If you’re not creating videos as part of your content marketing strategy, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity. Videos account for around 80% of all internet traffic. That’s a lot of videos! Videos are a great way to engage with your audience and promote your products or services. And with so much noise on the web, it can be tough to stand out.
Here, we will go over 11 types of videos that you can make to increase traffic and conversions. Keep in mind that not every type of video will work for every business, so it is important to tailor your video marketing strategy accordingly. Let’s get started!
1. Product/Service Demonstration Videos
A product/service demonstration video is a short, informative clip that shows potential customers how a product or service works. Some companies also use demonstration videos to show how products are used or to provide instructions for assembly or installation.
Demonstration videos can show off a product or service in a way that no amount of text or pictures can. They can help people see how something works and whether it’s the right fit for their needs.
Benefits:
- Demonstration videos are short, engaging videos that can boost your website’s traffic and conversions
- They help you connect with customers on a more personal level.
- They also help companies stand out from the competition by building a deeper level of trust with the customers.
Optimal video length: Most demonstration videos should be between 1 and 3 minutes long. They can be short and sweet, or longer and more in-depth. Either way, they’re a great way to show potential buyers what you have to offer.
Platform: It can be helpful to have one on your website, as well as on video sharing websites like YouTube and Facebook as well.
Fun Fact: 84% of consumers say that watching demonstration videos convinced them to make a purchase. (source)
2. Explainer Videos
Explainer videos are perfect for introducing a new product or explaining how something works. They can be used to quickly and easily communicate a complicated idea or concept, and they can help increase interest in a product or service by showing how it works.
Benefits:
- An explainer video can help you clarify your message and simplify your product or service for your customers.
- They’re a great way to engage with potential customers and promote your brand.
- Explainer videos can help you increase conversions and encourage people to take action.
- They’re also a great tool for educational purposes.
Optimal video length: The length of an explainer should be between 2 to 4 minutes, but this can vary depending on how much information you are trying to pack in the video. The lesser the video length the better as explainer videos that are more than 2 minutes long has a retention rate of only 47%. (source)
Platform: In addition to your website and blog section, the majority of social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest, are all good places to share explainer videos. The more platforms you share your explainer video on, the better the chances of it reaching your target audience.
The difference between a product demonstration video and an explainer video is that an explainer video is designed to introduce a new product or service to the viewer, while a product demonstration video is designed to show how the product works in action. While the two may seem similar, they are different in how they will be made, so the two should not be confused with one another.
3. Live Videos
With live videos, you can give your customers a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on in your business, answer their questions in real-time, and create a more personal connection with them. Businesses can make live videos for product demonstrations, introduce new products/services, and even give tours of their facilities. entertain their followers.
Benefits:
- Live videos can help to build brand awareness and improve SEO rankings.
- They can also be used to drive traffic to websites and other online properties.
- Live videos create a more personal connection with potential customers, which can result in more conversions.
Optimal video length: There is no fixed length of what a live video should be as the duration will be entirely dependent on the type of event or situation that is being filmed.
Platform: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube are popular platforms that businesses can use to stream live videos.
Fun Fact: With the rise of social media, live videos from brands have become a major hit with consumers. 45% say they would like to see more! (source)
4. Video Testimonials
Video testimonials, sometimes called customer testimonials or even customer’s journey videos, are videos of customers speaking positively about a product or service. Videos of happy customers can help encourage other potential customers to give a product or service a try.
They provide an honest, first-hand account of someone’s experience with a product or service. As with all customer testimonials, they should be honest and reflect the customer’s real experience with the product or service.
Benefits:
- Adding a video testimonial to your website can increase your conversion rate by 80%.
- Since actual customers are promoting your brands’ products/services, potential customers will be more likely to purchase from you since the reviews are from a credible source.
- Video testimonials convey real, honest emotions in a way that written words just can’t match.
Optimal video length: Video testimonials are generally short, filmed in an unscripted manner, and edited for brevity and impact. The duration can range between 5 to 10 minutes.
Platform: They can be used on websites, social media platforms, and marketing materials to help promote the company and its products/services.
Fun Fact: 48% of businesses make video testimonials, making them one of the most common types of marketing videos. (source)
5. Corporate Videos
A corporate video is a short film or video that is made to promote a business or organization. These videos are made to promote the company itself, by showcasing its culture, values and mission. They are more brand-centric than product-centric and the main goal of the video is to build credibility instead of just selling a product or service.
In addition, corporate videos can also be shared with employees to train them about what the company stands for, and is also helpful during recruitment.
Benefits:
- Corporate videos are a great way to connect with customers. By creating engaging content, you can create a strong connection with your target audience.
- They can help increase awareness of your brand and product offerings.
- They can also help boost sales.
- They are great for training and communication purposes.
- They can be used to introduce new products or services.
Optimal video length: Corporate videos should ideally not be longer than 5 to 6 minutes. Longer corporate videos could cause viewers to lose interest, and hence for maximum engagement, shorter videos are a better option.
Platform: YouTube is the preferred platform for sharing corporate videos as it can also help with ranking higher on Google. Other social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram should also be used for sharing corporate videos.
6. Motion Graphics Videos
Motion graphics videos are short, animated videos that use graphic elements to communicate a message. They can be used to explain a concept, promote a product or service, or simply entertain viewers.
Additionally, they can be used in a wide variety of settings, from online marketing campaigns to corporate presentations.
Benefits:
- Motion graphics are a great way to showcase your company’s creative side and adding them to your website can make it more visually appealing and exciting.
- Because they are animated, motion graphics videos can be more engaging than traditional video formats.
Optimal video length: Motion graphics videos should stay within the length of 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Any more than that, and viewership rates will start to drop. So to make the most out of your motion graphics videos, it is best to stay within this timeframe.
Platform: Company website and all major social media channels can be used to share motion graphics videos.
7. 360-degree Videos
360-degree videos can provide a more immersive experience for your customers as they allow viewers to look in every direction by simply moving their phone or clicking on the screen. 360-degree can make your customers feel as if they were actually there.
They can be viewed on devices like smartphones and virtual reality headsets. 360-degree videos can be used for business purposes to give customers a better sense of what your company is all about.
For example, you could create a 360-degree video of your store or office to show customers what it looks like. Alternatively, you could use a 360-degree video to promote a product or service.
Benefits:
- 360-degree videos give the viewer complete control of the view by rotating their device or screen around, giving a more immersive experience than traditional video formats.
- It creates a positive impression of the brand, as it shows that the brand is making efforts to stay modern and relevant.
- It has the power to increase view count as it is a relatively new video form that customers get excited to watch.
Optimal video length: There isn’t necessarily a time range that you need to stick to with 360-degree videos as these videos are engaging enough to hold the viewers’ attention for a longer time. However, a shorter video length is always better than an excessively long one where the viewers could potentially lose interest.
Platform: YouTube, Vimeo, and Facebook are popular social media channels that support 360-degree videos. It is important to share these videos only on platforms that support the video type, as the viewers will not be able to enjoy the video otherwise.
Fun Fact: The use of 360-degree videos is on the rise, and they have a success rate of 74%. (source)
8. Branded Short Films
Branded short films are a type of advertisement that is less sales-focused and more story-driven. Through the use of powerful narratives and high-quality production values, branded short films can evoke an emotional response from viewers, driving them to take action. While this type of advertising can be more expensive to produce, the results it yields can be well worth the investment.
Think of a branded short film as a mini-movie that tells a story about your business. It’s the perfect way to connect with your customers and create a lasting impression.
Benefits:
- They allow brands to connect with their audience in a more meaningful way, building loyalty and trust.
- By creating a branded short film, you can tap into the power of storytelling to connect with your target audience and boost brand awareness.
- They can be a powerful tool for marketing your brand and attracting new customers.
Optimal video length: Try to stick with the range of 2 to 6 minutes when making brand films. Longer brand films tend to lose viewer retention which in turn leads to your video marketing efforts becoming ineffectual.
Platform: Trailers of these brand films can be shared as ads on platforms like YouTube as a strategy for grabbing the audiences’ attention. The entire video itself can be shared across all social media channels, as the wider the distribution, the higher the chances of it being shared and seen by a majority of the desired audience.
For more information on how these films can help brands achieve their goals, you can read our article “How Do Branded Short Films Help Brands?”.
9. Podcast Videos
Yes, podcast videos are a real thing, and they’re gaining popularity. They’re just like regular podcasts, but instead of listening to them, you watch them. But unlike regular podcasts, video podcasts include visual elements to keep viewers entertained and engaged.
Whether it’s a talking head explaining the topic at hand or filmed footage related to the discussion, video podcasts are a great way to bring your content to life.
Benefits:
- They’re easy to digest – with short, easily-quotable snippets, video podcasts are perfect for busy customers who want to get the most important information quickly.
- They’re multimedia – in addition to audio, video provides an extra dimension that can help your message stand out.
- They’re versatile – video podcasts can be viewed on any device that has a podcast player installed.
- Video podcasts that have exceptional content have the potential to go viral.
Optimal video length: Since the purpose of a podcast is to share more information about a particular topic, longer length video podcasts can be a safe bet. As long as the content is engaging and informative, having videos that are longer than 10 to 15 minutes will also work as the content is doing the job of captivating the audience.
Platform: Apple Podcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, and even YouTube are platforms where video podcasts can be shared on.
10. Company Culture Videos
Company culture videos are a great way to show your potential employees what it would be like to work for your company. They can also help you retain current employees by showing them the type of culture they work in. These videos can be humorous, heartfelt, or any other emotion that reflects your company’s culture.
Whatever the tone, make sure it is authentic to your company values.
Benefits:
- Company culture videos help employees feel like they’re part of a community.
- When everyone is on board with the company culture, it leads to better productivity and morale.
- These videos can explain your company values, introduce new employees to the team, and even show off your office space in an engaging way.
Optimal video length: Company culture videos should be short and to the point, preferably less than or equal to 5 minutes long. Any longer than that may not be appreciated by the viewers as they may lose interest.
Platform: Company website, LinkedIn, and other social media channels (preferably professional ones) will be the most favourable platforms to share company culture videos on.
Fun Fact: Viewers tend to retain 95% of the information if they receive it in video form, compared to text. (source)
11. Onboarding Videos
Onboarding videos are a creative way to introduce new employees to your company. They can help new hires get up to speed quickly on what your company is all about, and what they need to do to be successful.
By using video, you can communicate your company culture, values, and goals in an entertaining and informative way. Onboarding videos can also help reduce the amount of time it takes for new employees to feel comfortable and fully acclimated into their role, and also allows them to learn about their new coworkers.
Benefits:
- Onboarding videos can be used to train new employees on specific tasks or procedures.
- They can help explain company policies and guidelines.
- They can help create a sense of community among new employees.
- They can also be used as a tool to reinforce your company’s brand identity and culture.
Optimal video length: To ensure that your onboarding video is effective, you need to make sure that it is the right length. Too short and people may not retain the information, too long and they will lose interest. For this reason, aiming for a duration of 5 to 10 minutes should be enough to communicate everything you need concisely.
Platform: Your company website is probably the best place to post your onboarding video. This way it is easily accessible to whoever needs the information whenever they need it.
Video is a powerful medium that can be used in a variety of ways to help promote your business. They can be used to educate, entertain, and engage with your audience on a deeper level than other formats. By creating videos that appeal to different audiences and using various video formats, you can create a comprehensive video marketing strategy that helps you reach more customers and increase sales.