Research has shown that a webpage with a video is 53 times more likely to appear on the first page of search engine results. Higher search engine rankings will lead to an increase in traffic and a wider audience visiting your website, as well as improve brand exposure for your business.

Search engines, such as Google, index websites based on many different factors including content quality. If visitors stay on a website for a significant amount of time, Google will deem the content to be valuable and rank the site higher in search engine results.

Many businesses have started incorporating videos in their online marketing strategies and campaigns in order to boost their websites Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and experience the benefits.

What are the benefits in adding a video?

According to research, visitors spend longer time on a website watching videos than reading text. Adding a video to your business website can get your audience to stay on your site longer and increase your online visibility.

Videos also have better chance in becoming viral or an online sensation. If your video becomes popular, it could potentially be shared by millions of people all over the internet, which would then increase your business exposure and drive more traffic back to your website. However even if your video doesn’t go viral, as long as a few people share your video it is still a great way in getting more exposure.

What should my videos be about?

Videos are an effective way to mix up the content on your website. It allows you to get more information across in a shorter period of time and let’s you incorporate a combination of visuals, audio and text. This is especially important when you have a complicated product or service you would like to communicate across to your customers.

Here is a list of a few video format ideas:

• Video interviews: Feature interviews of employees, customers or influential people in your industry. Video interviews are a good way showing your visitors and customers the insides of your company, as well as your business industry knowledge.
• Product demonstrations: Show the full capacity of your product or service with video demonstrations. Your video can explain how to use your products and highlight all its uses and benefits.
• Introduce new products: Introduction videos are a great way of launching a new product to your audience. You can show the products new features and advantages and how to use them.
• Training videos: Make a video about the operating procedures around your workplace. It could involve how to greet customers, how to operate the equipment and machinery you use in your services, or how your business operates on a daily basis.
• FAQs: Gather the most popular questions asked by customers and answer them all through a video. Answering questions through a video makes your brand more engaging and will make your visitors stay longer.
• Case studies: Like a testimonial, you can create a video that shows the results you have achieved for your clients or customers. Talk about the obstacles your clients had to face and how your business had helped overcome them.
• Personalised videos: Make a video that introduces your business to your customers. Demonstrate your business values, beliefs, products, services and as well as the work culture. Show sneak peek behind-the-scenes footage of your regular routines and the key people behind the brand. Personalised videos are a great way to allow your customers to engage with your brand and build a relationship of trust.

How to get your videos out there?

Videos can be used in a variety of marketing opportunities – especially online. You can promote them through social media channels, offer direct links to the video in e-mail blasts and newsletters, send them to customers or clients, use them for employee training and events or even create your own YouTube channel.

You can even use videos on your online business directory listing. FranchiseBusiness.com.au, the official directory of the Franchise Council of Australia, encourages businesses to add videos to their profile listings. This helps generate more back links to the companys website and increases their SEO rankings. It’s also an effective way to advertise your brand directly to your target audience.

Lets make a video!

You don’t need to have Hollywood production equipment to make quality video content. With the current technology available on the market, it’s fairly easy and inexpensive to make your own video using a simple video recorder and a computer editing program. However, you need to make sure the video equipment you choose to use can produce high quality images and sound to ensure your business is portrayed as professional and credible.

Videos should be included in your online marketing strategies as they are a great way to boost your SEO ranking and improve your brands exposure. Its interactive and multi-medium nature can add another dimension to a business profile and brand. Videos can capture a wider audience, engage more customers and make visitors stay on your website longer.

What are you waiting for? Lights, Camera and Action!