Why video is the most effective way to get your message over…

Research has shown that people remember only 10% of what they see or read and just 20% of what they hear. Before running screaming out the door, consider this additional fact; 50% of people will remember what they see and heart at the same time. Cue video content and a quick step on the road to better brand retention. But, while a recall rate of one in two is a convincing enough reason to consider video production as a way to boost sales, there are other ways that a video or collection of videos can assist with sales and marketing and ultimately, a healthier bottom line.

A picture is worth a thousand words: Multimedia content is considered a much better catalyst at the crucial point in the buying cycle for the simple reason the viewer can see the benefits for themselves. That’s why some studies suggest retail sites with product videos can increase their sales by as much as 30%.

Seeing is Believing: Video content builds a level of trust and credibility that is hard to attain through text or still images; consumers can build a rapport with the business through this content, instilling a sense of mutual interaction and involvement. One reason for this is that 60% of consumers are thought to prefer video to text based content. That means they stick around longer to actually absorb your marketing about the product.

Using optimised video content is as close to communicating live with someone as possible for many businesses, and this standard of almost personal interaction often results in sales increases and profit boosts.

Number Crunching: Sales are often said to be a numbers game. YouTube logs around 4 billion hits per day. According to Experian Hitwise, Brits spent an additional 100 million hours watching video content online this February compared with last and the number of UK hits to video sites expected to rise to 1.25 billion per month by February 2014. In contrast, sending a team out into the field at a trade show or onto a high street localises the impact that a marketing push can have.

Video content can go viral overnight and be exposed to millions across a much broader area. Still need convincing? The electronic cigarettes brand e-lites made a Gangnam Style video that didn’t mention it’s product, show a cigarette, talk about its product or explain how to use it due to strict anti-tobacco advertising regulations. It counted more than one million views in two weeks and a massive product buzz that would have been hard to generate on a similar scale using other mediums.

Cost Cutting: Video content can also have the effect of cutting operational costs, which effectively boosts the profit of an organisation. Sending sales staff to different locations to demonstrate a product or service might be effective to a point, but the costs incurred via expenses take large chunks out of a budget. A ‘How-To’ clip can have the same promotional effect for nothing more than the cost of outsourcing video production.

It’s Almost as Good as Being There: Adding video content to a company website or a social networking feed also allows for a greater level of interaction with consumers. A ‘clinic’ style video, in which clients send in their queries or problems to be answered by a company expert can ignite an exchange between consumer and company which can prove beneficial in the long run. A company which is approachable, with easily accessible content and easy-to-consume promotional material will always find a higher level of success and profit than a business which is out of touch with their core client base.

If you’re thinking of getting yourself up there by using video content to boost sales then we’d love to help. We’re a trusted video production company based near Birmingham in the West Midlands. Speak to our friendly experts today on 01527 910050 or contact us using our form.

How training videos can help your business soar

Lots of companies like you use training videos successfully. Gone are the days when the company training video featured awful actors and sets that looked like something from crossroads. Nowadays, training videos are engaging, compelling and interactive. They can be delivered in a number of ways from DVD and online through to E-learning. And the great news is that they are more affordable than ever!

Let’s look at how they’ve changed and what it means for your business.

Video is flexible

Video offers unrivalled flexibility in the way it can be delivered. It can be used on a DVD that has interactive features, as part of an e-learning platform, as a video file on a PC and online on your website or intranet. These are all very low cost ways to deliver the training to your learners.

Interactive learning

One of the most powerful features of video is the ability to make it interactive. Video can be set up to encourage the learners to interact with the video content. Typically this is when the video is played via a computer. This increases the retention rate of the learner and cements the key learning messages. This is especially useful for health and safety training videos where safety critical information needs to be retained.

Accessibility

Video is highly accessible and can be viewed via lots of different platforms. This includes online via PC or mobile. The beauty of this is that learners can access your training video from almost any location and it allows you to carry out training before people arrive on site.

Engaging media

Video is the most engaging way to deliver training information. Learners are 8 times more likely to retain information that’s delivered via a video. This means that your critical training information is absorbs and implemented. It also means that your training messages are consistent.

Save money

Training videos save significant amounts of money for lots of companies. They save having to hire expensive trainers or tying up company resources. They save on travel time and downtime as well as improving productivity that makes your business more competitive.

If you’re considering commissioning a training video then we’d love to speak to you. We help lots of companies achieve business success with a wide range of training and safety videos. Call us today on 01527 910050

How to get the maximum value out of a video production

It’s important that you maximise any investment these days. And despite video production being more affordable than ever it’s still important that you maximise your available budget.

Here are 8 great ways to make your video production budget go further.

1. Keep the filming locations to a minimum

If you have lots of filming locations then the video will take longer to produce and therefore will cost more. By simply reducing the number of locations you will reduce the cost of production. Think about the locations that are a ‘must have’ and those that are a ‘nice to have’ and decide if you can do without them. Often you can replace some live footage with ‘stock footage’ or animation – this is another way to reduce costs.

2. Minimise the distance between filming locations

As you want to maximise the amount of time the film crew are working its best to try and keep the film locations close together. This avoids them having to break down their kit and re set-up too many times. If the locations are close then it means that you’ll be making the most of the actual filming time and not be paying while the crew are packing equipment or travelling.

3. Use existing footage

If you have had videos produced previously then you may be able to re-use some of the footage. This will save you money on filming new material. As mentioned previously, you may be able to substitute some footage with graphics or animation, which again can save budget.

4. Get full sign-off

One of the most common ways that budget is wasted is when changes are needed to the voice over or video after it is completed. Most video companies have a procedure where you sign off various stages of production, such as the script. If the script is signed off and voiced and then you need to make changes the voice over will charge to make the re-recording. So make sure that you get all the necessary approvals from colleagues and stake holders as you go to avoid expensive changes.

5. Avoid date and time references

One of the ways to lengthen the shelf life of your video is to avoid references to dates, events and times. This could either be in the voice over or in interviews. Also think about the location, for example an office with Christmas decorations in the background will date the video immediately.

6. Film at your own location

Hiring studios is an expensive process so consider filming at your own premises. This also adds authenticity to your video.

7. Maximise the film crew time

On your filming days make sure that your premises are all prepared for the crew. Make sure they are tidy and that everyone knows what to expect. If you have anyone speaking then brief them beforehand. If on the day the crew have any spare time then get them to record some extra content.

8. Digital distribution

Distributing your video digitally will save budget having to have DVDs produced. It’s also the best way to get your content to the maximum amount of viewers.

If you’d like to improve training or boost sales then video is the best way to go. If you’d like any help and advice on video production then we’d love to help. Call our friendly experts today on 01527 910050