The world of digital advertising is filled with endless possibilities for marketers. There are so many different options and new channels popping up all the time that it can be difficult to know where to begin when getting started. The good news is that there are more opportunities than ever to reach your target audience in a way that’s not only relevant but also engaging and effective. We’ve seen a huge rise in video ads as brands have begun using them more frequently. It’s no wonder why, given that they have been shown to have higher retention rates than other forms of advertisements like images or text ads. With so many pros and so few cons, the only question left is how you can start using video ads to grow your business. Keep reading for everything you need to know about video ads and how you can use them to engage customers, drive sales, and increase ROI for your brand.
What is a video ad?
A video ad is an advertisement that includes video content. It can come in the form of a pre-roll, mid-roll, or post-roll ad. As the name suggests, it’s a short video clip that you can use to advertise your product or service, drive traffic to your website, and increase brand awareness. Most video ads will last between 15 and 60 seconds, making them short enough to keep viewers engaged but long enough to get your message across. As opposed to a still image or text ad, which can be easily overlooked and forgotten, video ads are much more memorable and engaging. Though you can use video ads on any platform, some platforms are better than others for video ads, both from a performance and user experience perspective. We’ll discuss these in more detail below.
Why use video ads?
Higher click-through rates – Video ads have been proven to have higher click-through rates than ads without video. They also have higher click-through rates than other types of ads like images or text-only ads. These ads have higher rates of engagement, which means more people are clicking through to your site and buying your product.
Higher retention rates – Video ads also have higher retention rates than other types of ads. What this means is that viewers are more likely to remember seeing your ad, which is especially important for B2B companies. You want your ad to really stand out and be memorable, so people can walk away with your company’s name and product.
More time spent on site – Video ads have been shown to drive more time spent on site, which means more time spent looking at products and shopping. This can be especially important during the holiday season or other peak sales times.
Better ROI – Video ads have also been shown to have a better ROI than other types of ads. This means that for every dollar you spend, you get more back in return.
3 Types of Video Ads
There are quite a few different types of video ads, but not all of them are created equal. Here are three of the most popular video ad types that you should consider:
Pre-roll video ads – These are the types of video ads you might have seen before on your favorite TV shows. They generally appear before the show starts, either right before the opening credits or at the beginning of the show. Pre-roll ads are the most common type of video ad, and they’re usually the best at driving leads.
Mid-roll video ads – Mid-roll ads appear during the middle of a video. This can happen at any point in the video, from the very beginning all the way to the very end. Mid-roll ads are less common than pre-roll ads, but they’re great for lead generation and increasing sales for your business.
Post-roll video ads – Post-roll ads are the least common video ads. They appear after a video has finished playing. They’re often used for branding and retention rather than lead generation. Post-roll ads are great for increasing brand awareness, retention, and engagement.
How do video ads work?
Essentially, there are two ways a video ad can work: pre-roll or mid-roll. Pre-roll ads play before the content you want your viewers to see. Think of it like an advertisement before your TV show starts. Mid-roll ads are inserted in the middle of whatever content you want to promote. This can be a commercial break, like you see on TV, or part of the content itself, such as an ad in the middle of a YouTube video.
Video ads are often skippable, so if people don’t want to watch the ad, they can simply click a button to skip ahead to the content that they came for. You can also put a “skip intro” button in your video ad so people who are there for your content can get to it faster.
How to Create Effective Video Ads
Now that you know a bit about the different types of video ads and how they work, it’s time to learn how to create effective video ads. There are a few key factors you’ll want to keep in mind when creating your video ad. These include your ad’s goal, your audience, and your message.
Your ad’s goal – Every ad you create should have a specific goal. What do you want your viewers to do after seeing your ad? Are you trying to drive traffic to your website? Are you trying to increase conversions?
Nail down what you want your ad to accomplish, and everything else will fall into place.
Your audience – The more you know about your target audience, the better your video ad will be. Video ads are very personable, and they’re great for showing off your brand in a more personal way.
Your message – Every ad should have a clear and direct message. Make sure your message is engaging, interesting, and easy to understand. You don’t want to overwhelm your audience with too much information. Remember to keep it simple and straightforward.
Video Ads for Awareness and Branding
Video ads are a great way to get your brand out there and help raise brand awareness. You can use them to create a fun and memorable ad that your audience will walk away from feeling positive about your brand. You can use any type of video ad for this. You can either create a completely new video or repurpose an existing video by adding text and a few new clips.
Video Ads for Lead Generation
If you’re looking to generate leads, pre-roll and mid-roll ads are the best types of video ads to use. They tend to be more effective than other types of ads at generating leads. You can create an ad that talks about how your product or service can solve your customer’s problem.
Video Ads for Conversion and Sales
You can use conversion-focused ads at any time, but they’re especially effective during the holiday season or other times when sales are high. You can create an ad that directly tells your audience about special sales or new products you’re launching. These are all great ways to use video ads to increase sales and conversions.
Which Video Ad Platform Should You Use?
There are many different ways to use video ads, but not all platforms are created equal. Certain platforms perform better than others, and some are better suited to certain ad types. Here are three of the most popular video ad platforms you might want to consider:
Facebook – Facebook offers pre-roll and mid-roll video ads as well as a host of other types of video ads like carousel ads and branded content.
YouTube – YouTube is a great video ad platform for driving brand awareness. You’ll want to use a pre-roll video to help boost your click-through rate.
Instagram – Instagram is a great place to use video ads for conversion and sales. You can create pre-roll and mid-roll ads to drive traffic to your website or boost conversions. You can also create branded content that’s effective for increasing brand awareness.
Bottom line
Video ads are a great way to engage with your customers, drive traffic to your website, and boost sales. Before you create your video ads, make sure you know their goal and how they will work. You can use any type of video ad, but be sure to choose the right platform for your ad type. With the right video ad, you can increase engagement, drive more traffic, and boost sales. Visit AdMedia.com for more beneficial tips and knowledge to aid you in profitably advertising your business.