As nearly everyone in our industry knows, video marketing is hot. Really hot. In fact, video marketing has been slowly taking over multiple social networks due to its overwhelming popularity. Although at one time it was expensive to produce, nowadays video marketing is a cost-effective option for most brands. If your company hasn’t tried this type of marketing, it should. Whether you’re looking to get into video marketing for the first time, or you just need new tools, here are some of the best video marketing tools to try.
Video Creation
Once you have a concept ready, you need some tools to bring that concept to life. More than just a camera, there should be a way to digitally record and store data.
Biteable
Whether you’re sending out a message to customers about the impact of a disaster on your business or trying to onboard employees, check out Biteable. It has a unique approach to video marketing, in that it’s intended to be fast and easy to create any kind of video. The company even says you can make something cool on your lunch hour and claims it’s the world’s simplest video maker. Choose from a variety of video templates and add the text/sound you want.
Pricing: this click-and-drag program has free features, with paid plans starting at just $15 pre month.
Magisto
Showcasing your talent in video form is easy with Magisto. Like some of these best video marketing tools, you use actual footage from your cameras. However, what makes Magisto unique is its AI-based editing assistant that helps you all the way from uploading footage, to editing it, and even with distribution. The AI assistant asks you what “mood” you’re looking for and can detect emotions with ease. Everything is built into your video so that you project your intended message. Don’t have music? No worries as Magisto software has licensed music available to pro and business customers. Business customers have access to Getty Images stock photos, too. As an added bonus, Magisto has built in video analytics, which help you see what’s working and where you can improve next time. The software is available as an iPhone or Android app, as well as through the computer-based web client.
Pricing: personal is $4.99 per month, or $9.99 for professional. Need business-level features? That’s $34.99.
Promo
Promo video gets its name from its primary mission: helping brands create marketing videos. In fact, the company is a marketing partner for Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Using this online video maker, you can achieve standard editing effects on the moving parts. Add fully licensed clip art, stock photos, and even music. You can crop the video to fit into whatever social network you’re going to put it on. As an added plus, features such as “swipe up to shop” and embedded links can be included in a snap. This is something which not every video maker allows you to do, and one reason is its purpose-built design. However, that isn’t to say you can only make marketing videos with Promo. Showcase your talent or create cool engagement videos. On the fence? Check out their free collage tool.
Pricing: Plans range in price from $39 up to $249 per month.
Wave Video
We like Wave Video because it has a nice mixture of templates and the ability to start from scratch. It’s also a great tool for using the same basic footage for different video formats. For instance, you can make a nice video for YouTube, and then later decide to repurpose it into a Facebook banner video or something Instagram friendly. Better yet, you don’t have to start over. The developers make a big point of the fact that Wave Video is built to support high volume video content production, which isn’t the case with many of its competitors. Another awesome feature is that you can easily upload branding items like logos to the platform for future use in videos. Wave isn’t a lone ranger, either: it features integrations with YouTube, Google Drive, Hubspot, Facebook, Twitter, Drop Box, Twitter, and more. In other words, there are plenty of ways to make Wave Video work within a team environment. Best of all, Wave includes video hosting, a content calendar, video button, and landing pages.
Pricing: Limited free plan, then paid subscriptions for $20 or $40 monthly.
WeVideo
If you want something that can handle the needs of business, education, and individual customers, this one’s a great option. In fact, WeVideo is the only application in this section that has an educational use plan. They are very proud of the features for students, such as video science reports. At the same time, business customers will love features such as screen recording. Individuals can enjoy a purpose-built YouTube video editor, along with the ability to make HD videos as an amateur. Maybe that’s why their advertising material refers to them as “the best ever.” Well maybe or maybe not, but this sure is a versatile application.
Pricing: Nonprofits are given educational pricing. Everyone else pays between $4.00 and $29.99 per month.
Video Editing
Now that you have the basic footage, it’s time to edit your video and turn it into something nice. Sure, the resources mentioned under “creation” offer video editing, but sometimes you just need something more specialized. Here are a couple of options.
Filmora
Unlike many of these best video marketing tools, Filmora is an application you have to install on your computer. It’s also one of those old-school traditional video editors. What does that mean? Well, for one thing it’s a great tool to use if you’re putting the video basics together using a webcam, GoPro, smartphone, or digital camcorder. Standards like voiceovers and the improvement of video quality are the reasons to buy this program. Also, there are several versions of the program available, depending on your needs. It’s available for Mac and Windows.
Pricing: the most basic type is Filmora 9, which costs $39.99 per year or $69.99 for a lifetime license.
iMovie
If you own any kind of Apple device that can run apps, this one’s for you. In fact, iMovie is one of those old school Apple apps that is built exclusively for their products. However, like Garage Band, it’s fully featured for free. Recent versions not only let you edit on your Mac, but on other devices as well. And, it doesn’t have to be limited to one device. Instead, you can upload the raw video to the cloud and work on it from any device with iMovie installed. Just sign into your Apple account.
Pricing: free for Apple people. Unavailable for anyone else.
Video Animation
Not all marketing videos need to be made from live footage. In fact, lots of brands use animated video to draw in potential customers. While this video making method used to be a lot of work, nowadays it’s a snap with animation software. Here are some of the best to choose from.
VideoScribe
For simple, yet effective, video, check out VideoScribe. Unlike more general tools, this one makes one type of video: whiteboard animation. This is the type where you see hands drawing things, along with running commentary. There are several great uses for this tool: First, explainer videos can help consumers understand how your product can be used. Or, use the whiteboard model for corporate training purposes. Educational content is easily produced as a whiteboard, so VideoScribe is useful in higher education, too.
Pricing: $14 per month per user.
Wideo
Another animation-only video creator, this one has premade templates. However, it also has more options for animation than just line drawings on a white board. Make an introduction video, explain a concept, or craft a slideshow presentation with drag and drop features. In other words, no video skills are required other than some creativity. Once your video has been made, download the mp4, upload to YouTube, and embed into websites. Web only. This program is about as easy as these things come.
Pricing: Limited free version, then paid plans starting at $19 per month.
Video Hosting & Analytics
It almost goes without saying that any video worth watching needs a host so you can share it with others. And, as with any effort, you want to make sure that your videos are performing as they should. Here are some of the best video marketing tools to make both things happen.
Cincopa
Cincopa’s video hosting solutions are offered as part of a comprehensive digital asset management suite of services. Marketers, educators, training personnel and, of course, sales reps can leverage Cincopa’s unique video features, such as Cincopa Channels. Providing website visitors with an immersive, Netflix-like video arena, Channels are the perfect way for prospects and employees to binge on your corporate videos.
Pricing: paid subscriptions only starting at $9 per month.
Vidyard
Vidyard is a commercial combined hosting and analytics service. It is focused on both business and educational use, and includes some video production tools. These include screen recording, personalization, basic editing, and platform optimization. For those who want to stream video, this service is provided through their online platform. Businesses and educational institutions can enjoy a wide variety of integrations. Finally, Vidyard offers analytics services to measure results.
Pricing: there’s a free version, with paid subscriptions starting at $15 per month.
Vimeo
If you need a basic hosting provider, Vimeo is one of the oldest and best. Originally just a hosting platform, it now provides streaming with their top-level subscription level. You can embed Vimeo-hosted videos on just about any website other than YouTube. Set privacy restrictions or allow the video to be watched by anyone with a link. There are analytics features, as well.
Pricing: Plans start at $7 per month.
Wistia
Unlike the other services in this section, Wistia provides some production features. For example, you can customize the video player and add interactive features such as clicking through to a web page. Then, it performs marketing-focused tasks like gathering information about viewers and then retargeting. A wide variety of integrations are available.
Pricing: Free plan, then $99 monthly.
Screenshare Creation
Especially with so many of us working from home, it’s nice to be able to share your screen. While doing so live on videoconferencing programs is easy, making recorded screenshares is a bit more difficult. Fortunately, this type of video has become common enough that some of these best video marketing tools can help.
Camtasia
This is an easy-to-use tool for recording presentations and how-tos. First, you download the software onto your Mac or PC computer. Then, you turn it on and record your video from the computer screen. Add some special effects, then make sure the sound is OK. When you’re ready, just upload it to your video sharing platforms or distribute it any way you’d like. Simple.
Pricing: one-time purchase of $249.
Loom
In the age of social distancing and working from home, it can sometimes be difficult to stay connected to the people we work with. Loom is a service that lets you record quick screenshares and then send it to other people as a link or you can download the original file – for free! It works as a Chrome extension and is probably one of the easiest ways to quickly record a screenshare with or without your face appearing.
Pricing: There’s a free version, with premium plans starting at $5/month.
Livestream
Sometimes, the best way to connect with other people is through live video. While some video platforms like Facebook Live let you do streaming, sometimes you might want to broadcast over several different social networks at once.
Streamyard
For those of you who would like to stream on multiple platforms at once, think about using StreamYard. This feature allows you to sit in one place and have your professional-looking livestream published across Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. However, that isn’t the only cool thing about StreamYard. You can invite more than one person into your livestream, and in this situation their webcam picks up their image. Furthermore you can display comments that appear in social media directly on your livestream feed to increase engagement. Brilliant.
Pricing: Freemium option, with upgrades starting at $20 per month.
YouTube SEO
Most people don’t think about YouTube as a search engine. However, the truth is that YouTube is one of the more important places people look for information. Therefore, it pays to have sound SEO practices to ensure your videos are found on the platform.
TubeBuddy
Whether you have a personal YouTube channel or an elaborate enterprise account, TubeBuddy will help you manage it. They’ll help you with embedding, processing, promotion and analytics. However, the unique feature of TubeBuddy is its SEO capabilities. In particular, the program helps you optimize your title and description, along with helping YouTube classify for related content recommendations. Finally, they’ll help you insert subtitles in another language, which increases your reach.
Pricing: Freemium, with upgrades starting at $9 per month.
What do you think are the best video marketing tools? Let me know in the comments below.
Photo by Gianandrea Villa on Unsplash
Learn about how marketers use video marketing in 2020, in this great infographic from Elite Content Marketer.
@nealschaffer
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Hey Neal. Long time since we met at UCLA. Have you tried The Video Bot? It’s new and looks to be fantastic for marketers. [link edited by admin]
What’s going on my friend?
Thank You Neal. Very informative post. I’m a videographer from Canada and appreciate your updates.
Thank you Dan! Sorry I didn’t publish this earlier!