According to Entrepreneur magazine, “By 2019, Video Marketing Will Be Everything. You’ve Got to Get in on the Trend — Now.”
Well, it’s 2019, and video marketing IS everything. So if you’re already on it, that’s good for you! If not, there’s no time like the present!
I’ve been preaching the merits of video marketing for ages, but it’s nice to see the rest of the world join the chorus. In fact, what some call the “democratization of video,” is the first of several key trends you need to know to thrive in 2019.
Here are my seven predictions, based on extensive research and my own experience…
1. Video Goes Mainstream – As referenced above, the democratization of video means that it’s simply too easy not to use video in your marketing. The proliferation of quality smartphone cameras, along with software and editing tools that make it drop-dead simple to produce good video, have combined to create a “perfect storm” of video opportunity. Or, as I like to say, if you’re not doing video marketing, you’re not marketing!
2. The Second Screen Scene – This has been in the works for a while, but now big brands are finally starting to take notice. Comcast says that “about 68% of Americans interact simultaneously with multiple screens.” The “second screen” is when an audience is viewing content on a first screen, like television, while also watching or interacting with a second screen – usually a phone.
Anyone with kids or teenagers is already painfully aware of this phenomenon, but the real question is how do you reach and get through to a very distracted, multi-tasking consumer? Look for more brands to address (and find a way to advertising on) the ‘second screen’ in 2019.
3. Live Video is Still a (Big) Thing – While some of the initial excitement of live video has died down, Entrepreneur predicts: “With Instagram Live, Facebook Live and live streaming on other platforms like Youtube and Twitch, live video for business will become even bigger in 2019.” And while it may not be new, Facebook says that Facebook Live broadcasts grew four times over in the last year. Live video is here to stay.
4. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Get Really Real – This may be the most obvious prediction for 2019, but with major brands and media companies embracing the technology, VR and AR are poised to become much more mainstream in 2019. In fact, Statistica reports that, “by 2020, the economic impact of virtual and augmented reality is predicted to reach $29.5 billion.”
But you don’t need to be a big brand or major media company to get your slice of the $30 billion industry. Check out how I make my business cards “come alive” with augmented reality at: https://loubortone.lpages.co/myvideocards/ .
5. Advertising Dollars Flee TV for YouTube – Tradition television and the Internet have fully converged, with most consumers making no distinction about which “screen” they happen to be using. The big trend now is that brands and advertisers are putting their dollars and resources behind YouTube advertising, as opposed to traditional TV or cable networks. The fact is, according to Nielsen, “YouTube reaches more adults 18-plus during prime time than any cable network does.”
In addition, the Interactive Advertising Bureau recently found that “more than half of advertisers plan to increase their video ad spending over the next year.” What’s that mean for us? It means you need to have a presence on YouTube!
6. Keep an Eye on Twitch and Reddit – The social news aggregator Reddit may well be a sleeping giant ready to awaken. Reddit has been around forever, but it only recently has made a push to be more video focused and video friendly. Don’t ignore Reddit.
Another platform to watch is Twitch, the live-streaming video platform launched in 2011, but now owned by Amazon. (Which may be all you need to know!). Twitch has posted remarkable user numbers and growing ad revenue. The gamer network boasts 140 Million monthly viewers, and the average user spends over an hour and a half a day on the service.
7. We’ll Watch More Video and Make More Video – Finally, coming full circle, it may be no surprise that we’ll watch and create more video this year. A lot more. Video will continue to dominate Internet traffic, with the Washington Post reporting that video will account for 80% of all Internet traffic in 2019.
In addition, Emarketer predicts that U.S. adults will spend more than 5 hours with video content per day in 2019. And when we’re not watching video, more of us will be creating it. Everyone from big brands to smaller solopreneurs will be creating more video this year as the demand for video content increases.
The Video Marketing Revolution is in full swing, and it’s going to be more important than ever for the survival of your business to keep pace. I look forward to helping you get (and stay) ahead of the video marketing game in 2019.
Ready to join the Online Video Revolution? Check out the new Video Content Creation Challenge at: https://loubortone.lpages.co/video-content-challenge/
The post What to Expect for Video Marketing in 2019… Seven Key Trends to Watch appeared first on Lou Bortone.