Category: Marketing

In the world of marketing, video is no longer the future. It is the here and now. Especially in social media marketing and advertising, where professional video content is the name of the game.

Recent stats back this up: 84% of people say they’ve been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a brand’s video.

And according to a 2020 report:

• 96% of marketers have placed ad spend on video.
• 91% of marketers are satisfied with the ROI of video marketing on social media.
• 93% of brands got a new customer because of a video on social media.

But consistently creating high-quality videos is a tall order. For that, you need a meaty marketing budget or years of experience in shooting and editing videos yourself. Even if there are plenty of great video editing apps you can use without much prior experience, there is a solution that’s even easier — stock videos.

However, finding free premium clips isn’t easy, as many stock video websites charge a hefty subscription fee. Luckily, there are some platforms where you can download free stock video footage for commercial use.

Be it for Facebook video ads, marketing presentations, campaign landing pages, or silent social videos — in this post, we handpick the best royalty-free stock video resources for marketers on a budget.

The best free stock video websites in 2021

There are quite a few websites offering free stock videos. But in terms of quality and variety of selection, the following seven stand out.

Free stock video website #1: Pexels

First on the list is Pexels, a website originally dedicated to stock photos. Today it boasts a rather decent collection of free stock video footage under CC0 (the Creative Commons license), meaning you can use them for personal or commercial projects without attribution.

Most clips are around or under 30 seconds and you can find a clip for just about any niche. The time-lapse and GoPro-shot action videos are especially eye-catching.

Pexels also offers “mockup” clips from mobile devices that feature a green screen which you can replace with your own footage. 

Most of the videos on this site are available in MP4 HD or Full HD, though there are some 4K clips too.

Free stock video website #2: Pixabay

The next one on the list is Pixabay, another website well-known for its free stock photo collection. But the platform is also a good repository of royalty-free stock videos (CC0) that are free to download, use, and modify.

Similar to Pexels, most footage is under 1 minute long and the variety of clips is outstanding — you’ll find free clips for nearly every project under the…

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The time of life when Yik Yak was in it’s prime feels like a fever dream. College campuses used this app like it was Gossip Girl. You could find out about social gatherings, tips on people in your community, gossip … It was a completely unregulated anonymous Twitter. Which ended up being as chaotic as it sounds.  

The Haps

Yik Yak was a community based social media app, but it was 100% anonymous. You could post to your communities (mainly college campuses) anonymously to find things like parties, or a blacklist of your classmates. Posts were visible in a 5 mile radius of the poster. During the peak of its popularity in 2014, the company was valued at around $400 million. 

“We’re bringing Yik Yak back because we believe the global community deserves a place to be authentic, a place to be equal, and a place to connect with people nearby,” the new owners said on the company’s website. The app was brought down four years ago for cyber bullying and hate speech. 

Impact for Marketers

The new company owners are taking a strong stand against threats and abuse. Which makes this the ideal app to post about your company’s events! If your target audience is Gen Z or younger millennials, this could mean big things for your company! A completely free communal page, where you can anonymously post your company and events and make it sound like you’re part of the community instead of an advertising robot. Anonymity gives you access to an entire market without having to pay for influencers with status. 

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Episode 166: The Ultimate Marketing Engine with John Jantsch, Founder of Duct Tape Marketing Episode 166: The Ultimate Marketing Engine with John Jantsch, Founder of Duct Tape Marketing
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Netflix began in 1997 as a video rental competitor to Blockbuster. Now, the streaming service has as many users worldwide as the entire population of Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan combined.

Today, the platform remains the most popular of all global streaming services—and its customers continue to renew their subscription, month after month and year after year. We’ll explore their retention statistics soon.

So, how does a behemoth like Netflix create immersive experiences so captivating that the platform cannot be dethroned by its sea of competition? In this post, we’ll break down the elements of Netflix’s design and user experience (UX).

Why Netflix’s user journey is so effective at keeping new users hooked

Unlike other platforms, where the “wow” comes after inputting your credit card information, Netflix reels in new users right from their homepage. The design and copy are minimal, with one goal—signups.

The homepage presents a clean visual hierarchy and is free of clutter, reducing friction between the visitor and the single, straightforward call-to-action to enter an email to get started. 

Their unique selling proposition also explicitly describes the biggest benefits and preempts two common FAQs: “Unlimited movies, TV shows, and more. Watch anywhere. Cancel anytime.” 

The goal is obvious, the ask is clear, the task is simple.

Together, the USP and UI makeup a value proposition that is optimized for conversions. They are incredibly specific about what they do, include relevant images in the background that support the “unlimited” claim, and feature a value prop booster (i.e. “cancel any time”).

Other elements below the fold that add value include:

• Mention of the numerous platforms Netflix is compatible with, such as game consoles and connected TV devices
• An example of how to download streaming content to watch offline, as well as the ability to stream unlimited movies across all devices
• The provision of child-friendly programming options
• A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section placed directly above a second opt-in form

Here, Netflix has chosen to emphasize its flexibility. Their homepage isn’t offensively long. They use minimal copy to communicate their offering, features, benefits, and FAQs to combat obstacles and sway hesitant buyers.

From there, the user embarks on a short personalized journey. Netflix highlights that there are only three steps, which work to increase motivation to complete the task at hand. 

The expectancy-value theory postulates that if the expectation of completing a task is high, and the subjective value is also high, people will be more motivated to follow through. In other words, motivation = expectancy x value. If either one of these factors is missing, motivation easily disintegrates.

By centering “Step 1 of 3”, it dictates that the task will take a short amount of time, thus increasing expectancy. By this stage, the value should already be high (given their strong value proposition, USP, and UX). 

On the second screen, they ask you to choose a plan. They again answer the biggest objection upfront to combat hesitancy: “No commitments, cancel anytime.” 

…

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Ads on LinkedIn can pay off big time. LinkedIn is the most trusted social media platform, and marketing there can lend your brand credibility by proxy. It’s an excellent platform to build your brand, post jobs, or promote your events.

Coming up with good ad creatives is not easy. People on social media have developed “ad blindness” in recent years. They simply scroll past ads. But you still need to produce a great ROAS that your boss will be happy with. No pressure, right?

Here’s your lifesaver! In this roundup of LinkedIn ad examples, you’ll find a handful of creative ads you can get inspired by for your next campaign.

Let’s jump in!

LinkedIn ad examples (and why they work)

29% of marketing professionals say that sponsored posts work best on LinkedIn.

Sponsored posts could be anything from image ads, to carousel ads, or even job ads. In the following sections, you can review a few different styles that use unique approaches to capture the attention of a LinkedIn audience.

LinkedIn sponsored content ad examples

1. Intel Corporation

This LinkedIn ad example is a sponsored content ad with a carousel. These are one of the best ad formats for those just starting up with LinkedIn for their business.

Why does this ad work? Carousels are the second most clicked through ad formats after the single image type ads. If you want to generate more engagement, a carousel ad could be a great way to stop people from scrolling over to the next piece of content.

The comic strip-like carousel used by Intel would catch the eye of any user, let alone their target audience, which consists of IT professionals. The ad copy does a good job in understanding the audience and listing the benefits of the product (see: “business-class PC,” and “boost productivity”).

Source: Intel LinkedIn ads

Takeaways:

• Who said LinkedIn ad creatives must consist of stock photos of professionals in meeting rooms? Try using new, trendy design styles that offer something different to users.
• Investigate what your target market likes with customer surveys, Google Analytics, or your own reviews. Use visual storytelling to channel your messaging around their preferences.
• Don’t forget to build your ad around an objective. Are you looking to increase brand awareness? Or do you have a new product launch? Set up your ad to revolve around a single theme.

2. Airbnb

The next LinkedIn ad example comes to you from Airbnb.

32% of users nowadays need six or more touchpoints to make a purchase decision. Airbnb knows this. This carousel ad focuses mostly on brand awareness by offering some post-COVID tips.

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I went to law school, and instead of becoming a lawyer after graduation, I became a Digital Marketer. I think there is ten times more potential in digital marketing than in legal. It was the smart and logical choice for me, because of all of the benefits of digital marketing.

Remote Capable 

You can do the whole job from a laptop and rarely does it need to be done in person. This leaves you with the opportunity to work from home, or while you’re traveling. 

High Income Potential

Digital Marketing has good salary potential. Rich started out charging $75 an hour. Nowadays you can charge $100-$500 an hour. Once you have more experience in the business you could do $20,000-$100,000 contracts! 

Commissions

It’s nice that Digital Marketing often has some bonuses involved. You can get paid if you perform above average. You have a lot of opportunities for more money if you do a good job. 

Business Connections

You get to surround yourself with a lot of forward thinkers, business owners, and entrepreneurs. These are the people you want to be connected with, people who are propelling forward in their business ventures. Surround yourself with people who have the mindset you want for your business! 

Now let’s get into the surprising benefits that you might not consider!

Tax Friendly

You can work from home and get a home office write off. Your cameras and equipment are write offs. Almost all of your software is write-offs. Most of the softwares you buy for one client you’ll use for all clients, but you can charge every client for use of the software.

Never Get Bored

There are a lot of new things to learn and always something different to do. Less likelihood for burnout. Marketing has so many branches that you can become an expert in! If you get bored with advertising, try website design. If you get bored with social media, you can dabble in email campaigns. There’s always something to move onto, to get better at.

Get Paid Like a Lawyer

You can bill per 10 minutes, you can bill per 15 minutes, you can bill per hour, and those rates are going to be relatively high. Typically you can demand payment up front to get the project started. Companies can also pay to keep you on retainer, a lot of companies want your input and want to rely on you. 

Watch the Video:

DigitalMarketer Author

Rich Ux

Rich is the Original Full Stack Marketer. Rich has been a freelancer for 15 years and has run an agency for 3 years. Rich is known for bridging the art and science of digital marketing. He shares his knowledge and experience as a freelance marketer via YouTube. Rich continues to expand both into DFY Services and DIY Courses for his clients. Check out RichandNiche.com to learn more about full-stack digital marketing and digital marketing consulting.

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With U.S. News declaring it the number one job in sales and marketing, and a median average salary of around $142,000 in the U.S., it’s no surprise that people are looking at how to become a marketing manager.

Perhaps you want to move up the ranks at your current company, or maybe you’re looking to change careers. Before you invest the time and effort it takes to get into the role, it’s essential to understand the responsibilities it entails.

In this article, you’ll learn what you can expect in the role, how you can demonstrate your worthiness to become a marketing manager (at your current place or in greener pastures), and how to present your case for a promotion.

Everything you need to know about the marketing manager role

Marketing managers can be called various things depending on the company. Some companies refer to individuals carrying out general marketing tasks as marketing managers, while others distinguish the leaders in their marketing departments this way.

Most companies are direct and call the people in these roles marketing managers or marketing directors. Some reverse the subject and call the position director of marketing.

Larger companies usually get specific about which of their channel’s marketing the applicant will be managing. Others get creative.

As you can see, there are many names for marketing managers and many niches for marketing managers. This may seem confusing at first, but knowing a little more about the types of marketing managers will help you apply for the role that suits you best.

The specifics of each role will vary depending on the industry and the company you choose. For example, let’s look at the differences between two types of marketing managers.

A content marketing manager’s role may focus on overseeing the production and execution of content across social media, the company’s website, email, and other channels. 

Here is an example of a content marketing manager’s job duties:

A digital product marketing manager’s role will focus on a tech product, ensuring all channel communications are optimized and aligned with its positioning strategy.

Here is an example of a digital product marketing manager’s job duties:

…

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Resilience, flexibility and creative thinking under pressure are all traits that digital marketers innately possess. And these also just happen to be the ingredients for success amidst a global pandemic, which is why the demand for passionate people in this space has never been higher.

In this article, you will learn why this is the best time to start your digital marketing career (even as a complete beginner).

Why Digital Marketing and Why Now?

Digital marketing has drastically evolved over the last decade and continues to change with each new iteration of our favorite platforms and analysis tools. But no matter what changes may come in the future, one thing is clear, digital marketing will continue to thrive. 

This is due to the large number of new businesses being created every single day. About 4.3 million new business applications were filed in 2020 in the U.S. alone. That’s 4 million new businesses that now need help with creating and growing their digital presence. So it’s no surprise that interest in this career path has been rapidly rising along with the demand for these skills.

Between September 2020 and March 2021, LinkedIn reported seeing a 63% increase in marketing jobs listed on the platform compared to the previous period. And five of the top ten jobs listed were in the digital or media space. 

LinkedIn has also reported a rise in employers advertising flexible work arrangements for marketing contractors and interns, along with a 457% global increase in remote work listings overall. 

This means that not only is there an increase in demand for people working in digital marketing, but employers are significantly more open to people working for them in whatever way suits them best. 

We’re no longer (necessarily) bound by the 9-5 workday, full-time working relationships, or even being in the same geographic location as our employers. We can work when we want, how we want, and from wherever we want. 

So we now know there’s demand and flexibility – next, let’s get into what it really means to be a beginner in the world of digital marketing.

Digital Marketing is Incredibly Beginner-Friendly

Some of the most brilliant digital marketers you’ll come across have no formal qualifications in the marketing field. But what they do have are skills, passion, and practical experience built through determination and a willingness to work from the ground up. 

And that’s because unlike in many other fields, people looking for talent in this space don’t place nearly as much importance on having decades of experience or years of formal training on your resume. Digital marketing itself hasn’t even been around for that long, and many universities and colleges still don’t offer practical training on the subject. The marketing world is evolving so quickly that by the time you finish a four-year degree on the subject, you would have to begin all over…

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Entrepreneur, Jack Ross, talks about how he used Instagram and active community engagement to get his start up CommunityAustin.com off the ground in record time!

https://communityaustin.com/

https://www.instagram.com/communityaustin/

WHAT IS DIGITALMARKETER: DigitalMarketer is the premier online community for digital marketing professionals. It’s a place where you can learn how to market like a pro, connect with industry experts, and get the strategies and tools you need to grow and scale your business to new heights.

https://www.digitalmarketer.com/

Highlight from our Blog: https://www.digitalmarketer.com/blog/the-1-reason-why-you-havent-embraced-digital-marketing-yet/

Related DigitalMarketer Course: https://www.digitalmarketer.com/lp/training/social-community-mastery/

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