Author: directorken

Most Important 10 Factors To Consider When Doing Digital Marketing

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You most consider this factors when doing digital marketing as a business owner, you must know that one of the most important things you need to focus on is your digital marketing strategy. However, having an online advertising strategy isn’t only about building a responsive and user-friendly website, there are also various, important factors you need to consider before you begin any digital marketing, all of which will influence your strategy.

Before we can go into details about the factors that make for the success of any Digital Marketing Campaign, we should first define what the term digital marketing means. In the past, it has also been called Internet marketing, e-marketing and web marketing, these alternative terms varying over time, but none of these is broad enough to encompass what digital marketing is today

Many business owners believe that it is all about their website or Facebook page. It is a far more complex and deeper subject, actually covering any ‘electronic’ means (channel) that a customer uses to interact with a business.

It, therefore, covers all Social Media, access through Google, YouTube and any of the many other Search Engines that exist, plus of course Email. And when it comes to the devices, there is the desktop computer, the laptop, the smartphone, and the growing number of devices, like Alexa. Plus, with the Internet of Things becoming a reality, soon a customer’s fridge will be interacting with your business. this is a challenge for you and your Digital marketing and design agency.

Each way in which a customer interacts is labelled a ‘channel’, and the level of interaction can be a complex one, depending on the level of integration (with your business systems) and tactics you apply.

One recent definition is “Achieving marketing objectives through applying digital technologies and media.”

Perhaps then we should refresh ourselves as to what ‘marketing’ is all about?

Defining marketing

The Chartered Institute of Marketing defines marketing, like this:

“Marketing is the management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably”.

It is important to bear this in mind as is it is all too easy to set objectives for digital marketing based around ‘vanity metrics’ such as the number of ‘likes’, ‘followers’ or indeed website traffic. All of these are merely milestones on the route and not a goal in themselves.

In simple terms, digital marketing is promoting products and services online, which are accessible via digital devices, such as smartphones, tablets, wearables, smart TVs, laptops, and desktop computers. Hence, it’s also called online marketing. Digital marketing doesn’t seem to be an option anymore. Now, it’s important for every business to have a digital marketing strategy set in place to reach more potential customers and attain their marketing goals and achieve more sales.

Factors To Conside6r When Doing Digital Marketing

But what makes a digital marketing campaign successful?  The success of your digital marketing strategy depends on many factors, which will be discussed in detail below.

  1. Website Performance

Having a website is a prerequisite to launching your digital marketing campaign. And to drive your digital marketing success, your website’s performance plays a crucial role. If your website is slow loading and difficult to navigate, chances are you won’t earn a significant number of visitors and leads.  

For your website to have good performance, it must have the following qualities:

User friendly  

Engaging  

Helpful

Fast loading

Test your website with Page Speed Insights by Google

  1. SEO

Search Engine Optimization has had some bad press over the years, notably because it was, in its early days, all about ‘tricking’ Google into giving ranks to pages (sites) that did not in fact deserve them, by taking advantages of ‘holes’ in the ranking algorithms.

Today, with Google’s advanced systems, such trickery is counterproductive because SEO is now being all about ensuring that sites meet Googles stringent rules and ‘assisting’ Google to make the right choice, i.e. giving a page the best rank possible for any relevant search term.

It is a long-term process, but it is a vital part of any digital marketing campaign. It provides the huge and highly attractive benefit of improving a website’s position in the search engines results pages (SERPs) and thus delivers targeted traffic in high volumes. Failure to appear in the Google results is often counterproductive when a customer, having been ‘touched’ via another channel wants more information.

The content of the pages (so called On Page Optimization) should focus on your visitors needs and wants and should cover the questions being asked on the web. You also need to understand the intent behind visitors’ searches (through good keyword research and testing).

Off-page optimization is another vital part of the SEO process, focusing on building links and ‘Social Signals’, these ‘helping’ the search engines to identify how relevant your content is thought to be by others.

Traffic is not enough though; the website must deliver conversions.

Clear Call To Actions (CTA’s), targeted landing pages, and ensuring the site loads quickly and is easy to use are essential requirements. Above all the site must enable the complete customer journey to be made with the minimum of effort, navigation tips and aids being used in support of this aim.

  1. Set your digital media marketing goals

Your goals help you stay focused on your digital media strategy. If you want to see success with digital marketing, you must determine what you want to achieve with your strategy. Goals depend upon your business’s needs.

Whether you’re looking to gain new leads or earn more conversions, you must think about what your company wants to achieve by investing in a digital marketing strategy. If you’re looking to increase sales, your next digital marketing goal could be raising sales by X%. In short, your marketing goal should align with your business’s overall goals.

Every digital media strategy goal should work towards achieving a larger company goal. Additionally, these goals need to be SMART goals. SMART goals are:

Specific: Your digital media strategy must aim to achieve a specific goal. A vague goal, like “earn more conversions,” won’t help you know if you’ve reached your goals, but a specific goal like “increase conversions by 20%” states precisely what you want to achieve.

Measurable: Your goals must also be measurable. A measurable goal is one that you can easily track, such as “increase traffic by 50%.” With a goal like this, you can visibly see how much your traffic increases or decreases over the course of your digital media campaign. When goals are easily measurable, you can identify key metrics and determine how much you’re accomplishing.

Achievable: Before setting a goal, you need to determine if you have the resources and ability to achieve it. A goal like “increase sales by 50%” may not be achievable for your company and can derail your strategy and discourage the people on your marketing and sales teams.

Realistic: Similarly, to achievable, your goals must be realistic. You might be able to achieve a goal like “increase Facebook likes to 4000,” but if you’re trying to do that within a short amount of time, it may not be realistic for your business. Measurable milestones will help you reach those goals that are more difficult to accomplish.

Timely: Your goals must have deadlines. With enforced deadlines, your teams will be more motivated to keep your digital media strategy on track. Without a concrete deadline to push your teams to accomplish your goal, your goal runs the risk of falling by the wayside.

SMART goals help you stay focused and know what you’re aiming to achieve.

  1. Identify your target audience

You need to know exactly who you’re marketing to with your products or services. Identify the common points between your customers, and segment them into groups according to their:

Location

Age

Income (occupation)

Goals

Needs

Interests

And priorities/values

The easiest way to do this is by using customer lists, surveys, and interviews to create representations of your ideal customers (called buyer personas or marketing personas) based on real data, not assumptions.

  1. VIDEO MARKETING

YouTube’s blog recently stated that they now have 1 billion unique customers every month and that 6 billion hours of videos are watched every month – which was 50% more in March 2013 than it was in May 2012.

Video marketing is also an essential part of your website and in the days of smart phones, digital cameras and free video editing software it has never been easier. Videos can be embedded on your website and can also be uploaded to, and shared in YouTube. Videos have the ability to show clearly which products and services your company can offer – most people will prefer to watch a 1 minute video than read a page full of text.

  1. Use High Quality Content only

Last on our list, yet not least significant is the fact that you have to use high-quality photographs, videos, and articles. These things are utilized as tools for increasing your brand awareness, which is why you need to guarantee that the content you create is HQ, interesting, as well as fun for your consumers.

  1. Marketing Automation

There are many different marketing automation tools available today, each one allowing for some of the repetitive processes to be taken over by technology. Examples of this are the automated sending of emails or ‘Join My Network’ requests on Social Media.

Any automation has to be carried out with care, as, if it is allowed to become robotic, it could have negative effects. More and more businesses are, however, incorporating automated elements into their digital marketing campaigns. Statistics show that about 70% of marketing leaders are using some form of marketing automation platform.  Indeed, these tools speed up and streamline the processes involved, without them it would be difficult to manage all your digital marketing efforts.

  1. Social Media Influencers

Social Media is a vital Digital Marketing Channel and one that cannot be ignored, because it is the best way to create a feeling of community and associate this with your brand. It’s a great tool for marketers and allows the creation of a large number of personal interactions, which in turn can promote long term loyalty.

Social media can also be a valuable tool for monitoring feedback about your business or brand. This is useful as when you change something about your website, business, or launch a new campaign, you can instantly find out how your users feel about it.

It is also an excellent way to provide customer service, many users preferring to contact you via social media, rather than send in a support ticket.

However, building a connected online community is not an easy task, and for best results it is vital that your dedicated social media team utilize a content plan, this detailing the message and when it is going to be sent.

Using it correctly to attract and engage with potential customers by using original content, can bring in huge amounts of traffic and potential sales.

The biggest issue is in selecting the correct type of content. It has to be of the right type though, posting a series of funny cat videos or memes does not fit in with many brands.

  1. Determine your product’s unique value proposition

Every product and service needs to have something about it that makes it valuable to customers. If you can’t showcase the value, people won’t know why they should buy your product or invest in your services. To identify your product’s value proposition, ask yourself these questions:

What need does my product fulfill?

Customers buy products or use services to solve a problem or to improve their lives. You must determine how your product or service benefits your customers, so you can showcase the value. Take some time to identify the unique value of your product or service that will address those needs and concerns.

Ask questions like:

What problem is my product solving?

What does my product do that makes life for my customers better?

How does my product solve the problem better than my competitors?

What capital and means do I have to bring that value to customers?

How can I sustain my product’s unique value?

Where is my business qualified to compete in the business environment?

In other words, what is your niche market? You need to determine which niche your products and services fall into to compete successfully.

If you enter into a market that doesn’t fit your products and services, you’ll likely have a hard time making an impact on that niche’s audience, and you won’t be able to out-compete your audience. Identifying your niche allows you to determine the value of your product compared to your competitors. You can see what you offer that’s better than their product and vice-versa.

  1. Budget

Your budget allocation for each marketing campaign also plays an important role in the success of your online presence. Before you even think of pursuing a digital marketing campaign, you need to determine how much the strategy would cost you to avoid any delays or interruption while the campaign is ongoing. In this way, you could maximize your efforts and gain the best results.

Consistency: It is necessary to constantly promote your company. Even when you do not get results immediately

Using the correct digital marketing channel: It is essential to know which channel to focus on if the desired results are to be achieved

Choosing the correct audience: The correct audience is as important as choosing the correct digital marketing channel

Conclusion

In order to ensure the success of your digital marketing, there will be a wide range of things that you’ll need to consider and do. However, by following some or all of the tips mentioned above, you’ll certainly be able to make the entire planning easier, less time-consuming, and less stressful for everyone involved.

So, now that you’re aware of all the things you’ll need to focus on, you might not want to lose any more of your time – after all, time does equal money in the business world. Instead, keep all of these tips in mind and start creating a digital marketing strategy that will suit your needs.

Best 10 Expert Inexpensive Video Marketing Tips For Small Businesses

Baker arranging showcase in bakery. Selling product to a customer.

Today we will be talking Video marketing tips for small businesses in Nigeria, incase you don’t know video marketing is here to stay, you accept it or not the truth remains that in 2022, video marketing is rapidly becoming the most popular form of content marketing, with most consumers preferring short-form video over any other content type. As video marketing content continues to rise in popularity, there are a few best practices and helpful hints and tips your small business needs to know about. We’ve done the research, gathered the best tips and have broken it all down by platform to help your small business boost sales with video marketing content in 2022.

According to Statista, 27.2% of viewers spend 10 hours watching online videos weekly. The popularity of online videos became why 61% of marketers use them as a digital marketing tool.

As the demand for online videos grows, video marketing becomes more relevant. Besides giant corporations, small businesses can also use online videos to promote their products or services online and attract more customers.

 Before we go into details let define what’s video marketing so we can all understand better,

What Is Video Marketing?

Video marketing is a strategy that uses videos to share valuable information. These videos can help gain the trust of potential customers, establish credibility, and raise brand awareness.

If small businesses produce bite-sized video content, they can attract customers, generate leads, and drive conversions as long as they share it on various digital marketing platforms like Facebook, YouTube, etc.

So, let’s begin. Grab your popcorn and dim the lights: your small business’s screen time starts now.

Video marketing tips for small businesses

  1. Tell A Story

A great marker should be a great creator. Marketing means being creative and thinking outside the box, yet we often seem to forget that and get caught up in the technical aspects of it such as reports, metrics and all kind of different tools that are supposed to increase the ROI.

But at the very foundation of a solid video campaign is nothing more than a good storyline. Remember that at the other end of your campaign will be a human being who needs to relate to your story and that’s what your focus should be on.

As per this presentation which is based on YouTube’s studies, 70% of the effectiveness of your campaign will depend on how good is the story behind your video. That’s how important this very first step is and if you get it wrong, you will have a flimsy foundation to build your campaign on. It doesn’t matter if you shoot in 4K, have the best videographer and the video editor or if your laser targets your audience. It all comes down to the story.

The storyline will have to be somehow dependent on your brand and there are no specific guidelines, but generally speaking, videos that are either funny or emotional (or both) tend to perform better.

So definitely put the majority of your time and efforts into building a solid script before you actually start shot the video.

  1. Use an Introductory Video To Tell Your Story

As a small business in a sea of other small businesses, the proper thing to do is introduce yourself properly. What better way to do that than with an introductory video?

Whether it’s an on-the-fly Live Q&A social video on Facebook, a behind-the-scenes look at the operations of your business, or a business profile video on your website’s home page, introductory videos start a dialogue with your audience. Create an online video to answer frequently asked questions, share a behind-the-scenes look at daily operations, and illuminate your brand’s story.

Take a look at this video marketing effort from Warby Parker, which shares the common problem that inspired the company and tells the audience how their process offers an affordable solution. 

Now, adopt this concept to share your brand’s story. Focus on the problem you offer a solution to and the inner workings of the business, its history, beliefs, and mission statement.

  1. Keep It Short

Keep your videos short – Not only is short-form video content much easier for brands to create, it’s also the type of content that customers love to consume! Did you know that people have an attention span that’s only 8-seconds long? Your audience is much more likely to watch an Instagram Reel than a full-length YouTube video.

  1. Show Rather Than Tell

The whole purpose of the video is to actually show your viewers who you are, what you can do and how your service or product works. If a picture is worth a thousand words a video should worth a million. 

Get as specific and as explicit as you can with your video. Be totally transparent and let your audience see what it is that you will provide them. Don’t just have someone in a suit behind a desk talking for 2 minutes straight about your company profile. Nobody is interested in that. Instead, show them what you can do for them.

Zappos, which is one of the biggest retailers specialized in skiing equipment has increased conversion with as much as 25% just by adding demo videos to each of their product. So if you’re selling a physical product that’s a great way to boost sales.

  1. Quality Over Quantity

My number one tip is simple but absolutely non-negotiable: you must be uncompromising when setting the standards of quality for your video content. We know the research behind user behavior and how digital algorithms manipulate user experience.

Producing impactful, compelling content that moves viewers to opt-in and continue watching despite the endless options awaiting them behind another swipe or click is absolutely more important than ever.

Quality over quantity always.

  1. Create Content That Educates Your Audience

Creating high-quality content, not necessarily high production value, that educates your target audience and answers their questions is key for your digital strategy.

The number one category on YouTube? How-to videos. I tell our clients to start with sharing tips, tricks, and even behind-the-scenes of their operation on video.

  1. Create Company Vlogs

Add video diaries to your video marketing. You can do these monthly or weekly or whatever works best for you, but make sure you are doing regular vlogs where you talk directly to clients or prospects on what your company has been doing, what you’re working on now, and what you have planned for the future.

These videos create a personal relationship that is so hard to get these days, they convey useful information, they display your company culture, and best of all; they’re very inexpensive to produce.

So find someone with a great on-screen personality or a high-ranking employee and do these regularly. You’ll be amazed at what these can do for a small business.”

  1. Use Video Testimonials

Get video testimonials from your best customers. Happy customers can usually sell better than you can. It’s not difficult and you can do it very quickly.

Contact a few happy customers, shoot their testimonial on your phone, edit it down to the most important information and then post it on your social channels by buying geo-targeted ads. Post them on your website and use them in an email campaign to your existing customers. 

Let your customers sell for you. I know this will work because we have been using this strategy for over 3 years in our business and it is a huge part of why we have generated millions in sales from clients.

  1. Target A Platform

One mistake that we’ve seen many businesses do is to simply take the same video and throw it on all social media platforms. While that will probably get you some results, it is definitely not the optimal way of handling it.

And it’s not just us saying that. Mark McMaster said in the same presentation cited above that 44% of the campaigns they analyzed were not optimized for the platform they run on. And when we say platform we pretty much refer to just YouTube and Facebook as these two giants take up 86% of all online video view (not taking into account Instagram views which runs through Facebook ads too).

YouTube works like a search engine and people go to YouTube to get answers to specific questions, watch how-to videos, product reviews, and tutorials and so on and so forth. The content they want to watch is informational or educational most of the times. So if you plan on running your campaign on YouTube keep that in mind and make your videos more informational and maybe a little bit less funny.

Facebook, on the other hand, is the exact opposite. There is no intent based. The majority of people go on Facebook so simply distract themselves from work and just to chill. They connect with their friends, and they enjoy watching funny videos or pictures. And that’s what you need to keep in mind if you’re targeting Facebook.

So if the goal of your campaign is to laser target women looking to buy mascara products for example, then YouTube is great for that. But if you want to go after a broad audience, such as women interested in the beauty industry, because you want them to know about your company or your product, that’s what Facebook is great for.

Yes, filming and editing two videos instead of just one will probably cost twice as much, but if you set up your campaign right, the ROI will be better in the end.

  1. First Three Seconds Are The Greatest

According to Facebook for Business, 65% of people who watch the first 3 seconds of your marketing video will watch at least 10 seconds. 45% of those will watch for 30 seconds.

You could have the most amazing, enticing marketing message later on in your video, but if the first 3 seconds don’t capture your audience, the whole rest of the video will go unseen.

Try including an attention grabber to begin your marketing videos that will make them stand out. You may also want to include emotional appeal in your video intro to pull your audience in.

Video Marketing Tips Final Advice: 

As a small business, starting a video marketing strategy can feel overwhelming. That’s why we reached out to our network for their advice to give you the confidence to get started. 

When launching a new marketing channel, remember to set your goals, create valuable content for your target audience, and stay true to your brand.

And as always, measure your results following a campaign to see what worked and what didn’t so you can optimize your strategy for next time. 

Ready to Take Your Business from Great to Awesome?

Level-up your marketing efforts by partnering with kennysoft STUDIOs, Nigeria’s No1 video marketing agency. Get in touch today to see how we can be awesome together:  

5 Essential Tools Every Business Need To Be Successful

Black customer buying bakery products

Today i am going to be talking about 5 essential tools every business need to be successful in todays business world we all know launching a business may seem scary at first, but it can be a very rewarding challenge if you have the right tools under your belt. Hundreds of small companies are launched every day globally for example here in Nigeria they are about 41.5 million SMEs, and about 71 thousand are added every year just only here in Nigeria. But the truth is the secret to long-term success is hiring passionate employees and securing the right business tools. If you want to set your company up for success, here are the top 5 business tools every entrepreneur needs to thrive.

5 essential tools every business need to be successful

Website: A business’s online presence, regardless of industry, can have a massive impact on its success. In this day and age, some businesses still don’t realize that a majority of their customers will visit their website before making a purchase.

Having a strong online presence, particularly a website, can be make or break for generating more revenue. One of the main reasons you should have a website for your business is to increase your organization’s credibility. Chances are there are several providers offering a similar service to yours. One way you can stand out is by having a website that looks good and clearly communicates quality information to your consumers.

Without a website, people may question your legitimacy as a business. Having a website is an opportunity to make a great first impression and give people comfort that you’re a real business.

Many businesses get calls from prospects or existing customers asking simple questions about location and hours of operation. If you miss a call, the customer is left unhappy. Calls can also distract your staff from focusing on the most important parts of your business. A website can reduce these calls and increase internal productivity. At the same time, it helps customers find useful information without needing to call, which ultimately provides an all-around better user experience.

Since your website is on 24/7, it’s easy to post updates and announcements to your customers. It’s a way to keep them up to date on everything that you’re doing. When something is particularly relevant to them, it increases the chance of you being able to upsell them.

If you plan on leveraging digital marketing to increase your leads and grow your business, you’ll likely want to drive traffic to a website or landing page. To do this effectively, leverage historic traffic that has been going to your website so you can target the most qualified customers and get the best ROI on your ad spend. This is something that can’t be set up retroactively, so it is best to get your website running early even if you’re not planning on running ads at the moment.

Websites have become essential to business today. I strongly recommend creating one if you haven’t done so already. You can improve it over time, but the key is to start.

Gmail: In the present days having an email is essential because not only it helps you communicate with your friends, colleagues and businesses but it also helps you surf the web to register in blogs to comment, subscribe to newsletters and to shop on the internet.

There are many free email providers but one of the best is Gmail because it has so many more options included when you sign up compared to its competitors. Here we will list some of the benefits of Gmail that make it the best choice for personal and business use.

Google takes security very seriously. If you forget your password, there are very specific steps to recover it and only the owner can get back the password because of all the security steps google has taken to ensure no one else can get access to your password.

The Gmail platform is very easy to customize and you may change almost every aspect of it. You can chafe colors, themes, font size, type of font, how messages are displayed, etc. This way you can modify it to your linking.

With Gmail you can have up to 5 POP email accounts in your main Gmail so that you don’t have to sign in to each email account. For example, you can have your Hotmail and yahoo emails from Gmail, you can receive all new messages to these account and send emails from each of these emails. This a really cool feature you don’t find in many other free email providers.

With your Google Account you have access to Youtube.com, Google Play, Blogger, Pinterest, Google+, Google Docs, Google Drive and much more without having to open a new account for each of this services. It is great to have access with just one username and password to all this services because this helps minimize the number of usernames to access all web services many of us use everyday.

Phone Systems: It can be exhausting keeping up with customer calls, especially if you own a small company that does not have a specific customer service team. An automated phone system can help you deal with an influx of calls in an efficient manner. This tool allows you to answer common questions without tying up employees. You can also take orders, allow customers to make payments and register complaints as needed.

There are many types of phone systems that could be beneficial for your company. Along with automated systems, you may want to invest in a PBX phone system that allows your company to transfer calls between multiple extensions and departments. Small business PBX essentials are especially useful in streamlining communication for startups.

Task-Management Software: Running a successful business requires you to complete numerous tasks quickly and efficiently. Keeping track of all of these tasks can be incredibly difficult, especially if you have several employees with different responsibilities. Investing in task-management software is a great way to streamline the process so you can check items off your to-do list in an organized manner.

The right software can also help you divide tasks and delegate responsibilities evenly among your employees. Investing in software tools such as WorkFront can help you with time management and ensure your tasks and responsibilities are completed in a timely manner.

Google Analytics: As a business owner, you might have heard about — or are already using — Google Analytics. Today, millions of businesses use Google Analytics. If you are one of them, it is necessary to know how you can maximize this tool.

First, What is Google Analytics?

Google Analytics helps businesses get a better grasp of their website. It also helps evaluate and measure how marketing, content and products are performing relative to user engagement. This tool collects data and sorts it into useful information.

Google Analytics provides businesses with tools that help measure trends. For example, showing business owners if there are specific products on their website that are suddenly gaining traction.

Further, Google Analytics can help businesses predict clients’ behavior. For example, the rate of customer churn in a specific period. This tool is able to provide data that can help you allocate the necessary funding to retain your customers. These kinds of insights can help you create better marketing strategies and other business-related plans. These features create a clearer path for you to achieve a return on investment.

For Google Analytics 4, measurements include both website and app. So, data is a combination of two integral parts of your operations. It is now also able to include data from your YouTube account alongside other channels. This way, you have a more comprehensive view of your marketing efforts.

Better Understanding of Client Behavior

The upgrade has a more customer-centric approach in measurement. This includes user IDs that aid in tracking behavior with regards to your business. The new version is capable of providing information about your client’s life cycle in interacting with your channels. Since they are given unique user IDs, you can track their behavior individually — from the acquisition stage to retention.

This is important as consumer behavior is rapidly changing. Being able to get ahead by making real-time decisions based on true data is essential. Track which channels are effective in customer acquisitions, and keep a pulse on data regarding engagement with your products. This, in turn, can aid business entities to pave plans for better customer retention.

In my experience, this change has been one of the most useful as it can help businesses create a more personalized approach. In the older version, business owners were only given platform-centric data, which didn’t help much in regard to targeted marketing.

Targeted Marketing

Google Analytics offers a comprehensive set of features that can help you scale how you manage your digital marketing efforts. The data collected by this tool can be managed in different ways. One is using these sets of data for ad personalization, which plays a great role in marketing. Google gives you the option to set up personalized ads relevant to the geographical data collected from your clients.

For example, say you have gathered a useful amount of first-party data from a specific state. You can use this set of data to create an audience for your next ads. This data will aid you in placing ads that will yield sure returns as it is targeted to an already interested market.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

At this point, you probably know or have an idea of what SEO is. It is one of the most highly effective digital marketing efforts today. Google Analytics contributes to making this even more efficient and effective in helping you grow as a business. The tool gives insights regarding the pages of your website that are gaining a relative number of visitors and your best-performing pages. This can help you strategize on what kind of content to invest in and how you allocate your efforts accordingly.

Creating Innovative Business Ideas

To make sure your business grows, you need to introduce new ideas that set you apart from your competitors. However, coming up with ideas is one story, but having ideas that are worthwhile is another. So, how do you introduce new things that are worthwhile? By basing them on data and facts.

With the information Google Analytics provides, you can start implementing upgrades and innovations. These changes can further help you have an edge over other competitors.

Going over these data can help you devise actionable plans and reasonable business goals. Take, for example, reports indicating that Reddit forums help in customer acquisitions. Given this information, you can create marketing strategies that are tailored to Reddit.

As a business owner, having control over your operations is important. This control should always be data-driven and factual. This is to ensure that your business decisions will bring valuable contributions to how you want your business to grow.

With Google Analytics and all the services, it offers, tracking digital channels has been made easier and more efficient. Through this tool, you are provided with accurate data that can be used to scale your business.

QuickBooks: QuickBooks is the most popular small business accounting software businesses use to manage income and expenses and keep track of the financial health of their business. You can use it for invoicing customers, paying bills, generating reports, and preparing taxes. The QuickBooks product line includes several solutions that work great for anyone, from a freelancer to a midsized business.

5 Video Marketing Tips For Small Businesses

Video Marketing Tips and Techniques to Use on a Budget for small businesses

According to a survey by hubspot.com  video marketing data, 69% of video marketers surveyed own production equipment while 10 percent rent, and the remaining group does both.

There’s an argument to be made for both.

On one end, creating videos in-house can be cheaper. However, outside agencies can provide higher-quality content.

In fact, most smaller brands (those with 200 employees or less) believe creating video content through an outside agency offers a better ROI than doing so in-house.

However, across all business sizes, roughly a third of respondents say the ROI is about the same either way.

With that said, it’s important to weigh your options and assess when and what you should rent versus own.

Upon first look, it might seem like renting is the smarter (and more affordable) option. However, most marketers surveyed (58%) say creating content in-house is cheaper.

To make this decision, consider the type of content you’ll be producing and the equipment you’ll need.

  1. This is key in determining what is more cost-efficient.

If you’re a makeup brand for instance, you can probably produce great content sitting in front of a camera simply showcasing your products in action with good lighting. However, if you’re a travel and hospitality brand, you’ll likely need props, on-camera talent, location, and many more elements to fulfill your vision. In this case, it may be cheaper to outsource.

2. Separate need-to-haves from must-haves.

When it comes to video equipment, there will always be bigger and better out there.

If there’s one area you should focus on, it’s lighting.

Many believe that having the best camera does the trick but the truth is, lighting is what makes or breaks the quality of a video.

Lighting sets the tone and mood of a video, two elements you need to maintain your audience’s attention in a video.

Sound is another area to splurge on – specifically your mics. This will enhance the quality of your video, especially if you have to settle for low-end cameras.

As for everything else, (the camera, the lens, the accessories), these are great add-ons but if you’re on a budget, you can make do with low to mid-range options while still getting a high-quality result.

3. Leverage user-generated content.

According to HubSpot Blog Research, the number one challenge video marketers face is a lack of time to create video content.

Well, who said you had to create your content from scratch? You’re likely sitting on a pile of content from your customers right now.

If you have a strong social media presence, you likely have a bank of user-generated content ranging from images to videos and text. You can leverage all of these for campaigns and use them to supplement your own content.

For instance, ahead of the official Fenty Beauty perfume launch, its founder and musician Rihanna posted what seemed to be an ad. It was a video compilation of various celebrities and influencers mentioning how good she smells – “like heaven” was a phrase heard multiple times.

just sayin’ 🤷🏿‍♀️… pic.twitter.com/EmC4ysMdjR

— Rihanna (@rihanna) August 10, 2021

Without ever having to produce their own video, the brand leveraged UGC to build anticipation surrounding this launch.

4. Hire student and amateur talent.

When it comes to on-camera talent, this is where brands often struggle to think of alternatives.

They usually opt for an in-house creator just to save money, even though their role may not focus on this area at all. Or they contract talent, which can be costly.

Here’s a third option: Reach out to students and amateur actors.

In some cases, money isn’t the main motivator. It can often be exposure, gaining experience, or building up a portfolio. However, paid opportunities will always generate more interest and can get you more experienced talent.

5. Use free editing software.

When you think of video editing, the first thing that comes to mind is probably Adobe.

It’s the go-to software for production professionals. However, it’s complex and isn’t affordable. If you own an Apple device like the Macbook or iPad, you will have free video editing software already available.

While it doesn’t have as many features and offers limited functionality, it works well for simple editing and you can always find workarounds on platforms like YouTube.

Some free editing software comes with free music or you can find online websites that offer royalty-free music.

If you’re intimidated by the idea of video marketing because you think you don’t have the funds, hopefully, these five techniques will change your mind.

Video marketing is an important part of content creation and can drive sales so don’t let money prevent you from staying in the game.

Sharing is caring so please don’t forget to share this post!

10 Easy Practical Ways to Setup a LiveStream for Your Church or Event

Online influencer creating fun podcast content with videoblog, recording live discussion to broadcast on social media channel. Happy lifestyle blogger using vlogging equipment.

Broadcasting live to thousands of people used to be the stuff of television, requiring millions of dollars and oodles of fancy equipment. Now we have supercomputers in our pockets. With a smartphone or a GoPro, we can broadcast anything to friends over Facebook and YouTube in seconds.

Why Livestream?

It’s fast, it’s fun, and it’s immediate. Livestreaming goes straight to the internet. There’s no editing, no fiddling around with cuts, no overlays or sound effects, and no special filter to make you like Tom Cruise. Just you and the audience. You can show off the best of your skills. Did you learn a new guitar song? Just finished a painting? Want to let the world know about the best graphic novels? Livestream it.

With over 57% of marketers live streaming their content, it’s not hard to see why brands are jumping into the streaming business. But for plenty of brands and content creators, learning how to live stream can be a hurdle.

There’s no shame in admitting the technical side of live streaming can be, well, pretty technical to understand for the majority of us.

Don’t lose hope! In this guide, we’ll unpack all the complicated business of streaming. We’ll walk through how to set up a live stream, what gear to consider, and how to get it set up.

We’ll also tackle how to find the right streaming platform and share tips for a stable internet connection when live streaming.

There’s a lot of ground to cover, so let’s jump into it.

How to set up a live stream

Ultimately, live streaming your content boils down to five steps:

Connect the audio and video sources that capture content for live streaming to your streaming device (PC or laptop).

Configure the encoder – one that translates the audio and video content into stream able files ready to be shared on the internet.

Connect the encoder and streaming platform using the stream key and URL that your streaming platform provides.

Test your internet connection and upload speed

Stream away!

In other words, your live streaming process includes CED or capturing audio and video content, encoding it, and distributing it using a live streaming platform.

You probably noticed there’s lots of gear and live streaming software involved. We’ll address those first, then share the details on how to set everything up.

What equipment do you need to live stream?

Building a streaming setup for beginners is pretty simple. You’ll need a camera, mic or microphone, lighting, and a stable internet connection.

You’ll also need to get your (digital) hands on some live streaming software. More on that in a bit. For now, let’s get started with the live streaming equipment you’ll need.

Camera

If you’re only getting started with testing the live streaming waters, our Live Production Lead at Vimeo, Tom Gott, suggests you’ll only need a single quality camera.

In other words, a webcam will do the job.

But if you’re looking to explore other camera choices, there are plenty of options for every budget. We have great options if you’re aiming to go low-cost into live streaming before upgrading your gear.

Beginner level video sources:

Your phone’s camera

An entry-level live streaming camera like DJI Osmo Action, GoPro Hero, Logitech C930e, or Mevo camera.

Intermediate level video sources:

If you do have some budget set aside for investing in a camera, say up to $2000, you can level up your live stream’s game by investing in any of the following:

Canon XA15 or XF100

Panasonic LUMIX GH4

Sony A7 II for this price range.

Can you use any camera to live stream?

A webcam, point and shoot, camcorder —all will work for live streaming as long as the camera you use is able to capture a minimum of 720p at 24fps footage.

Audio

Even if the video quality of your live stream is up to par, your audience will check out if the audio quality is poor.

So don’t overlook your live stream’s audio quality. That’s why Gott advises, “Don’t rely on the built-in microphone on your camera, invest in a proper one.”

If you’re just starting to explore audio equipment options, we’ve got a great guide on how to find the perfect mic for your videos. Here are the options at a glance.

Beginner level audio sources:

Shure’s iPhone Microphone

Shure MV88 digital stereo condenser mic

Rode VideoMic

Topaz DeNoise AI audio software

Yeti Nano USB mic

Intermediate level audio sources:

Lavalier mics aka clip on mics (yes, the ones that look pretty cool)

Handheld microphones such as Shure SM58s that our team has used

Not planning to invest in an audio source? Your phone can help capture sound. Well, at least temporarily as you get to grips with the live streaming business.

Capture card

The third piece of live streaming equipment that you may need is a capture card.

A capture card is an intermediary device that transfers video from its source to your main live streaming setup.

But hang on: why do you need a capture card? So that it can show your computer what your camera is seeing.

To use  a capture card, your camera needs an HDMI port/output to attach the HDMI cable. This will transfer the video feed to your computer.

And, when do you need to add a capture card to your live stream setup?

 You need a capture card when you’re using a software encoder (more on this below).

  You don’t need a capture card when you’re using a hardware encoder as it usually comes with an internal capture card. You also don’t need it when you’re using a USB camera or microphone that you can directly plug into your computer.

For now, know that if you are planning to use a capture card, you’ll need to pick between a USB interface capture card or one with a PCI-e interface.

Here are some of our capture card recommendations:

AV.io HD

Elgato CamLink 4K

Razer Ripsaw HD

Whatever you select, be sure to check that the capture card is compatible with your streaming platform. For instance, there are a handful of capture cards supported by Vimeo.

Lighting setup for live streaming

Okay so you now have most of the tech list that partly answers how to live stream. But there’s another essential aspect that you can’t skip — lighting for streaming.

A well-lit stream can help your live video look more professional and help you engage your audience. Think about it: you don’t want your viewers to cringe at how poorly lit your live streaming setup is and you certainly don’t want the overhead lights in your office to cast harsh shadows on your speakers or presenters.

The good news? You can perfect the lighting set up with these two sources.

Lighting for entry level streamers:

Sunlight

Ring light

Sunlight is your best friend and a free source for lighting your streaming space. Test your video to find the right balance of natural light. Too much sunlight can mask the details of your speaker’s face and too little of it will obscure their features.

Here are a few tips for creating a flattering look with natural lighting:

Face the natural light source

Use a bounce to fill in any dark shadows

Avoid having a window behind the speaker

Avoid harsh white or fluorescent lighting

Experiment with opening and closing the window shades to find the right setting and the perfect balance between the natural and artificial lights in your room.

Want to make the most of the sunlight and shoot outdoors? Dive into this guide to get a rundown of how to perfect outdoor lighting.

Another option that’s become popular among live streamers is ring light. These are budget-friendly lighting sources for beginner-level streaming that don’t pose a fire hazard or heat the room, making them great to use. Their circular design also means ring lights help remove shadows from your face.

Lighting for intermediate level:

A three-point light kit

Have some money to spend? Get a three-point light kit to polish up your lighting. These kits include three lights: a main/key light, fill light, and a backlight that bring warmth, depth, and quality to your stream.

You can also pair lights from this kit with the overhead lights in your office to light up the scene professionally. How? By removing the main light since overhead lights do its job instead.

Where should I position my lights for streaming?

Using a three-point light kit, position the main light across the subject to illuminate. Next, position the fill light across the other end of the subject to balance the light from the main light and position the third, backlight behind the subject to separate them from the background. See where each light goes in this short video.

Accessories for live streaming

As for the bits and bobs for the perfect setup, here’s a quick list:

A green screen (Chroma key) for changing your background

A tripod stands for holding your video camera

A microphone arm where the audio source rests (unless you’re using a clip on mic)

Encoder

Let’s talk about encoders. To share your stream with the world, you’ll need an encoder.

An encoder is a device that converts video files from one format to another. Put another way, it takes the raw feed from a camera and transfers it into viewable content in your main live streaming station.

There are two types of encoders at your disposal: hardware encoders and software encoders.

Here’s a quick rundown of hardware encoders and software encoders.

Hardware encoders

Specially designed for live streaming. They free up your computer for other tasks.

Does not require a capture card.

Less affordable and difficult to upgrade.

Because hardware encoders free up your computer for focusing on other tasks, these are great for more professional broadcasts and live streaming gamers. This way, the PC can focus on the game while the encoder works in the background.

As for which hardware encoder to buy, read on to find out budget-friendly options below.

Beginner-level hardware encoders:

AJA HD10AMA audio embedder

Intermediate level:

AJA HD5DA HD-SDI distribution amplifier

Datavideo DAC70 up/down/ cross converter

Software encoders

A great option for beginner-level streamers. Keep in mind they rely on your computer’s processing power.

Capture card may be needed

Variety of price points and upgrade options

The good thing about software encoders is that they work on their own, not taking up much of your attention.

Here are a few software encoder options:

Livestream Studio 6

OBS Studio

Streamlabs OBS

Switcher

Last on this list of live streaming equipment is a switcher. Like an encoder, you may or may not need it. It all comes down to your requirements.

Essentially, a switcher helps switch between different video and audio sources, production elements, and control graphics.

So if you’re using two or more cameras for live streaming or want to show graphics/presentations between your live stream, you’ll need a switcher to capture the additional feeds for you.

If you’re a Vimeo Enterprise user (or plan to be one soon!) you’ll get Livestream Studio with your package. Not only does it handle a software encoder’s job, but it also plays the switcher’s role.

What’s the right streaming platform for me?

With live streaming equipment out of the way, let’s talk about the distribution side of how to live stream.

Live streaming platforms are video hosting services that let you broadcast video content. Depending on the platform you choose, you can stream on multiple channels at once to reach a wider audience.

There’s no one answer to which streaming platform is right for you as the correct answer is: it depends on your requirements.

For live streamers who are using video for internal communications (like town halls or employee trainings) or for virtual events, there are a few key features to keep in mind.

Five key features for your live streaming platform

High quality, professional video

For high quality, professional streaming video, you’ll want to find a solution that supports full HD 1080p and cloud transcoding so that viewers can enjoy beautiful video across devices.

Broaden your reach

If you’re a business looking to reach customers wherever they are, you’ll want to find a platform that supports simulcasting to other platforms like YouTube Live, Facebook Live, Twitter, and Twitch.

Security and privacy

Secure video streaming is a must for businesses. Look for platforms that include features around privacy, authorization, customization, embedding restrictions, and security.

Powerful engagement

You’ll want to include ways for your audience to interact with your live streaming content via live chat and polls as well as advanced analytics to help you better serve your audience.

An all-in-one home

Get all the tools you need for your live and hosted videos: edit and replace post-event video files in up to 4K, spread out with up to 5TB of storage, and sell your videos after the big event.

Five streaming channels for your video

There are a lot of places for your audience to view your live stream. Here are a few main destinations where you may want to broadcast your next live event:

Branded site: For businesses with a dedicated website or event site, embedding your live stream video can be the simplest and most effective way to share your content with your audience.

Vimeo: With an audience of X, Vimeo is a great place to reach your audience. With Vimeo Enterprise, streamers can create showcases to broadcast HD quality video and organize videos into custom categories to create a more Netflix-like experience for audience members.

LinkedIn Live: LinkedIn’s native livestream feature is a great place to connect with business-minded professionals, hospitality workers, and even students.

Instagram Live: Instagram’s livestream feature lets you broadcast content as part of your IG stories. The key differentiator here is that the stream is ephemeral. Meaning: it disappears once the broadcast ends. No replays are available.

Twitch: With 3.8 million streamers, Twitch is the go-to live streaming platform for gamers. But, it’s now opening up for other stream content too.

Facebook Live: Once started as mobile-only streaming, Facebook Live lets you now stream from both mobile and desktop.

What if your audience is spread across multiple channels?  You don’t have to pick just one place to stream! Simulcasting allows you to stream to multiple destinations at once.

How to live stream in 5 simple steps?

At the start of this guide, we gave you a quick overview of how to live stream. Now that you’re familiar with the gear needed for a streaming setup for beginners, let’s dive into the details of how to set up a live stream.

1. Connect your audio and video sources

This involves physically connecting the audio and video sources to your main live streaming setup (the PC or laptop). Connect these sources to your hardware encoder to feed the content into your livestream station or use a capture card if you have a software encoder.

2. Configure the encoder

If you’re using an external encoder, you’ll need to configure the device’s setting using an app or Web UI. For a software encoder, you’ll work internally.

You can leave the configuration setting to default as the software automatically adjusts to the streaming platform.

Ask you configure your encoder, keep these three points in mind:

The resolution or your video’s frame size needs to be at 1280 x720 resolution to start.

The bit rate or the rate at which data is uploaded should be set at 3000 Kbps.

Lastly, the frame rate or the number of images/frames displayed in a second needs to be 30

3. Connect to the streaming platform

With the audio and video set up with your livestream station, you’re now left with linking in your streaming platform into the picture.

Use the streaming key/name and streaming URL that your live streaming platform gives you and enter it into the encoder to complete your live streaming setup.

Doing so allows the streaming platform to identify your encoder. On the other hand, the encoder is able to understand where to send the audio and visual details.

4. Check your internet connection

Your internet connection is the elephant in the room when it comes to streaming. Unreliable internet connection equals slow streaming – something that can make you lose viewers fast.

To prevent lost views, start test your internet speed using a site like Speedtest.net. Here are a few other tips to make sure your internet connection is stable.

Upgrade your bandwidth or how much data you can upload to the highest available.

Ask any other family members, roommates, or colleagues share your space to stay offline during your stream.

Use your cell phone’s hotspot as a worst-case scenario backup.

Test your tech including audio and video quality.

5 important ideas to consider with upload speeds and streaming

What is upload speed?

Your upload speed is the speed at which your ISP lets you share content on the internet. It’s measured in millions of bits — or megabits — per second and it matters because a slow upload speed would mean spotty livestreams.

While there’s no answer to the perfect upload speed for a live stream, we have a few benchmarks to keep in mind:

3 Mbps for 480p

6 Mbps for 720p

13 Mbps for 1080p

Just remember, the higher your video quality is, the more upload speed you’ll need.

Your upload speed can also be impacted by four things.

Upload rate

This is the speed at which your internet can upload content. The higher it is, the better your upload speed.

Your internet service provider’s (ISP) bandwidth

To recap, bandwidth is the capacity of your internet to upload or download data. The larger the video content, the greater bandwidth required.

The content quality

High-quality and fast moving visuals can impact your upload speed.

Your streaming platform

Every platform has its recommendation. Here just few platform-specific suggestions to give you an idea:

Facebook Live recommends max 4,000 kbps bitrate and a max audio bitrate of 128 kbps.

Twitch recommends between 2,500 and 4,000 kbps for video, topped with up to 160 kbps for audio.

Vimeo requires 10 Mbps or faster for live streams in 1080p.

5. Start streaming

With everything in place, click start streaming in your encoder and get the show running! Remember, it’s okay to be nervous with your first time going live. Add a few practice runs before the live data and you’ll be good to go.

With enough planning and a few live streaming sessions under your belt, you’ll start enjoying the process in no time.

To find out more about how Kennysoft STUDIOs can help you livestream your event, get in touch with one of the members of the team for a chat.

10 Reason why Tiktok Ads are worth it?

Are Tiktok Ads Worth It? The short answer — yes, you should definitely give it a go. It’s one of the fastest-growing (& most cost-effective) social media platforms in the world and is quickly becoming an advertising haven for businesses! But deciding if it’s the right fit for you requires answers to essential questions like:

Who is your target audience?

(If they’re 25 and under, TikTok is the place to be!)

Can you easily showcase your products/services in a video?

Are you comfortable sharing light-hearted content?

(TikTok isn’t a ‘serious’ platform by any means).

I personally recommend you spend time experimenting with the platform and different types of content so you can find the perfect fit for your business!

That been said, why will you even want to market your product or service in TikTok to start with. I believe you don’t know let me explain to you statistically, just take a look at these statistics from Influencer marketing hub

  1. TikTok Users Spend More than 850 Minutes Per Month on the App

According to Statista, US TikTok users average 858 minutes per month on the app. This statistic gives information on monthly TikTok app user engagement in the United States in March 2020.

If you examine the data from October 2019 to March 2020, you will note a considerable increase in the time that the average TikTok user spent on the app. Usage grew from an average of 442.9 minutes per month in October 2019 to 526.1 minutes in November, 561.2 minutes in December, 680 minutes in January 2020, 731.6 minutes in February, and 858 minutes in March 2020.

2. TikTok now has 1 Billion Monthly Active users (January 2022)

As of January 2022, TikTok had 1 billion Monthly Active users worldwide!

In a December 2019 Statista survey, 23 percent of respondents stated that they had used or seen videos posted on TikTok. Conversely, 44% indicated that they hadn’t, while 33% claimed to have never heard of TikTok. However, more U.S. internet users used TikTok in 2020 during the COVID pandemic, so these percentages now probably understate the actual situation.

3. 3 Billion Installations

TikTok has been installed on devices over 3 billion times worldwide. It passed the one billion-milestone in February 2019 and the two billion-figure in April 2020. It reached three billion in Mid-2021. TikTok became only the fifth non-gaming app to reach the 3-billion level and the first not owned by Facebook (now Meta).

4. 167 Million TikTok Videos Watched in an Internet Minute

In August 2021, Statista collated online media usage for an “internet minute” worldwide. In that time, people consume hundreds of thousands of hours of content and send, scroll, and upload millions of messages, emails and texts. Amongst these statistics, Statista found that TikTok users watch 167 million hours of videos on the app in a sample minute.

5. Entertainment Most Popular Category on TikTok by Hashtag Views

As of July 2020, the most popular content categories on TikTok all had over two billion views, according to Statista. The most viewed content category on the app was entertainment content. Presumably, this category includes all those lip-synching videos. The second most viewed content category was dance. 

The most popular categories overall are:

Entertainment – 535 billion hashtag views

Dance – 181 billion

Pranks – 79 billion

Fitness/sports – 57 billion

Home reno/D.I.Y. – 39 billion

Beauty/skincare – 33 billion

Fashion – 27 billion

Recipes/cooking – 18 billion

Life hacks/advice – 13 billion

Pets – 10 billion

Outdoors – 2 billion

6. Highest Social Media Engagement Rates Per Post

Recent Upfluence data shows better engagement rates across different follower levels for Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. TikTok has considerably more engagement than either of the other two networks at all follower levels. For example, Upfluence found micro-influencers had engagement rates of 17.96% on TikTok, 3.86% on Instagram, and 1.63% on YouTube. At the other extreme, mega-influencers had engagement rates of 4.96% on TikTok, 1.21% on Instagram, and 0.37% on YouTube.

If you isolate the fitness sector, Upfluence found that although there weren’t all that many TikTok fitness influencers, they had the highest average engagement rate across platforms – 9.3% compared to Instagram (2.9%), YouTube (0.7%), and Facebook (0.5%).

7. Total Downloads For TikTok Exceed 2.5 Billion

TikTok has grown significantly over the years and House of Marketers expect it to continue to scale worldwide. According to a report by the Business of Apps, 2.6 billion people will download the app by 2020. In 2018 alone, more than 750 million people downloaded the app. And as 2019 came to an end, they reached 1.5 billion, almost doubling the number of downloads in a single year.

8. Most TikTok Users Want Funny and Engaging Content on TikTok

Participants in the global web index survey said that they usually look for entertaining or funny content on the app. Entertaining its visitors is a higher priority for TikTok than anything else. Posting and sharing entertaining content remains the most common way that people interact with the app.

 9. Users spend more time on TikTok than YouTube

According to AppAnnie, users are spending much more time watching TikTok than they are on YouTube. People can watch new content in a very short span of time given the style of content that TikTok offers, especially when compared to YouTube. This helps explain why your marketing budget may be better used off YouTube, and on TikTok.

10. Smaller Brands Can Go Viral on TikTok, With Little Effort

Some smaller brands can sometimes become household names and older brands can become relevant again through TikTok. In the case of Ocean Spray, a 90-year-old beverage company became relevant again. TikTok creator Nathan Apodaca showed himself drinking the beverage on his way to work. Ocean Spray also saw a bump in their sales following the height of the trend. They capitalized on it by referencing the trend on TikTok and participating in a challenge inspired by Nathan’s initial video.

TikTok age demographics

AgePercentage of users
Under 1828
19-2935
30-3918
39+19

Note: These are global values. Individual country demographics are available in the TikTok Report

Source: App Ape

TikTok gender demographics

GenderPercentage of users
Female59
Male39
Other2

Sources: App Ape, Bloomberg

TikTok engagement by country

YearUsage per day (minutes)
United States68
United Kingdom60
France60
Norway74
Poland68

Sources: Bloomberg, Sensor Tower

So, with all these statistics I need you need to rethink it twice if you will not be marketing your product or services on TikTok.

Type of TikTok ads

Here are the five types of TikTok Ads:

  • In-Feed Ads
  • Brand Takeover
  • TopView
  • Branded Hashtag Challenge
  • Branded Effects

TikTok Ads: In-Feed Ads 

In-Feed Ads are the video ads that appear in between user videos as you scroll through your For You page. If you’re unfamiliar with TikTok and the For You page, In-Feed Ads are very similar to the ads you’d see while tapping through Instagram Stories.

TikTok Ads: Brand Takeover 

Have you ever opened up TikTok and received an ad right away? If so, those are Brand Takeover Ads.

Brand Takeover Ads appear upon opening the app — presenting a full-screen video to your targeted audience.

They’re one of TikTok Ad’s best options for delivering mass awareness and driving direct sales since you can place your messaging right in front of your target audience.

Not only do these ads show up as soon as users open TikTok, but they can also appear on the For You page as still images, GIFs or videos — including a clickable link driving users to a landing page or a Hashtag Challenge within TikTok.

See how Guess Jeans had their #InMyDenim Challenge advertised all across TikTok. The photo below on the far left is an example of a Brand Takeover.

Brand Takeover Ads are exclusive to their category, which means that TikTok makes sure users don’t see more than one Brand Takeover per day. With Brand Takeover Ads you can expect a lot of eyes on your content with little competition.

If you’re just starting out with TikTok Ads, Brand Takeovers may not be your first choice. Because, while super effective, Brand Takeovers do come at a high cost.

If you’re a bigger brand with a large marketing budget, they are a great option for fast growth and reaching a large group of TikTok users.

TikTok Ads: TopView 

TopView Ads are a new advertising option that builds on Brand Takeovers.

What makes TopView Ads different is that unlike Branded Takeover Ads, TikTok users aren’t bombarded with an ad as soon as they open the app — TopView Ads are the first in-feed post after 3 seconds.

It shows up at the top of the For You page, TikTok’s most premium real estate, with up to 60-seconds of full-screen video with auto-play and sound.

TikTok Ads: Branded Hashtag Challenge 

Branded Hashtag Challenges are a one-of-a-kind advertising opportunity exclusively to TikTok. You’ve probably seen branded hashtag challenges displayed on TikTok’s Discovery page.

TikTok Ads: Branded Effects

TikTok now offers branded shareable stickers, AR filters, and lenses in their advertising mix.

Similar to Snapchat’s branded lenses, TikTok’s branded effects allow brands to design their own custom filter on the app.

Branded Effects can be live for up to 10 days at a time and are an awesome way to encourage users to directly interact with your brand (in a fun way!).

How Much do TikTok Ads Cost?

TikTok Ads are new to the scene — brands and businesses are still experimenting with the platform — so understanding the average spend or return on investment (ROI) is difficult.

So, if you’re a small business and want to give TikTok ads a try, don’t let the unknown scare you off right away — spending big bucks on TikTok isn’t the only way to advertise on the popular app.

You can set up a free TikTok Ads account and create In-Feed ads with your own set budget and schedule. Currently, TikTok’s minimum campaign budget is $500 and the minimum ad group budget is $50.

However, it has also been reported that the cost of advertising on TikTok can be anywhere from $50,000 to $120,000, depending on the type and duration.

If these reported numbers are true, it would make sense as to why we haven’t really seen smaller businesses advertising on TikTok just yet.

As more brands begin to engage and use TikTok Ads, it will become clearer whether TikTok will follow a similar model to Instagram and Facebook ads where (no budget is too small), or if they will continue to keep certain ad types, like branded hashtag challenges, as elite spends

How to Create a TikTok Ad

Now that you’re familiar with TikTok’s creative advertising options, it’s time to talk about the tools that help get your ads into action.

Before you can go ahead and create ads on TikTok, even In-Feed ads, you have to be approved by TikTok. It’s not a difficult process, just an extra step to keep in mind.

Here is how to request a TikTok Ads account:

#1: Head to the TikTok Ads homepage.

#2: Enter your country and account type and press “Next”.

#3: TikTok Ads is currently only available in certain regions. Fill out all of your contact information and depending on if TikTok Ads self-serve is available in your region, either press “Make a Reservation” or “Inform me of Future Updates”.

Note: TikTok Ads Manager self-serve platform is now available in the United States for businesses of all sizes.

#4: Now it’s time to wait for TikTok to send more information.  Make sure to double-check all your email folders (promotions, social, junk, etc).

Follow these steps if you don’t receive verification.

TIP: If you know you want to start advertising on TikTok in the future (even if it’s not for a while!) create an account sooner than later to be sure you have it there when you’re ready.

Once you get the verification email, TikTok asks a number of questions about your business and advertising goals. After you submit the questionnaire, a TikTok representative will be in touch with you over email to help you complete the process.

Following that, you’ll be able to enter and officially set up your account.

On TikTok’s self-serve platform, you can create and run campaigns, easily define your target audience, select bidding methods, and design your ad creative.

Similar to regular hashtag trends and challenges on TikTok, Branded Hashtags Challenges offer both organic and sponsored opportunities for brands.

They’re a great way to encourage user-generated content and build brand awareness.

The best part about Branded Hashtag Challenges? You can have a ton of fun with them! They are an awesome way for brands to collaborate and seamlessly integrate themselves into the TikTok culture and community.

It’s important to have concrete objectives when you’re creating a Branded Hashtag Challenge. Are you looking to create awareness for a new product? Generate new leads? Or increase general brand awareness?

When a user clicks on a sponsored hashtag, they’re taken to a landing page on TikTok with the brand logo, link to their website, brief description of the challenge, and popular videos using the hashtag.

#4: Now it’s time to wait for TikTok to send more information.  Make sure to double-check all your email folders (promotions, social, junk, etc).

Follow these steps if you don’t receive verification.

TIP: If you know you want to start advertising on TikTok in the future (even if it’s not for a while!) create an account sooner than later to be sure you have it there when you’re ready.

Once you get the verification email, TikTok asks a number of questions about your business and advertising goals. After you submit the questionnaire, a TikTok representative will be in touch with you over email to help you complete the process.

Following that, you’ll be able to enter and officially set up your account.

On TikTok’s self-serve platform, you can create and run campaigns, easily define your target audience, select bidding methods, and design your ad creative.

Similar to regular hashtag trends and challenges on TikTok, Branded Hashtags Challenges offer both organic and sponsored opportunities for brands.

They’re a great way to encourage user-generated content and build brand awareness.

The best part about Branded Hashtag Challenges? You can have a ton of fun with them! They are an awesome way for brands to collaborate and seamlessly integrate themselves into the TikTok culture and community.

It’s important to have concrete objectives when you’re creating a Branded Hashtag Challenge. Are you looking to create awareness for a new product? Generate new leads? Or increase general brand awareness?

When a user clicks on a sponsored hashtag, they’re taken to a landing page on TikTok with the brand logo, link to their website, brief description of the challenge, and popular videos using the hashtag.

If you’re looking for maximum exposure, you can pay up to a hefty $150,000 per day to show up on TikTok’s Discover banner. That’s huge real estate but it’s not the only way to get users engaged with your branded hashtag.

TIP: If you’re looking for a less costly alternative, partner with popular creators on TikTok, like Houseparty and Freal Milkshakes below, to help your challenge take off!

Check out how the popular video messaging app, Houseparty, uses branded hashtags in a recent campaign on TikTok.

See how Houseparty partnered with Gen-Z heartthrob Chase Stokes (or better known as “John B” from Outer Banks) to help push their hashtag even further.

You can get super creative with In-Feed Ads. You can include multiple call-to-actions and make your video anywhere between 9 to 15 seconds.

Having the opportunity to include a call-to-action is a huge advantage. For example, you can encourage users to shop now, download your app, or visit your website right from TikTok.

See how Adobe uses a clear CTA in their In-Feed Ad below.

One thing to keep in mind is that like any other video on your For You Page, In-Feed Ads can be scrolled past or skipped pretty quickly. You only have about 2-3 seconds to catch your audience’s eye before they keep scrolling.

In-Feed Ads should be full screen and should be enticing enough to stop users from scrolling past your content.

TikTok offers brands an effective way of communicating with their audience by helping brands engage with users through multiple ad formats that speak the TikTok language, seamlessly integrating with native content and delivering maximum results.

Ready to start advertising on TikTok? Contact us today!

Best 6 Expert Tips for Creating Engaging Contents on TikTok

Over the years TikTok have grow from not just been one of the video sharing apps but among the biggest video sharing apps in the world at the moment with about 1 billion monthly active users worldwide and still growing it has become so powerful that you just can’t ignore it anymore.

So, I will be showing practical ways you can create very Engaging Contents on TikTok, so without no further ado let’s get started.

Be authentic.

Keep it real, keep it organic, and create something truly engaging. Don’t focus on “branding” it too much; instead, create something which would drive lots of user-generated content. Ordinality will always sellout.

 Focus on Niche Content Your Ideal Audience Will Want to Watch

When people think of TikTok, they tend to think of viral content, popular dances, and trendy music. TikTok trends tend to be fairly universal. Certain content also tends to be fairly universal, things like food, for example. Universal content can help you rack up a lot of views fairly quickly but it doesn’t always equal high engagement or sales like having a targeted audience.

A targeted audience most often comes in through niche content. Niche content doesn’t need to be super-narrow but it does need to be content your ideal client would be interested in watching, or even binging, while on TikTok.

While going viral can be fun and exciting, the real success for businesses comes with consistent content targeted toward their audience, growing a community based around that content, and offering the same tips and value that would elevate them to thought leaders.

Hashtags on TikTok

One more thing to consider when it comes to creating content for TikTok: the hashtags. Like other platforms, TikTok uses hashtags to help categorize and filter out content. And users use hashtags to find the content they’re interested in. Using niched-down hashtags will help ensure that your content gets in front of the right eyes.

However, hashtags aren’t necessary and don’t always play a role in going viral. Even if the hashtag is trending, using a popular hashtag that’s unrelated to your content won’t necessarily increase the views on your videos.

Educate Your Audience

It’s time to flex your skills and expertise! Break down valuable information or guide viewers through an educational how-to video.

This type of content works because it can be applied to any industry or niche, and you can share your knowledge about a particular subject.

Real-estate professional Tamika Ellsworth (@realestate_t) educates viewers about home buying terms, insurance, and more:

Not sure where to start? Take a look at FAQs related to your business on Google, gather feedback from your followers, or think about what advice your friends ask you for.

TIP: Make educational TikTok videos a recurring element of your content strategy by creating a dedicated TikTok Playlist. This will allow viewers to find all your related videos in one place.

Tell a Story

With over 65B views, the #StoryTime hashtag is proof of the demand for personal, story-based content on TikTok.

Take Tiana aka @hoopsandt, an official scorer for basketball games. Her TikTok video telling the story of how she landed her job has over 72K views:

@hoopsandt

How it started. #basketball #NBA #Georgetown #Wizards #womeninsports

♬ Welcome to DC – Mambo Sauce

Or you could get inspiration from Joanne L. Molinaro who shares personal stories about her life while cooking Korean dishes:

You can also share stories you’ve been captivated by and spotlight employees, role models, or game-changers in your industry.

TIP: Storytelling videos don’t need to be too complicated. They can be as straightforward as filming a selfie video to talk about a unique experience.

Prioritize creativity.

Be creative! That’s the only thing that brands should consider while engaging with their audiences on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels! Brands who are able to show their creativity in a funny and natural for the platform way, are always welcomed by the viewers

More Than Just A Trend


While it can be daunting to use a new content-creation platform like TikTok, the most important thing is to have a little bit of fun while using TikTok. Services that can express their creativity and funny side will be more popular with audiences and leave a positive lasting impression. What do you think about brands using TikTok to widen their reach and Creating Engaging Contents? Do you think it’s just a trend that is soon to pass? Share your thoughts, feelings, and opinions with us at kennysoft STUDIOs, because together, we learn!

Top 5 companies with the biggest advertising budget in Nigeria

Marketing educates many people about a certain product. When people are well-informed about your product, your sales will increase. Marketing is a great help for many business establishments to create revenue options. It is when business sectors use different marketing strategies to increase business profits.

And one of the ways companies market their products and services is through advertisement and today we will be looking at some of the big spenders when it comes to advertising budget.

 According to data compiled by Nairalytics and sourced from the published financial statements of the companies. Some of Nigeria’s mega corporations spent about N143.7 billion in 2020.

According to a PWC report on entertainment and media, Nigeria’s entertainment market is poised to reach $10.8 billion (N4.4 trillion) in 2023, having reached $4.5 billion in 2018. The report stated that Nigeria’s E&M market is dominated by internet revenue, indicating a foreseeable growth in this sector in the coming years.

The report also projected Nigeria’s total advertising revenue at $483 million (N193 billion) in 2020, with the internet accounting for 20.5% of the total. The study revealed that although television advertisement will remain the ad leader in Nigeria by 2023, internet advertisement will outperform TV ad in terms of net additions.

So, accounting to research done by Nairametrics.com this are the biggest advertsing budget companies in Nigeria

Nigerian Breweries – N24.86 billion

Nigerian Breweries, the largest brewing company in Nigeria, which also exports to other parts of the West African region spent a total of N24.86 billion on advertisement and sales promotion in 2020,

This represents a decline of 13.8% compared to N28.85 billion spent in the previous year.

The brewing giant embarked on a number of endorsement and advertisement projects in 2020, some of which includes the endorsement of Grammy-winning Nigerian musician, Burna Boy as a brand ambassador for Star Lager, one of the products of the company.

In November 2020, the company also announced Erica Nlewedim of the Big Brother Naija reality tv show as a brand ambassador for the relaunch of their drinks, Legend Extra Stout and Star Radler as the brewing company aimed to improve sales of the products.

The company also sponsored the Access the Star musical talent show together with Access Bank.

This reflected in the company’s top line as it reported a 4.34% increase in revenue from N323 billion in 2019 to N337 billion in 2020.

MTN Nigeria – N15.14 billion

The telco giant incurred a total of N15.14 billion in advertisement, sponsorships and sales in 2020, representing a 13.83% decline compared to N19.84 billion recorded in 2019.

Some of the projects embarked on by MTN Nigeria in the period under review includes the launching of a campaign tagged “Turn-It-Up”, which is expected to help Nigerians turn things up and live their best. The programme generated a series of TV, radio press, and outdoor advertisements during the year.

Later in the year MTN Nigeria also unveiled a new campaign for its youth proposition, MTN Pulse which featured Nigerian music sensation as an ambassador of the campaign.

The company increased its revenue in this period by 15.1% as Nigerians increased their use of the internet and phone conversation to cope with the new reality of staying home during the lockdown.

Dangote Cement – N12.18 billion

The most capitalized company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and a top cement producing company in the country spent a sum of N12.18 billion on advertisement and promotion in 2020.

Its advert expenses increased significantly by 41.7% from N8.6 billion recorded in the previous year to N12.18 billion in 2020.

The cement industry is not known for television advertisements as it is easier to use physical and online banner advertisements to promote the product.

Dangote Cement is one of the highly profitable companies in the Nigerian corporate space. It reported a 15.98% increase in revenue, as it hit the one trillion-naira mark compared to N891.7 billion reported in the previous year.

Access Bank – N11.32 billion

Access Bank closely followed Dangote Cement, having spent N11.32 billion on advertisement and marketing expenses in 2020. This represents an 80.49% increase when compared to N6.27 billion recorded in 2019.

Access Bank together with Nigerian Breweries, sponsored the “Access the Star” musical talent show in 2020, where the winner walked home with a grand prize of N150 million along with consolation prizes for the first and second runners up.

The company also engaged in a number of television, radio and online advertisements during the year.

This translated to a 14.69% increase in revenue of Access Bank as it posted a top line of N764.72 billion during the period.

Fidelity Bank – N9.59 billion

Fidelity Bank spent N9.59 billion on marketing, communication and entertainment in 2020, an 8.02% reduction compared to N10.43 billion recorded in the previous year.

The bank created online contents and other advertisements across various channels in the year. It also worked on placing banner ads on some internet media platforms in the country.

Fidelity bank however posted a 5.42% decline in revenue from N218 billion recorded in 2019 to N206.2 billion in 2020.

It is worth noting that Fidelity Bank’s advertisement expenses, includes communication, entertainment and marketing costs.

Final thought

Why is advertising important? It’s important because it can drive business growth. Advertising works to amplify your business marketing and helps you reach the right audience with positive, targeted messaging that converts potential customers into paying customers.

8 Ways to Boost sales and profits through video marketing

As business owners we all want to boost sales and profits, to do that we need to market our products and services and to be honest marketing has clearly changed a lot in the last few years, with attention spans shortening and competition for digital space growing daily. Companies and brands have had to adapt and grow in order to keep up, and a lot of people turned to video over the years. Using video services to sell is nothing new; television adverts have been around since the 1950s (check out this television advert from 1955) and it’s always been a popular medium. However, it’s getting harder to really make a difference with your video content, so we’ll be looking at 8 ways you can help boost your sales through an effective video strategy.

In this article, Kennysoft STUDIOs look at the benefits of video content marketing, how your company should be implementing it, and the different ways you can boost sales with video.

This article will cover the following:

– What are the benefits of video content marketing?

– Using video marketing to boost sales

– 8 Ways to Boost Sales with Video

– Animated videos

– Explainer Videos

– Demo videos

– New Product launch videos

– How to videos

– FAQ videos

– Case Studies  

– Testimonial videos

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What are the benefits of video content marketing?

Developing an effective video strategy is key to lots of businesses’ digital marketing success. Video allows for an engaging and entertaining way to get your messaging across, in a succinct but powerful way. You don’t need to worry about hoping people read your detailed and technical whitepaper, because you know you can capture their attention and get all the necessary information across in a video instead. If a picture is worth 1,000 words, and a video is made up of thousands of pictures, there’s a lot of space for you to get your point across.

There are dozens of different types of videos you can utilize as part of an effective video marketing strategy, a lot of which we will go into more detail for later on. This means that you don’t have to rely on one medium to capture your audience’s attention, but can hit them on a number of different fronts.

An effective video marketing strategy also isn’t limited to one platform. You could have a detailed company film on your website homepage; breaking down all the different services you offer. You could then have some short testimonial videos from customers on LinkedIn, singing your praises and recommending that everybody works with you. And then finally short animations in your emails to really catch peoples’ attention and draw them into your messaging.

Using video marketing to boost sales

As mentioned at the start of the piece, brands have been using video to sell their products for over 60 years. 

80% of people have purchased a piece of software or app after watching a brand’s video (Wyzowl, 2019). 

And it doesn’t just go for tech or digital companies either, thousands of professional services companies around the world now use video as part of their marketing strategy.

This is because for industries like accountancy for example, a lot of their new clients come in based on reputation or trust. If you had never met or seen your accountant before, how likely are you to work with them? Whereas if you watch a short video of them introducing themself (and you like the look of them) you’re much more inclined to get in touch. Video is a great tool for getting over the first hurdle of trust. Similarly with reputation, if you watch a testimonial from a reputable client who is singing the praises of an accountant, this really helps boost their image to a prospective client.

If you know that a decent amount of your enquiries, come in through your website (or even if you don’t) then having a video on your website can really help boost conversion rates. It keeps people on the website for longer, and makes them more likely to get in touch or to buy from you. Similarly, utilizing video as part of your social media or email marketing strategy helps boost traffic to the website, giving you more potential opportunities to close sales.

8 Ways to Boost Sales and profits With Video

1. Animated videos

More businesses are turning to animation as a way of marketing their business or products online, investing time to make animated videos that add a great amount of value to their marketing efforts. This is because it’s an incredibly versatile type of content for marketing, as well as the fact is very effective with consumers and business customers alike. Animated videos or animated explainer videos aren’t limited to what’s in front of you, you can create an entire new world if you’re working with a creative animator. This means any animations you create will be completely bespoke to your business and will help you stand out from your competitors. You can make animated videos as personal, as simple, or as complex as you need them to be. 

Animations are fantastic for raising brand awareness as all of the designs within the animation can be created entirely in your brand colors. This means that no matter how far through the animation the viewer watches (hopefully the whole way) they will constantly be reminded of your brand. It’s brilliant for social media where it’s easy to get lost amongst the hundreds of spam posts, in helping your branded content stand out about everyone else’s.

Video is perfect for social media

Animations are also excellent for simplifying complex topics. Whether you’re trying to explain a complex pharmaceutical product, a detailed cyber security product, or breakdown all of your accountancy services, animation can do it all. Using images and graphics to explain a product or service is far more effective for selling than just describing it to someone.

2. Explainer Videos

Animation is often used a lot when companies want to create explainer videos because it’s excellent for breaking down complex products or services. But animated explainer videos in general are a great tool for businesses looking to streamline their sales processes. Lots of businesses will incorporate an explainer video in part of their initial pitch or early sales conversations as it’s a great way of engaging your audience when talking about what you do.

Rather than linking a client a 6-page document explaining all the benefits of using your service, wouldn’t it be easier to send them a 30 second video which does all that for you? A well-made and engaging explainer video is an invaluable tool in the arsenal of digital marketers looking to increase revenue. Explainer videos can be a great touchpoint before you speak to a potential lead on the phone. Sending an email with a quick video for them to watch can warm up your lead and also further their understanding of what it is you’re offering.

3. Demo Videos

Demo videos are perfect for companies who create software or complex products. It’s not always possible to jump on a call with a client or to go out and meet with them to talk them through things, sometimes you just need to send out a video.

Software demonstration videos are often accompanied by an engaging voice over and screen capture footage of the software in action or the problem being solved. These are perfect for quickly sending out to new customers or if somebody has a problem with your product or software.

Likewise, if you sell a physical product, maybe customers need to know how to put it together or how to get the most of it. A well put together demo video with close ups and well explained steps can really help customers in getting the most out of your products, and can often mean that people share your content if it really helped them.

Perhaps you want to create demo videos for something else which isn’t a direct product, but perhaps still links to what you do. For example, lots of IT or Telecoms companies will often create demonstration videos for general tasks which a lot of people might not know how to do. This is a great way of boosting your brand’s reputation and you might even pick up some new customers along the way. Think about demonstrating how to block a number on an iPhone, or how to speed up your laptop if it’s getting a bit old. Content like this is great for getting people engaged with your brand early, before they might be ready to be a customer.

4. New Product Launch Videos

If you’ve got a brand-new product or service coming out, then you’re going to want to shout about it and get it seen by as many potential customers as possible. Creating a product launch video is an excellent way of doing this and being able to showcase all the potential benefits or uses in the most engaging way possible. Rather than releasing a huge press release about your new product, release a 30 second product launch video which briefly explains what it is and why people should buy it. You can then use this to lead customers onto your website where they can find out more.

Here’s an example product launch video we produced for a client recently:

It’s a great tool for boosting traffic to the website and generating hype around a new product to help boost sales. You could also do a two-video strategy, where on social media or an email blast you have a short version of the video, essentially a trailer to pique the interest of customers. You then push them onto the website where they can watch a detailed explainer video of the new product.

71% of consumers prefer video over other marketing content.

5. How To Videos

How many times have you Googled “How to” do something? Chances are it’s a lot. Billions of people use the internet as their go to place for tutorials and finding out how to complete tasks. Why not present yourself as the go to place for some of this knowledge? If there are certain activities or tasks related to your industry that people struggle with, put some of your expertise to use in helping people out for free. 

If you can help people out with a small issue; “how to write a CV” or “how to complete a tax return” and simple things like this, they’ll remember you and come back in future when they’re ready to buy. It’s for this reason that how-to videos are so successful as part of a good video marketing strategy.

If you think that YouTube is the second biggest search engine in the world (second only to Google), there’s a lot of people searching for what you might be able to help them with. If you don’t have the video content, you might be missing out on their business. Not to mention Google often priorities videos and websites with video, so it’s worth it for a bit of an SEO boost.

6. FAQ Videos

Similarly, to How To videos, FAQ videos are a great opportunity to showcase your expertise in a certain area. If you know there are lots of commonly asked questions about what you do or your industry, answer them in one handy video. You can add in some animated content to bring scenarios to life and make the content even more appealing to viewers.

FAQ videos are also a good opportunity often to pre-qualify some leads coming in through your website. If you address things like pricing or individual services that you offer, this might help sort out the real leads from the vague enquiries. They can also be a fun way for potential customers or clients to meet the team, if you have different members of the team answering FAQs on their own specific areas.

7. Case Studies

Case study videos are a brilliant way of showcasing the work that your business has done on a project or a campaign. Many websites use written case studies to describe what they’ve done, but a video is a great tool for bringing these case studies to life. They let you show all the good work you’ve done in an engaging and visual way, and chances are they’ll help convince a prospective lead to get in touch with you (provided you’ve done good work of course).

They’re a great way to provide a deep dive into a specific service your business provides and give customers an example of how it works. If you use case study videos to then market to similar industries or similar companies, chances are you’ll increase your chance of closing more business in future! They’re the perfect way for customers to see exactly how your business can help them, with a relevant example.

8. Testimonial Videos

What better way to sell your services than to have a real customer do it for you? Referrals in business are hugely important and testimonial videos are a great way of improving your reputation and helping to boost sales. If you’ve done a good job for your customers, chances are they’ll be more than happy to give you a glowing testimonial. Testimonial videos are a great way of building trust on your website and for your brand because it gives customers and leads reassurance that you will do a good job for them.

Similarly, to case study videos, if you’re looking to target a certain industry or sector then testimonial videos are great for this. By getting a testimonial from someone in a position of authority within a certain industry, this shows other potential customers within that industry that they can trust your business to give them the same good service.

If there are certain benefits to your business that you want to advertise (price, customer service etc.) then asking questions tailored to these is a great marketing tool. Getting a customer on camera saying “they gave me a competitive quote and also exceeded my expectations in terms of quality” is priceless.

Customer testimonial videos are a great way of building trust online

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to a successful video marketing strategy, but that also means there’s a lot you can do to boost your business’ sales! With so many options it opens a world of opportunities and will make your business visible to lots of customers who may not have been able to find you without it.

To find out more about how Kennysoft STUDIOs can help you boost sales through a successful video marketing strategy, get in touch with one of the members of the team for a chat.

Best Top 10 software for graphics design

We are going to look at the best 10 software for graphics design. In the industry today, creative design has evolve it’s now the original, imaginative, inventive, inspired development of something with artistic elements.  It’s part visionary, part problem solver.

In the marketing industry, the words “creative” and “graphic design” are occasionally used interchangeably. Unfortunately, the ideas are also sometimes used interchangeably.  Both often refer to the development of images.  Both are concepts that one person can deliver.  Both are admirable.  But one is a skill and the other is a process.  Distinguishing which is which can save you time, money, and great frustration.

What is graphics Design?

Creative design is a craft where professionals create visual content to communicate messages. By applying visual hierarchy and page layout techniques, designers use typography and pictures to meet users’ specific needs and focus on the logic of displaying elements in interactive designs, to optimize the user experience.

The creative process is all about coming up with a result that is totally new, or taking something established and reinventing it in a new way.  It involves taking an idea, a prompting, a need, a work order, or a creative brief and imagining a visual solution.

So, with all that mention we are going to look at the 10 best software for creative design.

Best 10 graphics design software

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is arguably the most popular graphic design software and is used by millions of artists around the world. Whether you are looking to create banners, posters, websites, or logos, this best graphic design software can do it all for you. From small edits to sophisticated designs, Adobe Photoshop has tools for every level. If you are someone who works with illustrative designs, you can even draw or paint anything you like. 

Along with image editing, you can create naturalistic artwork and composition in this software. You can define the size of your canvas, isolate elements from backgrounds, create custom brushes, work in 3D, do much more. 

Platform: Windows and Mac

Sketch 

Sketch is a Mac-only graphic design program that focuses mainly on digital design. These digital designs are used to create websites, apps, and interfaces. Unlike Photoshop, Sketch isn’t built for photo editing or print work. With Sketch, you can create a prototype by collaborating with other designers on the platform itself. The program has a smart layout feature in which the component will automatically resize based on the content. There are hundreds of plugins in the software which will let you do vector editing and other design work with precision down to the pixel. Digital icons are another thing that can be created through this software. Sketch, on the downside, is not great for print design or illustrations. 

Platform: Mac

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is a design software that is centered around vector design. You can create artwork, icons, posters, etc.  and the designs created in Adobe Illustrator can be used in business cards or billboards and from smartphones to 8k screens. You can use this software to draw, mix, and refine designs to create something spectacular. Adobe has made a mobile version called Adobe Illustrator Draw, which is one of the best graphic design apps out there. 

To draw, you can use the shaper tool and create vector shapes. Geometric shapes can be added to other outlines and can be moved, reshaped, and scaled. Even the fonts in the software can be manipulated according to your needs by adjusting their weight, slant, or width. For beginners, Adobe provides professionally designed templates to save time. The user interface of the program is helpful, but there is a steep learning curve to get good at illustrator. 

Platform: Windows and Mac

Affinity Designer

The Affinity Designer is a cheaper alternative to illustrator, which is especially suitable for someone who is in the early stage of design career. The software is known to work smoothly, which can improve your workflow and make you express your creativity more freely. You can move and zoom your artwork at 60fps; see the gradients, effects, and adjustments changing live along with the transforms and curve edits.

Affinity Designer lets you work on both vector and raster workspaces, and you can switch between them easily. This software can work on any device, and you can create unlimited artboards within it. Affinity designer provides a graphic design app for the iPad with the same features offered on the desktop versions. Advanced color controls are provided where you can work in RGB or LAB color spaces with up to 32-bits per channel. You can find a wide range of toolset in the program which can be used to achieve a high level of accuracy and productivity. The grids and guides are fully customizable, where you can change the spacing, sub-divisions, gutters, angles, etc. Another powerful feature of Affinity designer is that you get floating-point accuracy by zooming your artwork, even by more than a million per cent.

Platform: Windows, iPad, and Mac

Adobe InDesign

Another software by Adobe that can be used to create designs is the Adobe InDesign. This graphic design software is used primarily in the publishing industry because you can design magazines, info sheets, books, posters, interactive PDFs, brochures, etc. with it. With the ‘adjust layout’ option that InDesign provides, you can change the text of your document, and the graphic will adjust accordingly. 

The properties panel has been redesigned to give you more intuitive control over the tools. The Sensei technology integrated into InDesign makes the automatic arrangement and resizing of images. Beginners can quickly learn this graphic design software because it has a low learning curve. To work with other members of your team in creating a design, you can use Adobe InCopy. The Creative Cloud Libraries can help you share text, colors, and graphics with other members.

Platform: Windows and Mac

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2019

CorelDRAW was earlier built only for Windows OS; it is now available for Mac as well. With this graphic design program, you can create professional vector illustrations. There are powerful design tools to help you work faster and smarter. You will find numerous customization options, whether you are working on logos, web design, or print projects. CorelDRAW now uses AI technology to provide you with LiveSketch, which converts sketching into precise vector curves. The suite contains tools for graphic design as well as layout. It has Photo-Paint and Corel Font Manager for photo editing and font management. 

The software has web graphic tools and presets to develop creative web content; you can publish directly into your WordPress site through it. The file compatibility is also overwhelming; the program supports over 100 file formats. 

Platform: Windows and Mac

Canva

If you have no previous experience in designing and you are looking for something very easy, then Canva is for you. This free online graphic design software allows you to create designs easily and quickly. There are a ton of templates, fonts images, many of which are free to use. Canva works on the drag and drop concept, where you only need to select the elements and drag it to your work area and customize it. This program does not provide you with advanced features like Photoshop. It, however, solves a beginner’s design need who doesn’t want to get into the process of learning and purchasing premium software. Canva is available as a graphic design app that can be used in Apple and Android devices. The basic features in Canva are free; you will, however, be charged if you want to use more features in it. 

Platform: Web Browser, Android, iOS

Infinite Design

This graphic design app is built only for Android devices, which can be used to create vector graphics. The app can be used to create complex and eye-catching designs without much effort. As the name suggests, this app provides an infinite canvas where you can zoom, pan, or rotate. There are four types of symmetry that you can experiment with, and there are unlimited layers that you can work on. This app provides advanced features also like translate, scale, flip, distort, etc. The image you are creating on the graphic design app can be turned into a fully editable vector path. The advanced features in this app are accessible by purchasing it only.

Platform: Android

Inkscape 

Inkscape, like many other platforms, provides multi-purpose use. It can be used by designers, illustrators, or web designers. The software has flexible drawing tools, which make it easy for beginners to understand the software and create art without difficulty. As the text is an integral part of graphic design, Inkscape has a powerful text tool at your disposal. This software is open source and can be used with any platform. A designer has to spend some time understanding how to use this software. This software is best used to create images that are vector-based and needs to be required in SVG format. Inkscape provides a lot of filters and a helpful community for the designer to grow.

Platform: Windows, Linux, and Mac

Adobe Comp

Adobe Comp is a graphic design app designed to be used along with other Adobe software like Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. Designs can be created with the use of text and shapes. Adobe provides free fonts from Typekit library, which are the same as desktop. With Comp, you can convert your rough designs into crisp graphics and finish the designs on your desktop with other Adobe software.

Platform: iOS and Android

Conclusion

Creative design software in the early days was hard to use. Technology has come a long way, and software is now intuitive and helps a user express creativity more freely. Selecting the right platform would depend on your work and what you want to achieve with the software. 

Businesses are always on the lookout for good graphic designers to boost their business. Therefore, as a graphic designer, you need to present your work in a stunning way through a website. Your design portfolio is the prism through which your work will be evaluated by new clients and potential employers. A great design portfolio can propel you towards success, open up new opportunities and get you just the kind of work you want. However, failing at putting your best foot forward with your design portfolio can lead to rejects and spell doom.

Given that it can make or break your career, creating your design portfolio in itself becomes the most important design exercise of your career. With online design portfolio websites becoming the default medium of presenting your work to the world, it’s important to make sure that you understand the dos and don’ts of a successful design portfolio website.

Disclaimer: The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of the final product. All images are copyright to their respective owners.

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