Interactive video marketing is becoming increasingly popular as a marketing strategy. Interactive videos allow viewers to interact with the content being shown. The type of video we are most used to is a linear video, in which you press play and wait for the whole thing to pan out. Nothing changes inside the video, neither the ending nor the middle, no matter what you do – unless you watch a different video.
What is an interactive video?
An interactive video is a form of a video that requires participation of viewers with the interactive content. It’s the next form of videos, and companies are now making the right approach to make it as much attractive and engaging as possible.
Today, companies build videos with interactivity in mind. They base the production of the video on the interactive elements. As a result, we now have interactive videos that are much more effective.
You can use interactive video marketing to promote your brand, sell products, or even entertain your audience. They are also a great way to engage your audience and keep them interested in your brand. It’s a lot easier than traditional advertising methods, and a lot of fun too.
Can a video be interactive?
Yes, a video can be interactive. At present, there are two types of video interactivity as listed below:
1) Interactivity in which users can click on objects or links in the video, and
2) Interactivity in which the video plays automatically when the viewer clicks on certain areas of the screen.
However, the most common form of interaction is through a clicker or touch screen, which can be attached to the monitor and allows users to click on areas of interest within the video. This type of interaction has been used in training courses for years. More recently it has become more mainstream as companies try to engage their customers online. The use of interactive videos is growing at an average rate of 20% per year.
What are the types of interactive videos?
1) Branched stories are an excellent way to tell a story about your brand. They allow you to create multiple narratives and let the user decide what happens next.
2) Hotspots can be used to increase conversion rates. They can also be used to drive traffic to your website. Video hotspots can be used to get more views and engagement.
3) Interactive Quiz Videos are great for engagement. They allow the viewer to choose the answers and see the correct solution. These are videos that gain an active viewing experience. As the name suggests, you get to ask your viewers multiple choice questions and many more. It is a very impressive type because the viewer is absolutely glued to the video.
4) Data Inputs: Interactive videos may also have a field where the viewer can input information. It may ask for the viewer’s name, email address, contact number, etc. They prompt the viewers to actively engage with the brand. At the same time, they give valuable data to video marketers.
5) 360-degree videos are an emerging trend in interactive video marketing. They have been around since the 1990s, but only recently have they become mainstream. This technology is still relatively new, so many people don’t know how to use it.
There are two types of 360-degree videos, viz., panorama and spherical. Panorama videos are flat, while spherical videos are 3D.
When a 360-degree video is uploaded, it looks like a normal video, but you can drag, click, or scroll to see more parts of the video. One should be able to see the video in all directions. This technology allows for a fully immersive experience, wherein viewers can experience the scenes as if they were there, by transporting themselves into another world with a single click.
Source: https://interactive4video.com
What are the benefits of interactive video marketing?
The primary reason for interactive video marketing is to drive viewer engagement. A video on its own is fine for this purpose, but an interactive video can further boost the engagement levels.
You can add interactivity to your videos with features like quizzes, polls, and surveys. It allows you to create a conversation with them, rather than just talking to them. This is an important consideration when you’re competing against millions of content.
Another reason why Interactive video marketing is helpful is because a viewer not only watches the entire video, but also enjoys participating in it. Many passive video viewers then become active video viewers, since having something to click on keeps their attention at all times. It’s very entertaining in most cases, and makes the viewers feel that they have invested or contributed something into the content of the video.
Finally, because the viewers are already invested in the interactive video, they are more likely to watch the entire video.
How should you get started with interactive video marketing?
Finally, if you’re looking to start with interactive video marketing, here are some tips to get you started:
1. Create an Interactive Video Marketing Plan:
Before you jump into interactive video marketing, you should create a plan. This will help you stay focused and keep track of where you want to go with the interactive video.
2. Identify your Target Audience:
Identifying your target audience is an important step in interactive video marketing. You can use tools like Google Analytics to see what types of people visit your site so you can create content that appeals to your audience.
3. Determine the Content of Your Videos:
You need to know what kind of content you are creating before you start creating the plan for the video. If you are making a video about how to make money online, then you will need to be sure that you are using the right keywords so that people searching for those topics find your videos in the ‘Search results’ or SERP.
4. Develop a Script for Each Interactive Video:
If you are going to make videos with interactive elements, you should have a script prepared beforehand. This way, you can be sure that everything goes smoothly and you don’t forget anything as well.
5. Record and Edit Your Interactive Videos:
There are many ways to record and edit videos. Some people like to use their smartphones or tablets to shoot video, while others prefer to use dedicated video cameras. If you want to make sure your videos look professional, you can use software such as Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Premiere Pro, or Windows Movie Maker.
Few examples of interactive videos:
Here are a couple of interactive video samples (with and without chapters), or click on the below video samples to watch and interact with them:
Videos with Chapters (similar to the technology adopted for a couple of episodes so far by NETFLIX): Click on the icon located at the top right corner of the video to select and view the chapters added. Your viewers can choose what they wish to watch.
This is an extremely powerful feature for videos that include various options for viewers to choose from – For example, adding episodes to your videos, training and tutorial videos, events and ceremony videos, pre-marriage events and marriage videos, etc. Your imagination can reach any level with this additional unique feature.