Shannon Matthews says, “For many businesses and marketers, writing and publishing content on their own website—and guest articles and posts on others—is at the top of their priority lists. A major goal of producing great content is getting on the first page of Google search results. Unfortunately, with millions of search queries per minute, it’s not that easy. And Google is constantly changing its algorithms, which means you have to work harder to get noticed by the right people at the right time. Fortunately, search engine optimization (SEO) can help. Here are a few stats to keep... [...]

Josh Brown says, “Live-stream video combines some of the most tried-and-true methods of engaging with your audience with innovative opportunities to engage a step further. But there’s more to building engagement than what happens during the broadcasting. There’s a lot you can do before, during, and after you go live to squeeze as much value as you can out of every live video. From understanding your purpose to measuring your ROI — and everything in between — you have to address many factors for live video to make sense and work for your brand. Let’s take a look at 13 areas in four... [...]

Meryl Ayres & Jordan Wellin say, “Whether you’re a B2B or B2C business, videos can help you strengthen relationships with your customers, save time, and boost conversion rates. And if you haven’t experimented with this powerful medium yet, you’re missing out — 66% of B2B marketers are already creating video content to support both their marketing department goals and larger business initiatives. When it comes to the use cases for video, the possibilities are endless across your organization: Sales teams can close deals with personalized video voicemails, support... [...]

Itai Elizur says, “Marketing is currently undergoing a significant facelift. As traditional mediums like radio and magazine ads begin to die alongside digital strategies like banner ads, tactics such as advocacy and influencer marketing are filling the void left behind by these withering relics. In addition to the soaring popularity of these newer marketing modalities comes the meteoric rise of video content and advertising. Video is the new black. People can’t get enough of it. It’s everywhere. From business websites to social platforms, in-app adverts, and every other digital location... [...]

Sophia Bernazzani says, “Before the internet was more widely available, your business may have relied on printed directories, such as the Yellow Pages, to be found and discovered by new customers. The greatest likelihood someone would call you over your competitors was if you paid for larger print ad placements, or if your brand’s name started with one of the first letters of the alphabet. Thanks to the internet, it’s easier for prospects and leads to find businesses by simply conducting a search or checking out social media. In fact, 81% of shoppers conduct online research... [...]

Ben Davis says, “Brands are playing it relatively safe when it comes to video, both in terms of commitment to a video strategy and the content itself. Luckily, Econsultancy has just released an updated version of its Online Video Best Practice Guide. When the guide was first published in 2013, the author (Steffan Aquarone) wrote that there was a huge opportunity for brands in the video landscape. Brands or businesses could ‘capture the spirit of a global meme in its nascence, retain the direct association of a rising YouTube star, go to market with their own produced content and even... [...]

Amy Gesenhues says, “YouTube says people around the world are now consuming a billion hours of video content per day on the site. According to the announcement, the milestone was reached last year, but YouTube only shared the news yesterday. “If you were to sit and watch a billion hours of YouTube, it would take you over 100,000 years,” writes YouTube’s VP of engineering, Cristos Goodrow, on the Official YouTube Blog, offering a frame of reference for the billion-hour statistic. YouTube says its focus on time spent watching a video, versus video views, helps drive the number of hours... [...]

Calvin Wayman says, “Are you using video yet as part of your marketing strategy? Are you looking for ways to connect on a deeper level with your audience? Advertising is quickly shifting away from textual-only content and moving toward video. And the growth of social-media platforms is partly responsible for this change, as these platforms are optimized for creating and sharing videos. Now, it’s up to content creators to deliver quality ad content that can be consumed in this new age of video marketing. However, many brands and influencers aren’t prepared for the incoming wave of video... [...]

Nikki Gilliland says, “In a bid to enhance the user experience, Google has announced that it will be removing 30 second unskippable adverts from YouTube at the end of 2017. While this decision might sound like bad news for advertisers – forcing them to win over consumers within a shorter time frame – it could in fact be a positive. Here are a few reasons why. Taking context into consideration YouTube’s 30 second ads have become a go-to option for brands, with many simply transferring their television ads online. However, this means that many fail to take into consideration... [...]

Megan Totka says, “Online marketing trends change with every new delivery method and channel. Each year brings new technology, new opportunities, and new social channels to catch user fancy. The big winners in the battle for buyer attention might be early adopters throwing resources into promising new technology that proves successful, or businesses who stick with a particular channel to build a huge following. Video marketing is certainly not new, but the market is changing, and video has emerged as a clear winner. Video Marketing Trends YouTube already dominates the field, with a billion... [...]