How Do I Promote My Video After Production?
Creating a professional video is only half the battle. Once production is complete, the next crucial step is making sure your video reaches the right audience. With so much content vying for attention online, a well-executed promotional strategy can determine whether your video becomes a hit or disappears into the void. Whether you're promoting a corporate video, a social media clip, or a product launch, the key is leveraging multiple platforms and tactics to drive views, engagement, and conversions.
Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to promote your video after production and maximize its impact.
1. Optimize Your Video for SEO
One of the most important steps in promoting your video is optimizing it for search engines. Search engine optimization (SEO) helps your video appear in relevant searches, increasing its chances of being found organically.
Title and Description Optimization
Your video’s title and description are crucial for SEO. Make sure the title includes your focus keyword and is engaging enough to attract clicks. The description should be detailed, including relevant keywords that reflect what the video is about. Always place the most important information at the start of your description, and include links to your website or social media.
Tagging and Metadata
Use appropriate tags for your video that reflect its content. Tags help platforms like YouTube or Vimeo understand your video’s topic and categorize it effectively. Don't forget to use metadata (such as video length and category) to help search engines index your content better.
Closed Captions and Subtitles
Adding closed captions or subtitles not only makes your video accessible to a wider audience, but it also helps with SEO. Search engines can crawl the text in captions to understand your video’s content, increasing the chances of it showing up in relevant searches.
2. Share on Social Media Platforms
Social media is one of the most effective ways to promote your video after production. Each platform has its own best practices for video sharing, and leveraging a multi-platform strategy ensures that your video reaches a broader audience.
YouTube
YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world and the go-to platform for video content. After uploading your video, optimize the thumbnail and use engaging titles and descriptions, as mentioned earlier. Be sure to share your YouTube link across other platforms to drive traffic.
Facebook and Instagram
Facebook’s massive user base makes it a great place to promote your video. Share the video natively (upload directly to Facebook) for better reach and engagement. Utilize Facebook Ads to target specific audiences and boost video performance.
Instagram is ideal for shorter videos or teasers that link back to your full video. Use Instagram Stories, Reels, or IGTV to engage your followers with creative, bite-sized content that encourages them to watch the full video.
For B2B or corporate videos, LinkedIn is a powerful platform. Share your video directly with your connections, relevant groups, or as a post on your business page. LinkedIn allows for more professional engagement, making it perfect for industry-related content, company updates, or case studies.
TikTok
If your video content is fun, engaging, or has viral potential, TikTok is a must. With its massive reach among younger audiences, TikTok is great for creative, short-form video content. Utilize popular trends or challenges to increase visibility.
3. Leverage Email Marketing
Email marketing is still one of the most effective channels for promoting content. If you have a subscriber list, this is the perfect audience to share your video with—they already have an interest in your brand or content.
Include the Video in Your Newsletter
Embed the video in your next email newsletter with a clear call-to-action (CTA) to watch the full video. Using engaging thumbnails or GIFs of your video can also entice readers to click and view the content. Highlight key benefits of the video in the email subject line to improve open rates.
Send Personalized Email Campaigns
For businesses, sending personalized email campaigns to specific segments of your audience can improve engagement. For example, if the video is a product demonstration, send it to customers who have shown interest in that product line. Tailored messaging makes recipients more likely to watch and respond.
4. Collaborate with Influencers or Partners
Collaborating with influencers or strategic partners in your industry can dramatically increase your video's reach. Influencers, particularly those with an audience that aligns with your target demographic, can help promote your video to a wider, engaged audience.
Reach Out to Industry Influencers
Identify influencers who have a following that would benefit from your video content. Reach out and ask if they would be willing to share your video on their platforms, possibly in exchange for a product, service, or financial compensation. Their endorsement adds credibility and increases exposure to their loyal followers.
Partner with Businesses or Brands
If you're in a business network or have partnerships with other companies, cross-promoting content is a win-win strategy. Partnering brands can share your video on their social media or email lists, expanding your reach. In return, offer to do the same for their content.
5. Use Paid Advertising
Sometimes, organic reach isn't enough, especially if you're looking to get rapid exposure for a product launch or event. In these cases, investing in paid advertising can significantly boost the visibility of your video.
YouTube Ads
Running YouTube ads allows you to place your video in front of users who are already watching similar content. YouTube’s targeting options are robust, allowing you to narrow down your audience based on demographics, interests, or even specific videos they're watching.
Facebook and Instagram Ads
Both Facebook and Instagram offer targeted advertising options that allow you to reach specific demographics, interests, and behaviors. Boosting your video or creating a paid ad campaign can help ensure it reaches more people in a specific niche or geographic area.
Google Ads
If your video is hosted on your website or a landing page, using Google Ads can drive traffic to that page. Google's targeting options are extensive, allowing you to create ad campaigns tailored to the exact audience you're trying to reach. Use the video as the focal point of your ad copy to attract clicks.
6. Repurpose Your Video Content
Don’t limit your video’s use to just one format or platform. Repurposing your video for different types of content helps you reach a wider audience and extend its shelf life.
Turn It into a Blog Post
You can write a blog post that expands on the points covered in your video. Embed the video in the post to drive traffic to it, and use the blog post as a way to improve SEO. For example, if your video is about "How to Promote a Video," a blog post explaining additional tips in detail can complement it and drive more views.
Create Shorter Clips
If your video is long, break it down into shorter clips or teasers for social media platforms. These shorter versions can entice viewers to click through to watch the full video on your website or YouTube channel.
Use Screenshots as Visual Content
Take screenshots of key moments in your video and use them as standalone visuals in other types of content, like blog posts, social media posts, or newsletters. This approach adds variety to your promotion efforts while still pointing back to the main video.
7. Engage with Your Audience
Finally, once your video is out in the world, it's crucial to engage with your audience to build momentum and encourage sharing.
Respond to Comments
Whether it’s on YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram, actively respond to comments on your video. Engaging with viewers not only boosts your video in social media algorithms but also encourages more interaction from others. If viewers feel heard, they are more likely to share your video or interact with future content.
Encourage Sharing
Ask your audience to share the video with their networks. Adding a simple CTA like “If you enjoyed this video, share it with your friends!” can encourage viewers to spread the word.
Track Performance
Monitor how your video performs over time. Use analytics tools to track views, watch time, engagement rates, and conversion metrics. This data helps you understand what worked well and what you can improve for future video promotions.
Conclusion
Promoting your video after production is just as important as creating it. By optimizing your video for SEO, leveraging social media, using email marketing, collaborating with influencers, investing in paid ads, repurposing your content, and actively engaging with your audience, you can ensure that your video reaches its full potential. The key is to diversify your promotional efforts and consistently track performance to see what works best for your specific audience. With the right strategy, your video will not only gain visibility but also drive meaningful engagement and results.
