Shannon Mugford
Video Marketing on a Budget
87% of online marketers are using video content to advertise their products, services and business. To keep up with this latest trend, you should try and incorporate the moving image into your next marketing campaign. Though it may seem like a costly investment, video marketing is possible even on a small budget.
If you are one of these small businesses and on a budget, we got you. Here are our top tips and advice on exploring the world of video marketing:
Preparation is Key
If you are on a budget, but you want to start using video in your marketing content then you need to start with a plan; if you fail to prepare, as the saying goes, you prepare to fail. You need a clear, concise and practical plan set out that is easy to follow so that you and your team aren’t wasting time or money during the production of your videos. Ain’t nobody got time for dat.
Sorry, but bullet points ain’t gonna cut it. We suggest that you plan out the whole of your video; from the desired message and outcome to the timing. Firstly, define the goals of your video in your plan so that you can see if it is worth the investment and money. Secondly, plan everything from your opening scene to the final Call To Action; if you only have a small budget set to create this video, planning how you want it to look is also imperative so that you aren’t wasting money during the production by changing your ideas during the process.
Even if you aren’t the next Tarantino, you can churn out some great shots!
Cheap and Cheerful
Live-action videos may seem expensive because of the cost of not only the actors but the of hiring a location. However, the location doesn’t always have to break your bank; you can create a makeshift studio anywhere. If there is a spare meeting room in your company’s building or even in your home then there you have it, a filming location! It’s all about compromise, darling.
Making use of the space available to you and by using props to make it appear how you envisioned the video to look like is very cost-efficient, too. If you don’t have free space available, there are other cheap location options, too; hiring out loft areas or meeting rooms for low prices for example. It’s time to get researching!
Be Smart
Again, by using resources available to you, you are saving money. For instance, rather than renting expensive cameras and equipment out for filming purposes, you can create videos on your smartphone. Videos filmed on handheld cameras or phones can still portray the same powerful messages as a big-budget production. There just may be a few more bloopers…
You can also find affordable resources for your videos in second-hand stores and charity shops. These are often filled with a variety of potential props for next to nothing prices; rather than paying for new props that can take a lot out of your small budget, you can buy similar products for a fraction of the cost; as Macklemore says, you only need twenty dollars to pop some tags.
Reuse and Recycle
Another way to incorporate video marketing into your campaigns while on a budget is by re-using old footage. By teaching yourself how to edit videos or taking an online course, you can use footage from old videos to create fresh content. By changing the music, framing and camera angles, you can create original video content for no cost at all. Call us the budgeting queens.
You can also get more out of your video shoots by creating behind the scenes footage; by filming the action behind the camera, and explaining the messages that you’re trying to put across via film, you can create more content for no extra cost. Plus, it looks awesome.
Mistakes Are Not Welcome
If you want to make the most out of your money while creating video content for your marketing campaigns, you need to avoid common mistakes. Firstly, don’t use the exact same video on different social platforms; each platform may have different technical requirements which need to be addressed when uploading content. For example, Facebook mutes autoplay videos, so subtitles should be added to your videos posted on that platform. A silent video may not have the same effect for a choir, y’know?
You also need to identify each optimal video format for each social media platform as it may differ. For instance, it may feel more natural to film horizontally for Facebook and Twitter, but vertical video formats should be accounted for, too because they have become more popular within the rise of Snapchat. So, to make life a little more difficult for you, we recommend that you change the angles and video format for each video so that they appear at their best on each platform when being viewed. You’ll be thanking us later!
If you are a small business and you want to expand on your marketing campaign methods by utilising video, but you require more guidance then please get in contact with us here at Cheshire Cat Marketing today on 01606 270513 or through our website.
