Why Video Marketing is More Popular than Ever?

Video marketing is now an important piece of a digital approach. If a brand or business does not use video ads, it is missing a grand opportunity. Video content draws customers and prospects. People are very fond of explainers, how-tos, live streams, product reviews, testimonials, tutorials, and vlogs.

A video marketing agency Hong Kong recommends using video content regardless of the size of your business. It makes branding more memorable and marketing more engaging. If you are still in doubt, here are the best reasons why video marketing is more popular than ever!

WHAT IS VIDEO MARKETING?

A digital marketing speaker Hong Kong notes that if a picture paints a thousand words, how much more video can do? It defines video marketing as the use of video content to promote a brand, product, or service. 

Video marketing can be implemented in almost any advertisement channel. It can be utilized for advertising, communication, and public relations. It can even be a big boost on eCommerce. But today, the best way to use video content is through social media. According to a social media agency Hong Kong, most social media users prefer watching a video to reading a blog post. 

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF VIDEO MARKETING?

Video marketing involves a lot of format, length, and styles. That is why there are so many options to use video content in marketing. They are more authentic. Today, the rawer and simpler a video ad is, the more people engage in it. Below are the top 10 types of videos used in digital marketing:

  • Branded videos like that of Starbucks teaching clients about fine coffees and how it feels to smell the dark aroma of roasted coffee.
  • Demo videos like that of Peloton showing how it feels being in a fitness class or indoor cycling, etc. 
  • Event videos to campaign for an upcoming event. One good example is the emotional storytelling of “In Pursuit of Greatness.” It is Wimbledon’s first video campaign with a cinematic look reflecting the brand’s unique character and history. 
  • How-to are educational videos that aim to help the viewers learn something. By showing exactly how to do a task step by step, it makes things easier to grasp. 
  • Live Streams are the most popular video format today. People love to share real-time experiences and a live broadcast answer it. It also uptick connection with your target audiences as they can address queries right then and there.
  • Podcast videos tap into the audience through engagement and trust. It is a strategic way to relay a brand message naturally.
  • Q & A videos are very helpful in answering the audiences’ queries. They also help attract more traffic online.
  • Testimonial videos feature how products and services solve the customer’s pain points. They are beneficial in building loyalty and trust among brands and businesses.
  • Webinar videos are a great way to engage an audience when presenting a list of products and services. Such live interactions can boost conversion and engagement.
  • Vlogger videos are about anything under the sun. But when they relate to a brand, they largely influence the buying experience.

WHY VIDEO MARKETING IS MORE POPULAR THAN EVER?

Here are some tidbits about why video marketing is more popular than ever:

  • More than 50% of modern consumers prefer video content from brands and businesses. A majority of audiences pay more attention to videos than audio content or text. It is true not only among millennials but also among boomers, GenZers, and older consumers. In fact, videos are expected to occupy 85% of the Internet traffic by 2022. 
  • Professionals use videos as a marketing tool. As more brands and businesses realize the importance of video marketing, 87% of professionals from different industries utilize video as a marketing tool. It is also how they connect with other businesses and nurture B2B campaigns. 
  • Video marketing boost brand awareness, leads, and sales. More than 72% of digital marketers have noted increasing brand awareness through video content. Video marketing boosts lead by 66% annually. While 66% of businesses generate more sales compared to those who do not utilize video content on their campaigns.
  • Social media users love videos.  There are 4.48 billion social media users out of 7.9 billion people in the world. Among digital marketers, 93% landed a new customer because of video ads. Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube are the top 3 platforms for video marketing. Around 76% of brands and businesses use video ads on Facebook, while 88% do video marketing on YouTube. 

Reference: 

https://burrelles.com/why-video-marketing-is-as-popular-and-necessary-as-ever/

https://www.markinblog.com/video-marketing-statistics/?gclid=CjwKCAjwn8SLBhAyEiwAHNTJbT9g2TmiZD2DLO3brb8oqHUqONPDVD3LzZ7g5pUpPRTZ2POFdG0TfBoCX90QAvD_BwE

How to Create Facebook In-Stream Ads

Facebook video ads started in 2007. After 9 years, the king of social media enabled live broadcasts and in-stream ads. They allow brands and businesses to connect with their audiences in real-time. As such, they foster better connection and relevance among Facebook users. Below is a guide on how to create Facebook in-stream ads.

ABOUT FACEBOOK IN-STREAM ADS

According to a social media agency Hong Kong, in-stream ads are technically ad breaks on Facebook. In-stream ads are short clips featured before, during, and after a video content on Facebook. Under the Creator Studio, brands and businesses can enable in-stream ads for all or specific video content. Pages of brands and businesses need to comply with the following Facebook’s Partner Monetization Policies to be able to use in-stream ads:

  • The admin or owner of the page must be 18 years old and above.
  • The country or location of the page is eligible for in-stream ads.

These types of ads can be inserted on videos on-demand where the page has to meet the following requirements too:

  • The Facebook Page must have at least 10,000 followers.
  • The Facebook Page must have at least 5 active videos directly uploaded to the platform (not cross-posted).
  • The Facebook Page must have at least 600,000 total minutes viewed in the last 60 days. It can include live, on-demand, and previously live videos. 

BENEFITS OF FACEBOOK IN-STREAM ADS

A digital marketing speaker Hong Kong has noted that over 2 million people watch Facebook in-stream ads monthly. Thus, their main benefit is boosting the engagement rate of a page or post. 

Video topics are also available when setting up Facebook in-stream ads. Powered by machine learning (ML), it gives brands and businesses more choices where their in-stream ads will appear. It means larger engagement and reaches. 

Around 70% of Facebook in-stream ads are viewed completely. It is not because they cannot be skipped. It is mainly because most mobile users consume a lot of video content. So, they actively choose to watch Facebook in-stream ads. 

As mention, the pages of brands and businesses should meet certain criteria to utilize Facebook in-stream ads. In exchange, they have a guaranteed audience size. As they result in a certain level of engagement, in-stream ads can boost conversion rates. It is especially true when brands and businesses target in-stream ads to people who have already shown interest in their products or services.

HOW TO CREATE FACEBOOK IN-STREAM ADS?

Just like other campaigns within Facebook Ads Manager, in-stream ads undergo the same steps when setting up a campaign. According to a video marketing agency Hong Kong, in-stream ads involve choosing ad placements, defining your target audience, and naming the campaign. But you must ensure to ticked “In-Stream” under the list of ad placements. Afterward, you can combine them with Facebook Stories and other static ads falling under the same campaigns.

To create Facebook In-stream ads, go to Creator Studio.

  • Click “Monetization” on the left side of the menu. 
  • Click the “Set Up” button. 
  • Select the Facebook Page where you would like to set up the in-stream ad. The set-up process includes choosing ad placements, defining your target audience, and naming the campaign. Don’t forget to tick the “In-Stream” option under the list of ad placements. 
  • Click “Show More Options” at the bottom of the list of ad placements. If you choose the option to “Don’t Include Skippable Ads in This Ad Set,” the in-stream ad cannot be skipped during a video break. Leaving such a setting off gives users the option to skip your in-stream ad. 
  • Upload your video content.
  • Review the terms and conditions before you click “Agree to Terms.”
  • Set up your payment account for the campaign.
  • Submit your in-stream ad for review.

All videos on Facebook in-stream ads must be under a 1:1 or 16:9 aspect ratio. The pixels should at least be 1080 x 1080. Brands and businesses can use different file formats for Facebook in-stream ads such as .gif, .mov, or .mp4, as long as they are smaller than 4 GB.

PRO-TIPS TO CREATING MORE EFFECTIVE FACEBOOK IN-STREAM ADS

Here are some pro-tips from Facebook’s Creative Guidance Navigator (CGN) to creating more effective Facebook in-stream ads.

  • Make an instant impact by starting strong in the 1st 3-second of an in-stream ad. It is the time when a viewer will decide to skip or watch it.
  • Make your in-stream ads recognizable by creating a distinctive look. Show off your logo immediately. Use a consistent brand color and theme.
  • Mix static and video ads to make in-stream ads more engaging. It allows Facebook users to recognize a brand or business more.
  • Use simple but straightforward call-to-actions (CTAs) on your in-stream ads. Links, primary text, and URL are ways to direct CTAs on eCommerce sites and landing pages. They can boost conversion and sales.

Reference: https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-create-facebook-in-stream-ads-people-will-watch/

The State of Video Marketing in 2021

Today, it only takes one video to drive a massive following. This is just a reminder that at any given moment, a video that you upload can set the Internet on fire. Being the most favorite content of online users today, they can make or break a marketing campaign. If you are looking to enhance the awareness of a brand; then, video marketing should be your top priority. Below, let us discover the state of video marketing in 2021! 

Video is an effective way to connect with your target audiences. As it becomes prevalent, it needs to be integrated into every aspect of marketing. According to a digital marketing speaker Hong Kong, most brands and businesses tend to partition video marketing as a separate channel. It is such a big mistake. Its dual approach of audio and visual is a near-perfect marketing approach. As such, brands and businesses should always think of integrating videos in their marketing approach. It will give you the most bang for your buck.

STATISTICS ABOUT VIDEO MARKETING IN 2021

People all over the world enjoy watching video content now more than ever. In the US, 85% of Internet users watch online videos. Saudi Arabia and Turkey took the lead with the largest number of online video viewers monthly at 95% of Internet users. y 2022, a video marketing agency Hong Kong predicts that video will constitute 82% of online traffic.

According to a social media agency Hong Kong, there is a rising demand for video content among 54% of modern consumers. They are the favorite type of content that social media shoppers love to see. YouTube is the most popular video-sharing platform with 88% of marketers using the channel. Facebook comes next at 76%. Instagram is third among marketers’ favorite video-sharing channels. So, it may not be a surprise when Instagram Chief Adam Mosseri announced that it is now a photo and video sharing platform. 

Video marketing does not only entertain audiences to increase brand awareness. Nearly 8 out of 10 people have made a purchase after watching a video about an app, brand, product, or service. Around 73% of consumers claimed that videos influenced their buying decisions. No wonder 93% of marketers say that they have acquired new customers by posting video ads on their social media pages. Video marketers also get 66% more qualified leads per year than those who do not engage in video marketing.

5 ESSENTIAL VIDEO MARKETING TRENDS FOR 2021

  • Interactive Stories. The market for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) is expected to grow at $72.8 billion by 2024. Thus, brands and businesses should embrace both technologies and incorporate them into video marketing. Instead of simply appealing visuals, they should focus on creating an immersive video experience through AR and VR. AR has increase engagement among video content by 10x. While VR allows marketers to deeply connect with their customers boosting loyalty and retention.
  • Sequential Storytelling. Telling your brand story is no longer a single creative. Video marketing has now evolved into sequential storytelling. They are several creative videos united by a single narrative. Each video may have individual value. But the brand messaging will only be complete if a viewer watched the whole sequence. YouTube research shows that 74% of viewers better remember sequential ads than 30-second videos. A series of consistent stories generate more interest and makes a brand remembered longer. Brands and businesses should start investing in such a type of video marketing. They are effective social media posts on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
  • Shoppable Videos. Live shopping is transforming eCommerce today. Such a video marketing approach started in 2016 with Alibaba’s Taobao Live. It combines instant purchases with chat and reactions as the audience participates. Soon enough, shoppable videos started leading the western market. Last year, more than 70% of YouTubers around the world made a purchase while watching YouTube ads. While Twitch became the biggest live streaming platform today, with 9.3 billion hours watched. Gamers are also actively shopping for online apps and items on the platform in real-time.
  • Short-form Videos. Modern consumers have a shorter span compared to traditional shoppers. So, it is important for video marketing to focus more on bite-size content. It is because they are easier to digest and more engaging to your target audiences. The growth of TikTok is one living proof of that. Short-form videos that are 15 to 60 seconds in length communicate with the audience in more exciting ways. By adding memorable music to the clip, brands and businesses can better capture the audiences’ emotions. 
  • User-Generated Video Content. Even in video marketing, your happy customers are your best advocates. A UGC video like a review or testimonial can boost the audiences’ trust. Only one-third of online shoppers rely on product ads. The other two-thirds rely on customer opinions and recommendations. A properly promoted UGC video content can go a long way from promoting a brand to uplifting brand loyalty. It is because UGCs are authentic, honest, and sincere.

THE STATE OF VIDEO MARKETING IN 2021

It is a no-brainer that the state of video marketing in 2021 is very promising. Such a state will continue in the coming years. Based on the current video marketing trends, a variety of engaging videos are still bound to capture the viewer’s attention. Brands and businesses should always remember that the key to a successful video marketing approach is to grab the audience’s attention in the first few seconds!

Reference: https://www.thedrum.com/profile/depositphotos/news/the-state-of-video-marketing-in-2021-infographic

How to Use YouTube Shorts in Marketing

Imagine getting 15 billion impressions without spending anything on advertising and marketing? A powerful example is Nathan Apodaca’s TikTok clip. It is a short music clip while Nathan is riding a skateboard on his way to work while listening to “Dreams” and drinking Ocean Breeze’s cranberry juice. It boosted the product’s sales and lifted the Ocean Breeze brand into a positive light.

A video marketing agency Hong Kong has noted that short-form videos are dominating the digital space right now. After TikTok went viral in 2020, other social media platforms tried cloning the app. Instagram launched Reels. Snapchat released Spotlight. Twitter created Fleets, but it bade goodbye last July. And then, there was YouTube Shorts. With YouTube joining the short-video trend, how can marketers use Shorts?

WHAT ARE YOUTUBE SHORTS?

The largest video-sharing platform in the world has always been a place for entertainment. Favorite dance trends like Evolution of Dance, Roller Skate Dances, or the Jerusalema Challenge have emerged from YouTube. Short videos like Charlie Bit My Finger, Good morning yall, and Lockdown Trick Shots have been replayed millions of times. Over the years, the platform allowed creators to build a community among 2 billion people.

A digital marketing speaker Hong Kong narrated that the first video on YouTube was called “Me at the zoo.” It was an 18-second video uploaded by YouTube’s Co-founder Jawed Karim, at the San Diego Zoo in April 2005. The video is very similar to YouTube Shorts. Such bite-size content has amazed and entertained viewers by sparing a minute of their day. That is why YouTube got its inspiration from the said video clip. 

3 MAIN FOUNDATIONS OF YOUTUBE SHORTS

YouTube Shorts are designed under three main foundations – create, get discovered, and watch. 

Create. YouTube wants to make it easier for people to make easy and fun short clips. As such, the platform equips the Shorts camera with:

  • Multi-Segmentation to string together several video clips.
  • Music Recording from a large library of songs that the platform continuously updates.
  • Speed Controls for flexible editing.
  • Timer and Countdown for hands-free recording.

Get Discovered. YouTube Shorts allow 2 billion viewers to connect, laugh, and learn. Every year, YouTube will be allocating a $100 million Shorts fund. It aims to help Shorts creators get discovered and earn money from their creativity.

Watch. The homepage of YouTube now highlights Shorts in a row. As you search for regular videos on YouTube, Shorts comes along with a red symbol in the lower-right corner. Users can also find Shorts of specific creators by searching for the creator’s channel on the top search menu and going over their posted videos. Moving forward, the platform will make it easier to find and watch them. 

HOW TO USE YOUTUBE SHORTS IN MARKETING

A social media agency Hong Kong highlights that YouTube Shorts are unique from other videos because of their simplicity to create. Using just a mobile phone, users already have the tools to film, edit, and upload the 15-second clip. They also do not follow the same rules as regular YouTube videos. They are not monetized, but brands and businesses can still use them in their marketing approach. Here are some ways on how to use YouTube Shorts in marketing:

  • Use Shorts as a natural extension of full-length videos. Shorts can be a great way to serve as teasers or thumbnails for long-form YouTube videos. They can also be used to the best part or most interesting scene of a full-length YouTube video. By creating a bunch of Shorts clips, brands and businesses can expand their engagement and reach within the YouTube community.
  • Use Shorts for how-to videos. How-to has been a popular video content since the COVID-19 pandemic. Most people started learning many crafts to ease boredom and the need to perform simple repairs or recreations. Shorts can be a perfect tool to do how-to videos. Instead of 5 to 10 minutes, it will be easier to give a single how-to trick within 15 seconds. 
  • Use Shorts to recommend brands, products, and services. Brands and businesses can use YouTube Shorts to highlight and recommend their products and services. Creating Shorts clips showing the details and functions of a product in a glimpse can be eye-catching among YouTube viewers. It allows discovery and engagement among your target audiences.
  • Use Shorts to show quick tips and tricks. A vital part of digital marketing is educating the target audiences. Shorts can be a powerful tool in this marketing strategy. Use them to show quick tips and tricks then link them to your business eCommerce shop to drive conversion. 

THE BOTTOM LINE

As a marketer, you should always remain on top of trends to keep up with the competition. As the consumption for short-form videos is rising, YouTube Shorts can be a great tool to keep up with the market trends. It has great growth potentials because of its simple creation. It also makes it easier for marketers to create ads and campaigns by just using their mobile devices. 

Reference: https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-make-youtube-shorts-for-business/

Why Marketers Should Consider YouTube Ads?

Everybody knows about YouTube unless one lives under the rocks. YouTube is the number one destination for video streaming. Today, it is the 1st most visited global site for organic searches. A video marketing agency Hong Kong even added that YouTube has 2 billion monthly active users and 30 million daily active users. Such statistics make the video-sharing platform a powerful channel for marketing. 

Cisco reported that by 2022, videos will make up 82% of all online traffic. Video viewers retained 95% of the message compared to reading texts. That is the reason why 78% of modern consumers watch online videos weekly to learn about products and services. Around 54% of them want to see more videos from brands and businesses. As videos became the most popular choice of content today, marketers should consider YouTube Ads? Here are the reasons why!

The Potential Reach of YouTube Is Huge

A digital marketing speaker Hong Kong highlights that YouTube Ads are the perfect means to get in front of your target audiences. The most subscribed YouTube channel is T-Series, with 190 million followers. The most-viewed YouTube video is the “Baby Shark Dance” by Pinkfong Kids’ Songs & Stories, with more than 9 billion views. These just showed that the largest audience and most popular videos are on YouTube. 

Among brands and businesses, these statistics mean larger reach, which can boost the discovery of their products and services. Marketers do not need to spend a lot of time on the most popular social media channel. They also need to explore other platforms to know which effectively match their niche and drive positive results. 

Besides, YouTube is now available across multiple devices. People can watch YouTube videos using their desktops, smartphones, and smart TV sets. They can access YouTube videos in a lot of apps and streaming services. Families can watch YouTube on their front room televisions together. To diversify your ads and campaigns, marketers can never go wrong if they consider YouTube Ads. 

There Is Less Competition and Less Distraction in YouTube

A social media agency Hong Kong explains that people come to YouTube to watch a video. YouTube videos don’t compete for the audience’s attention. Unlike other platforms, YouTube does not have endless notifications and news feeds. This means they have less distraction than other social media networks.

There is also less competition when marketing on YouTube. Brands and businesses have a huge number of videos where they can place ads for their potential targets. The platform even allows ad and campaign partnerships with small video creators. As such, YouTube Ads can appear on any video. A recent change implemented by the platform provided an amount of real estate for unpaid YouTube Ads. This is to boost advertising among budding YouTube creators. 

YouTube also grows too quickly. After Google purchased the video-sharing platform in 2006, it focused more on video innovations. As such, other social media platforms cannot keep up at phase with YouTube’s video features and tools. That is why marketers should consider YouTube Ads. 

YouTube Ad Pricing Is Cheaper

Google owns YouTube. It means that advertising on YouTube is advertising on the Google AdWords network. With the power of Google AdWords, marketers should definitely consider YouTube Ads. The average cost-per-view of a YouTube Ad is around $0.010 – $0.030. It is the price that a brand or business pays every time a viewer watches a YouTube Ad from beginning to end.

Other social media platforms calculate the cost of their ads based on thousands. They price ads according to a thousand impressions or views. But YouTube prices its ads per view, making its ad pricing cheaper. So, if your ads appear on YouTube channels and videos that are audience-based, you can definitely boost the discovery of your products and services at affordable costs. Brands and businesses also have expanded the opportunity for YouTube ads to reach more people through the “watch next” feature after a regular video is done playing.

YouTube Has Unique Targeting Tools

There are several elements that make YouTube Ads more effective than other social media networks. YouTube has some unique targeting tools not available on other channels. As they are owned by Google, YouTube houses a lot of first-party data from audiences’ searches. These can be very valuable when launching YouTube ads and campaigns. 

Google studies showed that 80% of prime buyers are on YouTube. These are people ages 18 to 48 years old. Around 68% of this age demographic make a purchase after watching a YouTube video. That is a lot of conversion and sale opportunities for grabs. 

Most social media networks, like Facebook, have news feeds and endless notifications. To get the attention of their users on ads, they need to interrupt the user first. On YouTube, people go straight to videos to find solutions to their problems. Brands and businesses no longer need to interrupt them because they could position the ads right on the videos themselves. As such, marketers can reach viewers at the time they have a high intention of learning about the product and making a purchase.  

THE BOTTOM LINE

Remember that people visit YouTube to watch videos. Marketers should consider YouTube Ads because they are cheaper, easier to place, and more effective. Try it now and see amazing results!

Reference: https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/youtube-ad-success-what-you-need-to-know-to-get-started/

10 Ways to Make Money on YouTube

Since it was launched in 2005, YouTube has remained the number one video-sharing platform in the world. Users can choose from more than 170 genres, 64,000 sound effects, and 32,000 tracks to create videos via its audio library. While its visual media supports more than 50 formats and 800 effects. A video marketing agency Hong Kong has listed 10 ways to make money on YouTube. The list aims to educate and entice creators that YouTube is more than just sharing videos. Rather, it is also a platform to earn a living and monetize video content. 

A digital marketing speaker Hong Kong notes that YouTube values the skills and talents of its creators. The platform is aware that modern-day creators played multi-facet roles. They are content creators, editors, entrepreneurs, marketers, and storytellers – all in one. That is why in 2007, YouTube launched the YPP business model. It is a YouTube Partner Program designed for revenue sharing on ads. In 2018, YouTube enabled a merchandise shelf where creators can earn paid digital goods. As time goes by, the platform also added creator funding and monetizing features and tools to help creators earn money. Here’s a list!

BrandConnect

Every day, people come to YouTube to connect with their favorite channels and creators. Oftentimes, they trust recommendations from them. YouTube’s BrandConnect allows brands and businesses to partner with creators in promoting their products and services. By creating personalized video content about a brand’s offering, creators can turn viewers into customers and earn commissions for every conversion. In addition, brands and businesses can better understand what type of content can work best to boost awareness and conversion via video marketing. This is through the insights provided by YouTube’s BrandConnect. 

Channel Memberships 

A great way to make money on YouTube is to create channel memberships. Such a feature offers your biggest fans, supporters, and viewers access to exclusive perks in exchange for a monthly fee. The perks may include behind-the-scenes access, exclusive content for members, and other privileges like badges, one-on-one chats, etc. A YouTube creator should be a member of the YPP and with at least 1,000 subscribers to be eligible for channel memberships.

Creator Funding

YouTube offers several bonus programs for creators with outstanding video content. Typically, the bonus will be given based on a video’s engagement and views performances. 

  • Last February, YouTube launched the Kids Fund. It is a $100 million commitment to create educational and family programs for kids. The funding aims to create videos related to child development, child safety, and digital literacy among kids. 
  • Last June, YouTube officially opened the Black Voices Fund. It is a program granting black creators free resources and training funded by YouTube. This creator funding focuses on helping black creators create impactful productions about their personal lives. 
  • The latest round of Creator Funding from YouTube is the Shorts Fund. It will be distributed among Shorts creators with outstanding content every month from 2021 to 2022. Outstanding Shorts equate to huge engagements and views metrics in the platform. The funding is open for all creators who adhere to YouTube’s community guidelines and who published original and unique Shorts content within the last 180 days. Creators can make money from the Shorts Fund from $10,000 to $100,000 monthly. 

Merch Shelf

Another way to make money on YouTube is through the merch shelf. It allows eligible channels to showcase their branded merchandise on YouTube. A creator can choose one of YouTube’s 30 partner merchants to sell their branded merchandise. Merchandise eligibility varies depending on the participating countries, channel subscribers, and channel types. 

Super Chat

In 2017, YouTube launched the Super Chat feature. It aims to help creators deepen their relationships with their fans through one-on-one messaging. Through Super Chat, viewers of a live stream can purchase a highlighted message on the chat stream. The highlighted message remained pinned on top for 5 hours. Creators will connect to them in priority, allowing more meaningful conversations during the live streams. In exchange for creators to have doubled their effort in replying to pinned chats while doing a live broadcast, they were able to make money through the viewer’s purchase.

Super Stickers 

Super Stickers were launched by YouTube in 2019. It is another way to make money on YouTube live streams and premieres through tipping. During a live broadcast, viewers can buy cool stickers to connect with the host. Once a viewer buys a sticker, it will show every time he or she makes a comment to highlight it. Creators and other viewers will see those who buy super stickers on top of the comments tab. 

Super Thanks

YouTube enabled Super Thanks just last July 2021. It is the latest addition to YouTube’s Supers family and a new way to make money on the platform. Like Super Stickers, fans can show support to YouTube Creators by tipping them under four price points. The cost ranges from $2 to $50 or its equivalent value to a local currency. Instead of fun stickers, the buyer will get an animated and colorful GIF to distinguish their identity in the comments section. It is for creators to reply to their comments in priority.

Ticketing Partnerships

YouTube artists can also make money through the sales of tickets for their upcoming concerts, events, or shows. Through YouTube’s ticketing feature, fans can learn about the schedules in advance and buy tickets on YouTube’s ticketing partners. 

YouTube Premium Content

Like channel memberships, YouTube Premium are exclusive content subscriptions paid monthly. In exchange for a monthly fee, subscribers can enjoy ad-free videos, background playback, downloads, and exclusive access to premium content of the Music app. The majority of the subscription revenues are paid to YouTube creators. 

YouTube Video Ad

 Advertisers, brands, businesses, and creators can all make money through YouTube video ads. Using product stickers and tags, video ads allow viewers to buy an offering or a product through a direct link to an eCommerce website. A social media agency Hong Kong notes that the biggest revenue on YouTube comes from video ads.

Reference: https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/10-ways-monetize-youtube/

Twitter Will Bid Fleets a Goodbye

Twitter will bid Fleets goodbye! Launch in November 2020, such an Instagram Stories clone will be removed by the 3rd of August. When Twitter launched Fleets, it aims to serve as a new way to spark conversations in the platform. It is an ephemeral and low-pressure way to share thoughts. Unfortunately, the platform has not seen a significant increase in Fleets’ usage. As it no longer serves public conversations, Twitter decided to remove Fleets and develop new features better than it.

WHAT ARE TWITTER FLEETS?

Fleets are tweets that only go live for 24 hours. These transitory thoughts can be posted as GIFs, photos, text, and videos. The video length can be up to 2 minutes and 21 seconds (521 MB). They cannot be publicly replied to, retweeted, or shared. But viewers of a Fleet can send reactions via direct messages (DM). Anyone can react to Fleets from users with an open DM but only people followed by a user with closed DMs can react to them. Authors of Fleets can see who viewed them by tapping Fleets and the “seen by” text at the bottom of the screen. 

To create a new Fleet, simply tap the bubble-like icon and the “+” sign on your Twitter profile. Fleets appear above a home timeline.  A social media agency Hong Kong reported that Fleets also now appear underneath tweets to boost exposure. Fleets differ from Instagram Stories when it comes to viewing functions. Users need to swipe down vertically before they can view the next Fleet. With Instagram Stories, users can do it horizontally. Fleets are designed for mobile use on both Android and iOS. Since the time Fleets was launched, Twitter continuously added enhancements to such features including animated stickers, custom backgrounds, and twemojis. A dedicated Fleets tab to display related Fleets has also been rolled out to boost its discovery. 

HOW DO BRANDS AND BUSINESSES USE FLEETS?

A digital marketing speaker Hong Kong notes that the Twitter nation craves authentic interactions. Fleets are the perfect ways to do that by celebrating fans, driving brand awareness, and offering behind-the-scenes stories. Businesses have been using Fleets to boost their marketing goals as follow:

  • Celebrate brand advocates. Fleets allow brands and businesses to shout out tweets from their biggest fans. This is a great way to celebrate with your brand advocates. Featuring them on Fleets can make them feel extra special and valued.
  • Drive product awareness. If a brand or business will have last-time purchases, top-selling items, or upcoming new products, Fleets are a perfect way of sharing images of these items on full screen. 
  • Engage with fans. Using eye-catching photos, text, and videos on Fleets can boost fan engagement. Brands and businesses can also invite their fans to share similar content. In turn, they can reply to additional thoughts directly on those fan Fleets. Brands and businesses can also share funny memes or start conversations via Live Fleets.  
  • Offer promotions and giveaways. Fleets only last for 24 hours. As such, they can be a great way to create a sense of urgency in offering promotions and giveaways. If such discounted deals are still going on, make sure to create a new fleet about it. 
  • Share updates. Fleets are also great ways to announce updates. Whether it is a new sale or shipping delays, keep your fan base informed with the latest news. It is a sure way to avoid Twitter content being missed as Fleets stay on top of your followers’ timeline all throughout the day.
  • Show behind-the-scenes. The most authentic way to connect with your followers is by showing behind-the-scenes. It may be how a product is being made or what an ordinary day in the company looks like. Fleets are perfect tools for sharing these casual pieces of content with your fan base.
  • Elevate your Tweets. When brands and businesses share a tweet via Fleets, they are sure that their content is seen because Fleets take prime real estate on Twitter feeds. This is because they appear above home timelines and underneath the latest tweets. 

TWITTER WILL BID FLEETS A GOODBYE

According to a video marketing agency Hong Kong, Twitter will bid Fleets a goodbye because the platform is evolving. Twitter is trying to create bigger and bolder things to serve public conversations. If a certain feature will not work out to fulfill such a goal, they will remove it after careful evaluation. Twitter will no longer take chances improving Fleets and decided to remove them by the 3rd of August. But the platform will use its learning from Fleets to create a better way to talk about what’s happening in the world. Moving forward, Twitter will continuously build new ways to change directions, listen to feedback, and participate in meaningful conversations. The platform’s main goal is to find better ways to serve the Twitter nation. 

Reference: https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/product/2021/goodbye-fleets

Budget-Friendly Ads That Convert

Last year was a significant year for social media. The pandemic accelerated the switch in pushing more people to get online. Most social media networks experience growth as people connect to the world right in their homes. Today, there are around 3.6 billion social media users. Brands and businesses have also switched to using social media in promoting their products and services. Their budget shifted from print advertisements to digital ads. As such, there are more and more searches about budget-friendly ads that convert. Here are some low-cost strategies you can do!

Anniversary Campaigns

Anniversaries are momentous events reminding us that something matters. It may be your business, friendship, husband, work partnership, etc. Setting up anniversary campaigns a month ahead allows brands and businesses to take part in the celebration. Depending on the products and services offered, they can do anniversary campaigns in different forms. A video marketing agency Hong Kong suggests creating a video ad to evoke emotions within such campaigns. Hit just right within the first few seconds of a YouTube short clip, and share it on Facebook to expand its reach. Some suggested anniversary campaigns are:

  • Anniversary code to get a special offer
  • Anniversary discount for a product
  • Anniversary freebies on purchases
  • Anniversary service packages
  • Buy 1 get 1 for your partner

Birthday Campaigns

Birthdays are a special time of year for most people. It reminds them how far they have come and what goals they have achieved in life. For brands and businesses, targeting birthday celebrants before a week or two can most likely convert them to consider you as part of the celebration. With just a one-time setup, these types of evergreen content keep you up and running. Most social media platforms allow ad targeting based on birthday demographics. Facebook, for one, allows brands and businesses to filter their audiences based on life events. Using Facebook Ads Manager, filter your audience based on their birthdays for the ad to reach people with upcoming birthdays. Some examples of eCommerce ads directly referencing birthday celebrants are:

  • Birthday code to get a special offer
  • Birthday discount on a product
  • Birthday freebies on purchases
  • Discounted or free birthday consultation services

Video ads can be an effective way to present birthday campaigns, according to a social media agency Hong Kong. A great way is to create mystery using a wrapped birthday present and pique the audience’s interest through a text teaser. You can also add an accompanying text post to tell viewers how to open the wrap. Boil the video ad down within 30 seconds to 2 minutes to be more effective. Viewers today have a short attention span. 

Local Businesses Campaigns

Google My Business has greatly enhanced the discovery of local businesses. It targets people not only living within a certain area but also those visiting the location. Brands and businesses can offer discounts and promotion codes to residents. They can also craft a loyalty program for frequent customers. Among local visitors, ads on specialty cuisines and souvenir items with discounts and promotion codes can excite people who are new in town most. Of course, local businesses ads only work for people who have their GPS. But still, a large portion of them do so. 

A digital marketing speaker Hong Kong notes the importance of storytelling as an effective marketing strategy for local businesses campaigns. It helps you build awareness by connecting your audience to the people behind your brand. It also creates connections by showing your history and values. 

Q & A Campaigns

No matter how brands and businesses share advice and tips, people continue to ask similar questions. So, if you have piles of advice saved up in your brain or a spreadsheet of content banks relevant to your products and services, a budget-friendly ad that converts are Q & A campaigns. Using Messenger ads, you can ask a potential customer a question relevant to his or her needs. The answer is a product or service ad that can solve his or her problem. This type of ad prompts people to start a conversation with brands and businesses. This allows them to qualify leads and personalize their offers. They are also an opportunity to provide 24/7 customer support by the use of well-designed chatbots.

Trend Campaigns

Budget-friendly ads that convert are trend campaigns. These are riding on with relevant viral issues that may come and go. But during the heat of the discussion, brands and businesses can grab the opportunity to promote their products and services. A good example of this campaign is highlighting the importance of using masks and sanitizers to protect you against COVID-19. Brands selling such items can create educational ads about the COVID trend and present the importance of their products to cope up with the new normal world. After the trend, you can turn the campaign off anytime. 

Reference: https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/low-cost-social-ad-strategies-that-convert/

How Many People Use Social Media in 2021?

More than half of the world’s population are social media users. Out of 7.7 billion people in the world, 4.33 billion have a social media account. A social media agency Hong Kong defines social media as a computer-based platform that allows sharing of ideas, information, and thoughts with people all over the world. 

Social media began way back in 1844 when the first electronic message was sent by Samuel Morse from Baltimore to Washington D.C. As The Washington Post said: “Before Twitter & Facebook, there was the Morse Code…” In 1996, the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) laid down the roots of digital communications. 

The first social media platform was launched in 1997. Andrew Weinreich created SixDegrees.com under the “six degrees of separation theory.” The theory claims that everyone in the world is connected to everyone else by more than six degrees of separation. In 2010, there were around 970 million social media users. By 2020, the total number surpassed the 3 billion mark. With continuous growth, let’s see how big social media has evolved today.

Facebook

Launched in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook now has 2.8 billion monthly active users (MAUs). A digital marketing speaker Hong Kong notes that it is still the king of social media marketing with ad revenue of $27.2 billion in 2020. The countries with the most Facebook users are India (320 million), the United States (190 million), and Indonesia (140 million). The Asia Pacific region is home to the largest Facebook users share with 43%.

Instagram

Kevin Systrom founded Instagram together with Mike Krieger in 2010. This photo-sharing platform was later acquired by Facebook in 2021. Instagram boasts of 1.2 billion MAUs being one of the most-used social media platforms today. In 2010, Instagram Stories was launched to compete with Snapchat’s Snaps. Today, Instagram Stories are now reaching 500 million people daily with Snapchat’s Snaps having 150 million people a day. The countries with the most Instagram users are the United States (140 million), India (140 million), and Brazil (99 million). 

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the world’s largest online professional network. It was founded by Reid Hoffman in 2002 and officially launched in 2003. It has always been looked up as a platform for building out jobs. At the same time, it is a successful B2B marketing platform and has skyrocketed the launch of events and industry news. Today, LinkedIn has 740 million MAUs. The countries with the most LinkedIn users are the United States (178 million), India (76 million), and Mainland China (53 million). The Asia Pacific region is home to the largest LinkedIn users with 206 million.

Pinterest

Launched in 2010 by Ben Silbermann, Evan Sharp, and Paul Sciarra, Pinterest is a visual discovery engine that turned into a powerful social media platform. The app balances competition between businesses as it continues to provide inspire pinners. Around 95% of top searches on the platform are unbranded. Pinterest has around 459 million MAUs today. The countries with the most Pinterest users are the United States (100 million), Germany (17 million), and France (12 million). 

Snapchat

A popular messaging app, Snapchat was founded by Evan Spiegel, Reggie Brown, and Bobby Murphy in 2011. This social media platform lets users exchange snaps (pictures and videos) that disappear after they are viewed. As it loses its cool to the younger generations because of TikTok, B2B marketers are now flocking on the platform growing its MAU by 18% in 2020. Today, Snapchat has 500 million MAUs. The countries with the most Snapchat users are the United States (108 million), India (74.3 million), and France (24.5 million). The North and Central American region is home to the largest Snapchat users with 90 million.

TikTok

Make your day with TikTok clips! Zhang Yiming founded the app originally as Douyin in 2016. Featuring short music clips, this social media app now has 1.1 billion MAUs. It has become the no. 1 non-gaming iOS app in the United States. It became the most popular network among American teens. In the US alone, the app has 130 million active users today. Recently, TikTok launched a marketplace where brands can partner with creators whose audience fits their target persona.

Twitter

Honestly, Twitter is the most profitable platform today. It has reached a 1.04 billion revenue in the first quarter of 2021. With the new paid subscription service it has launched, such revenue is set to grow more than 28% year over year. Jack Dorsey founded Twitter in 2016 as a microblogging website. Today, people go to the platform to keep themselves updated with the latest news and trends. Today, Twitter has 340 million MAUs. The countries with the most Twitter users are the United States (69.3 million), Japan (50.93 million), and India (17.5 million). The American s have the largest percentage of Twitter’s user base. 

WeChat 

China’s super app, WeChat is also called the Chinese app for everything. WeChat is called the super app because it allows users to perform a variety of functions. Through WeChat, users can book a taxi, catch up with friends, get map directions, order food, and pay online.  Tencent started working on a mobile messaging app in October 2010. Around 3 months after, the company launched “Weixin,” which eventually became WeChat as an English name. From text messaging to sending photos, and then, voice clips, this social media platform has grown a lot. Today WeChat has 1.24 billion MAUs. More than 1 billion WeChat users are based in China and 2.4 million are from the US. 

WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a multi-messaging platform founded by John Koum and Brian Acton in 2009. Facebook purchased the app with a whopping $16 billion in 2014. With 2 billion MAUs, it is the most popular messaging app among 180 countries. The countries with the most WhatsApp users are India (390 million), Brazil (108 million), and the United States (75 million).

YouTube

A video marketing agency Hong Kong sees YouTube as the number 1 platform for video marketing. Three former PayPal employees founded this video-sharing app in 2005. They are Chad Hurley, Jawed Kareem, and Steve Chen. After its initial launch, YouTube attracted 30,000 visitors daily. It was serving more than 2 million video views 8 months after its launch. After a year, Google acquired YouTube making the app a part of its search engine. Today YouTube has 2.3 billion MAU. 

Reference: https://www.kubbco.com/top-27-social-media-apps-for-your-2021-strategy/

UPW2106-002 Top Digital Marketing Trends of 2021

There is a rising demand for digital marketing today. As brands and businesses shift to the new normal, they shift from physical stores to online shops. They have to keep up with the modern consumer’s behavior. A digital marketing speaker Hong Kong noted that 56% of businesses are changing their go-to marketing models into digital opportunities. Digital Marketing covers email, mobile apps, search engines, social media, and websites. It focuses on the promotion of brands, products, and services through these online media channels. But advertising online is much more complex than traditional marketing. Since the online world is constantly changing, marketers need to be updated with the top marketing trends. In this article, let’s discuss the top marketing trends of 2021.

Blockers of Ad Blocker

An ad block protects the privacy of a device used by preventing a web request to download the content of a web browser. They technically stop ads to download on web content. This 2021, Apple’s IDFA update is one obstacle that marketers need to overcome with ad blocking. Most iOS users will opt out of data tracking, and this is equivalent to 27% of Internet users using ad blockers. To combat an ad blocker, brands and businesses need to re-strategize their marketing approach. They should focus on improving the on-site experience. Show blocking visitors the value of exchange advertising. Limit content to visitors using ad blockers. In this way, they can decide to disable their ad-blockers. 

Featured Snippets and No-Click Searches

Around 62% of the world’s population use mobile phones. An average person uses a mobile device 58 times every day. This has shifted to a trend featuring snippets and no-click searches. For many years, the goal of SEO has been to rank in the first place of search engine results. This 2021, the goal will be to reach “Position Zero.” Position Zero is also called a featured snippet. It is the information offered at the topmost part of a search result separated by a small box. This information also displays relevant data in an attempt to answer other possible questions of a user. They are called no-click searches because the users no longer click on them to get an answer. No-click searches also featured snippets using voice assistants. So, the key is for brands and businesses to rephrase their keywords using spoken languages.

Image and Video SEO 

Almost all Android and iOS phones today have Google Lens applications. Such a tool helps users search for information using images and videos. Instead of typing a search, all they need to do is submit an image or video clip. As visual search techniques become a marketing trend, the SEO landscape also changes. Today, it is important for brands and businesses to capitalize on this trend. Ensure that your images and video are in tip-top shape. Use HD and top-quality media elements. A video marketing agency Hong Kong recommends to always include alt-text to describe images and videos. Apply targeted SEO keywords on the alt-text. If you are an eCommerce brand, it is best to familiarize yourself with Google Lens. 

Interactive Content

Interactive content is a part of a greater trend on the personalization of marketing strategies. By allowing users to answer for themselves and be heard, they feel more connected to a brand. They can do wonders for a brand by promoting engagement and fun. When it comes to algorithms, they increase the time users spend on your pages or websites. Most importantly, they provide a positive user experience. The most popular interactive marketing content that brands and businesses can create are:

  • AR try-on 
  • Contests
  • Giveaways
  • Open-ended questions
  • Polls
  • Quizzes
  • Surveys

Local SEO

Because of the lockdowns and social distancing measures during the 2020 COVID pandemic, people learn more to discover local brands and businesses. That is why Google updates its SEO algorithm to local search trends. It turned out that local SEO is more powerful than broad SEO these days. People now search for a specific type of business within their geographic area. This is because it is easier for them to transact with nearby shops so it’s easier to convert them. To keep up with the local SEO trend, brands and businesses should sign up and constantly update a Google My Business account. It will help you rank in Google SERPS and allow you to offer extra information about your company to online searchers.

Oldies But Goodies

Plenty of marketing trends are also going strong until today. For years, they have continued to be a game-changer and are expected to do the same this 2021. A social media agency Hong Kong can easily connect users to product checkouts using shoppable posts. This means applying online shops’ links, product tags, QR codes, and stickers on ads and campaigns. By streamlining the payment process, brands and businesses have greatly increased conversions. As opposed to premier influencers, micro-influencers are like average people though they have a larger social media following. At the fraction of a cost in hiring premier influencers, brands and businesses are not shifting to partnering with micro-influencers. Using them as a medium to promote products and services has been proven effective by targeting your ideal buying persona. The key is to find the right partner with content relevant to your products and services.

Reference: https://99designs.com/blog/marketing-advertising/digital-marketing-trends/