Adding a video to your website is a great way to make a good first impression with potential customers. Video not only increases brand awareness but also boosts conversions while improving rankings and engagement. While you can easily add a video to your website to create a positive experience for your visitors, there are a few do’s and don’ts to be aware of. That’s why Thrive Web Designs would like to provide you with some of the best practices for adding a video to your website in today’s blog post.

The Do’s of Adding Video to Your Website

While every business is unique, it’s important to follow some of the best practices for adding video to your website to create an experience that works with your online marketing goals.

Do: Highlight Key Selling Points

When potential customers visit your website, it’s essential to explain to them exactly what you do. There is nothing worse than reading some content and still not knowing what a business is all about. This is especially true when it comes to adding a video to your website. Instead of confusing your visitors, use a video that highlights the key selling points of your business in a casual, informative way.

This should include what problems you solve for your customers and speak in terms that resonate with them. Instead of adding a lot of fluff, it’s important to be clear, conversational, and get straight to the point. Within the first 20 seconds of watching your video, you want your viewers to be presented with at least three different examples of how your business serves them.

Do: Know Your Customers

A video on your website provides you with a unique opportunity to engage with your customers while showcasing your brand and leaving a lasting impression. For first-time visitors, a video on your website will be the first experience they have with your business. That’s why it’s essential to make it memorable. Make sure to incorporate key elements of your business to create a consistency that’s woven throughout your website. By knowing your customers’ needs, you should be able to pick out some key elements about your business that will resonate with them. If possible, incorporate some of the people who make up your team to connect with potential customers on a personal level and give them a better understanding of who you are.

Do: Minimize the Negative Effects of Autoplay

Certain marketers love autoplay because it immediately captures the attention of their online audience. Others dislike it because it can be distracting and straight-up annoying. That’s why it’s important to minimize the negative effects of autoplay if you choose to incorporate this video feature by keeping your autoplay video silent, sound-optional, and straight to the point.

Do: Make Your Video Noticeable

If you’re adding a video to your website, don’t hide it below tons of content. Since video provides instant gratification, it’s one of the best ways to boost conversions and take center stage. That’s why it’s essential to let it take the spotlight on your website. However, you may want to consider scaling back on other design elements. You don’t want to overwhelm your homepage visitors with tons of eye-catching elements if your goal is for them to focus on your video.

The Don’ts of Adding Video to Your Website

Your website is a precious resource, so treat it like one! That’s why it’s essential to follow these best practices for what not to do with your videos to avoid some unwanted mistakes.

Don’t: Be Broad With Your Goals

When it comes to online marketing, the last thing you want to do is set yourself up for failure. While goals can change over time, they should always be targeted. Take the time to figure out what you want to achieve with your video and make it goal-specific. For example, if your goal is to engage with potential customers, you need to make sure visitors find your video useful and interesting. Keep in mind that you can learn from your first video to create even more goal-specific videos in the future or throughout your website. Don’t try to incorporate everything about your business in one single video. Instead, stick to a single goal that a viewer can appreciate.

Don’t: Don’t Go Crazy With the Details

While it might be tempting to squeeze in every last detail about your business into your video, it’s important to reign it in. People want instant gratification, which means it’s important to keep it short and sweet. A website video should provide a quick overview instead of listing out every single detail about your business. That’s why we recommend keeping around 2 minutes or less in length so you don’t bore or overwhelm your visitors. If you bombard them with information, they’ll just stop watching and move on. Instead, provide them with those additional details about your business in other areas of your website that they can easily find if they are interested.

Don’t: Sacrifice All Your Content For Video

Never sacrifice all the content on your website for video. To ensure strong SEO, you need both text and video on your website. As a general rule, you should always use persuasive content to get people to engage with your website. That’s why it’s essential to add accompanying text that gets your message across. It’s all about balance. Keep in mind that not everyone who visits your website will want to watch a video. However, by combining some descriptive text with a subtle call-to-action, you may persuade those visitors to watch a video to learn more.

Don’t: Let Your Video Get in the Way of Navigation

Ultimately, a website video isn’t the only content you want visitors to consume. If you add a video to your homepage, it should facilitate further interaction. The last thing you want to do is add a video that gets in the way of navigation. Furthermore, if you choose to autoplay your video, there are some risks involved. Some visitors may scramble to control the volume or leave your website altogether if they feel like they are being bombarded. As we mentioned above, a good way to avoid these scenarios is to make your video silent and sound optional. Always consider your visitor’s experience above everything else and let that guide you.

Thrive Web Designs

The bottom line here is to create a positive experience for your online visitors. Always remember that first impressions are crucial, and a video makes lasting impact visitors will remember. But before you add any video to your website, keep in mind the do’s and don’ts listed above and create an experience that benefits both you and your potential customers.

If you would like to learn more ways to improve user experience with your website, contact the professionals at Thrive Web Design by filling out our online form or give us a call at (208) 391.2504. Together, we look forward to building something great!


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