When it comes to promoting your business, it seems like everyone has the same few things to suggest: get on social media and create content that people like, optimize it for search engines, and then release it on a regular schedule that is both oppressive and exhausting so that you don’t have any time to actually work on your business. Marketing doesn’t have to be all-encompassing, and it doesn’t have to take three years to start providing results. The following will explore just one valuable marketing technique that can have a massive positive effect on the impression people have of your brand and the amount of product you move or services you book: testimonial videos.
What Is A Testimonial Video?
A testimonial video is a video in which a client or customer who has used your product or service shares their positive experience. These videos can be put on your website and social accounts as well as on review sites. Several testimonial videos can also be put together to create a fantastic advertisement that you use for Facebook or Instagram ads.
Why Do Video Testimonials Work?
Video testimonials have fantastic conversion rates for several reasons. Foremost, they build trust. It’s far easier to gauge someone’s vibe and level of honesty when you see their face as they’re speaking. Written reviews can be faked or paid for far more easily than video testimonials, and that’s because humans are really good at reading subtle cues in body language and facial expressions. Video testimonials are considered far more credible, engaging, and authentic for these reasons.
Secondly, the video holds people’s attention far more than written content or photographic content. There is a whole discussion that needs to be had about dwindling attention spans, but regardless of how we culturally approach that problem, you still need to advertise in the interim. Video content has a much higher retention rate than other forms of content. People are more likely to watch a full video and far more likely to remember what was said in it (95% of a video message is easily retained, whereas 10% of a written message is retained on average).
Thirdly, videos are more often sought than other forms of content and far more likely to be shared. YouTube is the world’s second-largest search engine with over two billion users. Beyond this, videos are more commonly shared than articles, text posts, or images.
Finally, video testimonials have high conversion rates. When someone has to make a buying decision, they’re usually on the hunt for someone whose advice they can trust. Because video testimonials are viewed as so much more trustworthy than other kinds of reviews, they are excellent at conversion.
Tips For Making Video Testimonials
Whenever you have a customer who is pleased with your services or product, ask them if they’d like to speak about it on video. If they say no, that’s okay, not everyone is comfortable being on camera (and those that aren’t tend to struggle to speak clearly and openly in front of the camera anyway). Keep asking and set up video shoots with those who are interested. You’d be surprised how many people are willing to be part of a video shoot; many find the process exciting and interesting. Be sure to ask as soon as the product or service has been completed because this way, people’s impressions, and ideas are fresh in their minds. They’re more likely to recall interesting and humanizing details if you record the testimonial soon after they’ve interacted with your company.
If you have the skills yourself, you can set up the shoot, but you can also reach out to a local video production company. Because many companies charge a day rate for a shoot, you might want to schedule several customers’ videos for the same day so that you spend a little less money on the filming.
If you’re shooting them yourself, make sure the audio quality is good (listen to a trial recording first) and aim for bright, natural lighting. Most YouTubers without expensive lighting setups face a window while they talk to their camera to have nice, even lighting.
Avoid Scripting
Most people don’t do well with script memorization. It’s a skill that causes a lot of stress and pressure, and even if people can do it, it often results in a robotic delivery as they’re focused on getting the lines right rather than speaking from the heart. It’s usually better to give direction and ask questions than to create a script. Think of it as having a conversation on camera and avoid yes or no questions as these tend not to start expanded conversations.
To create a fantastic advertisement video, try to keep the conversation focused on a few key points. People should introduce themselves and discuss the problem that led them to your product or service. This will allow viewers who have the same or similar problems to relate. Ask them to share why they chose your product or service over other possibilities and to describe the results of their interaction with you. When you’re creating amazing video testimonials, you want to emphasize feelings of naturalness and comfort. You want viewers to feel like they’re listening to a friend talk about something that benefitted them.
Keep It Trim
Shorter video testimonials tend to be ideal compared with longer ones. Again, there’s an attention span crisis ongoing, and this means that people aren’t going to watch a twenty-minute video. Keep it short and sweet—you’re probably looking at 90 seconds to 120 seconds long.
The above tips should help you better understand what video testimonials are, how they can benefit your business, and how you can go about crafting them. Digital marketing has, in many ways, taken over the lives of business owners, but it doesn’t have to be a difficult, never-ending project. Video testimonials are an easy and effective marketing method that can draw genuine customers to your business without costing you an absurd amount of time and energy. If you’re unsure how to go about the filming aspect, many highly skilled professionals can help you with the videography and editing process. Quite often, video production specialists also have access to royalty-free music and graphics, which can take your videos to the next level.