A big marketing budget is no longer necessary to produce quality video content.
Even if your financial resources are limited, you can use the countless benefits of the most efficient type of content when it comes to audience engagement and conversions. You will just have to be creative, do a lot of planning, and pay attention to marketing your videos. Read ahead to get the scoop on how to master video marketing on a shoestring budget.
Plan Ahead
Before you start producing your video content, it is important to have a clear and well- planned video marketing strategy, especially when you are working on a limited budget. Decide whether your campaign will be based on one impactful video or you plan to publish videos regularly. Think about goals you want to achieve and decide which type of video content is best for your particular needs and your target audience. Having a video marketing plan will help you identify all the necessary steps in video production and determine the areas in which you can reduce costs.
Tell A Story
Are you going to film a brand documentary, a promotional or instructional video? Whichever format you choose, while the basic goal is to sell your product or service, do not include too much self-promotion as your content will be lost in the noise or viewed as spam. Create content that is educational, entertaining or inspiring to get your audience genuinely engaged. This way they will remember and share your videos. Consider including user-generated content in your videos to occasionally save yourself the trouble (and cost) of writing scripts. Let the stories told by your satisfied customers influence your audience in an authentic and engaging way.
Equipment
Choosing the right equipment for your needs and budget is key to minimizing production costs. If you are going to produce video content on a regular basis, think about purchasing a dSLR camera that can film high-definition video. Do not forget about lighting and sound equipment to get the most out of your camera. If this is too much of an investment for you, consider renting the full equipment package, especially if your strategy is based on publishing videos only occasionally. For producing regular video content that does not require professional grade equipment, a smartphone with a quality high-definition camera will do the job perfectly. This way you will save some money which you can then invest in a tripod, a good microphone, and maybe some basic lighting equipment. This way you will be able to produce sharp, well-lit visuals with clear sound without spending too much.
Cast & Crew
To reduce initial production costs, consider hiring a small crew consisting of people who can perform several duties simultaneously (for exp. someone who is both a director and videographer). Instead of hiring professional actors, look for skillful amateurs or acting students. Going completely in-house when it comes to production is a great option if you plan to make videos on a low budget regularly. Think about recruiting cast and crew from your own pool of employees. Do not compromise quality and invest in your employees’ education by offering training sessions on video production as it will certainly pay off in the long run. Consider working with a reputable agency if quality is the absolute imperative, if you plan on making just one impactful video or if your budget can allow it. Even if you are not hiring an agency to produce your videos, professional corporate videos of field experts such as Alexander Thomas Media Company could be a great reference, and a source of inspiration when creating your own video content.
Publish & Distribute Your Videos
Use the numerous advantages of any place where you can publish videos for free. The most natural choice is of course Youtube, especially as it is considered the world’s second most powerful search engine. Post your content on social media, especially the video-driven Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Live video streaming is also a trendy and a cost- efficient way to quickly produce social media content. By covering all video platforms available to you, your videos will be shared and featured which will contribute to an even greater internet presence and audience engagement.
Video is the Way to Go
Even if you are on a tight budget, you can apply these and many other helpful tips to your video marketing strategy. It will help you produce quality videos your audience will share and remember. But keep in mind that without proper content promotion, your videos will not be effective. Plan your content promotion strategy first, and then start creating awesome video content your customers will appreciate.
From: Bootstrap Business
