There is no denying that most people find video content more compelling and engaging than written content. Videos provide an effective way to develop a brand’s story, to build the like, know and trust factor, and ultimately to boost sales. Statistics back-up these claims, as videos placed on landing pages can increase conversion rates by 80%, while videos included in an email will improve the click-through rate by an impressive 200% - 300%.

Yet, when it comes to video marketing, many companies place too much focus on the production side of things, rather than setting the foundations by researching and creating a thorough video marketing master plan. We reveal four video marketing steps that will supercharge your marketing growth.

Laser Targeting

It all starts with becoming incredibly clear on who your target audience is. Delve deeper than demographics; Instead of broad factors such as age, sex or location, you want to think more in terms of targeting an individual with likes, dislikes and problems that they need help with. Do some detective work, and study the USP (unique selling point) of your products and services as well as the pain points of your customers. What issues can you solve? How will your product improve someone's life?

Shorten this information down to a few sentences, then use it to build a target customer profile. When you get crystal clear on your ideal audience, you'll be able to write and film video content which captures their attention and makes them feel like you're speaking directly to them.

Smart Marketing

The next step is to identify the platforms that your ideal audience spends time on. What do they search for? What social media accounts and apps do they use? What are their favorite websites? Use this information to decide what platforms to market your videos on.

Also take into consideration the platform when choosing what type of video content to create. For example, over 85% of Facebook videos are watched without sound, so if you plan to promote your video on the platform then be sure to include subtitles or text captures which convey the message to your audience without them having to hit the volume button.

Tailor your video content for your target audience, the platform it will be shared or advertised on and the type of product or service you are marketing. For example, foodie vids for Facebook can be short, snappy and subtitled, while more serious medical content for the healthcare sector may benefit from longer informational videos that are targeted at an older audience.

Engagement

Engagement is everything. You want to be able to strike up a conversation with your target audience, so ask people to engage with the content, be it through likes, shares or comments. Asking a question at the end of a video is also a good way to strike-up a conversation between you and the customer.

Understand where your customer is in their buying journey. Are they simply looking for information, or are they aching to make a purchase? If price points for your products are high, then you may want to get hold of the customer’s email address so that you can place them into a marketing funnel, work on the customer relationship, and eventually convert them.

Ongoing Optimization

Stats reveal that approximately one-fifth of viewers will close a video within the first ten seconds, so create a compelling hook, spark curiosity, provide a promise and payoff or catch them off guard to keep them watching to the end.

There is no magic, step-by-step formula that fits all. Instead, you must create video content and then test and adapt. Analyze results, then choose to optimize videos. Optimization is key if you want to craft exciting content which speaks to your audience.

Incorporate these factors into your video marketing strategy, and you’ll see a rise in traffic, engagement and ultimately sales.