Affordable Ways Of Advertising Your Brand

Before the internet became mainstream; small businesses had different means of promoting their businesses. With methods such as printing fliers or sponsoring local events, businesses and individuals were able to efficiently pass messages across.

What Is Branding

Branding is a specific effort that is aimed at influencing the way a particular person, product, or person is perceived. It has to do with the aggregate impression that such a brand (person, product or service). In these days of digital living, marketing has mostly moved to the digital sphere. This is great news because it helps you to get the word out about your brand.

The process of marketing can seem to be overwhelming, especially because it is a result-oriented process. The methods of marketing do not matter as much as the result of your marketing campaign. Results may be in terms of brand awareness, sales, and other ways of measuring how well your marketing is doing.

In this article, I will highlight ways to effectively advertise your brand on a tight budget (or no budget at all);

1. Become Part Of a Community:

By joining a local community of professionals in your niche, you can advertise your business. However, you need to ensure that you build a rapport with them by constantly contributing valuable insights. This will not only help your business, but it will also help you as an individual. You also need to attend networking events and

2. Meet with other brands and businesses in your niche.

This is a way to get your brand out there by meeting up and chatting to people (about similar interests) regularly.

3. Represent Your Brand:

What this simply means is that you have to find ways to market your brand by yourself. For example, you can decide to produce and rock branded sweatshirts, T-shirts, wristbands, stickers, and so on. you own a car, you may go further by putting your brand info on your ride. The outdoor Advertising Association of America holds that car adverts can generate as many as 70,000 views per day (however, this number depends on your location). This will serve as an effective means of taking your brand everywhere.

4. Blogs:

The provision of value is a critical aspect of advertising your business. Your blog can serve as the right foundation with which you provide value and subsequently advertise your brand. Blogs can be used to direct visitors, nurture relationships and subsequently get conversions. To leverage the benefits of blogs, you need to post relevant and regular content that will meet the interests of your target audience. You can also leave thoughtful comments on other blogs. By doing this, you can gain the attention of the owner as well as the visitors of various blogs.

5. Build a Mailing List:

A mailing list is a very important tool for advertising your brand. Mailing lists can be either free or available for a few dollars. With a mailing list, you can send out relevant information to the people that need it the most. It is a great way to properly market your brand to those that are most likely to be interested in the brand.

6. Contribute Content:

Another great way of advertising your brand is by contributing content to industry magazines. This is a great way to promote your brand as well as the business. Many magazines are open to submissions from guest contributors on topics related to their niche. Subsequently, you can impress the readers and subsequently talk about your brand in your bio.

7. Sponsor Contests:

This is another great way to advertise your business on a shoestring budget. With the buzz on social media platforms about trends and contests, you can promote your business or your brand by rewarding winners. You may either decide to sponsor a contest alone or collaborate with similar brands to host one.

8. Create a Presence On Social Media:

This is a must-have for an inexpensive but effective means of advertising. Customers and prospective customers always love the opportunity to interact directly with their favorite brands. By using the various features on the different social media platforms then you can effectively leverage their benefits. Whether it is Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter, social media can serve as a great way to advertise and improve brand awareness. As a social media marketer, the best way to get a genuine connection with your followers is to share valuable information. By doing this, your brand can become a trusted authority in your Industry.

9. Press Releases:

Whenever your brand does something newsworthy then you can use this means of advertising. With press releases, you can generate publicity in a great way because people love scrolling through the news. Another reason why press releases are a big deal is that it can significantly improve the recognition of your brand.

Rounding Up…

“The greatest way to advertise your brand is by ensuring the delivery of quality products or services”

People treat brands emotionally and several factors influence these emotions. The most important factor has to be the quality that your brand is known for. This is why you need to ensure top-notch delivery of everything that your brand offers.

If you want to build an efficient brand with steady streams of income then one major area of focus is should be marketing. Numerous resources can be used to optimize your marketing efforts and subsequently see results. However, you need to be committed and consistent to see results.

With the above-stated steps, you too can make a big marketing splash with little or no money involved. You can get your brand out there and leverage the immense possibilities that come with improved awareness.

I hope you find these ways of advertising your brand with little or no money useful. What other things do you think should be included on the list

How to Create Video Content that Supports Your Online Marketing

Video marketing is not just important for online marketers, it’s critical to your success! It seems that most business articles these days are always telling you that if you don’t have video content as part of your marketing strategy then you are behind.

Let’s be real…they’re not wrong!

Getting into video content is a slow process and the best way to approach video content is to consistently test. The trick here is to  start small, see what your audiences react to and then give people more of what they want.

In this article, we’re going to talk about how to go through this process for your own video content. To help you see how this works, I’ll use Disruptive’s own video content as an example, but the principles we’ll be discussing apply to any business.

Beginning Stages

When you are just starting to make video content it’s not usually a good idea to jump right in and spend $40,000 on equipment. There are cameras alone that cost that much, let alone the sound, lighting, set dressing and post production equipment that you need to complete each video.

When you begin creating video content for your own business, start small and keep your costs down. The easiest way to do that is to use stock images and licensed music from an affordable vendor to create what will look like a glorified slideshow. At Disruptive, we call these Dynamic Shorts.

When looking for music, I recommend using artlist.io because they only charge $100 for a one year subscription (no, we are not being paid to say this, we just really like their product). Many other places will charge you per song that you download and that adds up quickly depending on how many videos that you produce.

Once you have your music and images to create your videos, keep in mind the golden rule of advertising, “keep it simple, stupid.” Don’t over complicate your video content. We also use the mini skirt rule here at Disruptive, “keep it long enough to cover the content, but short enough to keep the audience’s attention.”

When we made our first couple of Dynamic Shorts we completed them in groups of three for A/B testing. Then we tested them with Facebook look alike audiences for about a month so we could determine the videos that performed better than the others. When one was obviously not a winner, we replaced it with a brand new one.

Cycling out our video content for testing purposes trained us to make sure that our messaging was down, because every good video ad starts with the script. We tested out various messages for about 3-6 months before we felt comfortable moving on to the next step.

The inference with testing our messaging so thoroughly was this: if our audience is responding to our words because of the words alone, then how much more will they respond when we take the exact same message and put higher production quality behind it?

Experimenting With Live Action

After we had made Dynamic Shorts, then we grabbed a local actor and hired a few interns to create the same ads, but with a live action element. Hiring local allowed us to still spend less than $1,000 to make three ads with proven messaging.

Here’s the live action form of the Dynamic Short are above:

Was that particular live action video a great execution? No, but it didn’t need to be. We found out that even just jumping from a Dynamic Short to live action video increased the ROI by quite a bit. Read “What Type of Facebook Video Ad Should You Invest In?” to learn more about those specific insights.

Hiring a few interns did mean having to buy some minimal equipment, but at this stage, we didn’t need super high quality stuff yet because we were still testing. We continued to A/B test these live action ads and then we’d replace the low performing ones with new ones.

After experimenting with a few of these live action videos we tried longer form video content that took more time and planning to actually produce. We tried to go with the angle of teaching people how PPC advertising works and if we were targeting them, then obviously we could do it for them.

Again, was this the greatest quality video content in the world? No, and we found out in testing that it didn’t drive almost any conversions. However, our sales team found out that almost every new lead talked about our cookies ad. It had worth because it stuck in people’s minds and it educated them. This gave us our next idea.

Combine Video Content with Already Proven Content

At Disruptive we have a blog. A very successful blog that has been built up over the years by teaching business owners how to do their online marketing more effectively. Since we knew for a fact that videos performed better than just image ads, we wondered what would happen if we added a video element to the blog.

The content and video teams sat down together to strategize what these videos should look like. We decided that they should have 2 purposes: they should act as an ad for the actual blog article itself and it should be easily digestible content that teaches parts of what is in the blog.

We found, yet again, that we could keep our costs down by using our own employees as our spokesmen, using a green screen and a teleprompter and filming batches of these blog summary videos all at once. We have filmed up to eight at once and it only took about three hours.

When we got these videos out on YouTube we found that they weren’t performing very well at all. However, when we combined them to be the header image on the actual blog article page, they started performing much better. We used the success of the blog itself to boost the success of our natural YouTube views.

We also found that these videos might be excellently re-purposed as video ads! Since a lot of our videos were very niche specific, we could use them to get equally specific. One of our earliest videos had an audience retention of 44%. Which means that 44% of people who started the video watched all the way through. Normal ads perform somewhere between 20-35%.

You may not have a blog, but chances are that you have some form of already successful piece of content, even if that’s just your business’s web page. Adding video content to anything like that increases your audience’s session time on your site, which gives them more opportunities to buy. Educating them about what you do will only improve the odds that people will convert.

In-House or Agency

After you have gone through these steps of testing, we would highly encourage you to make a relationship with video professionals. Since we are a PPC ad agency, we found that it is a good investment to hire video professionals to give more services to our clients, but that may not be the case for you.

Hiring in house will allow you to get your videos for cheaper, but then you will also have to pay taxes, health insurance and justify their jobs by giving them additional responsibilities that they may not be very good at your if they don’t have enough work to do on a daily basis.

Hiring an agency will allow you greater access to more qualified professionals to get you quality videos done. Since you’ll hire them on a project by project basis, then you don’t have to feel bad about not contacting them if you don’t want to work with them again. There’s a lot of mobility that comes with agencies.

Since hiring a few individuals full time on our video team we’ve been able to produce bigger and better ads like the following that have turned into massive successes!

Conclusion

How you approach video content is up to you, but it’s always a good idea to work your way into video content by testing out different approaches over time. Make sure to test your messages with the right audiences and attach your video content to the already successful content that you have.

By the way, if you’d like help figuring out how to incorporate video content into your online marketing, let me know here on the comments!

This article was originally published by Kent Lloyd

Executive Producer & Head Video Editor at Disruptive Advertising

Kent is a true action hero. He's our resident stunt coordinator, director, and editor for video, but he also enjoys being active through martial arts, hiking, canyoneering, skydiving, and contemporary dance. He claims plaid is his favorite color.

Top 7 Video Advertising Trends of 2019

Video marketing dominated last year and there is no reason to think that will change in 2019. As we close in on the next decade, roughly 86% of marketers are using video content to advertise, educate, and entertain. New formats and a rise in consumption continue to bolster video as an increasingly effective, engaging medium. It’s a train your business can’t afford to miss.

Here are the top seven video advertising trends you can expect to see more of in the new year.

1. Shorter video ads

Today’s abundance of video content creates an endless amount of competition for advertisers. Customers with the ability to watch virtually anything will only watch an ad if it is relevant, attention grabbing, and valuable. As a result, the amount of time people spend watching ads has declined across nearly every medium. Similar trends are leading brands to test short video ads that aim to beat the skip button and serve short attention spans.

Short bumper ads present a creative challenge for marketers who must tell a brand story in under 15 seconds. The format calls for impactful content that can induce an immediate emotional response from a viewer. Below are two examples of prominent brands using humor, shock, and action to create compelling short and effective pre-roll ads.

Hefty Brands

Mom’s Touch

Concise video ads like these have started to become a staple in video-focused marketing. According to a study by Google, 90% of bumper ad campaigns boosted global ad recall by an average of 30%. It’s a safe prediction that more brands will jump on the trend this year.

2. OTT advertising

Over the top (OTT) is a term used to describe content providers that distribute streaming media over the internet. These services are disrupting traditional broadcast television and have led a new generation of consumers to “cut the cord” with satellite and cable services.

There are three video on demand models currently dominating the OTT industry:

• Subscription VOD: Netflix, Hulu, HBOGo

• Transactional VOD: iTunes, Amazon, Google Play

• Ad-supported VOD: YouTube, Twitch, Vimeo

Marketing through these platforms offers benefits similar to those gained from conventional online advertising. Unlike traditional commercials, OTT allows marketers to utilize targeting, ad insertion, and advanced analytics to create shorter more personalized ads. This enables brands to run full screen ads catered to the viewing habits of an entire household. Viewers watching these ads from an OTT streaming device can’t skip or install an ad blocker. As a result, video completion rates are significantly higher for OTT advertising than in-browser video ads.

The number of places to advertise through OTT is growing exponentially. Future iterations might combine data from other devices in the household to create even more effective targeting. Not only would this technology maximize the potential of ad campaigns, but it would also ensure viewers are seeing ads that actually match their interests. In the years to come, OTT could rise to be one of the most lucrative channels available to modern advertisers.

3. Mobile-first advertising

Smartphones have become ubiquitous. In 2018, mobile devices accounted for over 52% of all worldwide online traffic, and all video marketing stats show continued growth. Marketers are well aware that consumers now rely on their phones for news, shopping, and a significant portion their entertainment. As a result, forward-thinking brands have worked to make their websites, advertisements, and even services mobile-friendly. Creating this intuitive user experience is critical during a time when nearly half of all online transactions are done on smartphones.

In addition to changing the way we consume, mobile phones have also started to influence the way we create video content. The majority of videos recorded on mobile devices today are being shot in an upright format known as vertical video. It’s a trend that has led many brands to create vertical advertisements intended for platforms such as Instagram Stories, Snapchat, and even Facebook. Using this vertical format enables marketers to get engaging content in front of modern customers and minimize on-screen distractions.

Vertical stories are reportedly on track to surpass Facebook and Instagram news feeds in terms of user engagement. Additionally, the advent of shoppable Instagram stories and vertical video platform IGTV have created a practical motivation to create in this format. We can expect the use of mobile-first content to continue its spread well into and after 2019. 

4. Cinemagraphs

Cinemagraphs are a new form of digital art gaining popularity online. These photo and video hybrids contain a subtle motion that plays in a seamless loop while the rest of the image remains still. It’s a visually interesting effect that creates the illusion you are watching an animation. Whether the subject is waves crashing against a shore or the flicker of a candle, the end result is an alluring image that captures the viewer’s attention.

Cinemagraphs are made using high-end cameras and a post-production tool to composite a series of photos or video recordings. The first to use this technique (or popularize it) were New York based photographers Kevin Burg and Jamie Beck. It was originally intended to bring life to their fashion week photos but ultimately sparked the curiosity of the web. It wasn’t long before advertisers started using Cinemagraphs for marketing campaigns.

Cinemagraphs garner more interest than photos without the involved process of video. It calls for a bit of imagination, but it’s another way advertisers will tell their stories in 2019.

5. User-generated content

Even in the digital age, word-of-mouth marketing remains a valuable asset to brands. In a recent survey, 76% of consumers said they trust content shared by “average” people more than by brands. This underlines the importance of leveraging user-generated content, or UGC, to build trust with your audience. UGC can be defined as pictures, videos, reviews, social media posts, or any relevant content created by unpaid “fans” of your brand. Not only is UGC more budget-conscious than other forms of marketing, but it has also been shown to generate 7X higher engagement than standard brand generated content.

What makes UGC most appealing is the authenticity it presents to an audience. Today’s customers are no longer impressed with pushy sales tactics. People want to engage with brands they feel an emotional connection to. The best way to build that relationship is through transparency and storytelling. Brands who find ways include their fans aren’t just marketing to them, they’re creating a viable community people are excited to be a part of.

Toyota, for example, boosts ad engagement by 440% with UGC.

Our online experience is becoming ever more content-driven as customers seek brand experiences that align with their personal interests. Marketers who succeed in creating or encouraging UGC will develop a brand people can connect to.

6. Facebook in-stream ads

In-stream ads allow advertisers to place 5-15 second videos directly within live and on-demand videos on mobile devices. These short mid-roll ads can be optimized for video views, brand awareness, app installs, reach, or engagement. The feature has proven to be extremely effective: 70% of ads are watched to completion. In-stream ads are also non-skippable and maintain an average on-target rate of 89%. This has made them a popular tool for tapping into Facebook’s daily average of 8 billion video views.

Another perk of in-stream ads is the ability to deliver on Facebook’s Audience Network. This allows advertisers to show people ads while they’re watching videos on third-party websites and apps. Video ads on the audience network differ from typical in-stream ads. They can appear as pre-roll or mid-roll ads and run up to 30 seconds in length. Additionally, in-stream ads delivered through the audience network can be displayed on both mobile and desktop. Over one billion people see an ad through Facebook’s Audience Network every month, making it a useful option for extending the reach of your ad campaign.

Recently, Facebook decided to offer a premium option for in-stream advertisers. Brands can now opt for In-Stream Reserve, which ensures placement in top-performing videos from high-quality publishers and creators. As Facebook continues to prioritize video over other forms of content, in-stream ads will become a vital part of the platform’s advertising strategy.

7. Increase in ad spend

Source: eMarketer

As video consumption grows, platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and even LinkedIn have made video marketing a primary focus. In 2018, brands spent over $90 billion dollars on video ads. According to a recent Forrester report that number is expected to hit $102.8 billion by the year 2023. The explosion of video along with advanced analytics has made video advertising vital to any online marketing plan.

One of the video areas seeing the largest jump in ad spend will be mobile video. Mobile video is the fastest growing video type among consumers- accounting for more than half of all video plays. Advertisers spent over $30 billion on mobile video advertising alone in in 2018. These numbers could grow even higher as content providers unveil more mobile-first platforms and experiences. For advertisers looking to jump on this growing opportunity, it will be critical to focus on creating high-value story driven video content.

Marketers driving this spike in video ad spend will also be the leaders testing new and previously mentioned formats. We can expect to see more brands adopting vertical, six-second, and non-skippable ads into their online marketing strategy this year. Together, larger budgets and optimized ads could create the perfect storm for capitalizing on video’s exponential growth. We can only imagine the shifts in technology and online advertising this growth will lead us to next.

About the author

Mike Clum is the founder & president of Clum Creative, a video production company serving marketing departments and entrepreneurs around the world.

Looking For Ways To Convince Users To Download Your App?

Then, The App Store Preview Is Just For You!

Video templates have a lot of benefits and they can be widely used by brands to increase awareness for products and services.

No matter what your marketing goal is, a video template makes it easier to effectively represent your brand.

With many stellar reviews, users have consistently attested to the amazing features of templates. This way you can check out what other people about the template and this can help you to make the right choice.

To effectively use a video template, you need to understand what works for your brand and what doesn't. This way, you can make similar kinds of videos that will help your brand to stand out (beautifully).

In this article, I will take a look at one of these templates that you can use for your marketing needs. This tool is known as the App Store review video. The tool was created by VDeesign, a group of professional designers who are experts at making beautiful designs that will take your brand’s marketing to the next level.

App Store Preview

When it comes to the process of buying and selling, humans often have similar responses to actions taken by brands. One great example of this is the fact that users often want to have a sneak peek into what you are offering. Users want to understand how your application will help them. This has to be done with the understanding that users want.

To efficiently do this, brands need to have everything in one place. This tool is all that and even more, users can make use of the vast collection of assets and design options provided. Engagement is a crucial part of marketing and it is important to create short videos that will showcase all the users need to see about your app.

With this tool, you can show a proper video outline of how your application works. It is a tool that can be used for all kinds of applications.

Engage users with short videos of your phone app in action, directly on the Apple App Store or Google Play. App store preview video template is designed to help you create realistic demos of your App and help users discover and learn about your app in under 30 seconds. Humans see colours and designs faster than we see words. This is a major reason why this tool is a great option to create catchy videos that will drive engagement and subsequently improve conversion.

How Does Vdeesign App Preview Stand Out?

App previews are important and this is why developers need to pay attention to them. They are a crucial factor when it comes to influencing the decision of users. Preview videos can effectively demonstrate features, functionality, as well as the user interface of the app. This way, users can enjoy the quality experience of what it feels like to use the application.

This particular tool is distinct because it can clearly show details (including footage of the app in use) with modern and classic designs. There is a wide range of customizing options with which users can make a unique statement. This tool allows you to be the artist as you can design your beautiful ideas with fully customizable duration, colour, and other crucial components that make up your design.

With several breathtaking designs, this tool can help you to present a great first impression of your app to users. Excited users from around the world all want to understand all that your app can do. This tool comes with several crisp templates and amazing content with which you can effectively reach out.

Other features of the App Store Preview from Vdeesign include;

1. After effects: The app store video preview template provides users with 100% after effects.

2. Rendering: Time is a crucial factor when it comes to the creation of video content. The app store preview template offers speed when it comes to rendering. This means that you can get your ready-to-post videos right away.

3. Ease of use: This template is a great tool because it is easy to use. With the extensive instructional guides provided, even beginners can understand how to effectively use this tool.

4. Adjustable length: You can adjust the length of videos based on your taste and your requirements. This provides users with custom experience when it comes to video creation.

5. Resolution: The app store preview provides users with an 886 x 1920px resolution. This resolution is the official requirement of the app store.

6. Customer support: This is a crucial part of any business and Vdeesign goes the lengths to ensure that users are satisfied. With helplines that are available around the clock, you can get directions and help from Vdeesign professional customer service representatives in real-time.

7. Updates: If you want to know what new features and components are included, all you need to do is to update your template. With regular and free updates, users can stay up-to-speed with improvements and innovations.

8. The template also features after effects project versions CS5.5 and above.

9. With this tool, you can drag and drop placeholders based on your personal preferences.

Rounding Up…

If you are finding it hard to convince people to download your app then it is time for you to try this tool out. Your video advertisements will be taken up a notch with professional templates that offer you limitless customization options. To effectively showcase your application, you need to be able to summarize features and functionality. This tool is crucial because it introduces your app in a great way.

Video previews are highly effective and they provide maximum results for users. If you want to have a significant increase in the number of downloads for your app then you need to consider this tool. With more than 3million applications on both the Google play store and the Apple app store, you need to set your application apart from the rest.

33 Ways to Use Technology In Your Small Business

Technology can help small business owners leverage limited capital in smarter, more effective ways. In some cases, using technology provides greater efficiency and versatility, making it a natural progression for processes you may already have in place in your business. In others, you may need to make some adjustments to reap the benefits of tech-friendly alternatives.

The good news is that the benefits often outweigh the short-lived challenges of the transitional process, once new systems are in place. Here are some areas to explore when you're ready to ramp up your use of technology in your business.

Productivity

1. Time tracking software is an excellent tool for mapping out where time is spent, by whom. Such analysis when properly utilized is great for accountability, process improvement, and productivity.

2. Streamline your work processes with digital dictation.

3. Use project management and task management tools to stay on top of your daily business responsibilities.

4. Create a digital filing system to make it easier to sort, save, share and find documents.

5. Develop an efficient email management process that makes it easier to stay on top of the flow of messages.

Financials

6. Use an online invoicing service to reduce the costs of collecting payment from customers.

7. Use online budget tracking to keep on top of—and reduce—your expenses.

8. File your taxes more efficiently online.

9. Create a new income stream by selling your products online.

10. Use a comprehensive accounting software to streamline your business finances.

11. Share digital files with your bookkeeper or accountant to improve your ongoing bookkeeping processes.

12. Explore open source applications to replace some of the more costly "name brand" alternatives

Marketing

13. Use software to create a marketing plan that you can edit, update and share with your team.

14. Use social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, YouTube, etc. to promote your business, products, and services.

15. Start a blog related to your business and target audience.

16. Collect email addresses through an opt-in form and start utilizing the power of email marketing.

17. Use video marketing.

18. Promote your business with a website and/or online advertising.

Collaboration and Learning

19. Conduct teleconference calls to make sure team members in different locations are on the same page.

20. Webinars or web conferences are great for keeping everyone in the loop with travel-free face-to-face time.

21. Expand your knowledge and empower your team with online business training.

22. Share files and data with the cloud.

23. Set up an Intranet for local file sharing.

24. Communicate quickly and clearly with your team through team messaging.

Customer Service

25. Use social media to conduct customer service.

26. Set up an online help desk or ticket system to handle customer issues.

27. Allow clients to schedule appointments online at their convenience.

28. Use online surveys and questionnaires to get customer feedback.

Mobile Working and Telecommuting

29. Create a mobile office that allows you to work productively from anywhere.

30. Try a remote desktop application to access files on your office computer.

31. Go paperless to save money on supplies and storage in your office. Added bonus: environmentally-sound choices are cool!

32. Get a virtual phone number and electronic fax line that you can take anywhere.

33. Use your smartphone and select apps that sync with the cloud to stay connected when you're on the go.

For more technology tools for your small business, read about these 12 tech solutions that won't break the bank.

This article was originally posted by Alyssa Gregory

Video Marketing Ideas: 9 Ways to Promote Video Content

Creating a beautiful business video takes talent, time, and resources. Whether you’re producing your video in-house or with an outside team, the process can be expensive and time-consuming. The biggest problem is that after all the blood, sweat, and tears to produce a phenomenal final product, a big piece of the puzzle is often overlooked...the promotion strategy.

Perhaps, you’ve gotten really great at promoting your blog content – but marketing video content is a whole new beast. But we know video content resonates incredibly well with audiences. Just including a video on your landing page can increase conversions by 80%! So, the time is worth it, but you need to take the time to drive people to find, play and watch your video.

Below I’ve outlined 9 video marketing tips to get your video views way up so you know the effort of producing a beautiful product was not wasted.

#1: Optimize Your Video Thumbnail with a Smile

The video thumbnail is by far the most important component to drive a visitor to play or not play your video. The reality is, we do judge books by their cover, which is why you need to dress your video for the occasion by giving it a compelling, play-worthy thumbnail image.

The greatest way to ensure people play your video is by using an image of a smiling human making direct eye-contact. Why? People relate to other people. Would you rather open a book with a bunch of boring text on the cover or one with an image of Prince William smiling at the camera? The latter is more compelling, and the same theory applies to video thumbnails.

"Smiling is the outward manifestation of happiness and serves to begin to connect us to others," says Dr. Adrian Furnham, and organizational and applied psychologist.

So smack a smile on your video’s thumbnail, and you’ll likely see a much higher number of plays.

#2: Run a Video Campaign on Facebook or Twitter

What better way to drive people to your video than offering something for free? The best place to do this is on social networks where people are more likely to share and spread the word about your giveaway, in turn leading more people to your landing page, and ultimately driving more people to play your video. Check out this example below from the company Dockwa.

After clicking on this giveaway offer, I’m then directed to a nice landing page with a video explaining the boating service they offer.

#3: Add Share Buttons to Your Video Player

We’re all keenly aware of how powerful social media is. In fact, you likely start and end your day on SnapChat, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. It’s might be sad, but it’s true, which is why you need to ensure your video can be easily shared on these platforms.

WordStream uses the Wistia video player to host most of its marketing videos. One cool thing about the new Wistia player is that you can add share buttons directly within the video itself so that interested parties can share out a link to the video (which directs back to your website) without having to leave the player.

#4: Shamelessly Ask People to Share Your Video

I realize that just asking people to share your video might seem obvious, but I can (almost) guarantee that if you put yourself out there, your friends will share your content and help you spread the word. So ask your friends, colleagues, former colleagues, industry connections, brothers-in-law, nephews and nieces. Of course asking the contacts who are likely closely connected to your target market is the strategic place to start, but you never know who is connected to who, and a share can go a long way so don’t limit the people you ask.

Back in May I spoke at an event with an agency partners in Minneapolis. After enjoying some seafood and cocktails one of the employees who hosted the event began gushing about this video they’ve been working on, mentioned that the landing page would be live tomorrow, and asked if I would share it. And guess what, I shared it! She even followed up on Twitter when it was published. This person whom I had known for less than a week was able to get me to share something just by asking – so you can see how easy this is to do.

#5: Marry Video to Your Email Marketing Efforts

Video and email are a match made in marketing heaven. Just adding the word “video” in an email subject line boosts open rates by 19%, click-through rates by 65% and reduces unsubscribes by 26%, according to Animoto.

Adding a video thumbnail into your email also boosts the engagement of that email. At Wistia we found a 300% lift in CTR when using a video thumbnail over a plain image.

Not only is it easy and free to incorporate videos into your on-going email nurture campaigns, but it also can lead to better attribution. For instance, if you’re using Wistia with HubSpot, Marketo, Pardot, or SalesForce, you can actually pipe video viewing data directly into your lead scoring and workflows.

Let’s say one of your leads views 75% of a product demo video on your website, you could then set-up a workflow to email that person or alert a sales rep to call that individual.

#6: Put Some Money Behind Promoting Your Video on Social

A lot of the tips so far have been wallet-friendly, but now it’s time to scrape out the quarters from the bottom of your backpack and put some cash behind your video marketing strategy.

It actually won’t cost you an arm and a leg to promote your video on platforms like Facebook and Twitter, and if you pay attention to the audience and campaign settings you could run a very successful promotional campaign and drive the right people to your content, yielding a delightful ROI. Check out this guide to launch your first Facebook video ad campaign.

#7: Play Your Video at an Event

We’ve all sat through dull speeches at industry events where we spend the entire time either staring into space, scrolling through our Instagram feeds, or hopelessly trying to keep our eyes open. But there’s nothing worse than being on the other end. If you’re presenting and notice your audience nodding off your nerves will likely go to a whole new high. A great way to combat this is by playing a video!

Not only does a video give you a break from presenting, but it gives the audience a break from listening to you present. Even the best presenters on the TED stage use videos to break up their speeches because it helps refuel the audience.

Listening to the same person for an extended period of time can become unengaging (regardless of how engaging the speaker is), which is why industry events are a great opportunity to promote your video content to a large and relevant audience.

#8: Pin Your Video to the Top of Your Twitter Feed

By pinning a tweet to the top of your personal or company Twitter feed, you ensure that tweet doesn’t get lost in the new tweets you’re consistently posting. It also will drive even more engagement to valuable video tweets.

Buffer found that pinning a Twitter card led to a 10X increase in conversions! This is a free and easy way to drive more video views, so pin it, and watch the plays flood in.

#9: Share Your Video in Online Communities

Whether it be a Twitter chat, LinkedIn group, Reddit, or a popular online community created in your industry, you should be actively engaging in these realms and spreading your video content when relevant. Let’s say you work for an inbound marketing agency and are participating in a conversation where several people seem to be struggling with their inbound efforts. Share your explainer video to answer their questions and show how you can help them in a truly engaging manner.

This article was originally published by Margot da Cunha

Margot is a Content Marketing Specialist at WordStream and nutrition graduate student at Framingham State. She loves all things digital, learning about nutrition, running, traveling, and cooking.

10 Examples of Successful App Store Preview Videos

In need of some inspiration for app store preview videos for the world of iOS 11? Bookmark or share this page (and our blog!) for inspiration when creating your app’s preview video.

iHeart Radio App Store Preview Video:

iHeart Radio’s App Store preview is an excellent example of a new class of preview videos, wherein Apple allows (or does not disapprove) an app to create a near-cinematic marketing experience. iHeart leverages heavy design and animation production effort to build a branded experience that stands out to an impressive degree, and focuses the user’s attention on the handful of key messages that iHeart wants the user to retain. Using an animated device also enables iHeart to control the brand experience fully and change the device color, rather than being forced to let the real device profile be a distraction during the background color changes or lose the screenshot-containing benefit of screenshots-only.

iHeart also ends the video with its core messaging, plus a compelling “it’s free!” message, which likely has a big impact on conversion rate.

Peloton App Store Preview Video:

(Incipia client — we did provide some creative direction)

Peloton’s video jumps right into the action by showing the instructor in a live class, which is a good choice for an app promoting high-energy workouts. Keeping the pace moving is an important goal in this video, and Peloton’s scene transitions does this, while also conveying the brand via polished word animations. Using a tap recognizer and zooming in on elements of the UI also helps the user focus on what’s happening and what to focus on in the scene. Also, by layering text onto the video in the second half, Peloton gets its message across while also gaining precious time for additional footage by precluding the need for a cut-scene.

Peloton ends the video with a nice animation on its logo at the end of the video that is related to the word animations, but a touch further, which adds a nice, branded touch, and ends with a call to action.

Lose it! App Store Preview Video:

Lose it! Starts off with an excellent social proof point that lingers for a moment, to ensure users can read it (if it were just a poster frame, the user may not have time to read the whole message). This video’s transitions and text animations help keep the user’s attention and the scenes make maximum use of time by using the minimal amount of time per scene. The storyboard is also well-made, taking the user through the journey in 30 seconds:

1. Set goals

2. Track foods via:

• Searching

• Scanning

• Snapping

1. Getting reminders (likely a good value prop/extra feature for many users)

2. Track progress (and the balloon scene evokes the idea of celebrating, making a positive association, rather than just a neutral/robotic one)

Yahtzee With Buddies App Store Preview Video:

Yahtzee with Buddies has production value, but mostly relegated to the cut-scenes, which may be easier to get past Apple than the iHeart style. As a game, the video should be even more fun and engaging than apps, and this video accomplishes that with confetti and text animations that rocket around and mimic the game mechanic itself (throwing dice around). Yahtzee with Buddies also keeps branding present with a banner at the bottom of the video, which obscures the scene, but adds a layer of cohesiveness that matches the screenshots and helps keep the branded feel, sort of like a tag on an article of clothing. Also, by presenting only a few scenes, the video ensures that the messaging from those scenes is less diluted and lands more recall/staying power in users’ minds.

Instasize App Store Preview Video:

Instasize’s video wins by utilizing a large font size and bright/branded background colors that contrast well against the font. Instasize also uses an effective and eye-catching and progressive animation on the text that keeps the watcher engaged and inclined to keep watching. Speeding up the is also a good idea, as the details of photo editing can be complex, but it the details (may) not be as important as conveying the fact that Instasize’s UX for doing so is quick and easy.

Waze App Store Preview Video:

Waze begins on poor footing by using background/font colors that are difficult to read and also a font size too small (these videos are purposely shot from the search result page, to illustrate the challenge of making a video that is legible). But Waze’s storyboard is well-produced, taking users through several key features, explaining the scene before it happens with cut-scene text, and keeping the time allocation of each scene to a brisk pace, which helps keep the user’s attention.

Like Peloton, Waze also makes use of a nice logo animation at the end of the video.

FIFA Soccer App Store Preview Video:

FIFA Soccer opens with an evocative still image of a big brand (Cristiano Ronaldo), like The Walking Dead No Man’s Land, and executes an animation in this scene, which helps keep the user engaged while the branding sinks in over the course of several seconds. This is a nice trick that can resolve the issue of losing people to lack of immediate action, while also allowing the brand to be properly conveyed.

Moving right into a goal being scored is a great move, and the video stitches many exciting and valuable such scenes together throughout the video, exhibiting the outcome of another great storyboard. Also like Peloton, FIFA Soccer uses overlaid text to reduce the need for cut-scenes while also keeping control of the messaging.

FIFA Soccer also shakes the screen on several occasions, which is likely to raise excitement of the target user and make them eager to take control, like The Walking Dead No Man’s Land.

One of the only misses here is the difficulty in realizing the call to action in the end branding scene, or reading it.

The Walking Dead No Man’s Land App Store Preview Video:

(Incipia client — we did not provide creative direction)

The Walking Dead No Man’s Land takes the cinematic, high production value approach that iHeart takes, focusing especially on connecting with the real-world brand and its characters and also the recent Walking Dead Season 8 release. Tapping into real events is a good approach that allows apps to boost its ability to convert users by tapping into events happening outside of the App Store itself (like holidays, but likely with a stronger effect), and mixing that intangible value with additional conversion appeal of the preview video itself.

The Walking Dead No Man’s Land also executes a well-run storyboard, too, stitching together several ~1 second high-action scenes to build excitement and make users want to either take control or see what happens next, which is a win. Drawing further on the strength of a big brand, the video also creates a link between the user and the brand by showing gameplay and messaging that users can control their favorite characters and also customize them by playing more (and likely helped along in this process by buying IAP, which primes users to spend). The video ends with a strong branded scene, yet misses the addition of a strong call to action.

World of Tanks Blitz App Store Preview Video:

World of Tanks Blitz also does a good job of getting right into the action. Many videos, even some of the above make the mistake of trying to hog the stage with their brand logo for too long, or take too much time building up to the engaging part of the video, both of which can lead to drop-offs before the user has a chance to see the real deal.

World of Tanks Blitz also doesn’t use any text to tell its message, and only intervenes into the gameplay to show its branding, and only at the every end of the video. While text is the best way to control your message, text can also be distracting as it forces the user to shift from watching to reading. If you can convey your message visually without the need of text, then you can engineer an even stronger video.

Movies Anywhere App Store Preview Video:

Like iHeart Radio, this app pushes the envelope in terms of Apple’s guidelines for what a preview video is supposed to be and do, and goes even further than iHeart by animating aspects of the app (movies) into the app, which should be a major Apple no-no. These types of videos are less previews and more full marketing commercials, and it’s fitting that a movie app has produced such a video.

Movies Anywhere makes judicious use of animations by only animating individual words on the opening scene . This establishes the high-quality of the video, but reduces the price of using animations by switching to less time-consuming animations on the whole section of text later on. The video also uses a cohesive and excellent scene transition animation, and captures real brand benefits (like The Walking Dead No Man’s Land) not only by showing clips of movies, but also by showing images from movies in some backgrounds.

Masterfully, several scene transitions even line up with action points in the movie clips, from spear-throwing, to sword-slashing.

Also like iHeart, Movies Anywhere pushes its likely conversion rate boosting message of “free — no subscription required.”

As a bonus, check out these 4 “did you know” tips:

1. You can use portrait orientation screenshots and a landscape orientation video, which will appear in “a closer view”

2. You can delete a preview video from your live app listing without having to submit a new build (but you cannot add/edit a video)

3. Apple actually prioritizes loading preview videos first before screenshots (regardless of order of the app, so long as the preview video is partially on-screen)

4. With battery saver mode, videos do NOT autoplay. This means your poster frame is more important!

That’s all for now, folks! Be sure to bookmark our blog, sign up to our email newsletter for new post updates and reach out if you’re interested in working with us to optimize your app’s ASO or mobile marketing strategy.

Incipia is a mobile app development and marketing agency that builds and markets apps for companies, with a specialty in high-quality, stable app development and keyword-based marketing strategy, such as App Store Optimization and Apple Search Ads.

Motion Design: How Motion Graphics Influence User Experience

Animation in web and mobile interfaces has been an issue to consider and discuss for recent years. Let’s review some insights on the impact that motion design can have on user experience.

What Is Motion Design?

Many people are unaware of what precisely the term ‘motion design’ means. Let’s shed a little light on it. First of all, the term ‘motion design’ is a short form for ‘motion graphic design.’

As the name suggests, it is made of three elements: motion, graphics, and design. It is a combination of graphics that are moving in space and time.

As technologies continue to create innovative solutions in the world of experiential design, motion design is becoming more and more common. It was initially used as an application in film making and video production through the use of animation and visual effects. Some of the most common examples of motion design are:

• animated films,

• videos,

• animated text,

• web-based apps.

Designers use a variety of software and other tools to create motion graphics. One of the most popular tools used by motion graphic designers is Adobe After Effects, which allows for creating and modifying graphics with an added element of time. Adobe Flash is also used to create motion design for web-based applications. Other professional motion graphics tools include Maxon Cinema4D and Softimage.

A typical motion designer should be trained in graphic design and should be an expert in integrating the elements of time, sound and space into the existing model. Most motion designers have a film or animation background which makes the job even more comfortable.

In short, motion graphics include everything you see on the TV at the beginning of a news program, cartoons, character animations, animated typography, explosion scenes in movies and other visual effects. Almost anything that wasn’t shot on camera and isn’t considered special effects can be categorized as motion graphic design.

So, whether it is combined into a real-life video or a whole series of moving graphics, it is considered to be motion design.

Why is Motion Graphics Design Important?

Thanks to social media, humans are now consuming a massive amount of content every day. People scroll through their social media news feeds to find something eye-catching and search for easily digestible information.

According to research by MIT, a person can process visual information in as little as 13 milliseconds which proves that the human brain process information presented through visuals much more easily. Another factor is that many people consume social media content while their phones are muted. So, the need to communicate your message through only visuals is even more critical in today’s world.

This is why marketers all over the world are using motion graphics to capture their audience’s attention successfully.

Here are some techniques in which marketers can use motion graphics to fulfill all their communication needs:

• Traditional ads: Marketers can use motion graphics in online videos or television commercials to showcase their products.

• Promo videos: All sorts of editorial or advertorial videos such as viral videos, case studies, testimonials, user reviews are included in this category.

• Explainer videos: Most people use motion graphics in explainer videos. They include introductions to new products or services, overviews, business processes and tutorials.

• Social media videos: Another popular form of motion graphics include social media videos which are created to engage followers on social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, etc. According to research by Tubular Insights, 64% of consumers are convinced to purchase a product after watching a video on social media.

How Can Motion Design Enhance User Experience?

Marketers work hard to come up with an impactful content strategy which contains a little bit of everything, including articles, infographics, videos, and more. However, there is no denying the fact that people prefer videos more than any other format.

According to a survey by Wyz Owl, 81% of businesses use videos as a marketing tool because it encourages engagement and improves the user experience.

Here are some other ways which make motion graphics so special and how they can help you tell your brand’s story.

1. Create Emotionally Captivating Content

Apart from being a medium of grabbing your followers’ attention, motion graphics also play a vital role in capturing a viewer’s emotion. This is a biological response. Thanks to the phenomenon of emotional contagion, viewers immediately empathize with the experiences and feelings that are depicted on a screen.

Promo video for Ouch!

Hence, when a brand showcases emotional stories through motion graphics, they manage to make a point much more easily. Take a look at the video below which was created in collaboration with International Justice Mission to spread awareness around everyday violence all over the world.

2. Helps Understand Complex Procedures

Motion graphics distill information so that they are easy to comprehend for a typical viewer. As we discussed earlier, data is relatively easier to digest and remember when it is displayed in a visually appealing way as compared to reading them in a monotonous series of words. This is why motion graphics are used successfully to create videos around processes, data visualization, and abstract concepts.

An excellent example of this point can be seen in the motion graphics video developed by The Nature Conservancy.

Viewers are introduced to groundwater-dependent ecosystems and how groundwater withdrawal affects them. It sounds like a difficult concept to understand, but it all makes sense once you see the video.

3. Reflects Your Brand’s Personality

Motion design is a surefire way to show your brand’s personality to your followers. If a brand is playful or serious, the animation should show the same. This is why designers are learning how to incorporate design for motion.

While motion in branding may not be a new concept, it is becoming common nowadays. Read this article to see the best examples of how motion graphics can bring a brand’s personality to life.

Example from another article about animated logos

4. They Make an Impact in a Small Period

Most motion graphics range anywhere between 30 seconds to 3 minutes long, which is extremely helpful when you need to make an impact in a short period.

Explainer video for Photo Creator

Animation about cyber security systems by Folio Illustration Agency

Motion graphics utilize an average person’s information processing abilities and lets you create a significant impact with less content. What makes a 1500 word article to explain in words can be visually communicated in less than 15 seconds. It’s a perfect alternative for times when you have less time to make an impact.

Conclusion

Remember, motion design should never be an ornamental thing. It should help improve the user’s understanding of your brand. Motion design is an excellent tool for marketers. Align motion graphic videos with your goals and brand story to provide a user experience like never before.

About the author: this is the guest post by Mehul Rajput, the CEO and co-founder at Mindinventory, a mobile app design, and development firm. He does blogging as a hobby writing on mobile technologies, app design, and app development. Title image by Aga Kozak

Benefits Of Using a Video Preview

As the days go by, brands are faced with the consistent task of convincing users about the value of their apps. You need to make a conscious effort to convince users that your app is the best for them. The process of attracting users can start right from the app store page.

You know what they say about first impressions? Well, they last longer and it consistently projects an idea of what to expect from your application. With app previews, you can provide users with a lowdown of your services, functionality, interface and other critical components of your application. You can creatively outline the best features of your app by using the right kind of video preview.

For users, the goal is to provide content that will lead to conversions. You need to creatively find ways to provide compelling reasons for users to choose your app.

In this article, I will give you a brief overview of all you need to know about using video previews. I will begin with a general look at the importance of video previews for the app store. We will also take a look at some practical steps with which you can maximize this marketing tool.

Leaving a lasting impression

For your marketing to work out fine in this area, you need to ensure that you give a reason to click that download button. However, there is more to it, when you provide valuable videos, you can be sure that you will have a low uninstall rate. Subsequently, the user lifetime value of your application is increased because users can understand the relevance of the application to their needs.

In order to drive the right kind of video content for promoting your applications, you need to pay attention to details. There is a need to highlight the most relevant characteristics that users can relate to. In order to effectively reach out to users, you need to understand how both the Google play store as well as Apple’s app store work.

In terms of length, Google play store allows users to upload videos that are up to 2 minutes long. Apple's app store, on the other hand, offers a limited length of 30 seconds.

Also, while the play store from Google allows all kinds of videos, Apple (in its typical style) accepts only videos that are specifically made for IOS. Therefore, if you have apps on both platforms, you may have to make use of different kinds of videos.

The most important asset on your Google play store page is the feature graphic (a special image/video). On the other hand, Apple requires the insertion of poster frames. However, both platforms require the inclusion of beautiful designs in a bid to enhance the overall user experience.

Another difference between both platforms is that on Google play, you can use the same kind of videos for all kinds of mobile devices. Apple, however, requires users to load different videos for the various Apple devices like the iPod, iPad, or iPhone.

Lastly, another major distinction is the live action footage. While Google allows this feature (that can be used to mix all kinds of animations), Apple rejects it.

Tips for effective App Store Videos

In order to efficiently leverage the benefits of videos on the app store, you need to do it the right way. What’s the right way? Well, there are a number of important factors that you need to take note of. These tips will help you to effectively get the best out of your videos in terms of engagement and subsequent conversions.

Brevity is key

The truth is that users do not have time to waste on lengthy videos. You need to ensure that you concentrate on the important ideas and leave the remaining details for when they download the app.

Creativity is a Must

Innovation is crucial when it comes to app store videos. You need to creatively show your features in a way that will intrigue your users. Most users need to see the practical ways that the applications will help their lives and how it is unique. It is your duty to ensure that you creatively do this.

Visuals are Crucial

Visuals are known to have more effect on users than sounds. Your video should be perfectly understood even without the sound. A lot of people care less about the sound, you simply need to have strategic visual content.

Competitive Outlook

A great way to get insights into your marketing effort is by checking out what the competition is doing. By checking out what the other apps in your category are doing then you can gain valuable insights.

Vdeesign’s App Store Preview Promo

Now that we have gone through the basics of a video preview, the next step is to look at one great tool with which users can ensure all that I talked about earlier in the article. This template provides users with snappy, modern and engaging designs with which you can properly preview your app on both stores.

With this tool, users can attest to the increase in the likelihood of having their video downloaded. With this template and its wide range of amazing features and beautiful components, brands can provide users with all the necessary information that they need to download your application.

With this app store review tool, you can creatively demonstrate features as well as the functionality of your application. Previews in this template can be up to 30 seconds long and it allows for full customization in terms of text, colour, duration, and so on. This tool is right for brands that want to help their users and potential customers to learn all that they need to know about your application. This is a great way to ensure that users can get the most of your application.

Final Thoughts…

There are a little over 3 million apps between Google Play and the Apple app stores. This means that you need to ensure uniqueness in order to effectively differentiate your app previews. Differentiation is not enough; you need to go a step further to ensure this. By deploying the right tools and these tips presented above, you can gain a significant increment in the number of installed users.

8 Powerful Productivity Apps to Help You Get Things Done

Smooth out your workflow with these must-have tools.

Often the hardest thing about working in design has nothing to do with the actual creative process, and everything to do with being organized and productive. Creatives tend to have a bit of a reputation for being chaotic, and while that's something of an easy truism, we can mostly agree that maybe our working setups could stand being just a little more orderly.

You might be just about keeping on top of the admin side of things and hitting those deadlines, but we can all use a little help sometimes. Whether you're a freelancer or an art director, with the right apps to hand you can add a vital extra layer of structure to your workflow, have more time to spend on the important creative side of things and even avoid those all-nighters. Here are eight apps that'll help you maximize your productivity without bogging you down in tedious admin.

#1. Wunderlist

Wunderlist helps you ensure your to-do list gets done

The best way to get things done is to have a to-do list, and then do everything on the list. However, while that works just fine for simple tasks, more complex projects require a more sophisticated to-do list, and you'd be hard pushed to find a better one than Wunderlist. It's free, it runs on just about any platform you care to name, and it enables you to create multiple to-do lists of any size, add reminders and due dates, share them and assign tasks to other people, and plenty more.

#2. Slack

Everyone's on Slack; maybe just a little too much

This one's a bit of a double-edged sword. Slack's without doubt an excellent way to communicate with a team and ensure that everyone's on top of everything, but it can also become a bit of a time sink. It's like having a big chat window open all day, and unless you're extraordinarily disciplined you can lose plenty of hours to enjoyable off-topic and entirely unproductive conversation. Make sure you disable desktop notifications.

#3. Toggl

Find out how long you're taking on various tasks and plan your time more efficiently

Time, as we all know, is money, and often it's not enough to just get things done. You also need to know how long it's taking you so that you can charge accordingly (and also identify things that take up too much of your time for not enough money). 

Toggl's a simple but effective time-tracking app that'll help you do just that; the basic version is free to use and comes in desktop and mobile versions that sync together, and once it's set up you can start breaking down your working day, boosting your productivity and winning back your time.

#4. Evernote

Be ready whenever inspiration strikes

When you're working on a creative project you never know when you might have a brilliant flash of inspiration, and it's useful to have an app that enables you to organize all your random thoughts and ideas. 

Evernote's the go-to solution for that situation; it's a note-taking app that enables you to jot down thoughts and also grab images, links and chunks of online articles, and stash them all in their own workspace. You can sync your stuff across multiple devices and also add reminders that'll send email alerts for important tasks. The basic version's free to use, but if you need more advance collaborative tools there are plenty of paid choices.

#5. Trello

For when that to-do list isn't enough, there's Trello

If Wunderlist isn't quite up to managing your life, or if you need something that can cover everything from to-do lists through to more heavyweight project management, Trello is probably what you need. You set up your projects as Trello boards, drag cards onto them to represent tasks, complete with priorities and deadlines as well as the option to add checklists, files and links if you need, and you're good to go. 

There are also Power-Ups, cards that enable you to bring third-party services into your workflow, plus plenty of collaboration tools to keep things ticking along. Trello's free to use, and of course there's a more advanced paid version available.

#6. Pocket

Pocket's the perfect place for all those cool links you come across every day

Over the course of the average day you're likely to be bombarded with a whole stack of interesting and useful things online, plenty of which you'll want to look at again later on but then completely forget about. Avoid losing vital inspiration with Pocket; it's a neat little app that you can use to stash all that exciting online stuff and then return to it later. 

It'll hold articles, videos and other content – not only from the web, but also from services such as Twitter, Flipboard and about 1,500 others – and it can also download content for viewing offline, plus you can share links with other Pocket users or post them via social media. The free version works just fine if you don't mind ads; the Premium version removes them, makes your content a permanent resource and also has useful search tools.

#7. LastPass

Install LastPass and never worry about remembering passwords again

Passwords are a pain. It used to be that you only had to remember a tiny handful of passwords, but now you're likely to use any number of online services and websites that each have their own passwords and also require that dreaded combination of both upper and lower-case letters, numbers and special characters. You can't remember them all, so let LastPass sort it out for you. 

Available for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, it'll generate strong and secure passwords for you that are available on whatever device you're using so you can log in anywhere, and it'll also remember payment and shipping details for online shopping. The basic version is free to use and will save you loads of time waiting to reset those forgotten passwords; premium options are also available.

#8. Join.me

Take most (or at any rate, some) of the pain out of meetings with Join.me

For a simple way to set up virtual meetings and conference calls, Join.me is a great choice. You create your own personalized meeting link to share with others, and they can paste it into their browser to join in, without any client software to download, or just dial in through a dedicated number. 

You can set up audio or video meetings, with the useful option to share screens to present ideas, and meetings can be scheduled and recorded. You can set up a free trial and create your own join.me URL, and if you find it useful the prices start at $10 per month for meetings of up to five people.

App Store Preview Video: The Ultimate Guide

With something like over 3 million apps between the Google Play and Apple App Stores today, it’s becoming ever more difficult to differentiate your apps and entice downloads. Thankfully, adding in an App Store video to your  app’s listing page is an excellent way to increase your conversion rates and increase the quality of your installing users.

Why? Well, as is the case with digital marketing in general, video works. Notice that your Facebook feed is now clogged with videos? Did you see that Instagram just increased their max allowed video length to 60 seconds? Have you seen your kid’s Snapchat or Vine stream? Video dominates mobile and internet, because the barriers to absorbing information are lower than with other mediums.

People browsing app stores are lazy. It’s not their life’s mission to hunt down the best apps.

But watching a video with a snappy, engaging, exciting preview of what using your app is like will obviously increase the likelihood of download. It also means that users who install after playing the video are much less likely to uninstall the app, because users will feel they are making a more informed decision when they hit the “download” button.

But you will not see these benefits just by putting any ol’ video to go along with your app. (Although, just having a video will improve your ASO-App Store Optimization- ranking.)

On the contrary, the opposite is true: an app store video that does not engage your users or match their expectations will significantly decrease your conversion rates, by getting users who would otherwise have installed to watch the video and then drop off.

Bottom line: designing a stellar app store video should be an app marketer’s goal, and understanding where your video falls short is crucial.

Engagement levels with App Preview Videos

To start, let’s look at some benchmarks for video engagement across the two main app stores:

Video Plays

• An average of 15% of Google Play visitors play the video

• An average of 7.5% of iOS App Store visitors play the video

Video Completion

Of those users who begin your app store video, 55% will watch until the end on iOS.  Only 45% finish your video on Google Play.

After Watching

Users who watch your videos do the following afterwards:

• 50% of users scroll the gallery in iOS. 25% do so in Google Play

• 70-80% of users on both platforms will scroll down the page looking for more content

• 5% of users on both platforms read the description

• 20% of users will not have any other page interaction, and will make the decision of whether or not they want to install after completing the video

Ok, so how much can a video lift conversions to download?

Even if a majority of app store visitors are so lazy that they’ll never even get to your video, it’s still possible to lift conversions with a good video. According to StoreMaven’s A/B tests of apps with App Preview videos and those without, it’s possible to increase conversions by 20% in the Apple App Store and by 35% on Google Play.

How many of the Top 100 apps are using video?

It’s interesting to note that over half of the top 50 grossing apps in iOS and 84% of the top 50 grossing apps in the Android Play store are utilizing app store videos.

How can I optimize my App Store Video?

There are many elements you need to get right and optimize in order to have a cohesive, engaging App Store video.

Poster Frame 

While Apple and Google each have different requirements in terms of length and format for videos (more on that later), it’s important in both that you have an engaging, “clickable” thumbnail image for your video.

In the iOS App Store, the thumbnail image MUST be a frame from your video, and it also serves as your first image in the App store, which 100% of your users will see. Therefore it must stand on its own as an exciting, explanatory image as well as being a frame from the video, which can be tricky sometimes. You also need to make sure that your first two screenshots are not repetitive, as it will decrease the chances that the browser will keep flipping through the rest of the images.

In the Google Play store, you have more freedom, as the thumbnail image to the video does not have to be from the video, and it appears above the separate section of screenshots of the app.

Length

Here again the Apple App store has more limitations, as the video must be between 15-30 seconds and be largely composed of actual screenshots of your app.

For Google Play, the suggested length is between 30 seconds and 2 minutes, and you can do whatever type of content you like. Many app marketers will repurpose another video they may have had on YouTube or for other broad branding purposes. We think it’s better to focus on your actual app in the video.

In general, the shorter the better, as drop rates increase substantially after the first 5 seconds.

Order

It’s important to get the balance right between highlighting your brand assets (name, logo, jingle, etc) and the app functionality or experience itself. You can A/B test different versions of your App Preview to better understand when is the best time to show your branding, and then optimize with the version that works best.

Sound

Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat have already “educated’ their millions of users to begin watching videos without sound. So it’s essential that app marketers also create videos that are engaging and able to be understood even with the sound off, since many people use already their phones on mute. You can also be savvy to this shift by strategically using subtitles or on-screen callouts to give added context to the visuals.

On the other hand, it’s equally important to choose a nice audio track to go along with the video messaging for those users who do view your app store video with sound. Music should accompany the content carefully. For example, you should use sound effects when showing specific app actions, so that users get a concrete feel of your different features. So, when a button is clicked, you should add a unique sound effect for that action.

Lastly, using a good voiceover to explain your app in a step-by-step manner can also be a good way to keep attention during your video. But tone and gender of your voice-over narrator may impact your users, so be sure to test out a few different options!

Localization

Does your app support multiple languages? Google Play allows you to link to a different video for each of the 47 languages it supports—including English, Japanese, and Zulu—making it easier to promote to international users. (Another tip: if you don’t have multiple translated YouTube videos, but have different language transcripts on your video, Google Play will automatically show the correct transcript).

Industry Specific Tips

While all the above advice is applicable for app store videos as a whole, it’s also important to keep in mind your app vertical and the type of video content that will resonate most with your audience. Here are some industry specific tips:

Gaming App Preview Video

A gaming app preview video should not focus too heavily on “brand” scenes with logo, music, etc, but rather show actual “game play” and why the game is exciting and different. There’s not enough time to focus on characters, UI, or how to use the game, so use your precious seconds on showing the actual game in all its glory. Here is a good example, other than too many logos upfront. If you’re already successful, you can experiment with more unique formats, like this amazing one with Liam Neeson for Clash of Clans.

Utility App Preview Video

 It’s easy to fall into the trap of making your utility app preview video a tutorial on how to use or the UI. Instead, you should focus less on UI and show the experience / value you get from using the app. Use large fonts and short sentences. Here’s a good example from Hulu.

Fashion/ E-Commerce App Preview Video

Fashion apps naturally appeal to the highly image-conscious, so showing actual people wearing fashion items instead of just showing the items themselves will help bring your video to life. Since there’s lots of similar fashion apps, it’s also important to differentiate yours from the rest by focusing on what you do best (price, volume, diversity in selection, etc.) Background music is quite important here, as a sense of style is more important here. Here’s a good example.

Summing up

If you didn’t have time to read through every step of how to make a good app store video, if nothing else please keep these guidelines in mind:

• Focus on the first 5 seconds, they are the most important ones to grab attention

• Transition between screens with captions / callouts

• Don’t rely on narration alone to explain the app

• Diversify the screenshots gallery; don’t repeat the screenshots in a video format

• Don’t focus on explaining how to use the app – show the value and experience instead

• Keep it short – up to 30 seconds

• Develop unique videos for iOS and Google Play as each have different requirements

This post was written in conjunction with our friends at StoreMaven, who provided much of the data you see here. StoreMaven is an A/B Testing platform for optimizing your App Store creative. 

How To Choose The Right Template For Your Video Ad

There are several templates for brands to pick from in the market. The question of how to choose the perfect template that will properly amplify your marketing is one that every marketer has to answer in a bid to get the best out of marketing. We have gone through several reasons why video marketing is a must-have for every marketer (In older articles). Due to the importance of video to the overall perception of your brand, it is important that you get it right when it comes to selecting the right kind of template for your business. In this article, I will take you through the process of selecting the right kind of template for your brand.

Templates make our work easy and in order to translate this ease into efficient marketing, you need to select the right templates for your brand. It is important that you get it right because your template will go a long way in determining the way that your brand is perceived by people.

To build or to start from scratch?

Users have the option of picking either pre-built templates or starting from scratch. This depends on whether you would love to begin on a blank canvas or whether you will need some kind of guidance through the process. On the other hand, you have the option of videos that have been created and can be easily customized.

For pre-animated templates, people argue that it provides a structure for your video and helps you with the background ideas that you need. Keep in mind that these templates were designed with the best social media practices and platforms in mind. If you do not want to build from scratch then you can get a template that is adjustable. With prebuilt templates, brands have the option of customizing the template. Due to the extensive features that templates provide, brands can present their unique style.

On the other hand, professionals may decide to begin from scratch and build upon it over time. However, this is bound to take much more time than templates that meet you halfway through.

Purpose count

There are various templates that are designed for different purposes. This is a huge influence for digital marketers who seek to find the right video for the particular purpose that they seek. Each template has its features and styles and often times, these features account for the uniqueness of each theme. When it comes to selecting the right video, you need to think about the overall goal that you are trying to achieve with your video. Understand that this is different from finding the overall goal for your marketing strategy. You need to understand what you want from each video for you to understand what kind of template to use. Whether you are trying to engage your users with educational content or you are trying to uniquely showcase your brand, there are templates that suit your brands every need. A brand that is trying to improve awareness on new streams of media interaction will consider that fact when going for video templates.

How to find the best video format for you

Notice that the phrase “for you’ is included at the end of this subtopic. The reason for this is simple, there is actually no single pattern that works for everyone. The kind of video format that is most suitable for your brand is best determined by you.

However, in finding out what format works best for you, quality is a necessary factor. Remember that the video still has to get streamed and you need to ensure that you consider this when you are selecting your video type.

Before we go on, let us look at bit rates. A bit simply refers to the smallest unit with which computer data can be measured. The bit rate refers to the number of bits that are displayed over a period of time. When it comes to the screening of videos, measurement is done in terms of millions of bits per second. It is also possible to measure in terms of kilobytes per second (a kilobyte is 1000 bits by the way).

The rate of the bit is proportionate to the quality of the video. Therefore, the higher the bit rate, the higher the quality of the video. Users need to consider the bit rate of a video in order to ensure that they get the right videos. This is important because the goal of every brand is to create something that looks great. However, the greats in the game of video marketing have attested to the fact brands need to understand how to strike a balance. Brands also need to create something that streams immediately. This means that brands need to create videos that look really great and are easy to stream.

Video makers need to make videos that won’t break the internet and this can be done by paying attention to the bit rate of the video.

Switching styles

Change is a constant and your style of video content may change over time as a result of a change in direction. When it comes to video marketing, there are several styles that are suitable. Most of these styles come with short previews for you to decide whether or not you’d want the full package for your brand. Your style can be changed for as many times as you want to change it.

Templates often contain default content that showcases unique layouts that can be used to creatively reach out to prospective clients. The styles are often grouped based on specific case uses or type of business. Therefore, you can check through to select a suitable style for your brand.

Customizing your video Ad

As you go on to choose templates for your brand’s ads, remember this:

Humans see in a somewhat specific order. Firstly, we see colors then we see shapes and then, we see numbers before eventually decide to read what’s written thereafter. This goes to show you the importance of choosing the right template for your brand. The right template will work perfectly and project your brand excellently; from photos to designs, fonts, and the overall appearance of your brand. Brands are an idea in people’s minds; therefore, it is primary to ensure that your brand is well represented.

What Do You Need to Know About the App Store Preview?

At the 2014 WWDC conference hosted by Tim Cook, Apple took a cue from Google and announced the addition of app preview videos. This feature engages customers with a short video of your app in action, alongside screenshots on the app’s product page. It’s like a demo video, but more efficient and concise. By understanding the technicalities of what an app preview video can offer, you can master creating great app previews so customers will be more driven to download your magnificent app.

1. The Basics:

The app preview demonstrates the features, functionality, and user interface of your new app that users can watch right on your product page. Each preview is limited to a max of 30 seconds and is displayed as the first image alongside your app screenshots.

App previews are not meant to market your app, or to generate buzz. You can’t expect to use the same video in the App Store as you would for a targeted marketing campaign, which would be better serviced by professionally made demo videos. Although app previews are limited by a tight time frame, they provide a fundamental understanding of your app for the consumer, so they gain a brief impression of your app before they go forward with downloading it.

2. Resolutions:

App previews are device-specific and must be localized to one language. You’ll need to submit different sets of app previews if you decide to create videos for more than one kind of device. For detailed technical specs and step-by-step instructions on how to submit app previews, read the iTunes Connect Developer Guide.

3. Creating the preview:

To avoid looking like an advertisement, the app preview must be composed primarily of footage from the device. To do this, you’ll need:

– iOS 8

– OS X Yosemite

– A Lightning connector

– Quicktime Player

Connect your device with the Lightning connector and it will automatically act as a video camera. This captures anything you’re doing on-screen and transfers it directly to your Mac using QuickTime Player. Edit the footage in iMovie, where you can consult Apple’s iMovie Guide for Creating App Previews, then upload it to iTunes Connect.

4. Content:

Apple gives you 4 tidbits of advice when it comes to planning valuable content for your app preview video.

1. Use short phrases or one-liners to explain transitions or features within the UI.

2. Highlight the “magical moments” of your app using a script or storyboard. Focus on 3-5 strengths that you’ve mentioned in your app description and use these as a framework.

3. Map out the scenes you’ll need. Plan how many seconds you will dedicate to each scene.

4. Disclose all in-app purchases. Add text to show what costs money.

Anyone from the age of 4 can watch app preview videos, so keep it clean and family-friendly. Avoid violence, profanity, sexual content, and adult themes. Don’t film people using your app—remember, the goal is to show how your app operates on the screen. Stay within the app.

Be wary of the material you use, as you must have the legal right to display it. Make sure you have the appropriate licensing rights for whatever protected content you use, such as music, film, trademarked characters, brands, or other intellectual property assets. Use only songs that you’re specifically licensed to use.

Apple suggests overlaying the musical score of your app to prevent a disjointed impression when one scene of the video cuts to the next. Capturing sound effects in your recorded footage helps reinforce the user’s impression of your app’s UI. Narration can be helpful, but be mindful of the fact that your app preview will only be available in one language—narration might not be appropriate for globally marketed apps. 

5. Graphics and Transitions:

Don’t confuse the user with too many graphic overlays or touch hotspots. Add graphic elements only when they’re necessary to show how navigation and interactions work within the app. Avoid zooming in, and use straightforward transitions. No need to get too fancy. For games, it’s more effective to show a higher ratio of gameplay to cut scenes. Cut scenes may mislead your audience by implying a false gameplay experience.

Conclusion:

App preview videos can be limited, but they give a better impression than screenshots could. More than ever, you must be aware of the strengths of your app so you can play off of them for effective app preview videos. Convert potential customers into loyal followers by showing the true and appealing parts of your app! You will still need a demo video for marketing purposes, but for now, an app preview is a good start to driving more app downloads.

The Best Monitors for Video Editing

High quality monitors for video editing that will ensure your work looks amazing played on any screen.

Image credit: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock

When you're choosing the best monitor for video editing, you'll want to make sure it delivers the best picture quality possible so you can be sure your work will look great played back on any screen. 

For great color reproduction and brightness, you'll need to look for a monitor with an IPS (in-plane switching) rather than TN (twisted nematic) display, so that's what we'll be looking at here. We're also focusing on 4K displays; although 8K screens are available, they're prohibitively expensive and overkill for even professional video editing. If the support doesn't suit, be sure to check out our round up of the best monitor stands (that won't cost you $1000). With all that in mind, whether you're a pro or a keen hobbyist, read on to find the right monitor for you.

#1. Dell Ultra-sharp U3219Q

The very best monitor for video editing.

Screen size: 32-inch | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Panel technology: IPS | Inputs: 1x HDMI, 1x Displayport | USB: 4x USB 3.0, 1x USB Type C

• Excellent color accuracy

• Surprisingly affordable

• Two display inputs

For editing videos and all other creative work, the Dell Ultrasharp U3219Q is the monitor to beat. Its 32-inch display offers full sRGB and Rec. 709 coverage, with 95% DCI-P3 and excellent color uniformity, all in a smart chassis with super-thin bezels. It lacks some of the professional-grade accoutrements you'll find in the Eizo ColorEdge CG319X a little further below, but you won't find a better monitor for video editing at such a reasonably price point. There's also an 8K version available (the Dell UltraSharp UP3218K), but at three times the cost of this model, there's no competition.

#2. BenQ PD3200U

The best monitor for video editing if you're on a budget.

Screen size: 32-inch | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Panel technology: IPS | Inputs: 1x DisplayPort, 1x Mini-DP, 1x HDMI | USB: 4x USB 3.0

• Large panel

• Superb color accuracy

• Basic design

A monitor that's perfect for video editing doesn't have to break the bank, as the BenQ PD3200U proves. This 4K monitor lacks the stylistic flourishes of some more expensive alternatives, but its 32-inch display means you're getting a lot of screen for your money – and a good quality one at that. The PD3200U is made with creatives in mind, and includes several dedicated profiles that will be of particular interest for video editing, including animation and darkroom modes. Its color accuracy is excellent straight out of the box, avoiding the need for time-consuming calibration. 

#3. Eizo ColorEdge CG319X

The best monitor for video editing if money is no object.

Screen size: 31.1-inch | Resolution: 4096 x 2160 | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Panel technology: IPS | Inputs: 2x DisplayPort, 2x HDMI | USB: 3x USB 3.0

• Industry standard presets

• Remarkable color accuracy

• Automatic AI calibration

• Extremely expensive

The Eizo ColorEdge CG319X is an outstanding 4K monitor that's ideally suited to video editing in a professional studio. Its color accuracy is remarkable, reproducing 98% of the DCI-P3 standard used in digital cinema – just one of many broadcast and cinema presets, which include the Rec. 2020 standard used for Ultra HD television broadcasts. Its 4096 x 2160 resolution is also optimized for video editing, matching the 4K standard used in video production. It also comes with a monitor hood to reduce glare, and a built-in AI-controlled system that automatically calibrates the display to compensate for changes in temperature of the monitor itself and its environment.

#4. BenQ EX3501R

The best curved monitor for video editing.

Screen size: 35-inch | Resolution: 3,440 x 1,440 | Refresh rate: 100Hz | Panel technology: IPS | Inputs: 2x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort | USB: 1x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0

• HDR support

• Fast refresh rate

• USB-C connectivity

• Bland design

Although marketed as a gaming monitor, the BenQ EX3501R is also a great monitor for video editing thanks to its HDR support, fast refresh rate and impressive color reproduction. BenQ calls this a 'video enjoyment monitor', and has given it a muted design to match. The vast curved screen the star of the show, and at 2.35:1, it's proportioned for cinemascope films. The inclusion of a USB-C port means it's a great monitor for video editing on PC and Mac users alike (though bear in mind that HDR support in Windows is still patchy).

#5. LG 27MD5KA 27-inch UltraFine 5K USB-C Monitor

The best monitor for video editing on a Mac.

Screen size: 27-inch | Resolution: 5,120 x 2,880 | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Panel technology: IPS | Inputs: Firewire | USB: 3x USB Type-C

• 5K resolution

• Impressive contrast

• No HDMI input

The LG 27MD5KA 27-inch UltraFine 5K USB-C Monitor is built with Macs in mind, as its input options show. With no HDMI and resolution capped at 4K in Windows (compared to 5K on Mac), it's a no-go for PC users. It covers 92 percent of the AdobeRGB spectrum, with impressive contrast and deep blacks. The 27MD5KA also includes speakers, though their quality isn't sufficient for video editing. It's perhaps no surprise that this monitor is promoted by Apple itself, and if you're looking for a second screen for video editing on a Macbook Pro, it's well worth consideration.

How To Use Animated Video Templates

Brands are beginning to see the importance of templates in video marketing. With Templates, it is easy for brands to leverage the immense benefits of video marketing. They can create powerful and professional videos in a matter of minutes. These templates provide the necessary ‘background’ upon which they can drag and drop photos and videos that adequately represent their brand. These templates are often easy to use and require little or no prior training to master them.

However, it is also important to understand what to do with these templates. In this article, I will look at some uses and benefits of video templates. The goal is to ensure that brands understand and leverage the benefits of animated video templates.

Customizing your template

Although templates are beautifully designed by professionals, there has to be a wide range of options in order to allow proper expression. Individuals, as well as brands,  can properly represent what they stand for through the wide range of options that templates provide.

Colors and Fonts

Although template designers offer suggestions, they provide users with a wide range of options that allow users to decide the outlook of videos. Brands can switch between colours and match the colours that represent their brands. With the option to use the colour that suits your needs, users can create specific videos. Fonts are also very crucial when it comes to brand representation and these templates can be personalized. There are several options to choose from whether you are looking for calligraphy or handwritten options. There are also options for adjusting the transition styles, as well as, the video styles. With these options, users can create personalized videos that will suit their brand's needs.

Logos

Of course, logos are crucial to any branding efforts. Templates are made with customizable spaces for your logos. This means that you can make videos like some of the biggest brands across various social media platforms. In most cases, templates also provide users with the option of adding a watermark to the corner of the video. This gives your brand that original and classy look. Users may also decide to make their logos larger in a bid to bring their brands to the fore (which is never a bad idea).

Other Additions

Most templates are designed to be very flexible and allow for the adding and removal of blocks. A block comprises of a picture or a video clip (sometimes in groups). Users are allowed to add photos and text to videos in a bid to create specialized looks. There are several features with which brands can own their video template.

Uses

Now that we know these basic facts about the use of animated videos, we may proceed to look at examples of how video templates can be used. This part will take a look at certain ways to put these templates to use.

Marketing Videos

There are several ways to talk about your business. Every business is made up of several departments/aspects that make up the business. With professional marketing videos, brands can use templates to tell the world about an interesting part of their business. Videos are more likely to be remembered than pictures; hence, video marketing is crucial.

Tutorials

Customers always love free stuff that adds value to them. With templates, brands can create professional tutorials to guide users through various aspects of their interaction with the brand. Whether you are explaining a product or trying to pass across information, templates are designed to make your work easier. With step-based tutorials, your brand can gain the necessary exposure and leverage the clicks for returns on sales.

Explainer Videos

One might ask, “What’s the difference between a tutorial and an explainer video”?

Well, they are different in terms of how complex they are. Tutorials are meant to inform audiences about simple things while explainer videos focus on the more complicated stuff.

Explainer videos are perfect when it comes to attracting visitors to your brand’s website. It can be used to tell people about the immense benefits or results to expect as a result of their interaction with your brand. Explainer videos provide value to your audiences and it is a great way to increase followership and engagement across various social media platforms.

Promotions

Brands can use various templates as a way to celebrate different seasons. Brands can promote new products, offer incentives in sales, and many more. With promos, brands can create a particular campaign and use it across several social media platforms. With video templates, your brand can reach more people across these sites without asking them to visit your website.

Benefits

Now that we have recognized some uses of these templates, we’d now proceed to take a look at some benefits of video templates for brands.

1. Speed : With video templates, businesses can reduce the time spent on creating video content. Instead, brands can work with these templates and edit them to fit their brand goals. In the business of video marketing, it is important to produce content regularly and this makes speed a very crucial factor.

2. Conversion : The goal of any marketing effort is to gain engagements and subsequent conversions. With video templates, brands can learn to try out various strategies and stick to ones that work. With greater website traffic, conversions are more likely and this will improve sales.

3. Multi-Faceted :  With video templates, brands can kick-start campaigns across various social media platforms with the same video content. This means that your brand can improve its visibility by using video templates. With videos, brands are more likely to appear in searches.

4. No Design Experience : For me, this is the most amazing thing about video templates, the fact that you require little or no design or technical experience to use them. With the provision of templates, there is little left for you to do and this makes it easy for anyone who is interested in understanding how to use video templates.

Rounding up…

Videos are critical to the success of any marketing strategy. Videos are capable of increasing conversion rates on your landing page by more than 70%. Even in email marketing, videos influence the chances that your email will be opened.

However, the process of video marketing is a gradual one which requires brands to pay attention to their options. By doing this, brands can decide the best approach with which to produce videos. This is made easier with templates with which brands can produce multiple videos on a daily basis.

With video templates, a brand can reap the immense rewards of video marketing. It improves your brand's image and can be used to decide how you want your brand to be perceived.

59 Video Marketing Stats You Need to Know in 2019

In order to stay fresh and relevant, it’s crucial for you to include video in your marketing strategy. The numbers are clear: people would rather watch video than read about a company, brand, product, or service. Give your audience what they want and keep up with your competition at the same time!

But of course, we’re not asking you to blindly take our word for it. After all, we’re a video company so it may seem a little suspect that we’re recommending video to you. Instead, we’ll let the numbers speak for themselves! These statistics show you who’s using video, why they’re using it, and if their strategies are working.

Is every business using video these days?

Let’s face the facts: you’ve got competition. It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in; most marketers are using video. It’s essential to get some skin in the game to stay ahead of the pack. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to catch up to those who are already engaged in some form of video marketing.

Get started now by creating a simple explainer flagship or brand story video!

1. 87% of businesses now use video as a marketing tool. This number is up from 63% in 2017 and 81% in 2018. (1)

2. 91% of video marketers consider video to be an important part of their marketing strategy. That’s an increase from 82% in 2017 and 85% in 2018. (2)

3. 90% of video marketers feel that the level of competition and noise has increased in the past year. (2)

4. 99% will continue to use video in 2019, with 88% saying they’ll spend more than they did in previous years. (2)

5. 52% of marketing professionals worldwide said video is the type of content with the best ROI. (3)

6. Marketers who use video grow revenue 49% faster than non-video marketers. (3)

7. In 2018, 73% of marketers created at least two videos a month for social media marketing. (4)

8. The average CVR for websites using video is 4.8%, compared to 2.9% for those that don’t use video. (3)

What is the epiphany?

As you can see, video marketing is here to stay. No matter your industry, video is a powerful tool at your disposal, one that is becoming more and more common each year. If you want to stay ahead of your competition and give your customers what they want, it’s more crucial now than ever before to nail down your video marketing strategy in 2019.

Why are marketers turning to video?

Not only is the number of people watching videos online steadily increasing, so is the amount of time they’re watching.

The amount of time people spend on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram every day is staggering—and all of these platforms are consistently seeing an increase in video content, year after year.

Putting your dollars behind video projects will help ensure you’re reaching people who would rather watch a quick video than read a long document about your company, product, or service.

9. The 1 billion YouTube users make up one-third of all internet traffic. (3)

10. Every 60 seconds, 72 hours of video are uploaded to youtube. (3)

11. On Twitter, 82% of users watch video content. (3)

12. Nearly half of Facebook and YouTube users consume more than an hour of video per week. (3)

13. On average, people spend 2.6x more time on pages with video than without. (5)

14. Video is expected to make up 82% of internet traffic by 2021. (6)

15. 71% of people watch more video than they did a year ago. (7)

16. While 85% of online users in the U.S. regularly watch videos online, Saudi Arabia wins globally with 98% of its online population consuming video content. (3)

17. 87% of consumers want to see more video content from brands. (8)

18. In 2019, 80% of all consumer internet traffic is expected to be video traffic. (3)

19. One-third of online activity is spent watching video. (3)

20. Social media brand video ads are the #1 way consumers find out about brands. (4)

21. 50% of viewers aged 18–34 said they would stop what they were doing to watch a video from their favorite creator. (9)

22. People ages 25–34 watch the most online videos. (3)

23. 72% of consumers prefer video over text to learn about a product or service. (1)

What is the epiphany?

Businesses have to adapt to the world around them. Since customers are watching more videos than ever before, the best thing a business can do is look for places to leverage video where they would’ve used text before. When customers go to your website or social media channel, they want to see video content. As long as people prefer to watch video, video will be what they expect. That means it should be one of the first tactics you think to use to reach your audience, an essential tool in your arsenal that can set you apart from your competition.

But does video actually drive engagement?

Marketing strategies are all about increasing engagement in all kinds of ways. Videos afford you the opportunity to tell compelling stories in a way that increases engagement, allowing you to see results like shares, lead generation, sales, and click-throughs.

You don’t just want your audience to know that you exist—you want them to really understand what you do and why it matters. You ultimately want them to engage with your brand, tell others about you, buy your product or service, and become more loyal customers.

Video is the best way to drive this kind of engagement and see the kinds of results that have a big impact on your bottom-line. Here are some statistics to prove it.

24. 94% of video marketers say video has helped increase user understanding of their product or service. (2)

25. 93% of businesses said they got a new customer as a direct result of a video posted on social media. (3)

26. 62% of businesses say their homepage explainer video is effective. (10)

27. A website is 53 times more likely to reach the front page of Google if it includes video. (11)

28. Prospects are 85% more likely to purchase after viewing video content. (12)

29. 83% of marketers say video gives them a good ROI (up from 78% in 2018). (2)

30. A good video content marketing strategy can increase qualified leads by 66%. (13)

31. 64% of consumers make a purchase after watching branded social videos. (14)

32. Including video on landing pages can increase conversion rates by 80%. (15)

33. If you use video as part of your marketing strategy, you could see revenue grow 49% faster than competitors who do not use video. (13)

34. Social video generates 12 times more shares than text and images combined. (3)

35. Videos attract 300% more traffic and help to nurture leads. (16)

36. An initial email with a video receives an increased click-through rate by 96%. (3)

37. 79% of people say a brand’s video has convinced them to buy a piece of software or app. (2)

38. Video can increase SERP results by 157%. (17)

39. Including video on your landing page can increase conversion rates by 80%. More than that, the video-enhanced landing page is 53% more likely to show up as the first result in search. (16)

40. When you include video on your website, users spend on average 88% more time on your site. (3)

41. Video on your blog drive visitors to your site. Posts with video are linked to 3x times. (3)

42. Monthly web visits increase 2–3 times when video is included. (3)

What is the epiphany?

The numbers are clear. Marketers who use video see results. That’s why so many businesses’ marketing strategies already contain some usage of video.

Bonus: Tips & Tricks (and, yes, more stats!)

As you begin thinking about your video marketing strategy, keep some of these best practices in mind.

43. 85% of Facebook videos are watched without sound. (3)

TIP: If you anticipate that your video will be viewed primarily on Facebook, consider a video that doesn’t require sound and/or has subtitles.

44. Only 5% of viewers stop watching videos after one minute, but 60% will stop watching after two minutes. (18)

TIP: There’s a sweet spot when it comes to video length. If you go beyond it, you risk losing your audience.

45. Average retention rate for videos over 30 minutes is only 10%. (12)

TIP: You may be tempted to try and cram everything you want to say in one video. The danger is that the longer a video goes, the less people will be able to remember. Stick to the essentials. If there’s a lot you need to say, consider a series of bite-sized videos to break up the content.

46. 95% of consumers believe a video should be less than 2 minutes long. (10)

TIP:  Again, it’s best to keep it short and sweet.

47. Share videos directly on social media rather than sharing a link to YouTube or a landing page. Facebook videos reach users 10x more often than YouTube links. (3)

48. The average user spends 88% more time on a website with video. (3)

49. Prospects are 95% more likely to remember a message told by video rather than text. (19)

50. 96% of people say they’ve watched an explainer video to learn more about a product or service. (2)

51. Two-minute videos enjoy the highest engagement. (20)

52. Make your point early in a video, only 46% of viewers typically make it to the end. (13)

53. B2B prospects watch videos the most on Tuesdays between 7 and 11 am. (21)

54. 68% of people say they’d most prefer to learn about a new product or service by watching a short video. This makes video more popular as a learning tool than text-based articles (15%), infographics (4%) presentations and pitches (4%) ebooks and manuals (3%). (2)

55. 69% of marketers said visual content was an absolute necessity. (22)

56. In 2019, marketers expect to spend 32% of their budget on visual content. (23)

57. Many businesses are increasing video production budgets in 2019 for both in house and externally produced videos to keep up with demand. (24)

58. Larger companies produce more videos on average, but some smaller companies produce just as many and often outperform their larger competitors. (13)

59. A good video content marketing strategy can increase qualified leads by 66%. (13)

Video isn’t going anywhere. As long as it’s the preferred way for people to engage with content, businesses will keep using it. It can be tricky, though, knowing which videos your company needs, how many you need, and what your ongoing strategy for video should be.

No matter which industry you’re in, there are a few types of videos that are good to start with. Check out the ones we suggest to determine which are the right fit for you, based on your audience, mission, message, and goals you’re trying to achieve this year.

Sources

(1) Wyzowl – https://www.wyzowl.com/video-marketing-statistics-2018/

(2) Wyzowl – https://www.wyzowl.com/video-marketing-statistics-2019/

(3) WordStream – https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2017/03/08/video-marketing-statistics

(4) Animoto – https://animoto.com/blog/video-marketing/video-marketing-statistics-2018/

(5) Wistia – https://wistia.com/learn/marketing/video-time-on-page

(6) Cisco – https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/collateral/service-provider/visual-networking-index-vni/white-paper-c11-741490.html

(7) HubSpot – https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/video-marketing

(8) HubSpot – https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/state-of-video-marketing-new-data

(9) Google – https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/consumer-insights/online-video-trends-2017-media-plan/

(10) Wyzowl – https://info.wyzowl.com/state-of-video-marketing-2017-report

(11) Biteable – https://biteable.com/blog/tips/video-marketing-statistics/

(12) Vidyard – https://www.vidyard.com/blog/50-video-marketing-stats-prove-youre-doing-it-right/

(13) Impact – https://www.impactbnd.com/blog/new-video-marketing-statistics-2019

(14) Tubular Insights – https://tubularinsights.com/64-percent-viewers-purchase-social-video/

(15) Unbounce – https://unbounce.com/landing-page-articles/the-benefits-of-using-video-on-landing-pages/

(16) Marketing Sherpa – https://www.marketingsherpa.com/article/how-to/videos-attract-300-more-traffic

(17) Lemon Light – https://www.lemonlight.com/blog/how-will-video-help-seo-ranking/

(18) Lemon Light – https://www.lemonlight.com/blog/60-video-marketing-stats-2018/

(19) Pop Video – https://www.popvideo.com/blog/looking-at-the-facts-why-video-content-has-the-highest-retention-rate

(20) HubSpot – https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/how-long-should-videos-be-on-instagram-twitter-facebook-youtube

(21) HubSpot – https://www.hubspot.com/marketing-statistics

(22) HubSpot – https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/visual-content-marketing-strategy

(23) Impact – https://www.impactbnd.com/blog/14-visual-content-marketing-statistics-to-know-for-2019-infographic

(24) Lemon Light – https://www.lemonlight.com/blog/top-16-video-marketing-predictions-for-2019/

This article was originally published by Epipheo. Epipheo is a video production agency serving brands, marketers & thought leaders.

The New Instagram Stories Giant Pack is Finally Here.

In today’s world of stellar video contents, video marketing has become a big deal. The quality of video content is important and it takes time to produce top-notch content on a regular basis. However, there are templates that have been specially designed for all kinds of digital marketing efforts. These templates can be used for different levels of brand awareness across different social media platforms.

In this article, we will take a look at Vdeesign’s new Instagram pack. We will look at the features and benefits of using the pack. Shall we?

With this new pack of Instagram stories has many amazing features that digital marketers can use across various social media platforms. All elements of this pack of Instagram stories are pre-animated and easy to use. It is also easy to include elements from your brand such as photos, videos, and texts.

This pack is an all-inclusive pack that is designed to cater to personal as well as professional needs. It is ideal for photographers, designers, artists, and anyone who is constantly looking to improve brand awareness and exposure online. Marketing experts often emphasize the importance of using quality content to promote your brand. With this pack, there is an endless array of quality Instagram stories.

With unparalleled offerings in terms of efficiency, variety and image quality, the Vdeesign’s Instagram stories pack is the ideal template for marketers to use. Check out this video about the product and samples templates.

With a lovely and responsive interface, the tool is easy to set up and customize to your taste. If you wonder how your favorite brands manage to stay consistent with efforts across various social media platforms, Vdeesign's Instagram stories pack is a great way to do that. It is called the Instagram stories pack because it contains 15-second videos which are similar to what you have on IG. However, this pack offers you numerous options of customizable colors, fonts, and other elements that make up the perfect video content for your brand.

Features of the Instagram stories pack

1.  This template features over 120 animated Instagram stories. These stories can be used to make announcements, advertise products, introduce a new feature, and so on. With this number of animated stories, you can be sure that there is something in store for everyone.

2. Each story is beautifully tailored to last for 15 seconds. Typically, animators can attest to how long it takes to conjure a video of this length. The Instagram stories pack has a total of 30 minutes of animated content.

3. Numbers are everything and with more than 1000 elements, this pack provides a lot of value to users. These elements are beautifully designed and animated by professionals. These elements can be creatively used to reach out and spread your message across.

4.  Emojis have become great enhancers of video and photo marketing. With animated emoji icons, the Instagram stories pack provides more values to people that need it.

5.  Vdeesign strives to meet the needs of all users from all walks of life. This is evident in the Instagram stories pack; there are several categories that users can choose from. The idea behind the all-inclusive manner with which categorization is set is to ensure that no user is left out.

6. The Instagram stories pack contains templates that have the proper resolution that is fit to use on Instagram, Snapchat, facebook, twitter, and other social media platforms. With a 1080 x 1920 resolution, this tool is ideal for all users.

7.  The Instagram stories pack is also ideal because it is a 100% after effects project.

8.  Another reason why you might want to go for the Instagram stories pack is that with it, users can render quickly and easily.

9.  Another salient feature of this product is the fact that it allows for easy customization. Users can easily customize the templates to fit their needs.

10.  Vdeesign always strives to give the best to its customers in terms of services as well as support. With a step-by-step tutorial, users can gain a detailed understanding of how things work with this template. The brand also offers users with free customer support that is available around the clock.

11.   The Instagram stories pack is also a great option because it does not require plugins, all your needs are catered to.

12.  Change is a constant and with regular and free updates, users of this pack can get with regular changes and updates for free.

13.  The position of placeholders is an intricate part of video marketing because it determines how well these Placeholders will be seen. With this tool, users can drag and drop placeholders as they wish.

14.  It is not always about the way what you write, the way it is written is also important. This product works with any kind of font and this makes it the ideal tool.

15.  This tool is also a great option because it enhances speed. Users can have stories ready in 10 minutes after getting familiar with the product.

Rounding Up…

Value is important when it comes to content and with this product, you can keep your followers inspired by posting great video content. Imagery is everything when it comes to your branding efforts and you need to constantly ensure that your brand’s imagery is distinct.

Delivery your brand’s promises to customers and prospective customers can be made easy and much more efficient with Vdeesign’s animated templates. The new Instagram stories pack is easy to use and highly efficient. This tool is a gold mine for photographers, designers, and others who are involved in the overall imagery of your brand.

How to Use Instagram Stories for Marketing (And Why You Should)

Instagram Stories have changed the way we use Instagram, turning the platform into something more than your everyday online photo album.

Initially released as a thinly-veiled attempt to mimic the popular Snapchat feature, now, Instagram is upping the ante for stories with the recent launch of product stickers. Shopify merchants can enable through our Instagram sales channel to let customers discover, shop, and buy products directly from Instagram.

Your business can use Instagram Stories as a way to keep your most loyal followers engaged while leaving your content open for new audiences to discover. In this brief guide, we’ll share how to introduce stories into your Instagram marketing mix.

Why bother with Instagram Stories?

Stories are a quick, engaging format perfectly suited for mobile experiences. Brands have taken notice, with Instagram’s data showing that a third of the most viewed stories on the platform were created by businesses.

Put simply, Instagram Stories are fun to create and consume, and ephemeral format lowers the stakes and makes the whole experience less formal. The authenticity that comes with a “throwaway” format can be applied by brands, too.

But there are plenty more reasons to be excited about Instagram Stories:

• An active user base: Instagram reports there are more than 400 million daily users for stories.

• Stories effortless creation: No one expects you to invest half an hour on a post that’s not going to be around after tomorrow. While Instagram posts require the perfect lighting, angles and hashtags, a good Story just requires a quick idea or an interesting moment, and some creativity.

• A testing ground for ideas: Instagram Stories aren’t as exposed as regular Instagram posts, and that makes them great for testing ideas. If it’s received well (positive replies and people watch your entire Story without dropping off), you can consider re-posting it as a permanent Instagram post or adapting the idea for another channel.

• An armory of features: There are tools for drawing, placing stickers, adding augmented reality filters and more.

• The opportunity to drive traffic: Add links to your stories, advertise your products with shopping on Instagram, and take advantage of Instagram’s latest feature: shopping on Explore. This makes product discovery and reaching new audiences easier than before.

• Swipe-up links: If you have more than 10K followers on Instagram and a business account, you can link out from your stories.

• Another way to get discovered: You can hashtag and geotag stories for the chance to get into the Featured Stories and amplify your reach.

But we've still only scratched the surface. Here are some ways you can integrate Instagram Stories as a marketing channel for your business.

How to use Instagram Stories

Instagram gives you a number of new features that you can apply to your posts, encouraging you to create content within its editor. But you can still easily upload content you’ve created elsewhere.

Here’s how to use Instagram Stories:

1. Click on the camera icon in the top left or the '+' on your profile picture, or simply swipe right and click on the camera icon.

2. Tap the white circle in the middle to take a picture, hold it for a video, or tap the gallery icon in the left corner (or just swipe up) to use existing media on your phone.

3. Edit your photo or video using Instagram's various editing options.

4. Tap the "Your Story" button to post to your public Story so your profile picture appears at the top of your followers' feeds, "Send to" to send it privately to your followers via a Direct Message, or "Save" to download it to your phone for later.

Unlike the dimensions for standard square Instagram posts, stories are shot vertically. Your photos and videos should be sized accordingly, at 1080 pixels wide and 1920 pixels tall. In March, Instagram released an update that lets you resize your photos and videos before posting by pinching your phone’s screen.

Anything added to your camera roll should show up when you swipe up in the stories camera view.

Besides photos and videos, stories give you a variety of modes to create in other formats:

• Type: Text-based posts in a variety of styles against a colored background.

• Live: In-the-moment live streams where your audience can comment in real-time. You can post them as a Story afterwards.

• Boomerang: Create a 1-second looping videos.

• Focus: Take portraits that blur out the background and keep your subject's face in focus.

• Superzoom: Dramatically zoom in on your subject from afar, using a variety of a humorous effects like Paparazzi or Surprise.

• Rewind: Record a video that will play back in reverse.

• Hands-free: Record a video without having to hold down the record button.

That said, you can have a lot of fun with how you create this content. You can design quick “title cards” and other graphics in Canva (or even Keynote, Slides or PowerPoint) that you can upload as the intro, call-to-action or individual slides within your Story.

Quickly edit together a bunch of clips using a video-editing app like Quik by GoPro (free). Just remember that you can only upload 15 seconds of video at a time or it’ll get cut off. (Live videos can be one minute long.)

Instagram Stories offers you a ton of ways to get creative. Use all the options at your disposal to bring your content to life. Combine text, pictures, videos, stickers, filters, interactive polls and doodles to produce fun and interesting content.

Think less about “posting”, more about “programming”

Just because stories don’t stick around forever, that doesn’t mean they don’t require some thought and planning. Brands should think about their Instagram Story as they would any other content channel: ahead of time.

Consider treating your Story like a TV network with scheduled programming for the week, or even recurring “episodes” that happen on certain days. Thinking in advance about what kind of content you’ll be sharing and how your Story will flow will help you craft a more addictive and consistent experience for your viewers.

You can even tease what will be happening and when so your followers know to tune in.

Use the right Instagram stickers, geotags and hashtags

With traditional Instagram posts, you can generally increase your exposure if you strategically use stickers, location geotags and hashtags. You can add a location, sticker or hashtag to your photo or video in the stickers menu.

Instagram stickers

Whenever you share a photo or video to your story, you now have the option to add stickers to encourage different types of engagement (look for the smiley face in the top right of your screen). Here are some of the more interesting options for the available stickers:

• Product stickers: After your account is approved for shopping on Instagram, you can add a sticker to any photo uploaded as a story. When you add a shopping sticker to a product, buyers can simply tap to learn more about the product tagged, and then tap again to make a purchase.

• Poll sticker: Get feedback by writing questions and custom answers. You followers can pick an option and see the poll results in real time.

• Hashtag sticker: When your followers click this sticker, they’ll be taken to the relevant hashtag page.

• Questions sticker: Let people respond to your stories—all your followers have to do is tap the sticker and type their response. You can also tap their question to provide an answer.

• Music sticker: Slowly rolling out to some countries, this sticker lets you share part of a song in your story.

• Selfie sticker: Tap the sticker that shows your profile photo to start taking photos you can add as stickers to your next Story.

Geotags

Geotags will help you get discovered in location-level stories (e.g. New York City or a popular restaurant in your neighborhood). Regularly tagging your location in your Story posts when it’s relevant can put you in front of people who are checking in on that particular spot.

Hashtags

While they’re typically used for discoverability on social media, hashtags are more likely to take viewers away from your Stores and to others' posts.

Hashtags in stories are best used only if you own them—if you’re running a contest or you’re getting customers to submit photos of themselves using your product under a branded hashtag. This way, if the hashtag is used in a Story, it’ll at least take people to a collection of posts related to your brand.

Grayes uses all three in this Instagram Story post about press coverage they earned.

Use Instagram Live to support your stories

Instagram Live is fun to watch when it's someone else's show, but it’s a little intimidating to start yourself since it's recorded and goes out in real-time.

Live video gives you less control because it’s on-the-spot, but it’s an interactive and versatile format.

One of the advantages of Instagram Live is that your followers receive a notification when you start one (unless they’ve turned off notifications). Once you've finished your live stream, you can upload it to your Story for the next 24 hours.

If you have a decent-sized following, consider giving Instagram Live a try. Uploading it to your Story changes the icon to differentiate it from the rest of the stories at the top of that app, as these Live videos generally happen less frequently.

Remember that this is interactive, and that means regularly acknowledging comments from your live audience and inviting them to participate in some way. It might also take some time for your audience to join before you can start, so prepare for a preamble to buy yourself a few moments.

Some Instagram Live ideas include:

• Running a contest or inviting your audience to bet on an outcome

• Hosting a Q&A or AMA (Ask Me Anything)

• Covering an event or sharing an interesting moment

• Hosting a talk show

• Vlogging live

• Influencer takeovers

It's easy to shy away from this feature, but Instagram Live is a worthwhile engagement tool for accounts with a sizable following and loyal fans.

Drive traffic to your website and products

Links in your Instagram bio

Your Instagram bio was once the only place to add a clickable link, and many brands still use this approach. Luckily, you can apply two basic conversion principles to get the job done: affordance and a call-to-action (CTA).

Affordance provides a sensory signal to the user indicating where their attention should be and what action they can take. Beyond just telling your audience to check the link in your bio, consider mentioning your own account (@yourhandle), or using an arrow to point to your avatar in the top left of your Story, both of which lead to your bio.

A CTA is a direct instruction for what you'd like your audience to do. Without an explicit CTA, your audience's default action will likely be to continue swiping to the next post. Here are a few examples of CTAs you can use:

• Check out more pics at #yourcampaign

• Swipe up to scoop this product

• Tap now to snag XX% off

Kalelee Creations used this approach to drive their audience to sign up for their email list.

Links in Instagram Stories

You can also add links to your Instagram Story posts, driving users to your homepage, blog, product pages or wherever you choose.

You can also leverage shopping in Instagram Stories to create clickable posts that drive your audience to purchase pages. Use the product stickers to show off the products in your Story. Your audience can tap to learn more and make a purchase.

Instagram also recently announced plans to incorporate shopping into its Explore tab. The Explore tab is where Instagram users go to discover new content and accounts, curated to match their interests, hashtags and in-app behavior. This can put your products in front of audiences who don’t even follow your account.

Remember that you only have your audience's attention for brief moments, so when you want them to take a specific action, be direct.

Curate stories into Highlights

Stories might have a short shelf life but they can live on as Story Highlights that you can pin to your profile.

These Highlights are made up of stories you can curate under specific themes and title in meaningful ways.

You can use Highlights to:

• Create trailers for your account.

• Show off your customers.

• Showcase product features.

• Directly address new followers with a pitch about your content and account (you can label it "Start here").

• Advertise a sale

Analyze results with Instagram Analytics

With a personal account, it can be hard to tell how your stories are performing. You don't have many signals to work with except for Views (you can see who has viewed your Story by swiping up on it) and replies (when a viewer messages you through your Story).

But with a business account, access a wide range of signals for a more meaningful feedback loop from your stories. View metrics like impressions and reach, but also actions taken on your stories, such as how many people tapped through, replied or bounced away.

Rounding up…

If you don’t have enough time in a day to come up with unique content on daily or weekly basis. Check out this giant bundle pack with out of the box Instagram stories that would help you pretty much automate your Instagram Stories for the next 3 months. It features over 120 Instagram stories with pre-animated text and images. The bundle covers a pretty large diversity of content catering for a variety of business needs.

7 Ways To Use Instagram Stories To Outsmart The Instagram Algorithm

As the Instagram algorithm continues to take a toll on people’s engagement, it’s no surprise that more and more users are switching their focus to Instagram Stories. Just look at the numbers:

According to TechCrunch, Instagram Stories has over 300 million daily active users, which is almost double that of Snapchat. But Instagram Stories is more than just a great way to connect with your followers. Posting to Stories consistently can also impact how your posts perform in the Instagram algorithm.

The algorithm takes into account all the interactions you receive on your Instagram Stories — this means, the more that a user interacts with your Instagram Stories, the more likely your posts will show up in their feed.

In the following post, we cover 7 ways you can use Instagram Stories to outsmart the Instagram algorithm, grow your reach, and spend more time on your audience’s screens.

How the Instagram algorithm has changed in 2018

While Instagram recently revealed that posts are soon going to be returning to a more chronological order in people’s feeds, this doesn’t necessarily mean that chronological feed is back. Instagram is essentially adjusting the algorithm so that the time that you post is more important than before.

In other words, the feed is still algorithmic, however the weight of the factors that impact the Instagram algorithm have shifted slightly. In light of all these changes, Instagram users will have to find new ways to grow their engagement and reach their audiences. Queue, Instagram Stories.

How to use Instagram stories to outsmart the algorithm

This year, you can expect Instagram Stories to continue its dominance over Snapchat and become an essential part of your Instagram marketing strategy. In fact, Instagram Stories is quickly becoming one of the best channels to drive engagement, build brand awareness, drive traffic, and even make ecommerce sales!

Here are 7 features and tools you can use within Instagram Stories to outsmart the Instagram algorithm:

1. Use all of Instagram stories’ features

The Instagram algorithm uses the amount of time spent viewing your content as a factor in determining its popularity.

So how do you stop your followers from scrolling past your Instagram Stories?

The good news is that Instagram seems to roll out new features for Instagram Stories every few months (or even weeks!), giving users fun new ways to connect with their audiences.

You can access most of these features by clicking the sticker icon in the top-right corner when adding to your story. Once you click the icon, all the feature options will appear.

Try adding GIFs, stickers, locations, and hashtags as often as possible (without over-using them, of course). By using all these features, you’ll have a better chance at keeping your audience engaged and will give them a reason to spend more time viewing your Instagram Stories. This year, Instagram also introduced “Type” mode, which a new way for users to share what’s on their mind with creative text styles and backgrounds. To switch to Type mode, all you have to do is open your camera and tap the Type button at the bottom of your screen. You’ll find  it next to “Live,” along with your other camera options under the record button.

Whether you use Type mode to post your favorite song lyrics, ask your followers a question, or just let people know what’s on your mind, the feature is a great way to add personality your Instagram Stories and keep people engaged!

2. Encourage audience interactions

The Instagram algorithm also takes into account the interactions you receive on your Instagram Stories, such as replies or when someone DMs your story to another user. And the more that a user interacts with your Instagram Stories, the more likely your posts will show up in their feed.

A great hack to outsmart the algorithm is to take advantage of Instagram Stories’ engagement opportunities, including the new polling feature. Interactive poll stickers let you ask questions and see results from your followers as they vote.

There are so many different ways you can use poll stickers to interact with your audience.

For example, you can use polls to gather feedback on your products, crowdsource ideas, or simply entertain your followers.

Encouraging these kinds of interactions will not only help you build a deeper connection with your audience, but it can also help you grow your reach too.

One trick that influencers use to drive up the engagement on their accounts is to ask their followers to “DM me for a direct link to this product!” It’s a great way to drive people to your inbox, build relationships with your followers, and ultimately increase the chance of your posts showing up in their feed.

The Instagram Stories that appear on the top of your feed are affected by the Instagram algorithm as well!

Typically, the Instagram Stories that appear closest to the beginning of the row are from accounts that you engage with the most, whether that may be through the users posts or Stories!

3. Maintain a cohesive brand aesthetic

Your brand’s Instagram aesthetic isn’t only important on your feed, but should be carried over to your Stories as well!

When a follower watches your Stories, they should know it’s yours without having to see your name in the corner of their screen.

Luckily, there are a ton of different ways to brand your Instagram Stories within the app, including different fonts, brush options, and stickers. Using these features in a consistent way can add a ton of personality to your Stories and help you build a uniform brand aesthetic.

There’s also a lot of flexibility within these features themselves.

For example, you can customize the color of their text or brush strokes by selecting a new color from the bottom of the screen. Just hold your finger down on any of the color options to pull up a larger spectrum of colors to pick from.

You can also use the eyedropper tool on the left of your color palette to select a color directly from your story. This will help you keep your story elements branded and cohesive.

Creating templates for your Instagram Stories is another great way to help you quickly put together a cohesive story that aligns with your brand. Tools like Canva and A Design Kit offer a ton of different templates that you can use to build a consistent (and gorgeous!) aesthetic.

The fact is that your followers are much more likely to convert into brand advocates when they know they can expect consistent, high-quality Stories from your account.

4. Add links to your Instagram stories

Last year, Instagram rolled out the ability to add links to Instagram Stories, and it’s a pretty big deal. In fact, it’s the first time ever that users can add links to Instagram that aren’t the link in their bio!

It’s currently available to users on an Instagram Business profile with 10K+ followers. If you meet these requirements, you should be able to include a “Swipe Up” option in your Stories and drive traffic to your web campaigns, product pages, blog posts, and more.

Adding links to your Stories will not only help you drive more traffic to your website, but it’s another feature that the algorithm will reward you for including in your strategy.

5. Add hashtags & location stickers to your Instagram stories

Recently, Instagram expanded the Explore & Search page to include hashtag and location Stories! Now when you add a  hashtag or location sticker to a story, other users will be able to find it if they search that hashtag or location.

In other words, you have the opportunity to reach whole swaths of new and undiscovered audiences.  And if they like what they see, they might even give you a follow!

To add a location, simply click on the location sticker and type the location of your story. Your story will then appear at the top of the search results for that location:

Adding a hashtag to your story is just as easy. You can either just type in the hashtag, or you can use the hashtag sticker to add in the hashtag of your choice.

When people search for a hashtag on Instagram, if it’s popular enough, they’ll be able to see all the active, recently shared Instagram Stories for that hashtag at the top of the Search page.

When your story is added to the search results for a location, you should receive a notification from Instagram. And when someone views your story from a hashtag or location page, when you view your Instagram Insights, you’ll see the name of that page when looking at who watched your story.

6. Start creating Instagram stories ads

The recently rolled out Instagram Stories ads appear between regular Stories at the top of your feed. As more and more users spend time scrolling through their Stories, Instagram Stories ads can help increase your visibility to new audiences.

When creating an Instagram Stories ad, you have the option to share a photo or video. Whichever you choose, make sure you have an eye-catching intro to stop users who “speed-tap” through their Stories.

7. Track your success with Instagram stories analytics

When you switch to an Instagram Business profile, you can also view the analytics for your Instagram Stories — which is extremely helpful!

Taking on your Instagram Stories strategy with a better understanding of what’s working (and what isn’t) will help you come up with a fine-tuned strategy, saving you time and effort.

To see the Insights for your Instagram Stories, head to your profile and select the Insights icon in the top right corner. Next, scroll down and tap “Get Started” in the Stories section.

Now, you’ll have access to impressions, reach, and other metrics related to your Stories.

Instagram Stories Analytics gives you a clear view of who is sticking around or swiping away, and can ultimately help you optimize your Instagram Stories content strategy.

Conclusion

This year, take the Instagram algorithm changes as an opportunity to creating deeper connections, produce high-quality content, and optimize your Instagram Stories strategy.

Testing out all the latest features within Instagram Stories will not only help you “beat” the Instagram algorithm, but can keep you one step ahead of your competition!

This article was published by Matt Smith

Matt Smith is the founder of Later, an Instagram marketing platform that visually plans and schedules Instagram posts. Prior to Later, Smith founded several startups, including Thinkific, an online course platform helping thousands of people build businesses online.

How To Diversify Your Business

Typically, the goal of any business is to maximize profits while mitigating risks. One way through which businesses are able to achieve this is through diversification.

Businesses often begin from the stage of existence to the stage of survival before eventually attaining success. At the success stage, a lot is expected from the business in terms of building non previous successes and making the business bigger.

Diversification has to do with the aggregate efforts through which businesses allocate their financial resources across various industries or other sectors of a particular industry. Although diversification isn’t a sure way to avoid losses, it sure minimizes the risk of incurring them. In addition, diversification is a great way to improve the profitability of a business.

There is a level of thrill that you get from pursuing a new direction. This new direction comes with certain responsibilities and it is important that you do not lose sight. Often times, businesses can make the most of their resources by looking for other streams of income. In this article, I will provide practical tips with which you can diversify your business and see amazing results.

Provide value

One of the best ways with which you can effectively diversify is by ensuring that you provide value for the customers. A company that fails to focus on the provision of real value will effectively find solutions to needs. The businesses that have been able to conquer various industries are those who can offer clients value for their money. A good example of this is the Amazon brand which has been able to enter into multiple industries after just starting out as an online bookstore. When a business provides solutions to customer with a long term goal in mind then diversification becomes easier.

Learning from others

They say, ‘experience is the best teacher’. This is especially true when it comes to diversification of businesses. The best way to master the ropes is by learning from those who have successfully diversified their business. A method that is tested and trusted is great for other businesses to learn from and build upon.

Marketing

Technology and the internet have influenced the way business is done. Today, businesses that want to diversify can make use of different digital marketing strategies. Businesses that are looking to diversify can reach out to different demography through digital marketing. Although videos are the most effective means of communicating to clients (I posted an article about this on the blog earlier), there are several other means of marketing content digitally. Through the strategic use of digital marketing, businesses can reach out to a wider range of people. Digital diversification is essential in today’s business stratosphere. There are a number of tools that are designed to make marketing easier and much more coordinated. These tools can be used to create a distinct marketing campaign with which diversification can be made easier.

People power

For diversification to be an option, then it means that your business model has proven to be successful. However, in order to increase the reach of the business, you need to have the right people on your side. These days teamwork is crucial when it comes to diversification. There are different areas of the business where it is necessary to have the right people on the job. In order to successfully diversify your business, you need to watch out for market opportunities and seize them when they arise. The process of Diversifying a business is a process of purposeful and intentional transition that can only be achieved with the right team in place. Most big businesses have come to understand the essence of having teams that are well-rounded with diversely talented individuals.

Leveraging strengths

Every business has its strong suits as well as its point of weaknesses. However, the most successful businesses are those that are able to make the best of their strengths as a business. For example, a business with a product that serves as a compliment for a popular commodity can leverage this strength. There are a number of ways through which businesses can leverage the strength of their business for diversification. One major way to leverage the strength of your business is by entering into strategic partnerships with other businesses. These partnerships can open your business to a number of viable opportunities for diversification and growth.

Benefits of diversification

1.  When diversification is handled properly, it leads to a significant increase in the sales and revenue of a business.

2.  With diversification, there is an increase in the number of customers, as well as, clients. This way, businesses do not have to depend on a few clients (this often leaves businesses in the position of weakness)

3.  Diversity is a great way through which businesses can operate from a position of strength. This is done by balancing out the risks such that even when investment losses its value, there are other investments that keep the business running. Also, in case of an industry downturn, businesses can mitigate the losses through diversification

4.  When diversification is done properly, it can provide a significant boost to the image and profitability of a brand.

5.  Businesses can also use diversification as a tool for defense. Through the process of diversification, businesses can protect themselves from being ‘swallowed up' by bigger businesses.

Rounding up…

“Find a way or fade away”

The global marketplace is changing by the day. With the invention and development of tools and technological advancements, the competition is stiffer than it has ever been. The possibility of having a product or service adequately replicated is pretty high. This is why it is important for businesses to focus on growth across various industries.

Diversification is bound to expose your business to new territories and greater challenges. However, the growth of the business comes with great responsibility and this is why businesses have to get it right when it comes to diversification. This is why it is important to take your time and ensure that you are making the best possible decision for your business.