15 side business ideas you can start in the creative industry, at the moment we all know the Nigeria economy is not smiling on anyone, inflation standing at 20.77% and under employment standing tall at 33% so my dear I think now is the right time of starting a side business because it never hurts to have multiple income streams, especially when you’re building a business. Having a side hustle (or two) can be an excellent way to keep money coming in, easing your anxiety and lessening some of the financial burdens that come from entrepreneurship not to even thing about the hash condition of the economy at the moment.
So, let’s get into it without further delay crap your popcorn relax and learn ways you can make money for yourself from this 15 side business ideas I will be sharing with you.
15 side business ideas you can start in the creative industry
Run Instagram Or Tiktok Ads For Other Businesses
If you’re a world-class marketer, you can make a lot of extra money by marketing for other brands that aren’t so savvy in reaching the Gen-Z audience. Work your network to uncover business owners you know who need this service. You can make $1,000 a month or more without taking up too much of your time.
2. Start A Youtube Channel
There’s a lot of ad money to be made on YouTube. For example, my wife is a Registered Nurse here in Los Angeles. During her days off, she has been sharing her healthcare and personal experiences of pregnancy and parenting an infant on her YouTube channel. It’s a creative outlet for her that helps others broaden their knowledge while also earning some ad revenue.
3. Photography
If photography is more your medium, providing photography services at weddings can be a lucrative business.
The profitability of a running a photo studio business cannot be overstretched. Owning a photo studio automatically makes you a boss of yourself. Employing people to work in your studio makes you a job creator in the society. Photography services are demanded almost hourly by almost everyone.
4. Clothing Designer
You could also design clothing items from scratch and then work to get your line featured in stores or boutiques or even start your own.
5. Personal Stylist
If you don’t necessarily want to design the clothes but you still have a passion for fashion, you can build a business working as a personal stylist to help clients shop and put together outfits.
6. Makeup Artist
Makeup is another area that requires a lot of creativity. You can start a salon type of business or even just travel to work with clients at their location.
7. Sell An Online Course
Teach others how to become a master of your craft with online courses. Once the initial setup is complete, this is an excellent way to earn passive income. There are plenty of platforms out there to try, like Thinkific, Teachable and Kajabi.
8. Get Paid For Your Advice
Consultants are in high demand. Even better, being a consultant is entirely flexible. You can consult for as many or as few hours as you want in a given month. Register as an expert on Clarity and charge $10 a minute or more for your time. People can schedule calls with you to hear your advice and discuss their ideas, and you get paid for talking about your experiences. It’s a win-win situation.
9. Write A Book
You have a unique story. Write it down, then sell it on Amazon. Use Amazon’s self-publishing service to have your book distributed on Kindle or paperback. Be sure to work with an editor before publishing to ensure that your book is polished and professional. Once it’s online, you’ll get paid as people buy it. In addition to earning some extra income, you’ll build your reputation and increase your digital profile. This can be very helpful as you launch your new business.
10. Graphic Design
We live in a digital world, which means digital art is equally important. Starting a graphic design business is a great way to flex your creative muscles while also providing a valuable service to businesses. You can work on branding campaigns by creating logos or social media graphics for businesses, help design products, refresh websites, or sell design templates you create. From super fun and creative projects to B2B focused sales materials, there is no shortage of work for graphic designers to apply their creativity to.
11. Calligraphy
Beautiful penmanship is one thing, but calligraphy is a next-level skill that not many people have bragging rights to. Calligraphy is used in many art forms, as well as products such as wedding invitations and place cards. Both consumers and businesses alike need beautiful calligraphy services, so consider starting a freelance calligraphy business to serve these various needs.
12. Branding Consultant
Every business needs strong branding if they want to send a clear and memorable message to their customers. While many larger businesses have branding experts in house, smaller businesses may need a little help in the branding department. Like many creative business ideas, branding consulting can combine design, photography, and copy skills—so this is the perfect career for someone who likes to work on the complete picture of a creative project. By helping businesses make a name for themselves, you can make a lucrative career in the arts.
13. Art Teacher
If you have any of the creative skills mentioned previously in this list, then you can also consider spreading your knowledge by teaching them to others. Whether that be hosting a still life painting class with 30 pupils or tutoring students one-on-one in the art of calligraphy. You could offer digital art classes or create educational social media content. You may also create courses that other teachers can use in their classes. Find the teaching method that works for you and spread the word about your new business.
14. Tattoo Artist
Did you know that the tattoo industry brings in $3 billion dollars a year? Tattoos continue to gain popularity and people are willing to spend a good chunk of change for a high-quality tattoo. Of course, being a tattoo artist requires some major skills and a very steady hand—it’s an art form through and through. So, if you have the skills and want to create artwork that will stay with a person for their entire lives, this may just be the art business idea for you.
15. Art Director
The title art director can encompass a variety of jobs. Some art directors help create films, others design magazine layouts, some plan massive marketing campaigns, and others oversee the entire branding for a company. These are just a few of many examples of jobs that art directors do, but what most have in common is they plan the overall design for a project, whatever that may look like. If you have a passion for styling, photography, graphic design, and typography, then being an art director may just help you combine all of your creative interests.
Are you one of those looking for the latest and best video editing apps for Android? You’ll find a list of the top applications to edit video on your Android smartphone.
There are an ever-growing number of Android video editors available on the Play Store today. And unless you know exactly what your requirements are, it can become overwhelming to zero in and figure out which is the best video editing app for Android.
So, in this article, we will give you a low down of the top 5 best video editing apps for android – both free and paid, to help you make a more informed choice and kickstart your video editing journey.
Top 6 Best 5 Video Editing Apps For Android
Adobe Premiere Rush
Price: Free / Up to $53.99 per month
Adobe Premiere Rush is another best free video editing app for Android without watermark that enables you to edit any video right from your Android device quickly. It is fast and fun to use.
Adobe calls the free video editing app “designed specifically for online video creators.” What this means is that the app knows the specific video adjustments you will require for social media platforms. Naturally, the video can be shared on multiple social media sites through the app.
Apart from the standard video editing functions, you can apply video effects, change color, create pan and zoom effects, add custom made animated titles and more. The app has built-in camera functionality to capture high-quality videos.
The Android app also features audio tools for sound balancing and auto-ducking. The best part, however, is that you can have multiple video tracks to smoothen your workflow. It is free to download and does not display any ads.
Features:
All-in-one video editor app for Android users.
One can add a thumbnail and schedule posts for TikTok, YouTube, etc.
App Installs: Over 1 million Google Play Store Rating: 4.0
The Filmr app is a super easy-to-use video editing app for Android as well as iOS-based phones. Perfect for both beginners as well as advanced video creators- it has a simple, fast and intuitive interface. You can add transitions, effects, filters and more to transform a basic video to something that is uber cool. If you’re looking for speed, agility and a premium look for your videos, Filmr is the place for you.
Review: Filmr has gained an overall rating of 4.4/5 based on reviews from 8,126 users and has 1 million and growing downloads on Playstore.
Price: It has a free version that allows you to create videos with an InVideo watermark. The paid plans start from $15/month
Key Features:
– No limit on the number of images/videos you can import – Smooth and unique transitions between videos – Multiple fonts to make your text stand out – Switch video format with ease: horizontal (16:9 and 4:5), vertical (4:3), stories (9:16), and square (1:1) – 20 million+ royalty free music library – Exclusive filters and effects to transform videos
Pros:
– The best thing about Filmr is that it has zero ads! – It has a vertical editing timeline which makes video editing super convenient, unlike other apps – Can reorder videos, photos and audio clips with a simple drag-and-drop – Lets you search for any song with a simple search or add music from your existing files – Reverse, Rotate and Flip videos with one tap – Get rid of the watermark easily by just watching an ad or going PRO – Save to gallery or export directly to any social media app – Set the duration of the transitions down to specific seconds – Directly shoot videos via the app and edit – Customise the duration of text on video on the text bar
Cons:
– There is no undo option in its Android version – Limited number of filters – Cannot record a voice-over directly on the app – Cannot choose the video resolution before saving – It does not support multiple languages
FilmoraGo is a remarkable Android video editor app that is liked by many users. All the primary functions like trimming, cutting, adding themes, music, etc. can be easily performed. You can also make 1:1 square videos for Instagram, 16:9 videos for Youtube, create reverse videos, add transitions, slow motion, text, etc. to beautify your video.
FilmoraGo has some in-app purchases, but most of its fantastic features are available for free. You can either save the videos directly in your gallery or share them straight to social media. Videos edited in the free version have a watermark at the end of the video.
Features:
Clips can be previewed in real-time.
Photos and videos can be imported from social media websites like Facebook, Instagram, etc.
Extensive collection of templates and effects.
A set of professional editing tools.
App Installs: Over 50 million Google Play Store Rating: 4.6
Pros:
Offers a variety of features
Easy-to-use interface
Access to high-quality templates and presets in the Pro version
Cons:
No tutorials on how to use the presets and templates
Price: Free / $2.99 per month / $9.99 per year / $29.99 lifetime
If you are a video editor for Android that leaves no watermark, then InShot is one of the best ones out there. It features an intuitive interface and the ads do not interfere with your work. However, you will need to watch an ad if you want to remove the watermark on your video.
It has all the standard features that you would expect from a video editing app such as trim, crop, split, option to apply video effects, etc. Other than that, there is an option to freeze a select part of the video.
You can get 4K exports and even choose from different frame rates.If you are a TikToker or are looking to upload videos on Instagram, then InShot is a great video editing app for you.
Features:
4K uploads and multiple frame rate options
In-house music effects
Platform-based aspect ratio options
App Installs: Over 100 million Google Play Store Rating: 4.8
Combined with a well-designed interface along with powerful features, KineMaster is one of the best video editing apps available on Android. It enables the drag-n-drop technique to import different media files easily. KineMaster offers remarkable levels of control over the editing process to create professional videos quickly. You can add different types of transitions in between video fragments, or insert blocks of text or subtitles.
However, the removal of the watermark and full access to premium assets can only be accessed if you purchase the professional edition of the app. Besides this, most of the functions come in the free version.
Features:
Multiple layers of videos, images, text, effects, overlays, stickers, and handwriting can be combined.
Instant preview feature to view the editing
Precise volume control from moment to moment within a clip
App Installs: Over 100 million Google Play Store Rating: 4.4
Funimate is the next entry on the list of the best Android video editor apps. It can instantly transform everyday moments into creative videos and enables automatic sharing options on different social sites. It has over a hundred advanced video effects that are designed to be a perfect match for editing short videos. You can even make short video loops which can be entertaining.
Funimate requires signing in before using the app. You can also get followers and follow other accounts in it. It is one of the best free video editing apps, but the displayed ads can be annoying.
Features:
More than 100 advanced video effects for making cool videos
DIY effects from pre-existing photos stored on your smartphone
Feature to make collab videos with friends
A dedicated Funimate video community
App Installs: Over 10 million Google Play Store Rating: 4.4
While there are many apps to choose from, we recommend using FilmoraGo, Adobe Premiere Rush, or InShot for the best experience. While these apps are partly paid, they offer the best value for your money with their set of features, so we included them in this list of the best Android video editor apps.
Real estate agents in today’s digital world now understand that having videos is a great way to market their business. YouTube and Facebook Live are a great way to lead generate and having fun videos is a sure way to attract more buyers and sellers.
When looking at real estate market statistics from the past few years, it’s clear that technology continues to dramatically influence home buying — thanks in no small part to tactics like real estate video marketing.
Not just that video marketing is one of the best ways to generate real estate leads in 2022. You don’t have to take our word for it—listings with video receive over 403% more inquiries than those without. Besides, 63% of homeowners are likely to hire an agent who uses video over one that doesn’t.
This shows just how much potential video holds to get you the right set of buyers for all your listings. Why video marketing is essential
Video marketing has been an essential part of many businesses marketing strategies in recent years. In fact, 9 out of 10 marketers used video in their marketing campaigns in 2020. This number has increased this past year in particular, in part thanks to the move towards a more digitally friendly world that the COVID-19 pandemic caused. Here are some facts that shed light on the effectiveness of video marketing:
Facts About Video Marketing For Real Estate Agents.
Videos are a consumers’ favorite type of content to see from a brand.
54% of consumers want to see more video content from businesses.
84% of consumers say they bought a product or service after watching a brand’s video.
Moreover, consumers are much more likely to engage with videos by liking, commenting on, or sharing them. Sharing in particular is very important, as this is the internet’s equivalent to word of mouth. If the general internet population seems to like and trust a product or service, others are more likely to like and trust it as well.
To put it simply, not incorporating videos into your brand’s marketing could have you losing out on an untapped audience.
So, to help you succeed as a real estate agent we’ve compiled a list of the best real estate video ideas you can use to spread the word about your business and generate high-quality leads this year. And once you have your idea chosen, you can turn it into a compelling video and we at kennysoft STUDIOs are here to help you bring your idea to life.
1. Share a realtor testimonial video on social media
Testimonials build social proof and enhance your credibility, but video testimonials kick these benefits up a notch with a personal element. In fact, a study revealed that two out of three people are driven to purchase after watching a testimonial video—and real estate is no exception.
People trust people, and watching and hearing your happy clients talk about their experience working with you can help attract leads and convince them about your services. Add storytelling and emotion to that, and you’ve got yourself a winning video.
You can ask clients for testimonials at your open house, when you close the deal, or when you’re done with all the work. Ask them what it was like working with you, so they elaborate on how you understood their needs and helped them find their dream house. If your client doesn’t know
You can ask clients for testimonials at your open house, when you close the deal, or when you’re done with all the work. Ask them what it was like working with you, so they elaborate on how you understood their needs and helped them find their dream house. If your client doesn’t know what to say, give them some talking points or write it on a piece of paper in front of them so they don’t get stuck and can give a flawless testimonial without hesitation.
You can then share the testimonials you record individually or compile them and create a montage video. Either way, testimonials make for great content for various platforms—you can share them on your website, YouTube, and as posts or ads on Facebook and Instagram, just like the …. Real Estate did here
You can shoot a testimonial video with your mobile while ensuring you’re in a noise-free environment with a good background. You can also shoot this video in front of your client’s new house to take it up a level.
Credit : The Hawkins
To compile all the clips together and present them in an attractive way, you can contact kennysoftSTUDIOs to help you edit the video, like the one we’ve shown below. You can customize it with your videos, text, music, add subtitles and even change the layers and order of slides to create an attention-grabbing video that’ll hook your viewers and convert them into future buyers.
1. Create a real estate promo video
Real estate promo videos are an excellent way to show potential buyers the services you provide, the work you’ve done till now, and give them a sneak peek into what it would be like to work with you. It’s essentially a promotional video for your services as a real estate agent or agency.
You can create short promo videos to run as ads on social media or include one as an explainer video on your website.
Apart from high-quality images, use strong copy with a touch of emotion to make the buyer feel something, and drive action through emotion. Additionally, this video should mention your active location and display your sales history with data. At last, end your video with a strong CTA comprising your name and contact information like phone number, email address, and website.
You can even make longer videos for YouTube and talk about your goals, mission, and how you connect buyers with their dream homes. This promo video from real estate agent fits well in this category.
To create a promo video, you can either hire a professional videographer or do it yourself on a budget by shooting the clips from your phone and compiling them together with InVideo’s fully-customizable real estate promo video template. Just add your images, edit the text as you want, change the music to your liking with our stock library, and you’ll have your professional-looking video ready in minutes.
2. Shoot a realtor intro video
Introduction or profile videos help first-time visitors put a name and face to your brand and build trust. They also help people understand how you work and whether you’ll be a good fit for their real estate needs. Further, you can use this one piece of content on all your platforms—on your website, as your YouTube channel trailer, or a pinned post on Facebook. You can even send this as a welcome email whenever a prospective lead signs up to your email list.
The simplest way to go about an intro video is to use and modify what you wrote on your website’s about page. You need to show who you are, your background, certifications, awards, achievements, and previous sales. But that’s not the only thing—you can also talk about your hobbies, interests, and why you love your work. The idea is to humanize your brand, so don’t be afraid to show a little personality
3. Create a property listing video
When you think of real estate videos, the first thing that comes to mind is listing videos. Think beautiful properties, shot from aesthetic angles, with super fine furnishing and a lush garden—wouldn’t you want to buy it?
In fact, in 2020, 63% of homebuyers made an offer on a home they’d only seen virtually. This shows how effective listing and walkthrough videos are in giving prospects a look and feel of the property and driving deals forward.
For example, consider this listing video from Team Pinto. The real estate agent takes you through the property and its amenities herself—besides giving a comprehensive look at the house, which also helps build a personal connection with viewers.
But if this doesn’t sound like you, you can just capture stunning photos and videos of your property (with your mobile even), compile them into a video and add some music or text to it. It will be effective in showing off your property and getting a waiting list of buyers. Here’s a great example of such a video.
For shooting a property listing or walkthrough video, you can either hire an expensive film and production crew or shoot yourself in bright natural light with your mobile. Just make sure you’ve set it to the highest resolution and use a gimbal or tripod to prevent your video from being shaky and unclear.
Credit: Now Homes
4. Educate your audience on renovation mistakes to avoid
Besides using videos to promote your properties and business directly, you can also use them to educate your audience, showcase your expertise, and build their faith in your services. This will nurture potential buyers by meaningfully adding value to them.
Videos on mistakes that home buyers make, like “popular home renovations to avoid” are great ideas for this. They help you solve the real-life problems your prospects face, increase their chances of turning to you when they need your services, and generate more warm leads.
Transform Real Estate does a fabulous job at this, talking about home renovation mistakes to avoid to help you increase your home value for when you plan to sell. You can either create a long-form spoken video and publish it on YouTube like the example above or a quick animated video educating yor audience.
Credit: Graham Stephan
5. Share A List Of Kitchen Improvements On Instagram
The home improvement-DIY industry enjoys a good audience, and research says that videos are their preferred mode of information.
You, too, can create and leverage videos to attract this audience and put your business in front of them to generate more warm leads. Moreover, home improvement videos can also help you stay on the radar of those prospects who are remodeling their home to put it on the market soon.
While YouTube is an excellent place for such videos, you can also make short and crisp videos on topics like “kitchen remodeling on a budget” and post them on Instagram—even as reels.
You can take inspiration from this quick and engaging video.
Credit: BuzzFeed Nifty
Ready To Get started?
Real estate video marketing can boost your business by generating new leads, creating more engagement with your brand, and giving you an appealing and captivating way to show off listings to a wide audience.
In a time when the world keeps becoming more digital, it’s more important than ever to adapt to the world of video marketing.
Remember, the ideas for how to market your video and business overall are wide and varied, giving you plenty of opportunities to show the best of what you have to offer.
You can get started by brainstorming video ideas that reflect your business’s vision and general approach to real estate. After you create your video, you’ll need to pick the best channel to promote it. The first step can feel like the hardest, but in no time you’ll be reaping the benefits that come with video marketing.
Looking for an expert to help you with a very engaging video for you as a real estate agent or an agency? Look no further kennysoft STUDIOs is here to help you.
How Much Does A Music Video Cost In Nigeria? is one of the many question a lot of upcoming and fast raising artiste ask a lot and today we will be enlisting to you all you need to know about the cost of music video production in Nigeria.
The Nigerian music industry has really grown from what it used to be 20 years ago, this growth has affected a lot of other sectors of the industry and one of those sector is the music video production of the songs of this artistes.
Not just that, the improved quality of the music video production is one of the many reasons behind the increased popularity of Nigerian pop music, online and offline. And behind these memorable videos are teams of inventive, dedicated professionals.
It is a well-known fact that Music videos are now as important as the songs in reaching new markets and sustaining the tempo of air play. With the increase in smartphone usage and cheaper internet data, the ability to view videos online (YouTube) and download the latest videos from sites like Tooxclusive.com and Notjustok.com has never been easier.
Why Are Music Videos Important to Artistes?
There are 2 major ways through which music videos help artists:
Exposure
Revenue
Typically, music videos are produced and released in the early stage of a songs’ release cycle, intended to drive exposure through additional channels for fans to consume, whether they are shown on TV, or streamed in a public area.
When brands enter the picture and strategically place products in music videos, it can produce a new revenue stream for the artiste while also building exposure for the brand. (Nielsen.com)
What Does A Standard Music Video Production Budget Cover?
A standard Nigerian video can cost between N2 million and N10 million depending on the production budget of the artiste.
A standard and top quality video production budget covers the following but not limited to the following:
Concept development
Casting
On-camera talent
Pre-production
Choreography
Rehearsals
Location fees
Props
Costumes
Production equipment
Production crew
Editing
Visual effects
Color correction
Video encoding
Digital delivery
So What Changed the Nigeria Music Video Scene?
With the breakthrough in Nigerian music crossing borders and foreigners beginning to appreciate our music better, the Nigerian artistes caught the buzz and improved the quality of videos. However, this wasn’t done without some notable names.
Enter Clarence Peters who took over the market around 2005/06. He changed the face of the Nigerian videos. What Clarence Peters had that others before him like DJ Tee didn’t have was a good Camera, in fact he was a very good Camera handler which was his unique selling point.
Most Nigerian videos made use of the Mac3 or Mac2 years back, but Peters was the first to use the D7 camera. With time other producers followed suit and consequently the quality of videos improved.
Reasons Why Nigeria Videos Cost Much
Concept: Some Directors have their own in-house creative services department with a team of writers, directors and designers who help develop creative options for the artistes to choose from. This will definitely cost money.
For example, DJ Tee directed the ‘Eniduro’ which shot Olamide to limelight. In the video Olamide wore 25 different outfits and in addition the video was in black and white.
Technology: Nigerian videos are now advanced and producers have moved from using Coma shoots/ Greenhouse effect where the video is shot in one house or location. With the aid of Cameras like D7 used by producers to shoot videos, this has driven up the cost of videos shootings. This is because some of these cameras are quite expensive and require efficient maintenance.
Logistics, Wardrobe, and Props: These items determine the look of the video, and their importance cannot be overstated in terms of the final product.
Good locations can be expensive, and sometimes even requires existing relationships. Even free locations end up costing money. It is easily noticeable that lots of Nigerian artists travel to places like South Africa, Dubai, America to shoot videos and the locations used in these places require lots of money.
Ash Hamman a UAE-based Nigerian-born artist is reported to have shot the most expensive video in the Emirates. The video gulped a whooping DH850, 000. The money was spent to rent flashy cars, luxurious yachts and beautiful girls.
He said “I want to make a statement. Let me do what everybody is doing, but do it on a larger scale. I said ok, people want to use one Lamborghini? I want five (5) Lamborghinis. People want to use five (5) choppers? I want seven (7) choppers. People want one (1) girl? I got seven (7) girls.”
For his video, he ended up using 13 exotic cars, 3 yachts and 40 female models.
The Cast and Crew: A great music video requires lots of talented people. A shoot generally involves at least 7-10 production professionals. These people work on day rates and sometimes bring their creativity and scripts on how they want the video to look like.
For example, when Clarence peters shot the video for ‘Ghostmode’ Olamide ft Phyno. An eye-witness who was at the making of the video confirmed that about 10 tankers of water and flowers were used during the shoot.
Availability of resources: Much more money is flowing in the music industry with artists selling millions of albums, million-dollar sponsorship deals from the top companies in the land. Lots of these money is spent on music videos to keep pleasing the fans and maintaining the make-believe lifestyle these artists live.
Olu Maintains’ ‘Enuf Effizi’ has been claimed to be the most expensive music video. Olu Maintain has been a big player in the game for a long time and has the resources to spend so much. In the video he used a Private Jet, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and expensive PROFESSIONAL models.
P square has one of the highest selling albums in the country and also generate the highest revenue from shows for any African artist or group. They have featured American Rapper Rick Ross in their video shot in the US on a yacht. We all know how much it is to feature a foreign “A” list artist, then to also get him to appear on the video also. This would cost as much as $30,000 in cash.
Experience and Connection of Producer/Director: Only a handful of people know that Clarence Peters worked on the set of TV Programme Everyday People as Assistant Director, then he went to South Africa, came back and had a deal with TV Station Soundcity. The deal was that for every of the video he directs, he has a playing slot on the station. This also helps drive his price because Nigerian Artists know that once he directs their videos the chances of their videos being aired is higher.
Sesan, another famous Producer who shoots all of Mavin records videos has his style. He doesn’t shoot low budget videos and wouldn’t want to work with the Artists budget, even if the artist has over 1 million Naira.
What about the rave of the moment Mr. ThankGod Omori Jesam popularly known as TG Omori or Boy Director, At the moment, he is indisputably one of the most prolific music video directors in the countryHe has more than 100 music videos to his name. With top Nigerian musicians like Olamide, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Tekno, Kiss Daniel, Fireboy DML, Falz, Timaya, and Naira Marley on his list.
Final Thought
Conclusively, a major factor attributed to the expensive nature of producing videos here in Nigeria or anywhere is the excuse artistes give concerning the exchange rate between the naira and the dollar. They argue that if the Federal Government gives the same or better treatment as the one given to pilgrims as it affects the exchange rate, their bills will be minimal in producing music videos.
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.
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
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.”
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:
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.
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
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
Age
Percentage of users
Under 18
28
19-29
35
30-39
18
39+
19
Note: These are global values. Individual country demographics are available in the TikTok Report
Source: App Ape
TikTok gender demographics
Gender
Percentage of users
Female
59
Male
39
Other
2
Sources: App Ape, Bloomberg
TikTok engagement by country
Year
Usage per day (minutes)
United States
68
United Kingdom
60
France
60
Norway
74
Poland
68
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.
#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).
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).
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.
