Video Ads 101: Do They Work, and How To Use Them? 

You’ve seen them before: those little video ads that pop up in between your cousin’s baby pictures and your friend’s political rants on social media. They’re everywhere, and for a good reason — video advertising is one of the most effective ways to reach your target audience.

In fact, ad spending in the Video Advertising segment is projected to reach over US$180bn by the end of the year. But how do you create a video ad that actually works? And more importantly, how do you ensure people don’t skip over it? Let’s take a closer look. 

First of all – are video ads even that effective?

According to a recent study by Wyzowl, 87% of video marketers reported that video gives them a positive Return On Investment (ROI), and 81% of marketers feel that video has a direct, positive impact on sales. Because they’re so visually stimulating, people are more likely to stop scrolling and watch your video ad all the way through. And the longer someone watches your ad, the more likely they will remember your message and take action.

In most cases, video ads can be more effective than their static counterparts— but that doesn’t mean they’re suitable for every business. Video is a great way to show off your products if you’re selling a product or service that is visual in nature, such as fashion or home decor. Video is also well-suited for explaining complex concepts or processes.

For example, a video ad will likely be very effective if you can break down what you do into a simple, easy-to-understand story. Crafting a compelling video ad that stands out on social media platforms can be a daunting task. However, if you create video storyboards beforehand, you’ll be able to visualize your ideas and streamline the production process with ease. 

On the other hand, if you’re selling a less visual product or service, such as insurance or financial planning, then a video ad may not be the best use of your time and money. In these cases, a static image or text may be more effective since you won’t have to worry about creating visuals.

Are Video Ads The Right Way To Go For My Business? 

As we just mentioned, video ads might not be the best for every business. That said, specific industries will benefit more from video advertising than others. For example, companies with solid visuals (e.g., fashion brands) or those who excel at telling stories (e.g., travel companies) will find video ads especially useful. On the other hand, sometimes static images with a video overlay can still be compelling.

Ultimately, you’ll have to test and measure which ad is most effective for your business. The key is ensuring that you’re using the right platform, targeting the right audience, and crafting compelling video ads that people want to watch.

How do I Create an Effective Video Ad? 

Now that you know why video ads are not just some fancy new trend, let’s discuss how to create one. The most crucial factor is to make sure you’re creating content that’s both engaging and relevant. Start by researching your target audience — what kind of content do they like? What kind of stories are they interested in hearing? Once you understand who they are and what they want, you can begin creating tailored video content.

Videos offer a fantastic opportunity to show off your brand’s personality in a way that’s difficult to do with other types of content. Whether you choose a funny, serious, or heartwarming approach, ensure your ad is true to your brand’s voice. This will help you create an emotional connection with your viewers and make them more likely to remember your brand. Don’t overthink, and grab your smartphone or camera, because people don’t want to watch an ad full of stock footage; they want to see something unique and authentic! And finally, keep it short —not many people want to sit through a 10-minute video ad (unless Martin Scorcese directs it).

How do I set up ads on social media?

This blog post will concentrate on Instagram and Facebook ads, but we highly suggest testing if TikTok ads fit your brand. Creating video ads for Facebook and Instagram is relatively easy. First, you need to go to Meta Business Suite or Ads Manager and create a new Campaign. You’ll then be asked to choose your campaign objective, such as engagement, awareness, traffic, etc. Next, you’ll need to enter the details of your campaign and set up a budget. Once that’s done, all left is to upload your video and submit your ad for review.

Check out detailed information about Facebook ads here and for Instagram ads, look here.

How can I make sure my ads don’t flop?

Brainstorming and trying out different ideas are essential for every marketing campaign. Before creating ads, think of a few concepts that could work for your target audience. This will help you develop unique and exciting videos that stand out from the competition.

Don’t be afraid to test different approaches and analyze the results. For example, you’ll likely want to set up A/B testing for different ad creatives, headlines, or messages. This will help you determine which creative is the most effective and what messaging resonates with your audience.

If you’re working in a marketing team or want to share your ad with copy texts with your team, you might benefit from using mockups to visualize your ideas. With Mediamodifier’s dynamic social media ad mockups, you can test your ideas for Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, Snapchat, and many other platforms without setting up the ads. This way, you can see what feels suitable for A/B tests or instantly get feedback from your clients. So whether it’s image, carousel, or video ads – we’ve got you covered!

Let’s wrap it up! 

Video ads are an effective way to reach your target audience and build brand awareness. While they’re not suitable for every business, if you have strong visuals or tell compelling stories, video ads can be a great way to engage with potential customers. Just remember to create attention-grabbing hooks, test different versions of your video,s and copy texts. Good luck!

Please share your best ad mockups on social media by tagging us @Mediamodifier.