Why Is My Video Not Gaining More Attention?
Video is often cited as one of the best ways to reach new audiences online. People tend to remember info presented better and share with others. However, you might find you put time, effort, and money into a video only to discover no one watches it. You might ask, “Why are my videos not getting views?”
Video is a massive business marketing trend. Wyzowl surveyed 813 professionals and found 85% of businesses use video as a marketing tool, reporting it as essential to their promotional strategy. Those who aren’t yet using it plan to do so in the future.
You’re competing with a lot of businesses, professional entertainers, and hobbyists to grab the attention of a limited pool of consumers. Your video may fall by the wayside and not gain the attention you’d like. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to improve your chances.
1. Focus on Quality
You might not have a budget in the $10,000 and up range, but you can create high-quality videos on your smartphone or DSLR camera. For sites such as YouTube, the issue often comes with sound, so invest in a good microphone to pick up dialogue.
A few well-placed lights can help you set up a studio look. Soundproof your room as much as possible and study the basics of good filmography. If you can afford it, hire a professional who knows the ins and outs of capturing excellent footage.
While you can edit and improve your videos, the initial shots are what you’re stuck with. The better your filming, the more chances you’ll have an excellent promotional video.
2. Security Is a Must
Security might not be the first thing you think of when creating videos for social media or your website. However, imagine someone hacking into one of your accounts and replacing your video with something offensive.
Studies show business owners are placing more emphasis on cybersecurity, particularly those contracting with the government. Create complicated passwords for all your third-party video accounts. Change out passwords frequently to avoid information falling into the wrong hands.
Next, add firewalls and antivirus software to your computers. Train employees about phishing scams and how to keep their login credentials secure.
3. Fill in Metadata
If you want people to find your videos when they do a keyword search on your topic, you must fill in metadata. Even the title of your video should reflect what it’s about to help people decide if they should view it.
Think about the tags and keywords you want to target. What is someone likely to search for when seeking a solution such as your business provides? How can you work those words into your metadata, title, description, and the video content?
4. Talk to Your Audience
You likely already have buyer personas in place for your brand. Know who your audience is and the topics they’re interested in. If no one is viewing your videos, they may not be about the right topics.
Start by looking at questions your regular customers ask. Answer those queries in a few short videos. Next, think about the reasons people seek out your product in the first place. For example, if you sell nail polish, people might look for polish to hide blemishes in their toenails, add beauty to their life or enjoy the fun of summer.
Know the reasons people look for your product and you’ll be able to speak to them in the language and on the topics they care most about. Seek to solve pain points.
5. Add Transcription
About 66% of people do prefer to watch videos, but what about the other 44% of users? Not everyone can view videos. You may have some users who are visually impaired or having hearing problems. They might prefer to have a reader go through a transcript.
Others just prefer to read only the section they’re most interested in or be able to go back and look up facts and figures without watching the whole video again.
6. Edit Your Videos
Are people bouncing away from your videos before watching them all the way through? You may need to invest in some video editing software and put a bit more time into perfecting transitions and minor flaws.
Adobe offers Premiere Pro for a low monthly fee. You can blur elements you don’t want, fix sound issues, adjust lighting, and add transitions from one scene to the next. You could also use some of the free software that comes with desktops and mobile devices, such as iMovie or MS Video Editor.
Any video editing software you choose is going to take a bit of study to figure out. Fortunately, there are other videos teaching you how to edit specific features in and out of your videos. With a little practice, you’ll be a pro. You can also hire out the editing part of your videos to save time and delegate some of the most time-consuming tasks with video making.
7. Customize Thumbnails
The first thing people see on sites such as YouTube and Vimeo is your thumbnail. Don’t just go with whatever default the platform chooses. Create a still shot with a bit of interest, add some text to describe what the video is about and try to go with bright colors that pop.
Most people take in the visual aspects of a search result before anything else. You want to grab them in the first few milliseconds and draw them into reading more about your videos.
You Aren’t Alone
You aren’t the only person who ever created a video and didn’t get many views. Many others have gone before you, studied the problem and found solutions. Following the tips above, you should gain a better following.
Continue to share your videos on social media, ask your customers for feedback and slowly grow your audience. Over time, you’ll gain more followers. If you focus your videos on solving pain points, those fans will turn into customers.
