Video Marketing as a Powerful Tool

Videos, whether short or long, and done correctly have the potential to convey emotions that really touch people, just remind them of something they’ve been missing or anything in between. The most important aspect is connecting with viewers. Because video marketing is so accessible and able to be generated with a simple phone in many cases, it has become a common way of communicating. It holds the attention of the viewer but can also engage. If you want to learn how to do something it is possible to search for it on the web and learn to varying degrees.

Videos are sources of information, or entertainment for most of us. Companies using video to sell something may be informative, but it’s not very entertaining. This is where creativity plays a huge role. Consider commercials, billboards, and building signs that are unique, but that you remember because they were funny, or memorable for other reasons. In these cases, it’s clear that these companies understand their brand identity, and conveyed it successfully. Companies use that identity to get the attention of clients. The creativity starts as an individual, or a team to develop a concept.

Storyboarding

Storyboarding is basically drawing out your video like a comic strip. It’s a crucial piece because storyboarding simplifies the story, gets your support team on the same page, and helps guide the message. Information can be shared, discussed, easily changed, and is way more cost effective. Once a format is agreed upon, production considerations like locations, time of day, equipment, etc. can commence. There are many things to consider when creating a video, and length is one of the important ones.

Social Media Advantages

YouTube

According to Youtube and since its inception in 2005, YouTube has become the video outlet for the world. Every day millions of hours of videos are displayed on this platform. While not exclusively, its audience is mostly generation Y, young people from 18 to 34 years old. Videos averaging 3 minutes tend to be the most popular for this group and feature personalities or characters endearing to their audience.

Imagine a character in your favorite television program that you felt some closeness to. These videos follow a similar principle. The popularity of Youtube sensations has increased dramatically over the past 8 years. In fact, a person using Youtube to learn how to become a Youtube sensation, and market themselves is a very real possibility. But no matter the product, knowing your audience and striking the right chord is ideal.

 

Facebook

In spite of recent challenges, Facebook remains a dominant social media tool and reports no less than 100 million hours of visits per day. In the case of Facebook and Instagram, you don’t even need to click on a video in order to see it. These mediums feature the ability to engage in video viewing by just scrolling through your feed.

Facebook covers all age groups, although the most common is from 25 to 34 years old (25% of its active users). Those over the age of 35 and separated by physical distance, also represent a large audience for Facebook. Videos in this platform under a minute tend to be the most popular.

Instagram

Its strategy started out as still photography but gradually incorporated video. Instagram reports over 800 million active users. Its average audience is female and under the age of 35. It launched its video function in June 2013, and brevity is its strong suit. In the beginning of video access, 15 seconds was the limit, although now they can be expanded to one minute and beyond.

Instagram has tapped into the pulse of what people want and expect, accessible and easy to digest information that tells a story quickly.

1. Testimonials

Testimonials are among the most important selling instruments. Your customers endorsing your product is better than any paid actor, or commercial. Most people looking to buy a product want to know what those who have bought it think of it. Even though it may not be a perfect video in terms of production, prospective customers trust a less-than-perfect, unscripted testimonial from an actual customer. It’s as genuine as it gets.

3. Product Demonstration

A product demonstration can be an effective strategy for turning potential customers into paying clients. Before making a purchase, consumers want to learn how a product operates and become familiar with its characteristics. Businesses like QVC have benefited from this by presenting their items and engaging customers in the purchasing process. The success of QVC, which uses product demos to drive millions of dollars in daily sales, is evidence of the efficacy of this method. Additionally, the QVC format’s live TV component gives customers the impression that they must move quickly before the goods runs out, heightening the pressure to buy.

For companies aiming to boost sales, incorporating product demonstrations into a smart marketing strategy can be a game-changer. Companies can set themselves apart from rivals and make their product stand out in a competitive market by demonstrating a product’s functionality and highlighting its distinctive features. Another element that can be used in a strategic campaign is the urgency brought on by QVC’s live TV format, which instills a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) in prospective customers. Companies can generate a sense of scarcity that boosts sales by framing the product as something that is in high demand and likely to sell out.

Overall, showing a product can be a successful strategy for firms to increase sales and profit. Product demonstrations give potential buyers the chance to see the product in action and comprehend its value proposition, whether they are done through live TV like QVC or other means like web videos or in-person demos. Businesses can boost their chances of turning prospective clients into actual purchasers and propel development in their sales by combining product demos into a smart marketing strategy and utilizing the power of urgency and scarcity.

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Digital Marketing Essentials for Dealer Websites

According to Google car buyers visit an average of only two dealerships when searching for a new car. Digital marketing is not new, but it remains one of the best ways for dealerships to improve visibility and differentiate themselves from competitors. Here are some critical pieces to an effective marketing strategy.

Optimize Search Engines

In a nutshell, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) allows a business to utilize keywords on their website to improve search rankings. The higher the ranking of your website, the greater the number of opportunities you will have to reach more people and sell more cars.

How this is done depends on the business. Smaller businesses either utilize internal staff familiar with marketing, and web analytics, or consult marketing specialists. Larger businesses typically use internal marketing teams. Either way, analytics should be evaluated regularly. Web searches are living, breathing things that change constantly, and depend entirely on the public using the internet. Like driving a car, regular albeit minor adjustments are necessary.

Learn more about how to utilize SEO by visiting TechBusBee.

Pay Attention to Social Media

Social media have become important instruments to market any brand. By determining the media your audience uses, when they use it, and what keywords and hashtags you use, you can tailor posts for the highest visibility. Communicating through social media in a more personal way is just as important.

You must interact with your audience by initiating conversations and responding to comments and complaints. More than half of consumers use social media to find a good business with good customer service. They do this by checking out what people say about your company and how you respond. Finding a solution in a timely fashion proves to others who see your responses that you are customer friendly, and reliable.

Online Advertising

It’s no secret that the internet has been displacing TV and that marketing has spilled over pretty significantly to the web. The traditional commercial has been replaced by static ads, or short videos that appear on searches, or sometime during you viewing a video online. Internet advertising has the advantage of being measurable and reaching specific targets.

You can access more locations to display videos or ads and test the best response times for your ads. Using marketing specialists tends to provide the best results for your business. This approach helps free you to concentrate on what you do best, your business.

Make your Marketing Mobile

Even if a desktop version of your marketing content looks good, be sure to verify that it is translated on all devices and what exactly that looks like. The industry term for this is responsive. Consumers expect harmony between devices. In other words, your web site should look similar on multiple devices, but fit that device for the best user experience. The better the accessibility to your audience, the more likely they are to buy.

When in the testing phase for a new web site, take a look at your site from a variety of handheld devices (iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, etc.) as well as tablets, laptops, and desktops. Authenticity connects you to your audience, and consistency across devices is a big part of that.

Update your SEO

Search engine optimization can significantly help reach people who are seeking what you offer. Experts recommend updating your SEO once per quarter. After all, Google updates its algorithm more than 500 times a year. It is an evolving and everchanging thing.

Finding the keywords that make your business gain strength in the search engine cycle is the goal. Using these keywords helps your brand be more recognizable in internet searches making it easier to find.

Conclusion

The digital marketing essentials mentioned in this article are effective in increasing traffic and SEO. It’s important to have the support of design and marketing specialists to navigate the complexities of marketing and reach your clients.

For more information on success strategies for your organization, contact the experts at Advertising Avenue. We’d love to help.

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Enhance your automotive digital marketing and reach by using Social Media

An ever-changing digital market demands that companies learn to navigate fluctuating consumer patterns and competition with adaptable strategies. The automotive industry does this by updating tools and social networks to maintain the desired visibility in the digital world.

A study of social media trends conducted by Digital Air Strike shows that car buyers in the last three years classified social networks as more important than their websites. Here are five important strategies to boost your company's presence and reach in social media, concluded by something car dealers often overlook in relation to customer feedback.

Customer experience is paramount

Instead of simply looking at what competitors are doing and borrowing ideas, focus on satisfying your customers' expectations. What works for your clients and how easy is your site to navigate for optimal user experience? The automotive industry requires the use of valuable tools to generate new awareness and make access simple. Making yourself visible in social media circles opens opportunities for new clients. An easy to navigate site keeps them coming back.

Make yourself noticed in social media

Social media is now the first point of interaction and information that people use to find products and services. Consulting a digital marketing specialist can give you the edge your business needs to gain traction and earn business. Engaging with specialists who have experience using social media effectively can help position your products and services in web searches. Another good reason to consult with experts.

Stay updated with automotive marketing trends

Technology is continually being updated. Marketing professionals are at the forefront of most new trends and understand how to get maximize these tools. You should also remember that you have the power to influence the way in which your digital marketing strategy is developed. After all, it’s your company. Do some homework on your own and gain insight into how the money you’re investing in a marketing team is being used. This will make for a productive relationship between you and a marketing consultant.

Invest in social media campaigns

Effective automotive digital marketing in social media depends on identifying precise knowledge, interests, behaviors, and geographic location of clients. Many organizations pay for this information or acquire it through their own client databases. Through advertising, and more specific elements like pay-per-click campaigns you can reach a specific population, measure the effectiveness of your campaigns, and develop a loyal customer database.

Share "Behind-the-Scenes" content in Social Media

Post videos behind the scenes share real videos, and new car photos. Write smart responses to testimonials or comments and post relevant content consistently. Another reason why getting to know your clients is important. This is undoubtedly a good digital marketing strategy and attracts potential customers, and for the most part, it’s free. It builds confidence in prospective and current clients because it allows you to build relationships with them by being personal, approachable, and human.

Do businesses benefit from sites like Yelp?

People use Yelp to find products and services far beyond just restaurants. Yelp has increasingly become a place where people rate and leave good and not so good comments about many types of businesses. Businesses can create Yelp pages free of charge and there are pay options for more visibility. Owners responding to bad reviews should only do so in the interest of doing good. Here is where the social media effect plays to your advantage. Customers have the power to change their review in a public forum and comment on how you responded.

The shelf life for comments on Yelp lasts as long as the Yelp site for that business lives, which can be several years. If you overlook sites like this because you believe that they are places where people just go to complain, you’re missing a valuable opportunity. Sites like this give your business a chance to improve and for the most part, it’s free. It’s a great second chance to make a first impression and prove that your customers come first.

Wrap up

Social media, like many other things in business, are a part of the education of everyone who uses it. Making the time to understand, either through web searches, blogs, and podcasts are great ways to learn. A good marketing professional will always make the time to help clients understand the products and services they provide because an educated client makes for fast work for both parties. If you’re interested in learning more about how social media can help build a new or existing business, contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

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WordPress Maintenance

Site maintenance is necessary to ensure your pages and content are displaying properly and your website is running smoothly. With the many plugins and security patches that are constantly being released, regular maintenance of WordPress is vital to keep up with all the updates that occur on a regular basis. This is advantageous for Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and ensures that your visitors see a site that functions correctly. Your website is your welcome card to your users and you need to ensure that your site has latest updates for their security as well as yours.

If you are doing this on your own, you should do this steps. You should always have a backup of your site. Most hosting companies do this automatically for you, but it will be up to you to restore it. We also recommend ManageWP.com for backups and restoration can be done in minutes.

There is a process:

1. Update WordPress Plugins -When you are updating plugins, do them one at a time and check after each update that nothing is broken (e.g. links) in the front-end and in the admin area. Ensure that your new update is compatible with your current version of WordPress.
2. Update Themes -When you are updating themes, WordPress comes with core themes called the Twenties (e.g. Twenty-one) you should update these before your main theme. These core themes allow WordPress to work should your activate main theme somehow get corrupted.
3. Update WordPress Core – This is last, and most important piece. You should read the log on what the new update brings. Most important, after you have updated the WordPress Core take a look at your site and pages and ensure that everything is working properly. I suggest you do this using different browsers as well.

If everything goes smoothly, this should take 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how many plugins and themes you have.

If you’re still not confident you can do this or just don’t have the time contact us and we’d be happy to help you.

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