The next few months will be challenging for marketers and production crews alike. From setting up virtual meetings and processes to working around logistical issues, we’ve already seen clients forced to delay meetings, filming and campaign rollouts due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Chances are, this has already affected you or your business and you’re already working from home. If you’re re-thinking your video strategy, here’s our guide to getting the most out of the months ahead:
Cancelled live events? Host webinars
The appetite for travel and live events has decreased over outbreak concerns, with event marketers migrating to online webinars. If you’re unable to get to your guests, let them come to you. We recommend ready-to-go tools such as Zoom and Flow which both allow for large audience interaction and insights.
Consider animation over live action
If you’ve been planning a live action project and filming has been delayed, consider animation as an alternative format. Most animators work remotely while lead times are much shorter than live action. This is particularly ideal for SaaS businesses where animated explainers work well to showcase a product or service.
Boost video strategies through deep working
Now is the time to focus on projects that could otherwise be cognitively demanding in a busy workplace setting. Inevitably, campaigns will need re-thinking and virtual team brainstorming will become the norm. Revising video marketing strategies or auditing your video content could help refine how your brand uses video over the coming months. My personal take on this? Clean up your social video channels. This is an arduous job but if it’s well-organised, viewers are more likely to stay on your social channels than go elsewhere.
How about drone-based filming?
Drones send eyes where our bodies can’t go. As social distancing becomes the norm over the coming weeks, consider drone filming. Governmental guidelines are changing regularly, so be sure to check you’re able to film solo in open spaces and that you’re able to fly legally in relatively low altitudes.
Keep creating video – but don’t ignore the elephant in the room
‘If the UK finds itself at home staring at screens, brands could find themselves with a captive audience,’ Carole Humphrey of Grand Central Record Studios tells LLBonline this week. She’s right – even though Netflix has shut down all TV and movie production over coronavirus concerns, the appetite for streaming may well increase. With this in mind, continue posting video content, but be sensitive and acknowledge that you may need to adjust your brand message to avoid jumping on to the coronawagon.
Make the most out of creating low-budget video content
Not all of your video content needs to sit on your Facebook video library or YouTube channel. If postponing a high-quality film becomes a necessity, temporarily switch to shooting behind-the-scenes content for Facebook Live or Instagram Stories.
As remote working becomes the new norm, we at Skylark have a contingency plan that enables us to continue to operate during this period. Our editors and animators can edit, colour grade, mix, animate and add motion graphics remotely. If you’re unsure on how best to market your business with video – or require simple advice on shooting social video content yourself – we’re happy to help.
Nina Postans
Nina is Head of Marketing and Video Marketing Consultant at Skylark Media. With a background in advertising and publishing, Nina has an interest in consumer and technological trends. She has written for Marketing Week, Fashion Monitor, Advertising Week and Creative Review.