As predicted by many, online video content has risen to become the most powerful medium to grow an online audience, and boost engagement! If we just take a look back a few years ago, simply put, the sheer amount of video content that we now consume on a daily basis was unimaginable!
In fact, video content already seems to have dominated every channel of communication, so much so that by the end of 2021, online video is expected to make up more than 80% of all internet traffic.
But as technology continues to change and evolve, the online video itself continues to change. 360 and live videos have become extremely popular, in both the B2B and B2C space, and more and more businesses are starting to invest in virtual reality. Things have gotten to a point that, 80% of consumers say that they would rather watch a live video from a brand than read a blog post!
In this ever-changing landscape of online marketing, your success essentially depends on your ability to keep up with these changes and to stay on top of all the upcoming trends, from VR videos to the development of OTT services.
So whether you’re planning to utilize video content to market your products and services, or you’re choosing to use an online video maker to engage with your online audience, and build an engaged community, you’re probably asking yourself this question:
Where Is Video Going? – Internet Video Trends
We’ve explored this topic here at Matchbox Design Group and our friends at Uscreen have done the same by studying video creators and examining online video trends that are surfacing in the OTT space. For the most part, these 10 online video trends don’t just illustrate how far we’ve come, but they also shed light on where online video is going!
Let’s Have A Look At The Top 10 Online Video Trends You Should Be Following In 2021:
Trend 1: Video Is Going Live
Live streaming services are growing in popularity on Facebook, Instagram, and other popular social media channels. research indicates live streaming encourages more audience engagement and retains viewers longer than prerecorded video. Android PC is an amazing blog that reviews the best streaming devices, which we recommend checking out.
Trend 2: Video Is Taking Viewers Shopping
Shoppable video content is on the rise and brands are testing ways to give users the ability to swipe-to-buy after viewing Instagram or Snap video ads.
Trend 3: Video Is Turning 360
The recent advent of 360-degree video content enables viewers to control their perspectives for a more immersive and interactive experience.
Trend 4: Video Is Going VR
Virtual Reality, a technology that makes viewers feel like they are in or part of the video, is poised to make its mark not only in gaming but in education, healthcare, business, marketing, social media and more.
Trend 5: Video Is Going 1:1
Given the ease of shooting videos with smartphones, marketers are discovering the value of lead nurturing and customer communications by sending personalized video messages instead of calling or sending an email.
Trend 6: Video Is Going On Blogs (VLOGS)
Vlogging — Or Video Blogging — is a major trend in content marketing. Experts opine that vloggers:
- Connect with viewers because of their authenticity.
- Are able to build a community of like-minded people.
- Can monetize their vlog via corporate sponsorships, product placements, native advertising, and more.
Trend 7: Video Is Getting Search Friendly
AI and the use of closed captions (or subtitles) are making video content more searchable. AI can transcribe the audio tracks of video with voice recognition to make video searchable.
Google recently announced the addition of video previews to the video carousel that appears in search results when using Chrome or the Google app or Android. When toggling through the videos in the carousel, users will see six-second previews of the video. Look for more of the same to appear across platforms.
Trend 8: Video Is Going Over The Top
A sizeable shift continues as viewers switch allegiance from traditional ad-supported linear TV programming to Internet-delivered, or “Over the Top” (OTT) platforms.
Trend 9: Video Is Becoming A Staple Of Training
Video is becoming a major tool for training — both internally for companies and for monetizing content. Video training programs have proven effective to train more employees at a time at a lower cost.
Trend 10: Video Is Everywhere
Video Is Being Used For All Possible Touch Points:
- Internal Communications
- Customer Support
- HR
- Legal
- IT
- Marketing
- Sales
- And More…
Here Is The Full Infographic Brought To You By Uscreen
Conclusion
When reading this blog post it’s important to understand that video is extremely important to the future plans of search engines such as Google. Videos will help you get found through off-page resources, such as live streaming from social media or even on television.
You should also realize that the video revolution is happening fast so there is no time to stand still or you will get left behind. It’s time to start making 360-degree videos, it’s time to delve into the world of VR and one-to-one videos. Implementing video into your blog will be common practice soon especially since Google is getting smarter and video is becoming search-friendly. The last word is to start using video in your marketing strategy today.
Check Out The Top OTT Statistics For 2021
Amir Shahzeidi
Amir is the digital marketing manager at Uscreen, a video monetization platform that allows creators and businesses to launch their own OTT platforms, and monetize their videos online. He stays on top of video marketing trends.
