Video marketing has become increasingly competitive—there are so many ads out there that vie for consumers’ attention.
You can’t really blame businesses for making the most of video ads, more than 90% get new customers thanks to videos on social media alone. With that in mind, you need to find ways to make your videos stand out, so they don’t get lost among all the noise on the internet.
How can you do that?
You do that by being creative and thinking outside the box. Although traditional approaches to video marketing have a place, new and innovative ideas have much better results.
There are several ways you can take your video ads to the next level. This article aims to inspire you by explaining these methods and showing brilliant examples that totally nailed video marketing. Let’s press play!
1. Be Creatively Cheeky
Many companies have used cheeky ads to make fun of their competition, and you can do it too. As long as you keep things professional and don’t play dirty, you can get sassy with your video ads.
Example: Samsung Pokes Fun at Apple
This one-minute video is perfect for social media, especially Facebook. It’s short enough to keep people’s attention and drive the message home. Their message?
Samsung is better than Apple, and you don’t have to queue for hours to get your hands on one of their phones.
Samsung doesn’t outright mention Apple, but it’s not hard to see the references. The video is funny (always good!) and highlights the pain points that supporters of the competition experience.
What You Can Learn
The video can evoke emotions by making people feel connected in their struggle to find an awesome phone. It’s also humoristic in a tongue-in-cheek way but doesn’t get insulting.
Create video ads that show your market you know their struggles and difficulties. Also show them how you solve those problems in a way your competition cannot, or has not been able to yet.
2. Get People Talking
One of the very best ways to ensure that your brand gets noticed is to get people talking.
You can use your video ads to strike a chord so hard that folks can’t help but take note. But you have to get people talking for the right reasons.
For that, you have to think outside the box and put on your extra-creative thinking hat.
Example: The Dollar Shave Club Gets Straight to the Point
Few people haven’t seen this viral video ad yet.
It became so popular that it took a relatively unknown company to the top, past its competition. By breaking the 4th wall and speaking directly to the viewer, the Dollar Shave Club CEO Michael Dubin delivered punchlines and the F-bomb with a straight face.
He also highlights all the benefits of his product while throwing shade at his competition. The cheesy jokes and almost cringey behavior are acceptable because of how it’s pulled off.
What You Can Learn
The video caught attention because it was different. Typical video ads for men’s grooming products are either high-brow with unattainable standards or have Neanderthal vibes.
This video broke the mold, and it paid off.
Michael was also able to draw the audience in with humor and then talk about his product and service. His passion and attitude made people want to buy from him. He turned the audience into customers.
3. Grab Your Audience in the First Five Seconds
Sure, saying you should have your audience’s attention within the first five seconds should go without saying in digital marketing. It’s also pretty generic advice but invaluable. YouTube ads give viewers the option to skip them after five seconds, which means you need to get them hooked before that time is up.
Many brands have come up with creative ideas to do so, and you can learn from them.
Example: Geico’s ‘5-Second Ads’
Selling insurance can’t be an easy task, especially on digital platforms, but Geico could pull it off. They delivered their message within seconds and then turned the rest of their ad into a funny joke.
The ad technically ‘ends’ after 10 seconds, but the video plays for another minute. It’s awkward and comical and makes the ad stand out from others.
Keeping it short and fun is a simple but effective way to get people to watch the ad to the end. There’s no call to action, but the big logo in the center of the screen serves to help the audience remember Geico’s name and service.
What You Can Learn
Audiences on platforms like YouTube are impatient and don’t like sitting through ads, especially when they’re so easy to skip. By giving them a reason to stick around, you can make sure they get to know your brand.
Getting people interested enough in just a few seconds can be challenging, though. Try to give them something to look forward to. Make them want to watch the ad regardless of how long it is.
4. Go for an Emotional Punch
Shock factors will definitely get reactions, and if you can use them without actually scaring your audience, you have a winning recipe.
Video ads can be boring and tedious, but if you give your videos something exciting that will surprise viewers, you can get them hooked.
Example: Volvo Trucks’ Personal Tests
Volvo is not a car brand that needs any introduction, but the company knows the value of good marketing.
When they came up with an ad campaign that gets close and personal with their vehicles, it was a hit. It also helped that they gave the ads a touch of Hollywood flair.
This ad shows a technician doing a Live Test, showing that he trusts the work he did on the truck.
What You Can Learn
You don’t have to be quite as drastic as Volvo, but you should aim to connect with your audience on a deeply emotional level. You achieve that connection in a shocking (but friendly) way or use other elements such as personal stories and empathy.
Use the instinctive emotions and experiences that make us human and incorporate them into your video ads.
5. Turn Expectations on Their Heads
If you can take what people expect and completely switch it around, you have a brilliant marketing strategy to work with. Use that to also show off what’s awesome about your brand and not so great about the competition for a real knock-out video ad.
Example: Burger King’s Moldy Whopper
Burger King created a timelapse video that showed how their Whopper rots over a period of a bit more than a month. They even added a fitting song to enhance the whole experience.
Sounds disgusting, right? Well, Burger King took it as a way of showing that their food contains no unnatural preservatives.
Not only is this a jab at McDonald’s (everyone knows about their burger that won’t rot), but it also shows consumers that they’re okay to eat.
What You Can Learn
An excellent way to make your video ads eye-catching is by making them unconventional. Do something unexpected, turn expectations on their heads.
Show your audience something they didn’t think would happen or make them view it from another perspective, and they’ll admire you for it.
Create Awesome Thumb-Stopping Video Ads
There you have it—five ways that you can ensure your video marketing hits the nail right on the head. Use what you’ve learned here and create something extraordinary that will represent your brand and help it grow. Then, give it wings and watch with pride as your ads reap the rewards of your hard work.
Need some help creating some high-impact, thumb-stopping videos for your brand?
If so, feel free to drop us a line to chat with one of our experts to uncover what is possible by clicking here. You can also call us directly at (877) 866-6699 to get your next high-impact video started!