In this “new normal” connecting with your customers may seem like a giant hurdle to overcome. With many of the face-to-face tactics you have employed in the past on the backburner, video has come to the forefront as a great way to stay in touch with your customers!

Everyone knows the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words”. If a single picture is worth one thousand words, a video is invaluable.

Video allows you to communicate directly and clearly to your customers so that they know how you are handling the pandemic, what your plans are for reopening and how they can support you in the meantime.

Here are some ideas on how to use video for marketing:

Start a countdown to your grand reopening and do a daily video to build excitement. Be sure to mention how people can purchase your goods or services online while they wait for your store, restaurant or office to reopen. Consider doing a sweepstakes or drawing or providing access to an exclusive offer – something to make viewers want to tune in to your social channel and see what comes next.
Interview an employee to show your customers how your business practices have changed. If you own a restaurant, discuss the increased safety precautions you are taking and demonstrate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Make sure your customers know you are prepared to do your part to ensure their health and safety.
Give sneak peeks at any remodeling or improvements you made while your store, restaurant or office was closed during the pandemic. Use these brief videos to build anticipation of an even better customer experience than before. Be sure to include any self-serve or contact-less options you will be offering to put anxious customers at ease and let vulnerable customers know how they can still interact with you.
Give customers a look behind the scenes of your operation! If you own a dry cleaner, show customers your process and demonstrate what precautions you are taking to minimize the spread of the virus. If you manufacture a product, take the customer “backstage” to the assembly lines so they can appreciate the full extent of the important work you do. Use this behind the scenes footage to let your customers see how you do what you do and how you do it best!
Work on collecting video of customer testimonials, particularly if those customers are willing to mention how your health and safety precautions impacted their choice to purchase from you. Data shows that 92% of people trust the recommendation of a friend or family member above all other types of advertising and that 70% of consumers consider online or customer reviews to be trustworthy.* Customer testimonials – especially on video – are truly invaluable.

The possibilities for using video marketing to increase revenue in the “new normal” are limitless!

You know your business better than anyone else…use that to your advantage. Take your why, what makes you unique and what you love most and share that with your customers to give them a different, personal and engaging look into your brand.

Do not worry about creating perfect quality videos! Many people get stuck on the idea that videos need to be production-quality. This is simply not true.

While we do want you to get the best quality of video possible, there is no need to purchase special equipment, especially when you are in a financial crunch.

To capture engaging video, simply make sure you:

film horizontally (unless you are using Instagram TV)
keep the picture steady
ensure that your fingers are not in the shot or blocking the microphone on your phone
keep your videos under two minutes long for maximum impact.

If video is not your thing or you simply do not have time for it, we can help!

For more insight into getting back to business in the “new normal” visit our COVID-19 resource center and pandemic marketing library. We have created FREE downloads that will help you create customer profiles, retention plan strategies, and surveys with helpful tips for reaching and retaining current customers and attracting new ones.

*July 2009 Nielsen Global Online Consumer Survey Trust, Value and Engagement in Advertising