High-quality product photography not only helps you stand out when it comes to showing your items and brand, but it can also enhance conversions. Quality product images are now considered table stakes in an increasingly competitive ecommerce landscape. But on top of that adding video to your product’s images is an efficient approach to bring your product to life and set yourself out from the pack. Using product video is so crucial, as well as to accomplish it efficiently even if you don’t have a big budget.
Why product videos matter?
Standard product photos can only tell so much of your narrative, whether you’re a clothing brand attempting to sell more sweaters or a skincare line trying to sell more moisturizer. It’s one thing to read about Disneyland; viewing videos about the enchanted kingdom is a completely different experience. Similarly, it’s one thing to look at a photo of a shirt on the internet, but it’s quite another to view a video of how it looks and moves while worn.
While high-quality photographs might help you stand out, incorporating video into your branding efforts can truly set you apart. Consider Google’s findings, which reveal that more than half of internet customers have made a purchase choice based on an online video. You’re already at a disadvantage by limiting yourself to only photos. Quality product images are vital, but taking it a step further can help your brand soar. Consumers have grown accustomed to viewing the same product images over and over again. As a result, while they may have worked in the past, customers are looking for something new and different now.
When should you use product videos?
While it may be tempting to hire your favorite videographer straight immediately for your next shoot, it’s critical to first figure out where and how you’ll use the footage.
- Page dedicated to the product
Do you intend to use video or animated GIFs on your product pages? If that’s the case, it could be a good idea to keep the video clip short. An animated GIF can be used to show a variety of products at once. Animated GIFs can last up to 15 seconds, although 5–7 seconds is the ideal length.
- Homepage
Wistia recommends expressing your product’s value proposition as rapidly as possible if you’re going to use a product video on your website. “Respond swiftly to this question on your homepage video so that viewers understand what your company is all about.” As a result, these videos should focus on the brand rather than the product. To avoid aggravating users, especially those on mobile data, you should avoid making the video autoplay.
- Use of social media
Social networking is another great place to share your product videos. Videos can be shared on your feed, in stories, or as paid ads. This is an especially good approach to repurpose this content because Facebook video adverts take an average of 2–6 hours to generate, compared to just 1 hour for image-based Facebook advertising.
How to make product videos that can increase online sales
Let’s get down to the nitty gritty of how to present your merchandise.
To keep everyone on the same page, plan your creative direction ahead of time. You can take your preparation a step further by storyboarding your desired creative vision with your team once you have a broad concept of where you plan to post and share the film. Being on the same page might drastically limit the efficacy of your films’ end output.
What equipment do you require for the shoot? A successful shoot begins with effective planning, which includes anything from creating a checklist to determining who on your crew needs to be present. You can’t afford to take any chances. The more time you have to plan ahead of time, the better. What do you hope to accomplish with video? Do you use video to help you explain your products more clearly? Refresh the look of your company’s logo? Before the shoot, be sure you know exactly what you want to accomplish with video. What kind of people do you need to hire? While some photographers can also capture video, in some circumstances you may need to employ a professional filmmaker. Some videographers will also edit your video, while others would require you to engage with a professional video editor.
Make use of many video formats
All video formats are not created equal. There are numerous ways to exhibit your goods, ranging from small three- to five-second video to minute-long product explainers and even 360-degree views.
360-degree panorama
Adding a 360-degree view to your items can help customers ‘feel’ how they work. While this adds a few extra steps to your average session, the end product is usually well worth it.
Here’s everything you’ll need to make a 360-degree product video:
A zoom lens is a lens that allows you to zoom in
A tripod is a piece of equipment that is used
A turntable with a remote control
Videos created by users
You don’t have to perform all of the labor when making videos. Customers may be willing to share videos that you may use in conjunction with your other product information. According to a Power Reviews survey conducted in April 2021, consumer reviews have become a crucial component in driving purchases. When it comes to internet purchasing, more than 99.9% of respondents say they “at least sometimes” read reviews, up from only 97 percent in 2018. As a result, video product reviews are a terrific method to combine the power of social proof and video.
Adding video to your next photo shoot
Lastly, while including video into your marketing strategy may appear difficult at first, taking the time to do it right can pay off? While there will undoubtedly be a learning curve, if you’re too busy, you can always outsource some of your editing. Implementing at least some video for your products is a must if you want to stay ahead of the game. Fortunately, getting started isn’t as difficult as you would imagine. Take inspiration from some of the examples and suggestions provided, and start filming.
