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Originally Posted On: https://the-happy-manager.com/7-video-marketing-mistakes-you-should-avoid/
7 Video Marketing Mistakes You Should Avoid
There’s a buzz about video marketing right now. It is hailed as the best way to reach your target audience and convert their views into sales, and with good reason – it is incredibly effective in an age where video is the internet’s biggest draw – but many companies still do not understand how to use video marketing to their advantage, they make lots of rookie mistakes which means that they are basically throwing their money away and not seeing the influx of sales they thought they would.
If you are planning to use video as part of your marketing strategy, then you are going to want to avoid making those same rookie mistakes, but of course, you can’t do that unless you know what they are, right? So, let’s take a look at 7 of the most common video marketing mistakes you do not want to make.
1 Making a video without a plan
One of the most common mistakes people new to video marketing make is not having a clear plan for their content or an objective for making it. They think just filming random stuff about their business and products and putting it out there on social media is enough to get them the interest and sales they seek, but this is rarely the case.
Before you make a video, you should be very clear on what you want to achieve from it and what kind of video (Q&A, skit, product demonstration) is most likely to help you achieve that aim. Otherwise, you will just be throwing everything at it and hoping something sticks, and that is not good business!
2 Thinking location doesn’t matter
If you think that people watching your videos will not be paying attention to the background then you are wrong. People will notice the details in your videos, so if you are trying to sell a luxury item of clothing, but the room behind you is a mess, they will see it, and it will not give them the luxurious impression you or they want to see, for example. That’s why so many businesses now take the time to book film locations that match the vibe of their brand and the video they are making, so that every detail looks just right and gives the perfect impression, whatever that may be, to increase sales.
3 Not taking video seriously as a long-term strategy
Another mistake that many businesses make is thinking that video marketing is just there for the occasional SEO boost, rather than a long-term strategy that they should be building on over time. Sure, you can make one great video and post it, and it might get tons of views and see your sales soar for a while, but that success will not last forever, and you will not keep seeing returns on a video that is months, even years old. You need to bed video marketing into your overall marketing strategy on a regular and ongoing basis if you want to see results. It really is that simple.
4 Using the same format on every platform
With video marketing, you will need to post your content on lots of different platforms to get the maximum exposure and increase awareness and sales as much as you can. The thing is, although you can often get away with posting the exact same video on multiple platforms, it really is not ideal and will not lead to the maximum number of views and exposure. What works well on Facebook does not necessarily work as well on TikTok, and what does well on Instagram is not necessarily going to get you anywhere on YouTube. You need to, if you want to be successful, tailor your marketing videos to each platform using the style sna conventions that are common on each. Yes, it’s more work, but it will lead to more returns, so it is almost certainly worth your while.
5 Focusing on you, not them
This one is really common, but you really will not get far if you do it. It’s so tempting to focus your video content on you and your business, and not on your target audience and what they want and need.
You need to think not about what kind of content you want to see or which you think would look good for your brand, but about the kind of content your target audience wants to watch.. You might not be a fan of celebrity skits or makeup tutorials or whatever, but if your audience are, you would be a fool not to use them.
6 Bombarding your audience
Okay, so video marketing is used to sell stuff, and that means you do need to talk about your business and the products and services you offer, but you know what? Bombarding your archers with every little detail of what you do and why it’s important is likely to see them switching off or swiping to a more entertaining video. It’s a much better idea to pick on message or idea you want to get across per video. You can then create lots of little videos that, as a whole, get your entire message across, but which do not overwhelm your audience all in one go.
7 Not having a creative vision
If you want your videos to actually be watched and to actually have an impact, then you really do need to create a cohesive and creative vision for them. What this looks like will be unique to your business and your brand, but it needs to be there and it needs ot be instantly recognisable if it is to be effective. So, hire some creatives, brainstorm your ideas, and only then start creating videos.
Video marketing is here to stay, and it can be one of your best tools for grabbing attention and gaining new customers, but only if you avoid these seven mistakes and put some real thought into the videos you make. Good luck and I hope to see youre videos soon!
