advertising Campaign
If you really want to reach a large audience, you’ll need to create an advertising campaign. You can run video ads on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. You can also run video ads on YouTube.
When creating your marketing videos, include a call-to-action (CTA) so viewers know what you want them to do next, such as visiting your website, signing up for your email list, or buying your product.
Invest in Video SEO
You’ll need to invest in video SEO if you want your videos to be found by search engines. This ensures that your small business videos are correctly optimized and appear in search results.
Here are a few tips:
- Use keywords in your titles and descriptions
- Add transcripts
- Create a video sitemap
- Optimize your thumbnails and images
- Use schema markup
- Optimize your file name
By following these tips, you can ensure that your videos are properly optimized and have a better chance of being found by those searching for your products or services. Learn more about ranking your videos higher on Youtube in our recent article.
Need Help Creating Videos for your Business?
There you have it! These are nine types of videos that every business should be using to succeed.
Now that you know all about them, it’s time to start planning your video marketing strategy. If you need help getting started, BlakSheep Creative can help. We’re an expert digital marketing agency in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that knows how to get your content in front of prospective customers.
Contact us today to learn the video types we can create for you.
We’re every small business owner’s secret weapon.
