You’re on Facebook or LinkedIn, scrolling through video after video. Some catch your attention, some warrant an exaggerated eye roll, and some are “meh.” But your biggest takeaway is that you have to catch up because it must be working, or businesses wouldn’t keep posting videos.
There’s no denying that videos have an impact. So much so that 91% of businesses are leaning into video marketing. You’re ready to chase skyrocketing click-through rates and conversions, too, but you’re worried that video creation is expensive: Will your marketing dollars stretch to cover video marketing solutions that help amp up video production?
Let’s explore why video marketing matters and discover the best tools and tips for creating irresistible videos.
Why video marketing matters
Picture this. You’re visiting your mom, and QVC hums in the background for the day. The next week, she calls you to tell you about QVC’s deal on sandals and the pair she scored. What is this mysterious hold video shopping networks have on people?
Your mom isn’t alone. Videos help us see ourselves using a personal product, useful tool, or business solution because they let us live vicariously through other people. The promise of happiness, success, or peace of mind is effective. Chances are you’ve been swayed by a well-thought-out marketing video, too.
Video is also easy to consume, sticks in our minds, and offers measurable insights. It’s an unbeatable tool for learning—product demos and testimonial videos are often the nudge customers need to take action.
Like data? Video engagement is easy to track and measure. Explainer videos convey product benefits in ways that text and images can’t. By showing your product in action, you can give customers a better picture of its usefulness. You can also give them a behind-the-scenes look into what drives your brand.
How to create a marketing video
A short video would be a good starter project. You’ll need less content and fewer resources, and you can finish it in less time. If you’re like your audience, you’ve probably watched videos on an app and swiped to the next video if the one you’re watching isn’t entertaining or it goes on too long. That’s why many marketing videos shared on social media are under two minutes and can be shot on mobile phones.
The Goldilocks number for people with short attention spans often depends on the social media channel. Sprout Social maintains a list of updated video ad specs for each platform. Beyond short videos and mobile phones, this list might help you understand your video needs:
A screen recording will do when you need a quick, personalized demo for a potential customer.
A TV or online ad needs more planning and production.
A polished YouTube video demands more work than a basic live stream. Since YouTube is a video platform, your words and visuals should pop.
Here are three essential steps for producing a video:
Set goals and define your audience
When you showcase products and services well, you can attract more attention and get more leads. Those leads will likely result in more sales. That’s likely why 66% of video marketers report high returns on the investment. It’s also the type of content that’s most effective at lead generation and the second highest in engagement.
So, where to begin? Start by asking your team:
Who’s our target audience?
What are their pain points?
How can we solve them?
Where can we reach them?
Answering these questions will inform your ideal customer profiles (ICPs) and video marketing strategy.
Create a video marketing content strategy
When you’re ready to plan your first video, set a timeline and budget. Next, decide where to distribute videos. Do you want to add them to your landing pages, case studies, blogs, or emails? Or would you rather post them to social platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube, and LinkedIn?
To increase distribution and brand awareness, encourage employees to be company advocates. For example, running employee video content as thought leadership ads on LinkedIn.
Shoot and produce your video
Now, it’s time for the hands-on part so you can have your Hollywood moment:
Script your video: Create a clear message that pitches your offer in the first five seconds. End with a compelling call to action (CTA) so viewers know what to do.
Create your set: Design a quiet filming environment and use eye-catching branding.
Prepare talent: Share the script early and offer a teleprompter.
Practice using equipment: Whether you’re using professional gear or an iPhone, make sure everything is charged and familiarize yourself with equipment and software.
Do a practice run: Before filming, do some run-throughs with everyone to find and fix potential hiccups.
Shoot multiple takes: It’s normal to take a few tries to get it right.
Make edits: Stitch shots together and remove any goofs, “ums,” and “ahs.” Then, tighten the pacing and flow to keep viewers engaged.
Add extras: Use music, voiceovers, captions, and graphics to elevate your video.
Upload and distribute: When it’s ready, upload your video to your selected platforms and encourage sharing.
Creating an engaging video requires patience, creativity, and a keen eye for detail. It also requires choosing the best video marketing tool for your needs.
The 6 top video marketing solutions for small to medium companies
A solid video marketing strategy hinges on selecting the right video creation tool. The list below includes the six top video marketing tools for small to medium-sized companies. Take a look to see which might work for you:
1. Loom
Loom offers an all-in-one solution for teams to record, publish, and share high-quality videos. Perfect for walkthroughs, presentations, product demos, tutorials, and product showcases, Loom makes video marketing easy and affordable. Share marketing videos by embedding them in web pages, emails, or links to meet customers where they are.
Boost engagement by encouraging Loom viewers to interact with videos using emojis, leaving comments, and recording their own video replies.
Features:
Record anywhere: Use Loom on a Chrome browser, phone, or desktop.
Simultaneous recording: Capture your screen and webcam with the screen recorder.
Collaborate: Plan campaigns with your team and provide time-stamped feedback.
AI video tools: Generate video titles and summaries with Loom’s AI add-on.
Easy editing: Use Live Rewind, automatic filler word removal, video speed control, and transcript editing.
Pricing:
Loom’s Business plan offers unlimited videos. It starts at $15 per month, billed annually.
2. Wistia
Wistia offers an all-in-one video creation platform for recording, editing, hosting, and analytics.
Features
Create videos quickly: Record, edit, and collaborate on video clips within a browser.
Video hosting: Organize and access videos on the cloud.
Screen recording: Personalize videos with simultaneous screen and webcam recording.
Pricing: Wistia has a limited free plan that includes up to 10 videos. Its Plus Plan starts at $19 per month, billed annually.
3. StreamYard
StreamYard lets teams livestream and connect with audiences on social channels like Facebook and YouTube. It’s useful for podcasts, interviews, and webinars because you can record live and distribute content later.
Features:
Live stream: Engage with audiences in real-time through live streams.
Distribute on social media: Publish videos on social media platforms to reach more viewers.
Record webinars: Share talks from subject matter experts to build authority.
Pricing: Contact StreamYard’s sales team for pricing details.
4. Sendspark
With Sendspark, you can create personalized videos for marketing and outreach. Whether you’re producing one-to-one or one-to-many video messaging, you can share your content via email, social media, and websites. Create custom thumbnails and interactive CTAs so businesses can connect with specific customer segments.
Features:
Personalized video messaging: Create one-to-one or one-to-many video messages.
Asynchronous video: Combine personalized videos with larger videos for a unique experience—all viewable at your recipient’s convenience.
Pricing: Sendspark’s Plus Plan is priced at $129 monthly for a team of five, billed annually.
5. Filmora
With Filmora, you can create professional-grade videos. Use overlays, filters, stock photos and videos, and innovative features like green screen and motion tracking to speed up production. Teams can also share screens for product demos. Filmora has analytics and integration features that provide insights into video performance.
Features:
Motion tracking: Enhance moving objects with special effects.
Screen recording: Showcase product demos effectively.
Video editing: Produce engaging content with advanced editing features.
Pricing: Filmora’s annual plan is $49.99.
6. Animoto
Teams use Animoto’s video editing platform to screen record, add images and files, and incorporate music into brand videos. Its intuitive interface, special effects, and image options make it a go-to for social media video marketing.
Features:
Collaboration: Create and edit videos as a team on the cloud.
Easy editing: Intuitively move elements around while editing video.
Visual effects: Enhance videos with files, images, and other interactive elements.
Pricing: Animoto has a free plan to start. It also offers a Basic plan at $8 per month, a Professional plan at $15 per month, and a Professional Plus plan at $39 per month, billed annually.
Tips and best practices for video marketing
Now that you have the right tools, it’s time to craft videos that engage and convert. Here are some tips and best practices:
Keep it short and simple
Concision is your friend in video content marketing. Keep your videos between 30 and 90 seconds for social media and no more than two to three minutes for other channels. Be sure to capture attention with a strong hook in the first few seconds to keep viewers engaged.
Ace the silent treatment
Have you ever been in a quiet public space when the Instagram Reel you’re watching starts blaring? If ever there were a time to have an invisibility superpower, that would be it. But you also don’t want to miss out on the video.
Now, it’s common for video marketers to use tools like Loom to add captions or text overlays that make videos accessible to people who can’t or don’t want to hear them, conveying the message without sound. Problem solved. Transcribing your videos enhances accessibility and boosts your SEO.
Don’t skimp on quality equipment
Quality isn't just a nice-to-have in the video marketing world. In fact, 87% of consumers say a video’s quality impacts their trust in a brand. That’s why investing in the right video marketing software and equipment to create eye-catching videos is non-negotiable. Aim for high-resolution output of at least 1080p and use high-quality microphones. Then, reduce background noise during post-production for stellar sound quality.
Put the “person” in personalize
Personal touches take a marketing experience from average to delightful. In this video, Hadley from Loom shares how businesses can use personalized Loom videos for marketing and sales to share with potential customers.
Introductions, how-to videos, or customer testimonials directed toward individuals or small segments make it feel as if a video was made just for them. It’s friendly and good for business—80% of business leaders say personalizing content boosts customer spending by up to 38%.
A video marketing creation tool like Loom helps your brand stand out and build stronger customer relationships. For example, you can create a video reply showcasing a feature when someone comments on a social media post with a question. Or, have your sales team send an introductory video to a new lead.
Craft clickable content
You need content to build trust and hook viewers, and you can get it by making videos that stir emotions. Besides making content that makes your audience feel something, optimize for SEO by adding keywords to titles, descriptions, and tags for more views. Then, design creative thumbnails that draw clicks.
Also, consider how the audience will view your videos. Make vertical videos for Instagram and TikTok, and square ones for better visibility in feeds. Then, add your own brand’s graphics and animations to stand out.
Feedback is your friend
Get greater insight by linking your videos to the deals they influence and see which ones work based on engagement metrics. This helps you sift out engaged leads faster and prove the ROI on your video marketing efforts.
Power your video marketing strategy with Loom
There you have it. The numbers prove that video sticks with consumers more than any other content. From planning to production, Loom can be an essential part of your video marketing toolkit. As always, the best tools are the ones that work for you. The key is to align your choice with your individual needs and marketing goals.
Creating and sharing these memorable videos with Loom is quick and easy. Its user-friendly interface, robust editing features, instant video sharing, and convenient integrations make it the ideal choice for businesses stepping up their video marketing.
Ready to get started? Make video marketing creation and distribution easy with Loom.