12 Effective Ways to Use Short Video Content for Your Small Business
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The face of social media has changed significantly in a short time, and today short video content is dominating user news feeds. While some social media platforms use video as a feature, like Instagram Stories, others, such as TikTok, use short videos as their main form of communication. Businesses can then leverage this content on their own social media pages to help improve their customer engagement and boost sales. To share insights on how to do just that, 12 experts from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) answer the following question:
“What’s one way you’ve used Instagram Stories, TikTok or other short video content for your small business, and why do you think it was so effective in achieving your goal?”
Use one of these methods to make your video content really work for you and your business.
“We use Instagram Stories to connect with the pain points and goals of our customers. The key is to quickly show how your product can solve an industry-specific problem. When followers can see the benefits of becoming a customer, they are more likely to visit your website and make a purchase.” ~Chris Christoff,MonsterInsights
“We’ve appeared on various news shows and other media outlets to talk about relevant issues in our industry around certain times of the year when our audience is looking for particular answers. We’ve posted these short clips on our website. It’s effective because we’re getting our name out there during key times of the year when our followers most need our expertise and insight.” ~ Andrew Schrage,Money Crashers Personal Finance
“The great thing about short videos is that you are forced to share impact immediately. As a lawyer, the law can be a difficult topic to explain. But by using visual cues tied with quick graphics, we can share important information with our audience in a way they can remember and actually enjoy.” ~Matthew Podolsky,Florida Law Advisers, P.A.
“I switched my entire marketing plan to using short TikTok-style videos over the last three months. This is what is trending and what works. People want video content that is short and simple. I have used these videos to give information and tips, as well as advertise for products and upcoming webinars. These videos perform 10 times better than regular content and graphics.” ~Lisa Collum,Top Score Writing
“We’ve had success including user-generated content as a part of our short videos on YouTube and Instagram. In our videos, we include example campaigns that users have made with our software and positive feedback so people can see what others think of our brand.” ~ John Brackett,Smash Balloon LLC
“In the service business, offers are commoditized. Everyone’s selling the same thing and, even if you offer better services, it can be hard to stand out with standard social marketing activities. With Stories, we give customers and prospects a behind-the-scenes look at the completed buyer journey, showing how we play a role in its success. It adds another level of proof to our campaigns.” ~Samuel Thimothy,OneIMS
“Small businesses can use livestreaming to introduce the people behind the brand and humanize it. Sometimes there’s a block between a business and its customers because there’s a lack of connection or emotion. But you can use video content to give viewers and potential customers a different look at your brand.” ~Stephanie Wells,Formidable Forms
“We’ve used animated videos to help demonstrate the TutorMe online tutoring platform as well as tell the brand story in a concise but compelling way. Because our service requires interaction to understand the benefits fully, video has been highly effective because consumers prefer easily digestible content that highlights key points and speaks to their short- and long-term goals.” ~Myles Hunter,TutorMe
“Instagram Stories have been great for connecting with audiences who already know and love your brand. If you are doing anything with paid advertising to grow your following and brand, this is a great way to elevate your content even more. What’s worked extremely well for us is doing video stories on the unboxing of different products, which simply doesn’t work as well with static photos or images.” ~Zac Johnson,Blogger
“We have had amazing success utilizing the Instagram Stories feature. We use our posts on Instagram to promote larger concepts or events, and use Stories for the quick daily updates. This ensures we don’t lose the energy of posting new topical content as it reaches us, but also that we maintain the integrity of our grid and remain in control of the story we are telling.” ~Ashley Sharp,Dwell with Dignity
“We’re using the short video format, especially when they stick around for just 24 hours, to create giveaway contests and other time-bound offers. Because this type of content disappears fast, it creates FOMO and compels viewers to take action right away. It’s important to combine different formats with the right content to see the best effect.” ~Syed Balkhi,WPBeginner
“Instagram Stories can be an effective way to drive traffic to a sales page. One method we’ve used that works really well is to block out an entire day in your Stories devoted to promoting a product by posting 20-40 short clips throughout the day. Then save the story series as a highlight so it shows up under your bio and above your grid and continues to send traffic to your sales page.” ~Joe Stolte,The Tractionology Group
