The Essentials of Video Marketing for Small Businesses

If you have a small business, you probably already know how challenging it can be. Getting your business off the ground — and keeping it there — is no easy task. From innovative product design to content creation to product marketing, all of it is on your shoulders.

So why add video marketing to your to-do list? The truth is, video marketing is an essential part of growing a business in 2023 and beyond. From social media to traditional advertising, video is sweeping the marketing world to deliver impressive results for businesses of all sizes. The best part is, you don’t need a huge investment to start. 

Let’s explore the foundations of video marketing for small business success. 

Why Focus on Video Marketing? 

In today’s fast-paced, digital world, the power of video marketing can’t be underestimated. The recent surge of video consumption, both on- and offline, means you can’t afford to ignore video marketing if you want to keep up with the competition. 

For small businesses, video marketing is even more critical. Even with a modest marketing budget, the power of video makes it easy to craft high-quality, marketable content that gets results — if it’s done the right way. 

No matter your business’s niche, there’s a good chance your customers are online. And on the internet, video content is king. Consider these statistics: 

• Videos make up 82% of all web traffic
• Videos reach 92.3% of all users on the internet
• 93% of businesses have landed a new customer because of video content 
• Almost two-thirds of consumers say short videos are their preferred form of content 

Whether on social media or with a search engine, your future customers are searching for content that educates, inspires, and informs. Including engaging and shareable video content can help boost your brand in the algorithm, boosting your reach and getting your brand in front of the eyes that matter most.

Tips for Success with Video Marketing 

Video marketing can bring in powerful results, but only for the small businesses that approach it the right way. It takes eye-catching and engaging video content to capture their attention and achieve the full potential of video marketing.

Here are some of the essential tips to make your video marketing stand out.

1. Quality, Quality, Quality 

The first lesson of video marketing is that you don’t need a camera worth thousands of dollars to produce high-quality content.

However, that doesn’t mean quality doesn’t matter. In fact, quality could make or break your video’s success. A grainy, blurry, or poorly shot video won’t just not perform well. It could harm your brand’s reputation. 

The good news is that it doesn’t take much investment to create a high-quality video. Chances are you already have a good camera in your smartphone. Make sure your footage is clear, stable, in-focus, and well lit. 

2. Tell a Story 

A video can be informative, funny, inspiring, or motivational. But it has to be something. Make sure you have a clear purpose, or a clear story to tell, for each video. 

The story doesn’t have to be long or complex. In fact, viewers tend to prefer short and straightforward videos — as long as they’re strategic. Think about the story you want to tell and the message you want customers to take away. You can even lay out a story more directly, with a script, storyboard, and defined call-to-actions that all align with your target audience. 

3. Educate and Inform 

While funny or inspiring content tends to be the most viral online, you don’t need to create the next big meme to have an impact on your audience. An educational video gives you a chance to inform your audience on your offerings in a highly engaging format. Instead of telling them, you can show them instead. 

If it’s done well, it can lead directly to sales. Website visitors are more likely to make a purchase after watching an educational product video. 

4. Focus on Authenticity 

Now that video content is taking off, the online world is oversaturated with content. The best way to make sure your content cuts through the noise instead of adding to it? Put authenticity first. 

After almost a decade of relentless advertising online, customers can see through flimsy marketing tactics and inauthentic branding. But when your content feels genuine, it can create a deeper and more meaningful relationship with viewers that lasts longer than one interaction or sale. 

Don’t be afraid to get personal. Share the real story behind your brand, be transparent about your business practices, and own up to your mistakes. 

Instead of just talking about how your products or services solve problems, show your audience instead. Put real people in your videos with real testimonials. Whether you're highlighting reviews from your most satisfied clients or offering a behind-the-scenes look at day to day operations, it takes a truly authentic video approach to leave a lasting impact. 

5. Never Stop Optimizing

Filming and posting a video is just the beginning. With millions of brands vying for attention on the same search engines and social media channels, your videos won’t gain traction if you don’t optimize. 

Make sure to carefully research a range of keywords that fit your niche. Choose a few competitive, highly ranked keywords, but make sure you balance it out with more specific, less competitive keywords. 

For example, a flower shop might want to include bigger keywords like “flowers near me” to attract more traffic. But a specific keyword like “wedding bouquets near me” or “basket arrangements NYC” can help you get a foot in the door with a less competitive — but no less valuable — keyword. 

Incorporate these keywords into your video title, description, and tags. Then, study your analytics to see which ones are performing better than others. Using those numbers, you can narrow down the best video ideas and SEO practices to bring out the best engagement in your audience. 

6. Promote Your Video 

Organic reach plays a vital role in your video marketing strategy, and it’s certainly the most affordable for small businesses. However, if you have the budget for it, paid promotion can help you get reach, especially if you're just starting to post video content. 

Always lay a strong foundation of organic efforts, but don’t overlook promotion. Even a modest budget can bring in great results, as long as it’s allocated properly. Know which platforms you want to focus on, and then create strategic campaigns to boost your best content for maximum reach. 

Making Video Marketing Work For Your Small Business 

Many small businesses make the mistake of thinking that video marketing is out of reach. But you don’t need expensive equipment or a full content creation team to make impressive content. All it takes is a smartphone camera, basic editing software, and innovative marketing tactics. Whether you’re working with a marketing team or just one person, the barrier to great video marketing may not be as high as you think. 

And if you're not already harnessing the power of video, you could be missing out. There’s a reason why video is yielding such great results for businesses — it’s becoming a necessity if you want to compete in the online market. 

Just remember: It’s not the video format itself that’s so successful. It’s how you implement these strategies that will make or break the success of your video content. Want to make the best possible content? You need to work with the best. 

At Trust Signals Marketing, our strategies are backed by market research and industry leaders. Learn more about what we do, or contact us today to take your video marketing to new heights.