Inbound & Outbound Video Marketing: Best Practices

Are you thinking about video marketing but don't know where to start? In today's digital landscape, video has become an essential tool for businesses to engage and connect with their audience. In fact, 96% of marketers see video as an essential part of their marketing strategy! Whether you're new to video marketing or looking to refine your existing strategy, understanding the best practices for both inbound and outbound video marketing is crucial.

In this guide, we will look at the key elements of successful inbound and outbound video marketing, from making videos easy to find on search engines to integrating social media streams. By implementing these best practices, you'll be able to create compelling videos that not only drive traffic and conversions but also leave a lasting impact on your viewers.

Comparing Inbound and Outbound Video Marketing

Inbound Video Marketing

Features:

• Smaller, more segmented audience platforms such as blogs, online groups, e-books, webinars, and tutorials
• Centered on providing value and solving problems for potential customers
• Heavier focus on ICP and target demographics

Pros:

• Highly targeted, making it more cost-effective and creating higher conversion rates
• Builds robust brand-consumer relationships
• Elevates SEO and brand's online visibility

Cons:

• Yielding results usually takes more time and investment
• Demands constant high-quality content creation and audience research

Outbound Video Marketing

Features:

• Comprehensive audience platforms like billboards, TV commercials, YouTube ads, and OTT ads
• Intended to generate awareness in a broader audience
• Mass campaigns for maximal reach

Pros:

• A quick way to reach a large audience
• Helpful in enhancing brand awareness
• Effective in generating leads and converting customers

Cons:

• It can be expensive without guaranteed results
• Lack of personalization may lead to lower engagement

What is Inbound Video Marketing?

Inbound video marketing is all about creating compelling video content that pulls in your target audience. Think of it as a magnet, drawing viewers in with engaging and informative content, like tutorials or behind-the-scenes footage, tailored to their needs and interests. For instance, a DIY store might share how-to videos on home renovation projects.

Remember, the aim is to become a valuable resource for your viewers, offering solutions to their problems. Exciting videos that are easy to find and promoted across platforms will invite viewers’ engagement and develop a loyal following.

Best Practices for Inbound Video Marketing

1. Make Your Videos Easy to Find on Search Engines

The magic of inbound video marketing is how it amplifies your message on a global scale. But how do you ensure your video content doesn't get lost in the internet's ocean? Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the secret! Let's dive into some handy tips to rev up your video's SEO game:

• Prioritize Your Video Content: Remember, quality trumps quantity. Make your videos engaging, crisp and on-topic. Don't lose your audiences to long, rambling content!
• Keywords are Key: Let those search engines find you! Utilize keyword-rich titles and descriptions everywhere possible. `
• Say 'Hello' to Thumbnails and Links: Including thumbnails in search results and linking your content to your videos can significantly increase your visibility.
• Master Tag Structure: Search engines love properly structured tags. Don't overlook this!
• Never Neglect Mobile Users: Optimizing your site for mobile viewing is a must-do, considering our mobile-centric world.
• Social Media Cross-Linking: A sure-shot method to boost your visibility is linking your content in your social media profiles.
• Educational and Organic Content: From interesting how-to videos to heartwarming 'Day in the Life' vlogs, making authentic, valuable content is critical.
• Stay Current: Regularly update your video content to stay relevant and engaging.

*Check out Levitate Media’s article on Video SEO Services for increasing your Google ranking!

2. Use Video to Tell a Compelling Story

Making your brand stand out with inbound video marketing is a game-changer! Here's how you can use compelling storytelling to connect with your audience:

• Nail down your goal: Is it brand promotion, educating customers, or something else? Create a clear purpose to deliver a clear message!
• Fit your strategy: Pick an easily accessible video solution (think mobile-friendly) that aligns with your goal. Tech shouldn’t make things challenging for you or your audience.
• Be consistent: Aim for one solid video per month. Hire a pro or do it yourself- just start telling your story!
• Use the power of education: Leverage YouTube for how-to clips or engaging lectures. Or bring customers closer by sharing sneak peeks of new products or exclusive content.
• Be relevant: Always stay relevant and helpful to your audience; otherwise, they won't stick around.

3. Incorporate Calls-to-Action

A call-to-action (CTA) in video marketing is like a friendly nudge, like, "Swipe up to grab that tasty recipe eBook!" Incorporating CTAs in your inbound video marketing is essential, and here's how:

• Plan your CTA: Clearly define what you want your audience to do after watching your video. Subscribe, buy, or share? Whatever it is, encourage that direction.
• Design your CTA: Make it attention-grabbing with a compelling offer. Free trial, anyone?
• Place your CTA: Stick it into the middle of your video, not just the end.
• Promote your CTA: Use your CTA in emails, social media, and blogs to reach a broader audience.

4. Integrate Social Media Streams

Integrating social media streams in your inbound video marketing is a game changer. Social media videos get a lot of likes, comments, and shares. This boosts engagement, keeping you connected with your audience. Done right, they will amplify your reach, improve your SEO rankings, and streamline lead generation. Here's how you make them work for you:

• Create engaging content: Craft videos that are informative, entertaining, and user-centric. Remember, the goal is to draw viewers in and increase brand awareness.
• Utilize multiple platforms: Don't just stick to one stream. Use Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, etc. This diversifies your reach and connects you with more prospective customers.
• Include clear calls-to-action: Direct viewers on what to do next with clear, persuasive CTAs. This works great for lead generation.

Best Types of Video for Inbound Video Marketing

Inbound video marketing is about attracting and engaging an audience by offering valuable and relevant content. For compelling inbound video marketing, certain types of video content have proven to be highly effective.

Educational YouTube Content:

Creating and sharing educational videos on YouTube is a fantastic way to establish yourself as an industry expert and engage your audience. This could be in the form of how-to videos, insightful lectures, or even captivating demonstrations. YouTube serves as a prime platform for this content, given its vast reach and status as the second most frequented search engine after Google.

Organic Social Video Posts:

To create authentic connections with your audience, it's worth investing in organic social videos. These could be vlogs or "Day in the Life" videos that foster a sense of community and inspiration. The relaxed tone and informal voice in these videos can help build genuine relationships with your target audience.

Video Content via Email Newsletters:

This potent strategy amplifies audience engagement by delivering valuable video content directly to their inbox. You can leverage newsletters to announce events, launch products, offer unique content, or provide an exclusive sneak peek at ongoing projects. An exciting tip here is to include a camera emoji in the subject line to boost click rates.

With these inbound video approaches, remember that the key to success involves understanding your target audience, creating informative and engaging content, optimizing video content for search engines, and promoting your videos on social media and other online communities.

What is Outbound Video Marketing?

Outbound video marketing is essentially creating targeted video ads aimed at capturing the right audience's attention. Once you identify your audience, their interests, and their preferences, you can tailor your videos to effectively reach them. Your videos should have captivating storylines, relatable characters, and strong calls to action.

Remember, the purpose of outbound video marketing is to align with your target audience, boost your visibility, and develop a strong brand identity.

Best Practices for Outbound Video Marketing

1. Use a Consistent Brand Voice

The power of a consistent brand voice in your outbound video marketing cannot be overstated. Why so? In a nutshell, a distinct, consistent brand voice can catapult your outbound video marketing success by helping your audience immediately identify your content. Your brand voice is what makes you recognizable, even in a saturated market. Here's how to nail a brand video:

• Stay true to your brand: Ensure your video content aligns with your brand values, mission, and tone. Inconsistency can confuse your audience.
• Know your audience: A deep understanding of your audience helps you craft a brand voice they can resonate with.
• Consistency is key: Keep your tone, style, and message consistent across all videos. Remember, consistency breeds familiarity and trust.

2. Promote Your Content

Promoting your content is crucial for ensuring visibility and engagement. In video marketing, it's about delivering valuable, high-quality material to your audience. Remember, proper promotion leads to high audience engagement and customer retention. Here are some tips to help:

• Craft compelling content: Create engaging, relevant content that resonates with your audience.
• Stick to a detailed strategy: Having detailed clarity on what, when, and who publishes your content is incredibly valuable.
• Optimize for visibility: Incorporate SEO strategies and keep your material up-to-date. Try linking your content to your video and add thumbnails to your search results.
• Utilize multiple channels: Share your content on social media, your website, and within emails. Explore new avenues for distribution to expand your reach.

3. Leverage Industry Trends

In the ever-changing world of digital marketing, staying on top of industry trends can help you supercharge your outbound video marketing efforts. Remember, success lies in the small details. Here are some top industry trends to leverage:

• Watch behavior: Tune into consumer behavior and preference shifts in your market to tailor your video content.
• Utilize new tools: Explore new methods of audience targeting and engagement tracking offered by Adtech developments. Keep up with the latest video editor to ensure the highest quality output.
• Use in and out: Consider SEO as your inbound marketing strategy and pair it with outbound video marketing for broader reach.
• Regularly analyze: Measure and optimize your marketing efforts using the latest Martech tools.
• Leverage social media: Use social media platforms to distribute video content and increase brand visibility.

4. Utilize Email Marketing

Email marketing breathes new life into outbound strategies, especially when spiced up with video content. It targets customers effectively and boosts click-through rates and sales through personalized, engaging interactions. In fact, video in emails can boost click-through rates by a whopping 65%! Top tips for effective video email marketing include:

• Understand your customer: Create clear customer personas for accurate targeting.
• Captivate your audience: Include persuasive, short, high-quality videos in your email to boost click-through rates.
• Draw readers in: Using strong, compelling subject lines will intrigue and attract your audience.
• Plan ahead: It is critical to have strategic timing when dispatching your email marketing.
• Pay attention: Real-time tracking helps you act on leads promptly and encourage customer engagement.

Best Types of Videos for Outbound Marketing

Outbound video marketing involves reaching out directly to the audience with the intent to engage, pique interest, and drive concrete action. The focus is on delivering tangible results in terms of lead generation, conversions, or sales. To make the most out of outbound video marketing, here are the best types of video content to consider:

Product Videos:

Product videos are effective for showcasing the features and benefits of your product. They provide a glimpse into how your product works and how it can solve a problem for the potential customer. In a product video, the emphasis should be on what your product does, how it's unique in the market, and how it can provide a solution to the viewer's problem.

Testimonial Videos:

One of the most credible forms of outbound video marketing, testimonial videos feature your existing customers sharing their positive experiences with your product or service. By showcasing your product or service from the viewpoint of a satisfied customer, you not only instill trust but also create a robust connection with your potential customers.

Demo videos:

Another excellent type of video to consider for outbound marketing is a demo video. These provide a step-by-step guide on how to use your product or service. A well-made demo video helps in setting correct expectations and can significantly impact the decision-making process of a prospective buyer.

Explainer Videos:

Explainer videos are succinct and educational videos that describe your business, product, or service in an engaging way. They can provide a clear and quick explanation about what you offer and why it's worth choosing, effectively addressing customer pain points.

Collaborative Videos with Influencers:

Collaborating with prominent influencers in your industry can significantly enhance your brand's visibility. Their followers will get an authentic review about your products or services, which can, in turn, drive higher engagement, trust, and brand recognition.

Regardless of the type of outbound video, it should always be tailored to your target audience's needs, interests, and preferences. Additionally, don't forget to continuously monitor your video's performance metrics and make necessary adjustments to improve campaign effectiveness.

Align Your Strategy

In the end, aligning your strategy with your business goals and resources can lead you to the most beneficial approach. It's about knowing your audience and adapting, not really whether Inbound or Outbound Video Marketing is superior. The real goal is to understand how you can maximize the potential of both. You don't need to limit yourself to one strategy - blend multiple tactics and be willing to explore new possibilities.

If you need help, why not reach out to Levitate Media's creative producers and get started on your next video project? Their team is experienced in creating top-notch videos for inbound and outbound marketing objectives. So, what are you waiting for? Contact them today!