In this day and age, photography and videography have almost completely merged into one industry. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean photography and video are always interchangeable. In fact, the two have distinct uses when it comes to marketing campaigns.

So the question remains: when is it appropriate for you to use a video instead of photography? When is photography better than video? And most importantly, how do you know?

What is the difference between photography and videography?

To start with photography, it is a visual medium. It’s really good for capturing images and scenes to illustrate a story or concept. If your business needs still photos of the inside of your office, say for an article about what makes your workplace so great, photography is perfect. You can also use photography to take pictures of products and event table settings. Photography is also ideal for professional portraits.

A photograph is a single captured image. It can feature people, products, places, or animals and can be extremely versatile in terms of subject matter. They’re still, no movement or audio, and can be heavily edited.

A video is a story told in motion with audio. A video can show how a product works or what it looks like in action, whereas photography is still and you would need multiple photos to capture motion. Videos contain audio that enhances the experience of the media, providing information and/or entertainment to the viewer. Video is great for showing off a business’ personality, too! These can feature testimonials, information about the business and employees, or more.

When it comes to photography and video’s uses in marketing, photography tends to be used when the goal is promoting services or products, while video is frequently meant to emphasize or enhance a company’s story.

Both are known to evoke an emotional response from viewers, so the real decision is in where you’re marketing your business as well as how you want to present it.

Why would I want to use one over the other?

Both photography and video are required for marketing purposes because the two bring different things to the table. Not every marketing project requires photography or video, but it does enhance the experience and bring in more potential customers. It’s worth making sure your marketing includes visual media.

In general, you should try using a mixture of both types of media. It will bring you the best advantage. However, knowing when the best times and places to use each is the biggest hurdle to jump over when planning your marketing strategy.

Photography should be used in marketing because it has the ability to deliver an emotional impact through composition, light, subject matter, and perspective. Photography can directly connect with your customers on an emotional level because it’s communicating with their subconscious mind. It’s a powerful medium that has been successful in marketing for many years. Photography can be used in marketing when you want to capture a single moment, while video can be used when you want to show something at work.

Video takes photography one step further by using audio. Video allows the viewer (potential customer) to connect with your product on an auditory level in addition to visual, which makes it even easier for them to emotionally bond with your business because more of their senses are working together.

Video is most effective when you want to show your business in action. When photography can’t capture what you’re trying to communicate, video will pick it up and run with it because of the audio that comes with. It actively shows a sequence of events or actions taking place rather than just capturing a single moment.

So which should you be using for your marketing efforts? Let’s find out!

Physical Marketing

Marketing media that you can hold in your hand isn’t going to be able to play a video. Flyers, brochures, printed magazines, and posters will all have photography or graphics. This creates opportunities to use photography to connect with your customer on a deeper, more intimate level. Because there’s nothing else going on besides photography and writing, the person reading it needs something powerful to connect them with your brand.

Sometimes graphics and clip art are used on physical marketing media, but it’s usually not the best option. Photographs, as we stated before, inspire a more emotional reaction by their viewers. Photographs can feature other humans, animals, plants, landscapes, or products. It’s important to remember that photography is capturing a moment in time, but you can create photography for marketing purposes by staging a photo shoot of some sort.

Online Marketing

Here’s where we really need to question what we should be asking for marketing campaigns: photographs or videos?

We’d say that depends on where online you’re going to be posting your marketing information. Between social media, email marketing, website marketing, and advertisements, there’s a lot to figure out about what works where.

Let’s start with the most basic of online marketing, social media. On all major social sites photography is allowed and in some cases, required for you to share your content. However, there are video-sharing platforms like YouTube and TikTok that are meant for video content only. When you’re creating a photography project for marketing, save it for your social media accounts and take advantage of photography’s visual appeal that makes it perfect for social media.

That’s not to say photography isn’t allowed on video-sharing platforms. Many creators mix photography in to their videos via slide shows or effects. It makes for a fun and interesting mixture. Other than that, there’s no reason to use photography on a video-sharing platform… unless it’s photography of the video you want to share, or a slideshow of photographs.

Posting marketing material on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter isn’t as cut-and-dry, though. Instagram, for instance, has an option to upload video and photography in your feed. On most sites you’re going to be sharing a healthy mixture of the two. Photographs and graphics are easy to consume, but are easily passed by while scrolling through a feed. Videos, on the other hand, grab the attention of the viewer.

It’s important to tag whatever media you’re posting so that people seeking them out specifically can find them easily. If photography is your focus, use hashtags like #photography and #gallery to get more eyes on your material. If you’d rather promote video, make sure to use hashtags like #video or #videoshow.

With email marketing, photographs are the most popular. Email marketing is frequently used as a way to promote and inform, and photography fits perfectly with those two categories. On the other hand, email newsletters are often sent via HTML which means you can share video or photography within them as well. However, it can be more challenging to use photography on filtered emails.

If you want your photography project to stand out, make sure the images are high resolution and professional-looking. You’ll probably have more success with video here because of its ability to show motion.

Marketing your website requires photography and style. Most sites that allow photography allow the option to upload videos as well, but we still recommend using photography both for aesthetic reasons and because it’s easier to show off what you’re selling.

That’s not to say that your website shouldn’t have video. You should have videos on your website! They just need to be strategically placed so as not to overwhelm your site visitors and provide the right information in the right places. Product review videos should be on the product pages themselves, whereas a video detailing your company should be found either on the main page or in the “About Us” section.

Once you have your photography or videos, make sure you optimize them for marketing. You may want to consider video-specific SEO techniques like uploading a transcript of the video to make it easier to read and understand for search engines as well as make it easier for people who can’t turn on or even use the audio aspect of a video.

Television and Movies

Commercials have been a staple in viewing programs on TV. Most of them are made of videos to match the media that you’re currently engaging in. Sometimes, though, commercials will use a rare still image in order to make a statement. In contrast, the still photo grabs the viewers’ eyes when they’re expecting to see movement.

If you’ve been to the theater in the past decade, you’ll notice that ads play while you wait for the movie to begin. They’re usually a mixture of both slideshows of still images and videos that advertise local businesses or new movies to be released soon.

Basically, if you’re going to advertise where videos are the main media, creating videos is how you want to advertise.

How Can I Create Videos and Photographs to use in my marketing?

It can be both simple and complicated to create photographs and videos that are worthy of advertising. And that’s what C&I Studios [link: ] is here to help you with- content creation of all kinds.

If you want photography, it’s as simple as hiring a photographer. If you’re not looking to invest in photography, try taking your own photos with a camera that allows for photography options or using your phone. For photography, you’ll really want a nice camera with interchangeable lenses. This gives the photographer room to grow and allows them to change cameras over time as new models come out and prices drop. A tripod will be needed in most instances to keep shots steady and if you really want excellent photography, you’ll need a model release form as well.  Of course your output will not be near the level of quality you will get when you hire a professional, so keep that in mind.

If you’re wanting video footage from multiple angles then it would be best to hire a video production service that can help capture the moment and capture the footage needed for marketing.

It’s not wise to use your camera phone to create all of your content. While camera phones are much higher quality than they were five years ago, they’re still not quite the same quality you will find with a professional camera.

If you need photography and video, it’s a good idea to look into companies that do both photography and videography, like C&I Studios. Our photography and video services work together to create seamless marketing campaigns that show how professional your company is while telling the story you want to convey to potential customers.

You can see all of the services we provide companies like yours here. We don’t just “do marketing”, we create and put forth ideas and tell your stories. Creativity is our business!

We’ve worked with many different companies, such as Coca-Cola, Hautehouse, and many others to create professional photography and videography that they can use in their marketing efforts. Contact us today to find out more about photography and video production and how we can help you create the images needed to take your marketing campaigns to the next level.

We can’t wait to hear from you and get started in creating amazing marketing campaigns together!

For more information on industry standards and best practices, visit the American Marketing Association.

So, you’re new to the idea of posting to TikTok, but realize you should be using it to gain potential customers. You know it’s a video-sharing app and you know you should be using it to promote your business, but you’re not too familiar with it or how to really get started, let alone how to gain a good following. It can be intimidating, we know. That’s why we’re here to help.

TikTok is the video-sharing app that’s taking over Generation Z’s feed. Younger audiences can’t get enough of TikTok and professional brands are quickly following their lead, racing to become video marketing leaders on the platform.

Getting started on TikTok is as simple as opening the app and posting a video with your favorite song or dance track. There are no official video marketing rules for TikTok, though you may want to follow a few guidelines to really get your videos viewed, liked, and shared. In fact, you can begin sharing video content immediately!

If you’re interested in getting started with video marketing or pushing your video marketing strategy for your business onto TikTok, we’ve got some video marketing tips to help get you started.

Without further ado, here are 10 tips to get started on TikTok:

1) Find your niche

There are many different areas and topics being posted about on TikTok. Some of these topics, considered TikTok Niches, have a cute name like “BookTok”. Niche spaces include topics like books and book reviews, cooking/baking, skits, lip-syncing, cosplay, and so much more.

To find your video marketing niche, search the hashtags and explore some of the video content that is being posted on that topic. Think about what makes that video special or why people would share it. Explore your “For You” feed, engage in content that you believe is relatable to your company and brand.

You can belong to more than one niche, too! By creating content for more than one niche, you’re casting a wider net.

However, it’s unwise to post niche content for the sake of posting niche content constantly. Focus on what you love, what your brand is and what you want it to be, and your video marketing niche will fall into place.

2) Get inspired by others

As you get more familiar with TikTok, it helps to watch other videos regularly. Explore the video content that’s being posted around a specific video marketing niche. You can browse by hashtags or channels on TikTok to find video ideas of what people are posting about. Find popular influencers and creators that have large followings to see what they do to be successful. While what works for each creator may not be what works for you and your brand, it’s worth understanding why each popular creator has such a large following. Are they keeping up with dance challenges or are they telling entertaining stories? What kind of hashtags do they use regularly? It’s all important information that you should be researching.

You don’t have to watch every video posted on TikTok, but if you find video content that is really inspiring to you it may be a good idea to keep an eye out for video marketing inspiration. You can video-market with video content inspired by other TikTokers!

3) Engage in the community

A part of being a successful video marketer on TikTok is having an established video marketing community. You can create a video and keep it as a video draft for future video marketing, or you can post now and engage with the video’s comments.

TikTok is really engaging because videos are posted quickly and people watch video content immediately — so there’s not much time for engagement within that period. Because TikTok is video-based, video comments are important to consider before posting a video. They’re the only way you’ll be able to engage with video content on TikTok aside from a Like. Likes are impersonal, but comments allow you to really get to know other creators and viewers.

When videos on TikTok, engaging with video content immediately after it’s posted is key to getting it on more people’s feeds. If you really enjoy video content that has been shared by another creator, comment on the video and tag that person in your video comment so they can see it! It really pays to have quality engagement within the TikTok community.

4) Post regularly

According to TikTok, users who post more video content see at least 30X more video views than those who don’t. Posting at least once a day is recommended by TikTok, but posting more can really boost your views and engagement.

The more video content you post on TikTok (and the video-based social video platform in general), the better chance you’ll have of growing your following and video marketing community. Consider posting two to three times a day to start! We know that can seem like a lot, but it will be worth the work to post so often so that you’re reaching as many potential customers as possible.

Also, it’s important to be consistent when posting videos. Posting near the same times each day really gets a consistent viewership. Making sure to post the same amount of times a day is great for grabbing more and more viewers. Different demographics are online at different times of the day- parents of young children are usually online more often after they put their kids to bed, people who work the 9-5 grind or are in school find time in the early mornings, lunch breaks, and after work to check their social media feeds, and so on. You can do research on the specific demographics to see when they’re more likely to log in and peruse their TikTok feeds.

When video marketers first join TikTok it can be hard to post video content regularly because video length is limited. The video must be at least 15 seconds long, but there’s no maximum time limit. If you find the video content that works for your brand, you’ll want to continue sharing video marketing best practices!

5) Be authentic

Remember that TikTok is a social video-sharing platform, so it’s important to be authentic. Video content on TikTok is video-marketing best practices, not video marketing for Dummies. Video content on TikTok should be video marketing made easy with a video that feels like video marketers are speaking directly to you!

Posting videos that you have to put a facade on for won’t get you very many subscribers. In fact, it might lose you followers if you aren’t truthful to your brand or services.

If your video content feels fake or forced, it likely won’t be successful on any social media platform, let alone TikTok. People on video marketing platforms like TikTok want video content that’s exciting, entertaining, and engaging.

6) Show up often

Every video you post has the chance of being viewed by someone new. If your video is exceptional, it’s possible that followers will see it more than once! This means that if you want to have a video marketing strategy on TikTok, being active on the platform is essential. Your video can be seen by people all over the world, and video views will be video marketing best practices. It’s important that you’re always available with more video content and engagements!

Comments will come in at any time. It’s in your best interest to pay attention and engage with video content when it comes in, if possible. Depending on your content and how you engage with your viewers, these comments can be good or bad, so it’s important to keep an eye on them, as they come in so that you can smooth over any issues your viewers may have.

If your channel takes off, it’s a good idea to have more than one person available to monitor and field interactions so that you can keep up with comments. It’s also important to make sure everyone who has access to the TikTok account has the same information in order to answer questions without confusion.

7) Get connected and stay connected

Your success as a video marketer on TikTok will depend heavily on your ability to establish connections and relationships with your viewers and other creators. TikTok is a community and users want to feel a part of something — so video marketers who take the time to connect with their video viewers and other creators on TikTok will have better results overall. Creators supporting other creators is

Most people use TikTok’s “Following” feature to help them stay connected with creators they enjoy watching. Every time you post a video, followers will receive a notification from your account. You should be able to follow creators and businesses you enjoy watching and can relate to, and other TikTokers should be able to follow your account if they enjoy your content.

8) Collaborate on video marketing content

Sometimes it can be more fun to video-market collaboratively! Two or more video makers can join forces to create video marketing content that is really unique, interesting, and engaging for followers. You can work together to come up with new ideas through online relationships or even work in-person and film together to appear in each other’s videos. A lot of current influencers like to collaborate and appear in each other’s videos in order to share followers.

8) Be unique

Just like your video marketing niche, make sure your voice is unique on TikTok. This will help drive video views and clicks to your website. Uniqueness can be applied to any part of your video- in content or editing! Using filters or creating content people haven’t seen before or has a twist can make your content stand out against your competition.

It can be hard to be video marketing best practices and unique at the same time, but it’s important not to try to fit in 100%. If you stick out among companies and channels that are similar to yours, video views will come!

9) Use hashtags

TikTok’s “For You” feed is sorted by what users watch most, but TikTok also sorts video content by hashtags. Hashtags are keywords that accompany your posts. They let video marketers find video content that they might not have otherwise seen.

Hashtags are video marketing best practices! Don’t forget to use them when you post video content so that your video can be found by other video marketers, which helps expand your reach! You can also search keywords video marketers commonly use, like hashtags for “video

TikTok video content with more video views are video marketing best practices, which is why it’s important to use video marketing strategies like using hashtags to your advantage! Use relevant hashtags in your video titles and video descriptions so that your video can show up on TikTs feeds for these search queries!

10) Outsource to a professional video production company

If you’re video marketing best practices and video marking is outside of your video area of expertise, it might be time to consider outsourcing video content creation and management. C&I Studios is one of those companies that is ready, willing, and able to work with you for all your TikTok needs!

An outsourced video marketing team can help you with:

• building and growing your audience (brand awareness)
• video content (ideas, video edits, video updates)
• video management (commenting on videos, responding to comments, posting regularly)
• video analytics (assessing ROI, reporting to clients)
• new ideas to keep your channel fresh and relevant to the TikTok algorithm
• filming and content creation

A strong TikTok following is important for growth and engagement because it gives potential video viewers, but we know it’s a daunting task to many. That’s why we recommend asking for help if you need it!

~

Anyone who utilizes video marketing knows how important it is to have successful video marketing campaigns. It’s important to pay attention to the current trends and stay informed on the newest and best practices for getting your video in front of not only your target audience but as many people out there as possible. Everyone is a potential customer!

If you’re still not quite sure how to approach TikTok, or video marketing as a whole, reach out to us at C&I Studios. We can’t wait to help you tell your story to the vast audience of the internet!

We offer more than just video marketing services, too. You can see all of the marketing support we offer businesses like yours here. We’ve worked with many companies to create amazing marketing material and campaigns, including TikTok videos, and we can’t wait to work with you!

An animated explainer video can be a huge asset to any company’s marketing strategy, but only if the video falls into that sweet spot of being informative while also being entertaining.

But, first, what exactly is an animated explainer video, and what can it do to benefit a video marketing campaign?

An animated explainer video is a short, animated video that addresses the key points of an online product or service, typically in 60-90 seconds. The video is usually animated using characters and scenes to make it fun and engaging for their audiences. Think about that scene in the original Jurassic Park movie from 1993 where the animated character, Mr. DNA explains the creation of the park and its residents to the main characters (and thus, the audience). It’s a perfect example of a successful animated explainer video: it grabs the attention of its audience while explaining important information and continues engagement by being memorable.

Animated explainer videos can be extremely effective when it comes to highlighting new products/services or promoting special offers. Besides animated explainer videos, animated video marketing is also a popular method for attracting and engaging more of your target audience.

Animated explainer videos are great for grabbing the attention of many different target audiences. The animated video format is much more interesting and engaging than reading through a long blog or article. Just like any other video marketing, animated explainer videos can attract more potential customers to your business while also creating a stronger relationship with the existing customers.

How does animation benefit the explainer video?

Animation is more memorable than video clips with animated characters are more likely to be remembered by its audience. People remember animated videos because animated characters are created solely for that video, which means their personalities will resonate with the intended audience once they see it.

People also remember animated videos better because animated video marketing has less information overload. When an animated video is less cluttered than a video with real people, the animated video marketing has more time to get across key points of your product or service.

Now that you know exactly what animated explainer videos are and why they work, let’s take a look at 10 elements and tips that will guide you in making a successful Animated Explainer video for your company that won’t get lost in the mix of other animated explainer videos:

1- It should include animation

This one is pretty obvious, but an animated explainer video should always include some sort of animated character(s) to help engage the audience at first glance, and throughout the entire video. A simple animated character can do wonders for grabbing your target audience’s attention right away, making them more likely to keep watching until the end of the animated explainer video.

Animation can be extremely effective when it comes to helping your animated explainer video stand out amongst all of the other animated explainer videos on the web, but only if it is used properly. While animated characters are important, so is animation quality. The animation should be smooth and well-designed. It’s also important to use animated design elements that match the tone of the animated explainer video you’re creating. For example, if your animated explainer video is more of a serious and informative type (like an animated explainer video on how to use a certain product or service), then it’s best to avoid using animated characters that may distract from the main idea behind the animated explainer video.

2- A Strong Script

A strong and relatable script is the foundation of every animated explainer video. Whether you’re marketing your animated explainer video on YouTube, Facebook, or any other social media platform, a well-written animated explainer video will keep viewers hooked from start to finish. The animated explainer video script should be short and snappy, leaving your audience wanting more. This doesn’t mean that animated explainer video scripts shouldn’t include a main message or idea, but the animated explainer video script definitely shouldn’t drag on.

3- Keep it Short and Sweet

Another important element every animated explainer video should have is brevity. The animated explainer video should include all necessary information, but it should be quick to get through at the same time. As previously stated, a video around 60-90 seconds is usually a good length for this type of video. A long animated explainer video will lose viewers quickly no matter how engaging the animated characters are, so keep your animated explainer video short and sweet instead. Of course, animated explainer videos that are extremely short will also lose viewers just as quickly if they are not interesting or engaging enough.

4- Add some humor if possible

This is an element that animated explainer videos can easily incorporate through animated characters, voice actors, and/or animated video backgrounds. Using animated comedy elements will keep your audience on their toes while watching your animated explainer video. You don’t have to make them laugh hysterically, but a simple animated sound effect or animated character could keep your animated explainer video from being boring.

5- Keep the text to a minimum

While animated explainer videos are much more engaging than any other type of form of media, it’s important to use exactly as much animated text as needed. Avoid using too much animated text in your video. This isn’t to discount using captions, but we will get into that in a minute.

Moving text can be difficult to read for many and trying to pay attention to it distracts them from the rest of the video. Neurodivergent people who have dyslexia or ADHD, for example, may not be able to follow words that bounce and spin around the screen easily, and they may miss information that is being relayed. Animated text also doesn’t allow for easy translations into captions that benefit those who speak other languages or are either hard of hearing or deaf and cannot watch the video without captions.

6- Use Captions!

If animated explainer videos are meant to be viewed on the internet, make use of captions. Using animated text for captions is very helpful since you can add it in after completing your animated explainer video and edit them if necessary before publishing. Captions will help viewers with hearing or sensory issues understand what’s going on throughout the animated explainer video.

It also helps those who may not speak the same language as you and your company be able to translate your video easily, creating a larger audience for your business.

Captions also help viewers that are watching on their mobile devices, since animated explainer videos can be difficult to watch on a smaller screen or are in a public place and can’t listen to the audio out of respect of those around them.

7- Incorporate animated backgrounds creatively

When you’re animating the background of your animated explainer video, make sure it’s done with care. How animated video backgrounds are animated (with characters moving, animated text popping up, etc.) is just as important as the animated video backgrounds themselves. Too much animation can take away from the character the audience is supposed to be paying attention to, so finding the right balance is important.

8- Customize the animated explainer video to your business/brand/product

One way you can keep animated explainer videos more engaging than other animated marketing is through customization. While many animated explainer videos are just animated characters moving around on a plain white background, this doesn’t mean that animated video backgrounds have to be boring or simple. In fact, animated video backgrounds can add a ton of life to animated explainer videos when animated characters are moving around on them.

9- Use animated video stock footage for transitions between scenes

Transitions in animated explainer videos aren’t just limited to animated characters going from one spot in the video to another or animated text popping up and disappearing. You can also use animated video stock footage to transition between animated explainer video scenes. Using animated stock footage of clouds moving, animated text flying on and off-screen, etc. can help keep things interesting for your audience as you move forward in the animated explainer video without distracting them too much from the animated explainer video as a whole.

By using stock footage, you’re saving a bit of time and money while still including great content. However, it’s good to be sure you’re not going overboard with stock footage.

Using animated video stock footage too much can get annoying for your audience. Avoid using animated video stock footage just for the sake of using it and don’t use more than two animated video stock clips throughout the animated explainer video unless absolutely necessary. While it can save time and money, it allows your video to get lost in the noise of other videos that use the same footage. It also can overwhelm your audience with too many moving parts.

Using too much stock footage shows your audience a lack of creativity and laziness. These are not things you want to convey to potential customers with anything you put out, as it sends the wrong message and turns customers away from wanting to work with you.

10- Consider Using a Video Production Company

Many animated production companies offer animated explainer video services for clients that are interested in getting their animated marketing efforts off the ground. These companies can help you with any amount of work in order for your animated explainer video to be successful. C&I Studios is one of these companies that are happy to work with you in order to create an amazing animated video for your marketing campaign.

In order to create an animated explainer video that engages your audience and sells your product or service, you need to have a plan from the very beginning. Perhaps you don’t know where to begin or you don’t have the time in the workday to create a solid plan. This is where a video production company comes in. Professional video production companies understand the animated explainer video market, animated video trends, all kinds of video content creation, animated video stock footage usage, animated video voiceovers and how animated videos are consumed by your target audience.

Here at C&I Studios, we offer animated explainer video services to our clientele. We know animation, animated backgrounds, animated video stock footage, animated characters, and more. All you have to do is tell us the ideas you have for your animated explainer video, explain the goals you wish the video to achieve, and we can take it from there!

We offer many services for video production that will help boost your marketing efforts, not just animated explainer video production. You can take a look at every service we offer here.

 

In conclusion, animated explainer videos are animated marketing videos that typically use animated characters and animated video backgrounds to demonstrate a product or service. We’ve learned that there is more to animated explainer video creation than just having animated characters and animated video backgrounds, though. In order for an animated explainer video to be successful, it needs to include certain elements such as personalization and a strong script. We’ve also given you a few tips to making sure your animated explainer video is a success such as how much is too much animated stock footage and that using a professional video production company, like C&I Studios, can really help you with creating your video.

Contact C&I Studios here to see what we can create together to boost your company’s marketing campaign today!

For more information on industry standards and best practices, visit the American Marketing Association.

Best Type

Everybody knows that video marketing is best for engagement and reaching consumers. But what type of video content should you create that will suit your company’s industry the best? It’s not always a cut and dry answer as many different kinds of videos work well for multiple industries. However, what types of videos are most commonly seen as the best type for certain industries?

Here is a list of video types that perform best in each industry:

1) Entertainment Industry: Short and Fun Videos That Capture People’s Attention

What do you think the highest viewed YouTube video of all time is? It’s “Charlie Bit My Finger” which has more than 815 million views! This video might not be the most illuminating or informative, but it proves that the entertainment industry loves videos that capture their viewers’ attention and make them laugh. A video of a kid laughing at his brother biting him will always be relatable and humorous.

Entertainment doesn’t just stop at funny videos. Companies in the entertainment industry thrive on hit songs, music videos, and dance choreographies. Companies should take advantage of this by putting out engaging content that entertains audiences. These videos can spread like wildfire, especially on platforms like TikTok if you allow other users to use your music or engage them in challenges on choreography.

There’s also been a large uptick in true crime and other story-telling entertainment. These types of videos are being watched more than ever thanks to the success of channels like Buzzfeed Unsolved, which explore unsolved mysteries.

The entertainment industry is very diverse in topics that can be covered in videos. Videos that entertain are videos that win.

2) Technology Industry: Videos That Increase Productivity or Improve User Experience

In the technology industry, videos that increase productivity or improve the user experience work best. Video content could show a new piece of technology being used in a specific way to solve a problem. Videos could also show off a new feature or design to convince people that they need it.

A company might also consider how their product or service can positively impact users’ lives and save them precious time and money. Technology can be seen as an investment depending on how it works to save the user time and money, even though technology advances quickly these days and will need to be updated sooner rather than later. Understanding the importance of a piece of technology is crucial to a customer when making a purchase.

3) Education Industry: Videos That Are Informative or Educational

People in the education industry know that video marketing can increase their web traffic. This demonstrates the importance of video content in this space. With virtual learning becoming more and more relevant, educational videos and content are more important than ever.

This can also be a very content-specific industry, as there are many types of videos that could be used to inform and educate audiences. Videos explaining new learning techniques or educational theories can help users understand how to use their education products more effectively.

Making the educational experience more engaging is something companies should strive for by introducing informative video content.

Education and training videos can be educational and give value to end-users. These types of videos benefit the education industry because they inform viewers about topics that interest them and help students remember content better. Educational videos can range from tutoring for any age of student to courses for professionals to how-tos for hobbyists.

4) Financial Industry: Videos That Are Helpful, Simple, and Accurate

Producing as many as 8 videos can boost your lead generation by 96%. The financial industry is no different. Ultimately, video content in this space should be simple and accurate so consumers understand the information you’re sharing with them. It’s also important to make sure the video is helpful and in some way solves a problem your consumer might be facing.

Videos types that best portray these ideals could be how-to or Q&A videos. When you’re looking for a company to help you with your taxes, for example, you want someone who knows what they’re doing and can explain the information back to you in ways the general public will understand. You want to be able to easily find the information you need, too.

5) Health Industry: Videos That Are Informative and Related To The Consumer’s Daily Life

Videos that relate to the daily lives of consumers perform best in this industry. For example, imagine you’re considering getting braces but don’t know if it’s worth the investment. You might search for a video that explains what you can expect after getting braces and how your daily life will change as a result. This kind of video is perfect for this industry because it provides consumers with the information they need to make an informed decision on any health-related purchase.

Fitness videos also fall into this category. If you’ve got a product that can help people work out and be healthy, then videos that show what working out is like when your product is used will perform well. In today’s world, going to the gym isn’t always available, so being able to put out fitness videos that show potential customers how your company approaches at-home fitness can really reel in new customers.

6) Professional Services Industry: Videos That Are Informative and Convey Professionalism

When consumers search for a service, such as legal services or professional consultancy, videos that provide helpful information on the subject matter demonstrate you’re a credible business. Being trustworthy is crucial when it comes to this industry. Consumers are likely to hire consultants who they know will help them make informed decisions and get the results they’re looking for.

For example, testimonial videos work great to put the services your company provides in a positive light. These types of videos are helpful because they show people using your services and how positive the experience was. These videos could also be success stories or similar customer-oriented content. It’s important for the customer to be able to see how the service can benefit them, so having positive outcomes presented in easy-to-consume media is crucial.

7) Retail Industry: Videos That Are Informative and Convey Good Customer Service

Consumers who search online want to know everything about a product or service before making a purchase, so videos that convey good customer service will go a long way. Good customer service includes friendly employees who are well informed on what they’re selling as well as is relatable to the customer.

For example, imagine you’re considering buying a new product and want to know how it will fit into your life. You might search for a video demonstrating the product in use or a review of the product from a consumer who has tried it before. This kind of video gives you all the information you need to make a decision on whether to purchase. It may also give you more reasons to purchase, having not known previously some of the benefits to making said purchase.

Simple unboxing videos can also bring awareness to new products that your retail space is carrying. The excitement of a consumer receiving the product for the first time can engage potential customers.

Additionally, be sure to highlight strong points of your company’s retail space. What makes it unique from other stores? How will consumers benefit from shopping there? How might this shop benefit the community it exists in? Answers to these questions should be addressed in videos that induce purchase.

8) Beauty Industry: Videos That Are Entertaining or Just Plain Pretty

Everyone loves to be entertained. They also love seeing beautiful things, whether it’s pictures or video content of different landscapes or makeup tutorials. Video marketing in the beauty industry is all about being entertaining and capturing people’s attention while at the same time inspiring them with something beautiful.

For example, imagine you have a series of videos for your business that show customers how to pull off different hairstyles or makeup looks. You could put these videos on YouTube and link back to your website so people can find out more about the products they need to complete each look.

It’s entertaining content that inspires consumers, too. In recent years, YouTubers who do makeup tutorials have begun explaining true crime stories to entertain their audience and cross over into two niches instead of just one.

9) Sports Industry: Videos That Are Informative, Inspirational, or Entertaining

There are a number of different types of videos that perform well for this industry — informative, inspirational, and entertaining.

When you’re looking to hire a sports trainer, for example, you want to know if they have the qualifications and expertise needed to help you achieve your goals. You also want them to have the right level of enthusiasm and good people skills. A video demonstrating a sports trainer at work provides all of this information in one go. In fact, it communicates more than just words could do on their own, which is important for this industry.

Inspirational videos that show athletes going from nothing to success also perform well here because they both inform and inspire. Inspiration can come from athletes performing well in their respective sports, but also in anything they do outside of their jobs that gives back to their community.

10) Transportation Industry: Videos That Are Informative and Convey You are an Authority

Consumers in the transportation industry need to know everything about the vehicles they’re considering purchasing or the service they’re looking to hire. They want to be able to trust your business is an authority on what you’re selling.

For example, if you’re looking for a new car, you want to know the history of the model you’re interested in. A video that provides this information demonstrates your company knows what it’s talking about. This is also true if you’re selling commercial vehicles or specialized machines.

Videos that are informative and convey authority on your brand perform well for marketing in any industry, but they are particularly important when it comes to this industry.

You can also think about videos that are informational or entertaining in the travel industry, particularly with tourism destinations. Make sure to show people having fun and staying safe in your videos having to do with tourism, as fun is the main reason for this kind of travel and safety is one of the greatest concerns when traveling.

 

 

So what do you think will be the most effective video content to elevate your company within your industry? Think about all of these possibilities and more as you’re creating your content strategy. The most important thing to remember is to focus on what your audience wants to see. The more you know about them, the better equipped you’ll be to create videos that perform well for marketing in your industry. Keep these tips in mind as you produce content and see which ones resonate most with your target market!

You don’t have to limit yourself to these ideas, either. Get creative and explore more of what your target demographics are reacting to. Don’t give up if any of your videos flop, either. Keep trying new ideas to find your company’s niche in the world of video marketing. Video marketing is a fantastic way to build brand awareness and increase conversions online.

Here at C&I Studios, we focus on your brand and what your target audience wants to see. Hiring a professional service like C&I Studios will make sure to help you create videos that will grab new potential customers and really make a mark in your industry.

If you’re looking for help producing some video content, check out our Video Production page for more information and check out the many other services C&I Studios has to offer!

For more information on industry standards and best practices, visit the American Marketing Association.

There are several ways TikTok can be used to get your message, music, or art out into the world. It has 800 million users that watch more than 40 billion videos every month, based on TikTok’s statistics. With so many users, you’re guaranteed to get your videos in front of a lot of viewers if you take care to create great content and support it with specific steps that utilize the TikTok algorithm to the fullest. You just have to understand how to get your video on people’s feeds.

Here are some TikTok tips on how to make sure you hook in your audience and keep them coming back for more:

Post often!

TikTok is a platform for telling your story so it’s only natural that you’d want to upload as much content as possible. But, TikTok also wants to keep audiences coming back for more! With TikTok’s algorithm of showing videos based on who TikTok thinks will like it and who TikTok thinks you will like, TikTok does not want to show your audience the same video twice. So, TikTok recommends you post as much as 10 times a day!

Yes, you read that number correctly. 10 times per day! With so many users posting so many videos, it’s easy for one video to get lost in the algorithm. So, if you want to make sure your audience sees your video, it’s best to post multiple times per day.

Of course, posting often doesn’t mean you should let your content suffer. You want to make sure your content is still worth looking at and subscribing to in order to retain viewership. If you have subpar content, not many people will want to subscribe to your account no matter how often you post.

If you need to only post once per day in order to put out fantastic content, it’s better than posting ten times a day with meh content.

Keep it Short and Sweet!

TikTok’s algorithm looks at how many seconds people stay on your video and if they watch until the end. Shorter videos are more likely to be watched in their entirety. The shorter your video, the higher TikTok’s engagement rate.

15 seconds is the minimum length of a video for TikTok, but you can record as much as 1 minute. But, TikTok recommends making your video about 30-45 seconds for optimum engagement. It optimizes the amount of time you can provide information and entertainment while being able to keep a viewer’s attention.

A lot of posters who tell stories or create videos showing how they create a product may do videos in parts. They keep each video short, but it leaves the viewer wanting the rest of the video, making it more likely that viewers will subscribe in order to be alerted that you posted the follow-up video. It’s a great strategy to get in front of a lot of viewers.

Provide Calls-to-Action!

A call-to-action is any action you want someone to perform when they watch your video, such as watching another one of your videos or subscribing to your account. TikTok allows you to place calls-to-action at the end of your video.

This is an important step to increase engagement because people are more likely to perform the action if it occurs right before they leave the app. If you don’t want them to miss out on your content, put that call-to-action at the end of your video! Have them subscribe to your content, comment on their own opinions or answers, or share the content with other people.

The more engagement of any kind, the more likely your video is to be put in front of a lot of viewers.

Use hashtags wisely

Hashtags are a great way to get your videos in front of more viewers, so be sure to use them correctly. But unlike other social media platforms you only have 15 hashtags at a time, so make each hashtag count!

It may be wise to see what hashtags are trending, even if they don’t have much to do with your video they can be helpful to get your video in front of a large audience. However, you do want to make sure to use relevant tags in order to keep your post on-brand and in front of the people looking for videos like yours- your target audience.

Make sure they’re sharable

If you create engaging content, people will want to share your videos with their friends. This will help TikTok’s algorithm see TikTok’s engagement on TikTok and TikTok engagement with TikTok is good, TikTok will show TikTok to more people.

Some people like to be able to text videos directly, others share via the TikTok app, but you should also consider making sure people can share to other social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

One of the great things about TikTok is that if a video is shared, people who may not already be signed up for the platform can still view the content. This feature really helps TikToks go further as far as viewership compared to platforms like Instagram.

Let people find you

TikTok’s algorithmic feed is not like other social media platforms, where if you follow someone you’ll see their posts. TikTok shows videos to people who are not following the person who posted it, but want to watch videos from the same kind of users.

If you want to be able to connect with a lot of people, TikTok suggests that you post something that will appeal to the largest audience possible. For example, if you’re trying to appeal to hobbyists, show the process of making your products, or if you want to appeal to gen z, participate in dance challenges!

Use TikTok’s promotions feature

TikTok offers a promotion feature for brands who want to grow their TikTok audience. If you are a brand, TikTok offers incentives for TikTok videos with large audiences to post about your product or service on TikTok. If you’re scrolling through your own personal feed, you’ll see videos that have the “promoted” tag. This is how your video will appear if you use this feature and it will be put on more feeds than if you did not promote it.

Granted, this is not a free feature. It costs some money, but it’s worth the cost, as this route can get you both more followers, more clicks to your website, and therefore more purchases.

Use TikTok’s tools to your advantage!

TikTok is constantly coming out with new features to help users make their content better and more engaging, so be sure to use them! Some people like one-on-one messages while others prefer the community feel of TikTok’s comments. It’s worth looking through all of the filters, buttons, hashtags, and any other feature TikTok offers on a regular basis to know what you can utilize.

These tools don’t appear on accident. They’ve been developed with TikTok’s creators in mind to help them boost their views and engagement. So keep TikTok’s tools in mind when creating new videos and see what works for you!

Make your videos personal!

Personalize your TikToks so viewers can get to know your brand. Sincerity is important when making your content relatable and fun. This can be done in a few different ways:

Repost your most popular TikToks/videos with their original hashtags and comments. Some creators even go so far to recreate old videos that did well in order to update them and make them more relatable to the current time. Technology and internet trends move fast!

Post behind-the-scenes videos of what goes on in the day of someone who works at your company. Things like meetings, conversations, decisions that are made will give people an idea of what it’s like to work at your company. This helps your potential customers get to know the human side of your company, not just the social media marketing side. People react well to knowing the humans behind the scenes.

Post to TikTok stories and TikTok live, which can be acquired through TikTok’s promotions tool. Get creative with it and see what kind of engagement you receive! Going live allows your followers to interact in the moment and make them feel heard and seen. When a company makes a customer feel special, it goes a long way in terms of return sales.

Keep your audience in mind

TikTok is not just about you and your video, it’s about the community.

Remember to stay relatable and never pushy. When you post a video on TikTok, remember that there are thousands of people out there who were not your first choice viewers watching your video, but they may be interested in your brand, too. Being able to appease both your target audience and those who may not be but will see your videos can open up your customer base. But, first and foremost, post content that is relevant and interesting to your target audience so they will want to watch more videos from you.

Look towards the Influencers- Take note!

Some examples of great TikTok influencers include: Patrick Starr and Jérôme Jarre who use TikTok to share their passion for makeup and fashion with followers. Lilly Singh, a Canadian comedian and YouTube star, uses TikTok to create videos that dance across age groups and audiences while still remaining relatable.

There are so many TikTok influencers out there to follow! Look around! You’ll find some who have content that is relatable to your business and you can take inspiration from. Whether they’re doing challenges that you want to try or you see them using music that would sound great on one of your videos, the inspiration is endless and worth looking towards.

Have fun!

TikTok is meant for people to express themselves through video, music, and art. It’s meant to be fun and engaging. In today’s world, entertainment is needed, and anything you can add to the community is welcome.

When viewers see that you’re having fun creating, they have fun viewing. They see that you’re sincere and relatable, something that will always draw in more viewers and subscribers. It all comes down to authenticity and engagement.

If you can make your viewers feel like they’re a part of the TikTok community, then you’ll see your views and engagements grow just as much as your subscriber count. Be relatable, be fun, and most importantly: be yourself! So make sure to have fun with your TikTok and enjoy the ride!

Ask for help

Making a bunch of short videos that are engaging can be a daunting process. It can take hours out of your workday and TikTok promotion can quickly become overwhelming.

Consider hiring a professional video production company to help you create content. Companies like C&I Studios understand the current trends in social media like TikTok and can make sure your content is being put in the proper channels.

C&I Studios creates all sorts of videos for marketing purposes. It’s worth checking them out if you don’t know where to start or just don’t have the time or energy to create as much or as often as you need to to be successful on TikTok.

So give TikTok a try! It’s always changing, which means you can take advantage of that. Experiment with its tools and features, but most importantly have fun! There are plenty of opportunities out there for TikTok creators to become TikTok influencers if the right content is supplied.

And TikTok is still growing, so you can come on board with TikTok any time, it’s not too late! It may look daunting to begin with, but it’s easy to get started and to have fun creating content for potential customers to enjoy.

Related Reading

Business Video

Video marketing campaigns are delivering positive results for businesses across the globe. If your company isn’t utilizing this medium for marketing, you’re missing out on a huge audience and therefore missing out on a lot of potential income.

Video is one of the most persuasive mediums to use when communicating with your company’s target audience. A video allows you to show off your business in action, share testimonials from satisfied customers, and build trust through authenticity. Video can also be a powerful tool that helps you increase sales leads, improve customer retention, and launch a marketing campaign that really stands out.

Knowing how to create a video that makes your business stand out is half the battle. In this blog post, we will guide you through making sure you’re creating the best video that will showcase your business in the best way.

#1: Plan to use video as part of a multi-channel marketing campaign

In addition, video marketing campaigns can be used as an effective medium for communicating with customers on other platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Pinterest. By posting your creative efforts in multiple places, you’re putting your company in front of a larger audience.

A video can also be used as a marketing tool to spread via email, with customers forwarding your video to friends and family after they enjoy the video you created. A video is a great promotional tool because it allows businesses to show off their products and services without requiring customers to read through a long sales pitch. By “going viral”, you’re able to reach audiences that you may not have thought about targeting, which will boost your sales and show you who else might make a great target audience for future marketing endeavors.

#2: Set video marketing objectives for your business

It’s important to set video marketing objectives in order to track your video campaign metrics and ultimately determine its ROI (return on investment). For example, you may want the video to increase website visits, engagement, video views, or lead generation. By making sure everyone involved in the video productions process understands the goal of the video, which is more than just stating, for example, that you’ll be reviewing a product, every person working on the video can make sure that their part of the production process is working to hit that goal. If someone in post-production doesn’t know that that one of the objectives of the video is to gain subscribers, they may not think to put subscribe buttons in multiple places in the video itself when adding in graphics and buttons, rather than placing just one button at the end of the video.

In addition, video marketing is a powerful tool for branding your company, which makes video objectives beneficial to set even if they do not directly relate to the bottom line. A company that wants to portray a professional brand wouldn’t want to put out silly TikToks that show their employees dancing the latest choreography; it’s not on-brand for them and would confuse their target audience, maybe even losing potential clients if they did so. Making sure videos are portraying your company’s brand is important.

#3: Set video production cost goals

Prior to shooting any video content for your business, it’s important to establish video budget constraints based on the video marketing objectives you’ve set. For example, you may have video marketing objectives that require video production costs to stay under $100 or $500. These video marketing video cost goals should help guide your video creation process while still allowing you enough room in the budget for post-production editing, graphics, and distribution to social media channels.

You may also consider hiring a video production company to do all the hard work for you. If you decide to go this route, you’ll want to make sure your budget can handle it. A video production company will also be able to give you good video marketing advice based on the video marketing campaign objectives you’ve set.

#4: Determine video marketing video length

There is no magic video length that works for every business, however, there are certain best practices to consider when creating a video. A rule of thumb is the shorter the video, the more likely it will be watched to completion by your target audience.

According to a 2013 video marketing statistics report from Vidyard, 87% of video ads on Facebook are watched to completion. Vidyard also found that video marketing campaigns with video ads of 90 seconds or less deliver 60% more leads than video campaigns with video ads longer than 90 seconds. Another best practice is to keep your videos around two minutes or less, as viewers begin to drop off after the one-minute mark.

You should also consider what social media platforms you’ll be posting your video on as far as their restrictions on video length. TikTok only allows video to be 60 seconds long at maximum, while YouTube video lengths vary from video to video. YouTube videos can easily be shared via other popular platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. For video marketing on YouTube, video length can be determined by video content. In general, shorter videos have a higher watch time and retention rate.

#5: Choose the right video format

It’s important to choose video file types that are compatible with your video marketing platform.

Square video for Instagram is the most popular video format. This is because it fits perfectly with default video formats on mobile devices, which makes it easier for users to share across their social channels without having to crop video.

You should also consider video file formats for video campaigns on other platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter, too. For video campaigns on Facebook, you can use video file formats of .mov, .mp4, and .m4v. On YouTube, by default videos are posted as an MP4 video file type that allows for high-quality playback of video with sound.

For video marketing on Twitter, the video should be at least 10 seconds long to be counted as an official video post. Videos that are too long won’t be retweeted, either.

It’s important to not only know your audience but also know the platform to which you are posting.

#6: Determine video marketing video content

Once you have figured out video length, budget, and objects, it’s time to start creating great video content. There are a few best practices for video marketing content that will keep viewers engaged and motivated to take action.

What type of content would best suit your business? Do you sell products that customers would like to know about before they purchase? Create a How-To video  on how to use it, different ways to use it, or how to unbox it. Do you provide specific services that customers would benefit from seeing your company’s process? Create a video that showcases your workplace in action. Do you have happy customers and want potential customers to know about their experiences? Tape a testimonial video to share past clients’ opinions on your company and the services and/or products you provide!

There are many options for content and it doesn’t hurt to get creative. Creativity doesn’t have to mean unprofessional, either. Not sure where to start with content ideas? Talk to a professional video production company like C&I Studios to get started.

#7: Create a video that shows your business in action

It’s not always wise to create a video that looks like a company commercial. For some companies, this will work as a great introduction, but it’s not what you should be putting out all the time.

Instead of just talking about what makes your business great, show off the people who work there and what your business is capable of. This video marketing video content approach creates a video that quickly establishes trust while showing the brand in an authentic way.

Another video marketing video content best practice is to show off your business by showcasing its products or services. For example, if you’re a food blogger who runs cooking videos on YouTube, shoot some video showing a cooking video being created. Many customers react positively to videos of your employees and coworkers behind the scenes. It humanizes your company, reminding potential customers that you’re not just a business, but people, too.

#8: Test your video marketing content

Before you launch a video marketing campaign it’s essential to test different video marketing video content on your target audience to know what video marketing video content resonates most.

You should also consider testing video marketing video content on other video platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. By testing in multiple places, you’ll be able to gauge where your videos will work best while also learning how to tailor your videos to the specific platforms you want your videos posted to reach your target audience.

#9: Analyze video marketing video content success

Don’t be discouraged if video marketing video content doesn’t take off right away. Video marketing takes time, so it’s important to give your video content ample time before you start to analyze for success. When you do look back on how your video performed, there are a few ways to measure video marketing video content success.

Did video marketing video content get enough views? Or did it exceed them? Sometimes, video marketing video content spreads slowly and gradually, so there’s no reason to lose hope if you don’t see a huge spike immediately after posting your video online.

Are the comments on any of your videos positive or negative? Negative comments can pile up, but video marketing video content success lies in how you handle them. Reply to negative comments with video marketing video content responses explaining your side of the story or offering ways to rectify an issue. It’s not always wise to just delete any sour comments- responding shows your audience that there is someone behind the scenes who is willing to address any and all concerns.

Is there any video marketing video content engagement? Video marketing video content engagement is seeing your videos shared on your social media platforms and video platforms. The video content becomes effective when it is shared and viewed by others, driving up video marketing video content views and video marketing video content success.

#10: Repurpose video marketing video content

You can always repurpose video marketing video content to see whether other audiences respond positively to the same video marketing video content you posted online. Repurposing video marketing video content is adding video marketing video content to different video platforms. For example, if you create an explainer video for your business website, post the finished video on YouTube and share it through email newsletters or on social media platforms. If you get a good response, repurpose your video to other platforms so you can reach video marketing video content and video marketing video content success. Repurposing video marketing video content is the process of showing your video to different audiences, so don’t hesitate if you think one video can reach multiple demographics.

#11: Think beyond social media

One of the easiest ways to create video marketing content is through social media specifically. It’s also the easiest way to share videos with potential clients inexpensively. However, video marketing video content success doesn’t end with social media- you need to be able to imagine video content that goes beyond simply trying to increase your video presence on social media platforms.

Videos can be placed on websites, blogs, and e-mailes, so video marketing success doesn’t stop at social media. Consider video content that can be repurposed for different video platforms and video marketing video content ideas that go beyond the social media box.

Consider hiring a professional video production company

C&I Studios offers video production services to companies of all sizes. If marketing via video seems like a foreign language to you, we can help.

From doing all the hard work from start to finish, C&I Studios is here to support your business with whatever you need in order to create amazing video marketing content. We provide services from writing scripts and hiring talent to post-production aspects like editing and animation to make your video marketing content perfect. Contact us for your next project.

For more information on industry standards and best practices, visit the American Marketing Association.

Everyone knows how important video content is for marketing your product or service, but how do you get started? Some of the most obvious video topics for businesses just starting out are unboxing videos to showcase new products and how-to videos.

How-to videos are an excellent starting point and can be extremely helpful for many types of companies, no matter if they sell products or services. They’re informative on the basics of any product or service and can showcase uses and functionality that may not be as well-known to the general public.

With how-to videos , you’re able to do a few things:

1.  Educate your customers on how they can use or interact with your product
2. Increase how often customers use your product (typically through swarming audiences who want to learn how to properly use the product)
3. Teach how to use your product in a way that is going to save anyone who watches how to get the biggest benefit — whether it’s saving time, saving money or simply how to be more efficient.

There are many other benefits, but these three alone should provide you with what you need to get started thinking about how how-to videos can be beneficial to your own video marketing campaign.

But, how do you make a successful How-To Video that really stands out against other similar companies’ video marketing campaigns?

Some how-tos are how-to guides that show the viewer how to do something; while others are how-to reviews that tell the viewers how well a product or service works once it is used correctly. Then there are how-to compare videos that help customers to see how one product or service is better than the competitors’.

Having great video content like this on your website, social media channels, and blog is a powerful draw that will keep people coming back to you for how-to help as well as any other informational videos you create.

So, how does one begin making a how-to video?

A Great Title is a Great Start

But how do you make sure your how-to video captures the viewer’s attention from the beginning?

First of all, it must have a good title in order to get viewers to click on it. You want a title that is quick and to the point about how to do something or how well a product works. Keep it simple with the most basic of information and keywords so that it can easily be pulled up in a search. Searchable content will bring more attention to your other marketing efforts, too.

Presentation is Everything

The most important aspect is how you present your how-to video. For example, an unboxing how-to video should have a clean background with the camera placed correctly so it doesn’t focus on anything but the object being unwrapped.

No matter how you are presenting, whether it is how to use a product or how-to review, show that you are trustworthy and knowledgeable about your how-to guide. If the viewer follows along with how you present the video, they will gain faith in what you have to say which will make them much more likely to follow your advice.

Another way to help gain viewers’ trust is making sure your how-to video doesn’t feel too long or drawn out. Viewers have short attention spans and they need a how-to guide that gives them the information quickly without feeling like a sales pitch.

A how-to video should never sound like a commercial, so focus on how to make it informative and how-to focused rather than on how well a product works or how it can benefit the customer.

An Engaging Closing is Key to Successful how-to Videos

No matter how how-to video is presented, one of the most important aspects is how it ends.

Ending your how-tos with a call to action will help drive potential customers to your website where they are more likely to make a purchase.

You want how-tos to be an informative and educational video marketing campaign, so calls to action should not include deals or discounts. Instead, they should engage the viewer and motivate them to make a purchase without feeling like you are trying too hard.

Calls to action can include contact information, interactions such a polls for your next videos, or how-to subscribe. The how-tos should not be overly salesy as how-tos are meant to drive potential customers back to your website rather than try to make a sale from how-tos themselves.

Including calls to action helps you maintain subscribers and followers who will continue to engage with your content.

Interactivity Can Be a Game-Changer

Another aspect that can make how-to videos stand out is how interactive they are. You can do this by creating how-to polls or how-to surveys, which will help the viewer gain more ownership over the how-to video content and make them want to participate in it even if it is how-to reviews. Interactive how-to reviews will make your how-to guide a more engaging video marketing campaign and can help you to rank higher for how-to keywords as well as other search terms because the how-to videos are interactive.

You also gain engagement from potential customers when you ask for their opinions on what they want to see and learn about. This can be how-to advice that is specific to the viewer’s how-to guide or how-tos that are not about any one how-to video in particular.

Adding an interactive component really shows your potential customers that you care about their wants and needs out of a product or service. It will also gain you how-to followers and how-to subscribers who either want to participate in how-to polls or how-to surveys or just share the how-to video with others.

And because your how-tos engage and inform your potential customers, they will be more likely to make a purchase from you rather than any of your competitors.

Consider Filming A Series

When your how-to videos focus on the basic use of a product, it might be worth your time and effort to create a series to follow up that shows more specific features and how to utilize them. For how-to videos to be effective, you should aim for how-to series’. Having how-to guides that each talk about a different aspect of your product or service will keep viewers coming back to learn more about how well your items work and what other uses they may have.

If you show potential customers how a product works in a simple how-to video, it’s a smart idea to follow up with how it can be used to save time or money in a how-to guide, it will keep your viewers coming back for more. Showing them more than just the basics will show potential customers that you value their time and energy by making it easier to access information about the products your company sells and the services your company provides.

Shorter videos that highlight one aspect of a product tend to bring in more views by people looking for specific features of the product. With multiple shorter, specific videos on products, customers can easily search for videos they specifically need via keywords, but will also perk their interest in other aspects of the products by showing them that there is a series based soley on one product. By creating a how-to series, you are catering to your customers in a way that will keep them coming back for more how-to help.

Longer videos tend to lose a viewer’s attention if they aren’t finding the exact information they’re looking for quickly and easily. When their interest is lost, their business is lost.

If you have the time and resources to create how-to videos for all of your products or services, then go ahead and start with how to use your product or how well it works once used by the customer. These how-to guides will be the most helpful to your customers and they will bring more attention to how well your products work which will encourage them to buy from you again.

Customers Will Return to How-To Videos

Finally, how-to videos are watched and re-watched again and again by potential customers. This means that how-tos will be shared with friends, family members, clients, etc. because how-tos indicate value to the viewer. If how-tos tell them how well a product or service works then they can pass it along to their friends and family members. This how-to video marketing is how many companies began, and how-tos continue to be a popular way for marketers and businesses to gain more traffic and sales.

The focused content in these sorts of videos allows you to create trust with potential customers and provide them the how-to clarity they need to make an informed purchase. Focusing on one product or service while also making sure your potential customers have any and all information they need before making a purchase will create a trusting rapport before you ever meet face-to-face.

In this respect, you don’t want your information to be stale within a few months. Instead, you should be focusing on information and content that will hold true for a long time. Again, it’s not wise to talk about current deals or sales going on at the time you upload the video. Someone who views the video a few months later will be disappointed that they can no longer get that same deal and that will reflect badly on your company as a whole. Instead, ask them to contact your company directly to talk about any deals you may be hosting, have them subscribe to other marketing campaigns, such as a newsletter or your company’s social media accounts to see the latest and greatest sales.

Consider Hiring A Professional Video Production Company

We understand that creating videos can be intimidating if you’ve never done it before. We also cater to those who may be too busy to do every step themselves. That’s why if you’d prefer to have a how-to video created for you, C&I Studios offers video production services of all kinds to boost your video marketing footprint. Whether you want how-to videos or company overviews filmed from us, or you just need to rent the best equipment possible, we can and will do it all.

With our video production services we will take care of as many aspects of the video creation process as you need. We will create how-to videos for your products and services, help you to market your how-to videos both on and offline, and create how-to series’ that keep people coming back for more.

Professional video production companies take the guess work out of video content creation. We do all of the hard work for you, from writing scripts and finding the perfect filming location, to finalizing video production with professional editing services. Our how-to videos are guaranteed to be engaging, informative, and sure to help boost your overall marketing campaign for years to come.

 

In conclusion, how-to videos give a face to your business and a personality that is separate from the company itself. This is how how-to videos differentiate themselves from most other marketing formats and how they allow companies to connect with potential customers. How-to videos allow a company to become a brand that people can trust, and how they play a large role in creating one of the most important aspects any business needs: connections.

In this article you learned how how-to videos help businesses attract customers and how how-to video marketing helps companies gain traffic and sales along with establishing a positive reputation. You also learned the most important elements to consider when creating a how-to video for your company. From making your videos easy to find to making sure your potential customers can interact with your company through these videos, you now have the basic information to create your company’s own how-to video marketing campaign that will bring in many more potential customers.

So don’t wait any longer, contact C&I Studios today about creating how-to videos that can and will grow your business. We look forward to creating amazing how-to videos with you in the near future!

Taking care of your camera equipment is very important if you want it to function properly, whether you’re purchasing your own equipment or renting from a professional video production company like C&I Studios. Every lens, no matter which manufacturer made it, needs some care and attention in order to keep them in great working condition. Cameras are very expensive pieces of machinery- perhaps the most expensive equipment in your arsenal-, so why not try your best to take care of them?

If you want to find out more about how to take care of your lenses, then you’re in the right place. Here are ten tips on how to treat your lenses like your best friend so they’ll last a long time, making your investment in quality equipment worthwhile.

Handle with Care

The simplest way to damage your lenses is to drop them or bump into something that’s solid, like a table corner. The camera will survive the impact, but the lens won’t be so lucky if it gets struck by accident against concrete or asphalt when you’re taking it out of the car. Try to be careful and mind your surroundings, especially when you’re changing lenses and transporting them between storage and filming locations.

Of course, accidents do happen, so it’s important to take care when you do drop your lenses. If you’re in a situation where you can’t grab the lens immediately, let it drop to the floor. Don’t try to catch it because that only makes the lens fly faster and increases your chances of breaking it. And if you do use a tripod outside, hold on to it tightly so nobody bumps into it by accident.

If you accidentally drop your camera equipment in a puddle of water, the first thing to do is take off the lens and then gently shake any excess liquid from it. Don’t wipe or rub it with cloth or paper – that’s just going to push water into hard-to-reach spaces inside the lens and possibly scratch the glass.

Keep it Clean

Lenses are best kept clean at all times. This is because dust or smudge can contribute to reduced image quality. Keep your lenses covered when you’re not using them to prevent dust or smudges from touching the lens.

Cameras and lenses are delicate pieces of equipment so dust and dampness sticking to the lens barrel can easily lead to scratches on the body or problems with build quality in general. The best way to prevent this is to clean the camera from time to time. You can use a blower or a special brush for that purpose. Using just any cloth to wipe your glass will only scratch the surface of it, creating tiny scratches that accumulate over time which can make video appear blurry or pixelated. If you want to clean the lens elements, use a special brush or just a piece of cotton or microfiber cloth. Don’t try to use paper towels because they’re too rough for that purpose.

If there was dust on your camera when you were changing lenses, it’s possible that some particles are stuck between the lens elements. When you start using the camera again, these particles will slowly fall out of the lens barrel and end up either on your sensor or inside one of your other lenses. That’s why it’s important to turn the camera on and inspect all lenses for several seconds before you start shooting. If you see some particles, use your blower or brush to gently remove them.

When cleaning those difficult-to-reach parts of your lens, always use a soft brush first to carefully remove any dust particles that may be present. After that, clean them with a piece of microfiber cloth gently moistened with special lens cleaning fluid. Never use your mouth to moisten the cloth – saliva is full of tiny particles and other contaminants.

Don’t wipe the front element with a tissue. Don’t be fooled by the glamour of those TV commercials where photographers clean their lenses with a simple wipe of a piece of tissue and lots of smiles. It might work for some people, but it is definitely not recommended for most lenses out there because you can damage them in the process.

If you’re not sure about how to correctly remove dirt, take your equipment to an authorized service center so they can do it for you. They will also be able to provide you with the proper cleaning gear as well as extra tips on how to properly care for it on your own.

No Touching

Don’t Touch the Glass! Some people advise against touching a camera lens with bare hands, saying that the dirt and oils from your fingers will stick to it and result in a loss of quality. We’re not going to say this is completely wrong, but if you’re concerned about cleanliness you can put on special gloves when working with the camera. Or you can use wipes designed for cleaning camera optics. It’s also worth noting that the front element of most lenses has a special coating meant to repel dust and dirt, so sticking them with your fingers won’t cause any problems. But still, it’s best to clean the front of the lens with some kind of cloth as we described above.

You can also damage your lens if you constantly touch the glass with your hands because there is a possibility that those tiny “imperfections” on your hands will get stuck between the lens elements and cause problems during image capture. There’s been many an occasion where people have thought they’re touching the camera lens, but actually, touch some other part of the camera and end up leaving a smudge or fingerprint on it.

Keep it Covered

When you’re not using a camera, keep the lens protected with a special cover over it so dust and sand won’t stick to the glass or get inside. Also, take care of proper storage when you’re not shooting because humidity will cause moisture to build up in the lenses and damage them too.

It’s best to use a special case for protection from dust and moisture, but if you don’t have one, make sure you put your camera in a safe spot where it won’t get banged around or exposed to the elements.

Keep it Dry

High humidity is one of the biggest problems with camera lenses because moisture gets inside when they’re not protected properly. When you’re shooting in the rain or near a high-humidity area, make sure to change your lens frequently so that water doesn’t have a chance to penetrate into the different parts of the lens body. Before you change lenses, shake off any water droplets so they don’t get your fresh lens wet. If you’re in an area with drastic weather changes, it is especially important to make sure your equipment is dry. Any water that freezes will expand and crack the lens’s glass and plastic components, rendering it completely ruined.

Be Careful with the Hood

There are two types of lens hoods: fixed and detachable ones. If you choose a detachable one, be careful when you take the hood off and put it back on because if you don’t do that gently, your lens may sustain some damage. Also, keep in mind that a fast-rotating lens hood can cause camera blur if it hits another object while rotating, so if you’re using that type of hood on your lens, be extremely careful when you attach it to the camera.

When attaching a hood, first check to see if the direction of rotation is correct. If you attach it incorrectly and turn on the camera, your image will be blurred from the camera shake because the lens won’t have enough time to adjust itself back to its normal position.

Pack Light

The more equipment you have with you, the more likely it is that something will break or get dirty during transport. Don’t pack too many lenses in one case because there’s a greater chance of damaging them while you’re carrying your camera rig. Carrying too many objects at once leads to a greater risk of dropping them. Make sure your camera bag has special compartments for holding lenses.

Also, make sure you use a special case for transporting lenses that will protect them from airborne dust and contaminants. Don’t just throw them into a bag because it doesn’t offer any protection at all. The lenses themselves can be heavy and cause a lot of damage to each other and anything else in the same bag if not properly packed and protected.

Keep in mind that when you’re packing to go shoot somewhere, the lenses are much more likely to break if they’re packed on top of other equipment. It’s best to place them in a special case and then put them on the bottom of the camera bag where they’ll be less likely to get damaged.

Be Aware of Temperature Changes

Rapid temperature changes may result in condensation forming on the camera and lens surfaces. To avoid condensation while going from a warm room to cold outdoor conditions, simply put the camera with a lens attached into a plastic bag before leaving home. This way, any moisture that forms on your equipment will be absorbed by plastic instead of glass or metal elements. Every little bit to save your lenses from the elements helps.

Try not to expose your camera equipment to excessively high or low temperatures. If you’ll be shooting in hot weather (over 95 degrees Fahrenheit/35 °C), make sure you let your camera and lenses rest in the shade when you’re not using them. Extreme temperatures can cause internal glass elements inside the lens to crack if they’re exposed for too long and warp any plastic components.

Follow the Manufacturer’s Instructions

One of the first things you should do when you purchase new lenses and camera equipment is to read the manual that came with it. Always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using and storing your equipment for best results and to avoid problems with it in the future. Keep your lenses clean, dry, and covered when you’re not using them because that will make them last longer. Make sure to keep any caps or special covers on as instructed.

Upgrade Your Lenses Regularly

If you want to make sure your lenses are in the best possible condition, buy new ones regularly because older lenses are usually more prone to damage. Newer versions are made with better materials and technology that extend the life of your camera’s glass components. Make sure to put your lenses through routine tests before each shoot so you don’t use them when they’re not 100 percent functional.

One thing you should always pay attention to is your lens elements. If they’re filthy, smudged, or damaged in any way, it’s time to upgrade your lenses because that can have a very negative effect on image quality.

Of course, if you’re renting your equipment, you can easily trade your lenses in when the company you’re working with upgrades their stock, making it very easy for you to make sure you’re using the best possible equipment available to you and your production team.

 

Taking care of your equipment is not only important in order to take care of your investment, but also to make sure you’re capturing the best quality video and photographs possible. With better-cared-for lenses, you’ll have less re-touching and editing your team will have to do, which will save you money in the long run. Always focus on protecting your lenses rather than the camera body itself because your video will suffer if there’s any damage to it. Follow these tips and you’ll have a much more enjoyable experience with your camera equipment.

Whether you’re purchasing your own equipment or renting from a company like C&I Studios, taking care of your lenses is the most important aspect of camera care and will save you money and strife. Don’t neglect your lenses because they’re the most expensive and vital component of your camera rig. Treat them right and you’ll never miss a shot again.

 

For more information on industry standards and best practices, visit the American Marketing Association.

The TikTok revolution is upon us, and it’s important that marketers take notice. TikTok is a short-form video social network where users can record 15-second clips (called “Takes”), set them to music, add effects like fast fades or jump cuts, and share them with their followers. What makes TikTok unique is its emphasis on creating original content; unlike many other platforms with 100 million active monthly users, TikTok doesn’t rely heavily on repurposing existing content or utilizing popular influencers to push their product.

As anyone in marketing knows, the key to success in marketing lies in understanding your target demographics’ behaviors. TikTok has taken this philosophy one step further by not only finding out how young adults are using the TikTok platform but by supporting and fostering TikTok creators (users who make high-quality TikToks such as dances or comedic skits) through its Creator Council. TikTok gives these influencers a place to meet other users, upload their content, and connect with brands interested in reaching TikTok’s audience of 100 million active monthly users: Generation Z.

Taking advantage of Tik Tok’s momentum can be a smart business move. It provides you with a unique opportunity to reach a large audience that you may not yet be In this post, we’ll explore the benefits of using a professional service to create branded content to post on TikTok and how to go about finding the right service for your brand.

 

Why you should use a Professional Marketing Service to create your brand’s TikTok Content:

Using a company of professional videographers allows your brand to stand out from the rest. TikTok is full of user-generated videos, so it’s important to make yours unique. TikTok users are quickly able to recognize which videos are made by professionals and which aren’t.

Reputable content marketing firms will create the TikTok video for you using professional backgrounds and equipment. They will produce a high-quality content piece using TikTok’s own filters and effects—as well as your brand colors and logo—for use on TikTok or any other social platform, such as Instagram or Facebook. This way, TikTok users can relate to your videos right away and feel even more connected with your brand because they were made specifically for TikTokers.

 

Choosing the right service for your company and brand:

TikTok’s emphasis on creativity and making cool TikTok videos means that when looking for TikTok content marketing agencies to create TikTok videos for your business, you should look for one with a team of people who specialize in TikTok video creation. And don’t be afraid to ask the agency about its own current TikTok presence. It’s important that TikTok videos are made by TikTok users who understand TikTok culture, so choosing an agency that has both successful previous clients and a current and relevant presence is important.

You should look for TikTok video marketing agencies that are Tik Tok’s preferred partners. TikTok has recently established a network of TikTok content creation agencies, and these companies have the Tik Tok stamp of approval.

 

Look for an Agency that is familiar with TikTok’s demographics.

Finding TikTok-certified agencies can be a challenge, as TikTok is still relatively new and not yet widely known outside of the Gen Z demographic. TikTok has publicly announced its plan to work with agencies that specialize in TikTok video creation, but in the meantime, there’s no single database of TikTok-certified videographers. To make sure you’re hiring a TikTok-certified Tik Tok content marketing agency, however, you should look for one that posts original Tik Tok videos to TikTok on a regular basis. Only Tik Tok content marketing agencies with a Tik Tok presence on Tik Tok can really understand the platform’s audience and TikTok culture, which means they’re best equipped to create quality TikTok videos for your business.

Using a company of professional videographers allows your brand to stand out from the rest. TikTok is full of user-generated videos, so it’s important to make yours unique. TikTok users are quickly able to recognize which videos are made by professionals and which aren’t.

Reputable content marketing firms will create the TikTok video for you using professional backgrounds and equipment. They will produce a high-quality content piece using TikTok’s own filters and effects—as well as your brand colors and logo—for use on TikTok or any other social platform, such as Instagram or Facebook. This way, TikTok users can relate to your videos right away and feel even more connected with your brand because they were made specifically for TikTokers.

 

Companies that work with TikTok Influencers to create branded content have a higher chance of going viral.

On top of looking for TikTok video marketing agencies that do their own heavy TikTok promotion, they should also be working closely with TikTok creators and TikTok influencers to make sure your videos stand out in the TikTok universe. TikTok influencers are TikTok users who have large TikTok followings, and by working with them, TikTok content marketing agencies can help your company’s TikTok videos go viral.

 

What kind of questions should you be asking a Marketing Service when deciding who to hire?

– What TikTok video creation services do you offer?

– How many TikToks have you produced in the past month?

– Have your videos gone viral on TikTok before? If so, how many times and for what brands?

– How many clients do you currently have that your company creates TikTok content with?

– Do your TikTok videos follow TikTok’s guidelines and rules?

– What specialties does your company have besides TikTok content creation?

– How much would it cost to produce one TikTok video for my brand?

– Have you worked with already-established TikTok Influencers before? Who?

 

In conclusion:

Hiring a professional marketing agency that specializes in TikTok content creation is a great way to stand out in TikTok’s sea of user-generated videos. TikTok video marketing agencies are TikTok video experts, with years of social media marketing experience and plenty of successful TikTok videos under their belts that they can put your brand on the map with.

C&I Studios offers all kinds of marketing content creation services, including TikTok content creation. We would love to discuss what you and your brand needs to be successful on TikTok as well as any other social media platform.

Your filming location is one of the most important elements to consider when planning your video marketing campaign. In order to get the best filming location for your video, you must consider a few key factors. It is important to plan filming locations before filming even begins.

Your filming location should embody your brand. It is important to research filming locations thoroughly so your filming location fits your specific business model and overall message as a company. Your filming location can set the scene for all of your video content, present and future, which means that it will play an integral role in capturing the attention of viewers.

What should you consider BEFORE you start searching for a filming location?

Before you begin searching for the perfect filming location there are a couple of things you should be taking into account.

First, what is the tone of voice of your company? Is it warm and welcoming or corporate and formal? Second, what kind of message do you want to convey about your company? Warmth and friendliness can come from filming in a homey and inviting location, while formality can come from filming in a more professional office space.

Secondly, you should put into consideration that the filming location is often the first thing that viewers see when viewing your finalized video. Are you filming your video in a room? All of your surroundings are caught on camera. Are you filming outside? The surrounding landscape must be taken into consideration.

Finally, filming locations are often the most expensive part of filming your video. You should spend some time deciding how much you are willing to spend on filming locations before filming even begins. What is your budget for this video marketing campaign as a whole? Knowing how much you can actually spend between all elements of the video is important when figuring out the budget for your filming location. You don’t want to spend your entire budget on just one element and allow the rest of the video to suffer. You could be renting an amazing set, but the editing process and film’s wardrobe may not get the attention they need to create a great video.

All of these factors can affect how well your video performs, so it is crucial to choose filming locations that are aesthetically pleasing and fit the tone of your company’s brand. If filming your video in a location that is not aesthetically pleasing, you can still edit the video so that it looks good, but that will take more time, people, and money to edit into something that viewers will enjoy.

Now that you know what to consider when finding a filming location, you can really dive into your search.

Where should I start?

Start by visualizing how you want the finished video to look. What local places have that aesthetic and ability to host your crew? Are you visualizing something indoors and homey, or are you wanting something bright, cheerful, and outdoors?

Creating the “perfect filming location” in your mind before filming will help you avoid filming in an unsuitable place when time is of the essence. By knowing what filming locations you are looking for, it will prevent you from having to waste valuable time filming at a bad filming location after scouting out several different places during your filming location search.

Having filming locations already planned out will help the filming process go more smoothly. It may even save you money, as filming in a public location can be free or cheaper than filming on private property. By having filming locations picked out before filming starts, you are saving time and money by being prepared ahead of time so filming can begin when it is scheduled to.

That being said, finding a great filming location for your video marketing campaign is not always easy.  The filming location you choose will need to have the right setup in order for you to get your message across. If filming in a public location, it is important that filming happens during off-hours so as to reduce interference with other people’s lives and activities.

The best filming locations for video marketing campaigns should allow you to set the scene without having to spend hours filming additional footage. It is also important that you don’t have the glare of street lamps, security lights, or buildings right outside of your filming location window.

Public vs. Private Property

Getting access to filming locations may be easy or difficult depending on the type of filming location you are looking for.

If filming in a public space it is important to think about your filming schedule and make sure filming is done during off-peak hours so as not to inconvenience anyone. However, filming in a public space may require filming permits, which can be an unexpected extra expense that you should account for. Filming in public areas can be free or cheaper than filming on private property, but you take the risk of having large crowds gather around your filming location when you film in these types of places. Public filming locations can also cause problems if there are local ordinances preventing filming in certain locations.

Public parks can make a great filming location. They’re already well-maintained by the local government and, depending on the size of the park, can host a large crew if needed. Depending on the area, you can find public places with different types of flora and scenery, if needed. Beaches, forests, or a lovely green lawn all set a different stage.

If filming on private property you need to get permission from the property owner or manager before filming, especially if there are any cameras or security personnel that will be present during filming.  It is also good to get contact information for the property owner in case of emergencies during filming. It may be as simple as calling up a business and asking to film at their location, or it could require signing an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) if filming on someone’s personal property.

Private properties range from private homes and gardens to filming studios.

Filming in a private home can be a great filming location if the homeowner is willing to have filming done on their property. In this case, filming in a private residence may not require filming permits or any additional permissions from the local government. However, filming in a private home requires you to maintain good standing with the homeowner’s neighbors who may see filming take place.

Film studios, on the other hand, often allow filming without filming permits and are a great filming location in general as they usually have the proper equipment available for use, too. However, you want to consider the cost of renting a studio as they can take a big chunk of your budget.

When filming your video marketing it is vital to not only look for the perfect filming location but also make sure that you can film there legally and stay within your budget.  You don’t want to be filming an awesome video marketing campaign and have all of your videos taken down because they were filmed on private property without the consent of the owner. You also don’t want to be banned from a perfect filming location in the future because you didn’t go through the proper legal systems to be able to film there.

Outdoor vs. Indoor Locations

It is important to think about filming location based on the type of video you are filming.  For example, filming an instructional video in a public park may not be the best idea if it will be raining or if there are large crowds of people that would get in your way during filming. Similarly filming an interview with just one person inside of a busy retail store may not be ideal, as you risk filming other people that are shopping in the store.

In order to prevent filming from being interrupted by crowds of people or poor weather conditions, it is important to think about both indoor and outdoor filming locations before filming your video marketing campaign.  You should also look to filming locations that can accommodate a large filming crew if needed.

Lighting is also important to consider when deciding between indoor and outdoor venues. In order to create a professional filming environment, filming during the day with natural lighting is typically more preferable to filming at night.  Filming at night may require additional equipment and lights which can end up being a hassle if filming late into the evening.

When considering indoor filming locations it is important to think about how many people will be filming in the space at the same time. Will filming take a long period of time and will other people need access to the filming locations during filming? These types of logistical questions should be considered before filming even begins.

By considering filming location based on filming schedule and logistical concerns you can ensure that filming for your video marketing campaigns is an enjoyable experience for both the crew and the viewers.

Local or Travel?

How far are you willing to travel for the perfect filming location? While filming in your hometown may be easier logistically, filming on location elsewhere can create a more interesting filming environment for the viewer.

Filming on location not only provides new surroundings but also allows for unique shots of video marketing. Constantly using the same hometown location may become stale for your viewers.

Traveling to filming locations can be typically more expensive than filming on location locally but the cost of travel filming can really depend on what filming location you choose. Filming in New York City is obviously going to be much more expensive than filming across the street from your business, but there may be some benefits to filming in New York City. For example, filming a video marketing campaign about your credit card processing services at the Empire State building may provide a more interesting filming experience than filming across the street from your business location at the local pizzeria.

Keeping filming locations local is advantageous for controlling costs and hyping up your hometown and bringing in new business to the area. That local pizzeria may benefit from your advertising, too, and you could build a great working relationship going forward.

Other things to consider:

Having a backup filming location is a good idea, just in case you or your video marketing campaign need to film in an unexpected place. Having a list of possible filming locations to turn to when needed will allow you to have peace of mind knowing that an acceptable filming location is always available in a pinch.

It is always good to have equipment on hand just in case the filming location has poor lighting or filming needs to take place outside of your ideal filming location. Having the ability to be flexible with filming locations will help keep your video filming on track!

You should also consider the idea of being able to return and film more videos in the same location in the future. Being able to have multiple videos in a marketing campaign in the same setting shows a seamless, well-planned campaign that customers, clients, and potential; business partners will take notice of.

If you’re new to video marketing, it would be wise to hire a professional video production company like C&I Studios. We have much experience filming marketing videos in various locations and can help point you in the right direction for finding filming locations as well as help you through every part of the video content creation process. You can check out the services we offer by visiting our site here.

C&I Studios has created video marketing campaigns for many companies and we look forward to working with any business, big or small. Our video marketing portfolio is available here and you can get a grasp of what we have created in the past and what we can do for your business’s marketing campaigns.

 

By considering filming location carefully before filming your video marketing campaign, you will have a higher chance of success.  Not only will the right filming locations be aesthetically pleasing, speak to your brand’s message, and allow for flexibility, but you’ll also be able to set yourself up for filming in the same place multiple times which is ideal to show repeat customers and clients that quality videos are being produced by your business!

We all know that video content is king in today’s market. Video marketers are taking this to heart and using it to their advantage by creating video content at a rapid pace. However, video marketers are realizing that producing video content isn’t enough these days. Just because you have video content, doesn’t mean that you are video marketing. Video marketers need to create video content that is unique and appealing to their target audience in order to be successful.

In this blog post, we here at C&I Studios are going to teach video marketing newbies the advantages of video marketing with a RED camera over video marketing with a smartphone.

In the video marketing world, RED cameras are becoming very popular. In fact, video marketers that ignore this fact will be left behind as their competitors take video content to the next level. Why video marketers choose to video market with a RED camera over a smartphone is because of the quality that it offers.

What makes RED cameras so special? Is this just another fad in video marketing or are video marketers actually gaining an edge over their competitors by using RED video equipment? Why shouldn’t we continue to use our smartphones that are already easily accessible?

Let’s take a look.

Smartphones will only get you so far…

Due to advancements in smartphone technology and photo editing apps, it has become easier than ever to create videos for marketing campaigns. This video marketing trend is very powerful due to the fact that video is so effective for increasing customer conversions. They make it easy to upload directly to social media platforms such as TikTok or Instagram, too, which is certainly an asset for marketing in the field or when you need to post something quickly.

However, video marketers that only use smartphones will soon begin to see their competitors surpass them and leave them in the dust. Why is this?

Smartphones are limited with lower video quality and abilities…

If video marketers want to create video content that looks cinematic and appealing, they need to invest in high-quality video equipment and smartphones can’t cut it.

The video quality from smartphones is limited, especially when compared to video cameras. Smartphone video is also prone to shaking as the video is mostly handheld without any stabilization technology involved. This means video marketers will need to invest in video editing software such as Adobe After Effects and video stabilization tools like Warp Stabilizer, which can increase video production costs.

Sure, video marketers can create pretty good video content using their smartphones but they will never get the same results as they would using RED video equipment. Smartphone video marketing campaigns are effective but video marketers can experience much better video marketing results by using RED cameras.

What makes RED video cameras so special?

The video quality from a RED camera is superior to smartphone video. RED cameras produce footage that looks cinematic and professional while keeping your business at forefront of the video marketing industry.

Depending on the video marketing campaign that video marketers are trying to achieve, smartphones can produce decent video content. Unfortunately, smartphones only record in HD at 30 frames per second. What does this mean for video marketers? It means that video marketers will be severely limited when it comes to editing video content.

RED video cameras are the video marketing video equipment of choice because they provide video marketers with so much more flexibility when it comes to video marketing campaigns. Most RED video cameras record in 4k at 60 frames per second, also known as Ultra HD or UHD. This means that video marketers have more room for creativity during the editing process.

Furthermore, video marketers that use red video cameras can also capture video content in RAW format which allows video marketers to achieve perfect exposure and color precision while recording video footage on set.

No matter what kind of video marketing campaign video marketers are executing, smartphones simply do not offer this kind of flexibility or video quality. If video marketers want video content that can compete with video created by RED video cameras, smartphone video just won’t cut it.

The video marketing status quo is changing and video marketers need to keep up. Smartphone video marketing campaigns are effective but video marketers also need access to video equipment such as RED video cameras in order to stay competitive and relevant in the current video marketing

Video content created with RED video equipment is much more engaging. It definitely makes a video marketer stand out over their competitors and gets them closer to their quota. If video marketers don’t stand out, they will lose video marketing clients.

 

What other differences are there between RED cameras and smartphone cameras?

The video quality that video marketers can get out of RED video cameras is much better than what video marketers will get with smartphone video marketing campaigns. This means that video marketers can give their clients much higher quality video content to work with when they publish them to YouTube or Facebook video. These platforms automatically optimize video for certain devices so having the best video possible will help video marketers out a lot.

Smartphone video marketing is a great option for video marketers that want to create video content on a budget but if they want better video results then they should definitely consider using RED video equipment.

RED video cameras are more expensive than smartphones but video marketers will notice a substantial increase in video marketing conversions if they start using RED video equipment. Smartphone video marketing campaigns may work well when video marketers are just starting out but video content created with RED video cameras will help video marketers grow their video marketing business.

Video marketers using smartphone video marketing campaigns should seriously consider upgrading to RED video equipment. RED video cameras are much more versatile and video marketers can create much better video content with RED video equipment. Smartphone video marketing campaigns are great for video marketers that are just getting started but video marketers will get superior video results when they use RED video marketing campaigns.

RED video cameras are built for professional video marketing. They have the features, video quality, video content creation software, and video marketing video equipment video marketers need to get the video marketing results they are looking for. Video marketing campaigns created with RED video cameras will engage video audiences far more than smartphone video marketing campaigns ever could. If you want to make your video marketing clients happy then you should definitely start using RED video equipment instead of smartphone video marketing video equipment like video cameras and video marketing video equipment. Smartphone video marketing campaigns are great but RED video equipment is much better for video marketers that want to grow their video marketing business.

What video marketing campaigns can video marketers create using RED video equipment?

RED video equipment is great for video shoots that require a wide variety of video angles. The reason why video marketers love RED video cameras is that the lenses allow a very wide range of view, especially when compared to smartphone lenses. This allows video marketers to capture a scene from multiple video angles.

This video marketing strategy is very effective because video marketers can capture video content that is engaging from beginning to end, which increases video conversions and drives video results for video marketers.

In addition, RED video cameras are great for livestreams because most of them record in 4k at 60 frames per second, with a low-light sensor, video stabilization, and video compression. Right now, many companies and independent business owners tend to use their smartphones with ring lights to conduct live videos, but they end up looking low-quality. Live video marketing campaigns are an increasingly popular video marketing strategy for video marketers because they allow video marketers to engage with video audiences in real-time. This live video content drives search results, which helps increase traffic to your site or social media page.

Video marketers can use RED video marketing video equipment to create video content that engages video audiences. For example, most RED video cameras have 3X lens zoom, which is great for close-up video shots. This allows video marketers to show the product or service they are trying to sell in action.

It doesn’t matter if you are video marketing for a client or if you are video marketing for yourself, RED video equipment is definitely the way to go. You will get better video marketing results because video marketers can use RED video equipment to capture immersive video content that engages target audiences.

What should I look for when purchasing or renting a RED camera?

If video marketers want to get the video results that they are after then they should consider purchasing or renting RED video equipment. Video marketers can get better video marketing conversions by using tools that were specifically made for video marketing, not smartphones.

Video marketers need to look for a video camera that meets their video marketing needs. In other words, video marketers need to make sure they purchase a RED video camera that can deliver the video results they are after.

Most RED video cameras come with several interchangeable lenses but video marketers should be careful when choosing which lenses to use because each lens has a unique video effect. For example, video marketers should choose a video lens that best captures the video scene they are trying to film.

In addition, video marketers should look for a video camera that is easy to use and easy to train their employees on. Video marketing campaigns take a lot of video work and video marketers don’t need an overly complicated video camera. Essentially, video marketers need a RED video camera that they can easily set up and operate quickly.

Last but not least, video marketers should consider the video budget they have available. Video marketers can get video equipment from RED video cameras for about $1200, which is a good video marketing investment. The price of the RED video camera should correspond to how much video marketers will use it and what type of video results video marketers expect to get from using the video camera. If video entrepreneurs want a high video quality video camera then they should be willing to spend more money on video equipment.

If your company is on a tighter budget, renting equipment is another route video marketers can take in order to access the best equipment in the business. For video marketers who are video marketing for a video company, renting video equipment is a great video marketing option because video marketers can use RED video equipment without investing in the purchase.

C&I Studios offers equipment rental in certain locations. You can look at everything C&I offers for rental purposes here.

What if I want to use a professional production company?

When reaching out to professional companies that create video content for you, you want to make sure that whichever video production company you hire has access to RED video equipment because it will help them create better video content that drives video results for their video marketing clients, including your business.

If you’re looking for a professional video production company to work with try C&I Studios. All video marketers can benefit from video productions by professional video production companies. Visit c-istudios.com to learn more about video marketing services provided by C&I Studios or contact a video marketing consultant to get started today.

C&I Studios video production team is proficient in video marketing tools such as RED video equipment because video marketers can get better video results when they use video content that was created by video professionals.

Contact C&I Studios today to get started with your next video production project! Click here to get video production quotes today.

 

Company information: C&I Studios video production studio is a video production company that specializes in video marketing. Video marketers can use video content to drive video results and video professionals create dynamic video content such as movies, commercials, and documentaries. To learn more about our video marketing services, contact C&I Studios today!

The baby has arrived! Months of arduous work culminated in the birth of a video masterpiece, and it’s time to show it to the world.

If you did your due diligence (recommended), you’ve developed a comprehensive social media video marketing strategy (recommended) with a diverse set of new media distribution channels that you have calculated down to the penny are perfect for your 1) brand, 2) creative concept, 3) style of video, and 4) target audience.

Let’s face it. Your company’s marketing mix is wrong if it isn’t heavy on video and social media.

• Video is the best medium to communicate a brand’s message.
• Social platforms reach almost 3 billion people worldwide.

How big are social media platforms? Planet Earth’s total population is 7.9 billion people. There are 4.6 billion active global internet users, or 59.5% of the total population (Statista, 01/2021).

The Top 15 Social Media Channels

Social Media Platform        Country          Year Launched        # of Active Users (07/21)

Facebook                             USA               2000                         2.7 billion active users

YouTube                              USA               2005                         2.2 billion active users

WhatsApp                            USA               2009                         2.0 billion active users

Facebook Messenger         USA               2008                         1.3 billion active users

Instagram                              USA               2009                         1.2 billion active users

WeChat                                  China             2011                         1.2 billion active users

TikTok                                    China             2017                         689 million active users

QQ                                          China             1999                         617 million active users

Douyin                                   China             2016                         600 million active users

Sina Weibo                            China            2010                           511 million active users

Telegram                               Dubai             2013                          500 million active users

Snapchat                               USA                2011                          498 million active users

Kuaishou                               China             2015                          481 million active users

Pinterest                                USA                2010                          442 million active users

Reddit                                    USA                2005                          430 million active users

That is a lot of international online marketing real estate – and Twitter’s 300 million followers aren’t even on it! It’s hard to imagine that a business can still exist if they underestimate the importance and influence of social media networks, especially when 40% of the global population isn’t even on the internet yet.

Time to Get Technical

Video and social media are the perfect matches at the ideal time. Technological developments in streaming technology increased average upload/download speeds throughout the rise of social media, paving the way for video’s digital marketing dominance.

The download speeds required to stream video content are:

• 25 Mbps: sufficient for streaming 1080p HD video.
• 10 Mbps: sufficient for 720p video.
• 5 Mbps: sufficient for 480p video.

According to Speedtest Global Index, which “ranks mobile and fixed broadband speeds from around the world on a monthly basis,” as of June 2021, average download/upload speeds in the United States were:

• 45 Mbps/68.70 Mbps.
• 08 Mbps/13.67 Mbps for mobile.

Those speeds are more than high enough to stream high-quality videos and reduce or eliminate streaming issues.

According to Speedtest.net’s Speedtest Global Index, as of June 2021, global average download/upload speeds were:

• 61 Mbps/57.67Mbps.
• 34 Mbps/12.69 Mbps for mobile.

As global video start failures and buffering issues decline, and picture quality and bit rate increase, the video will continue to be the most effective way to communicate a brand’s message.

Dominant social media networks like Facebook will most likely continue to grow (or gobble up competitors), and new social media networks will continue to launch.

Likewise, the current infrastructure investment in nationwide 5G cellular networks accelerated mobile use in the U.S. (metric). As visual content becomes easier to watch on cellular networks, another surge in its marketing capabilities will occur.

The romance between video and social media is now a long-term relationship. Future growth, integration, and reach are likely, which will, in turn, spur innovations across the spectrum of stakeholders (e.g., technology, platforms, companies, marketers, end-users).

An intelligent high-level video social media policy can build a positive feedback loop of investment and return into the video-social media partnership.

Determine your Social Media Mix

Get the data! Conduct the necessary market research and develop a solid plan to execute your video marketing strategy that begins with concept and ends with distribution. If your team applies equal thought and care to every creative chain link, you maximize your video’s chance to succeed.

Let’s say your company (We Sell Stuff, Inc.) research concludes video marketing campaigns on three specific social media networks will best serve your marketing objectives.

You discover your target audience, and a new demographic you want to reach is scattered across three very different social media channels. Two of them are video content sharing sites (e.g., YouTube and TikTok), and one is a messaging service (e.g., Facebook Messenger and WeChat).

Armed with this knowledge, your marketing team can deep dive into the fine print of how each network operates, its cost, and its projected ROI.

Customization and Optimization

The fifteen social media networks listed above are all different. Even platforms integrated and cross-promoted like Facebook & Instagram have different rules and regulations, users, languages, customs, and ways to engage with content.

Social media users are savvy, especially on their preferred network. The type of content needs to match the social media channel. It would be best if you learned their language. Instructional videos may be great on YouTube but ignored on TikTok.

Social media video content like regular videos may work wonders on Instagram Stories but flop on Facebook Messenger. You get the idea. Creative and technical teams must collaborate to successfully transition between completing a video and releasing it into the wild.

We Sell Stuff, Inc. can now practically apply its due diligence to the process of customizing your video content for each social network. That’s creative. The resulting videos then need to be optimized for each social channel’s unique technology. That’s technical.

We Sell Stuff, Inc. has a great social media marketing strategy that identifies the ideal social media networks for its video titles. The company’s creative and technical teams, including video production professionals if hired, have a high level of expertise related to the social accounts and collectively customize and optimize video content to play on each one.

Analytics

One of the significant advantages of social media marketing is the volume and breadth of the analytics available to companies that invest the time to collect, analyze, and create actionable steps around the data’s conclusions.

Click-through rates, conversion rates, bounce rates are just several examples of metrics at marketers’ fingertips.

Whether you are monitoring your Google Ads buy with Google Analytics or using the metrics provided by the social media network hosting your content, you can find out whatever you need to know to make constant improvements to your overall strategy.

A big ship is hard to steer through a canal; it moves slow and may not avoid pitfalls in time. Social media is not a big ship, but many small, agile clippers that can change course with ease quickly.

We Sell Stuff, Inc. unleashes its market analysts and, after studying a statistically significant time frame of data, learn that high-quality content promoted on two of their social media networks far outperforms the third.

The analysts also discovered that two of the four types of videos in circulation have much higher engagement levels and conversion rates. As a result, We Sell Stuff, Inc. streamlines its video marketing strategy, and a measurable increase in ROI occurs.

Reach

Social media is the stone you toss into a pond that creates concentric expanding rings that ripple outward. If you promote your customized and optimized video across the proper social media accounts (and your website), it sets a process of organic growth in motion that has a limitless reach.

The most extreme version is when individual videos “go viral.”

Other ways in which video increase a message’s reach:

• Video ads remain online in perpetuity, which allows video views in perpetuity.
• Relevant content (aka Evergreen content) drives traffic through SEO long after a video is created and distributed.
• Video clips, video thumbnails, mini video teasers increase user engagement and continue to drive traffic through SEO long after they run.
• Social media posts, or even a blog post, that include video, also drive traffic through SEO long after they post.