The are a number of ways to incorporate media into your business’ website. No potential client or customer wants to be greeted by a wall of text, even if that content is brilliantly written.

Balancing images and the ways to interact with each page is essential if you want to promote your brand well. But there’s a way to go one step further.

Video content is a powerful marketing tool for any business, regardless of size, age, or industry. It is estimated that websites with video content are 53 times more likely to rank on Google’s first page. Studies show that video can boost conversion by up to 80%. However, there are a few ways to approach this, and the best choice isn’t always clear.

Today we’re going to talk about animation and videography for websites, two types of media that can both help to optimise your branding, if you know how to use them.

Using Video Content on your Website

So why is video content useful for marketing? Well they say a picture paints a thousand words, and high-quality images of you, your team, and your products say even more. According to recent research, viewers remember 95% of a message when delivered by video, but only 10% by text.

Video is the key to showing the ‘human side’ of your business, which builds trust with visitors even before a purchase is made.

It also makes your website look more modern. Although video content has been used for a long time, it is expected on websites nowadays. This can include:

  • Welcome Videos
  • Office Tours
  • Product Demonstrations
  • Video Testimonials

You can also use videos to show off your company culture, which is a vital aspect of your brand. If you regularly go on team-building exercises or similar events, make sure you have some quality videos of them to put on social media and your website. Showing your team and your working environment is great promotion no matter what your company does and is a great selling point when finding new hires as well as potential customers.

Including video content on your website can be very beneficial, but only if you bring in the professionals.

The Benefits of Professional Videography

Creating a business video isn’t as simple as putting your phone on a tripod and talking into it. It’s immediately obvious when you’ve tried to cut corners with your videography or only done it yourself.

When you hire a videographer, you’re getting more than just a person with camera. Not only do they bring professional-grade equipment, cameras, lights, props, and more, they also bring their expertise and insight and knowledge of what works best so you get the best results.

A branding-focused videographer, like those on our team, knows how to make your business look its best. With years of experience creating similar videos, they’ll provide important direction to show off your best side. It can be tricky to fully understand your brand without an outside perspective; our videographers provide that.

 

Their expertise doesn’t end with the recording session itself either. We’ll edit your videos, adding graphics, captions and effects so they’re crisp and digestible, perfect for website content. We can also provide some advice on how best to use your new videos – how to incorporate them into your website or what to post where. Back that up with some professional copywriting and you’ll see results immediately.

To make the most of video content, you want to use it both on your website and social media. All videos we create can be repurposed into small chunks that are perfect for your social media sites, as long-form video isn’t as well-received on those platforms. You can also repurpose both types of video (animated and live action) later on to improve your ROI. This is something we always consider when planning and creating your videos, and if you have some ideas on how you would like to use them, we can do even more.

The Disadvantages of Video Content

There are very few reasons not to invest in video content, but they’re still worth mentioning. Videos are often large files, which can slow down web pages if they aren’t optimised correctly. Page speed is a crucial part of SEO, and a website that doesn’t load properly won’t be encouraging for visitors.  

However, this isn’t an issue if you trust Williams&Crosby for your videography. As we also have a team of website experts and plenty of SEO knowledge, we can optimise your videos so that they don’t slow you down. We can also recommend plugins and other methods to speed up your existing website, please get in touch if you want to know more.  

If you aren’t sure if live action video is right for your business, there is an alternative. 

Animation for Businesses

Animation can be used by businesses in a number of ways. You can invest in full-length animated videos that talk about your business, products, or other relevant topics. On the other hand are smaller animations, such as animated logos or pop-ups, that add more life to your website. Or you can choose something in between, combining animation with live action to see the benefits of both in one place.

Professional animated videos take a lot longer to make than videography, and there’s no on-site filming. Instead you’ll talk with one of our animators, working with them on designs and the structure of the video until you’re 100% satisfied with how you’ll be represented. Although we know marketing, you know your brand better than anyone, so everything we produce will be a collaborative effort.

Where animation really shines is with explainer videos or those that cover more conceptual topics that are difficult to explain in words, photography or video. These are things that can’t be easily done with a person talking to a camera; people will be far less likely to watch the entire thing and may not retain much information even if they do. With engaging visuals paired with in-depth narration, you can provide as much information as necessary in a short time, educating visitors in ways that would be possible without animation.

Should you Invest in Animated Video?

In 2021 it was estimated that the average person watches 100 minutes of online videos per day, and this number is set to increase further as we enter the second half of the 2020s. You’ll be competing for that time with some of the biggest names in the content creation business, so not only do you need video content, it needs to be top quality.

But choosing animated video over live action can be a tricky choice. For some businesses, the results would be the same; a video that sells their brand well. But the positives of videography, such as the faster turnaround and often lower upfront cost, can make the decision simpler.

For some businesses, animated video suits their brand much better than videography. In creative sectors, animation appeals more to potential clients and customers, and it is a lot more memorable than seeing real people if done well.

There is no definitive answer to the question of animated vs videography, which is why you should always consider both for your business.

With Williams&Crosby, you‘ll meet with a single point of contact that will explain the benefits of both types of, so you can make an informed decision with all the relevant information in hand. This means you won’t be left wondering if you make the best choice for your brand, and we pride ourselves on creating the best video content possible.

If you have any questions about us, our services, or anything we’ve discussed in this blog, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.