The state of video marketing in 2021: infographic

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September 1, 2021 | 4 min read

If you are a business owner or marketing manager looking to enhance your brand’s awareness, then video marketing should be your top priority

And to gain maximum benefit from this tool, it is important to keep up with the latest trends.

According to the 2021 Wyzowl Video Survey, 93% of marketers say it is essential to include videos as part of their marketing strategy. Keeping up to date with video marketing trends helps you stay ahead of your competitors. In addition, you can expect more user engagement and brand recognition, which in turn will boost your business.

Experts from Depositphotos, a content marketplace with over 210 million royalty-free visuals and music, prepared five video trends to follow if you plan to incorporate videos into your marketing strategy.

5 essential video marketing trends for 2021

Interactive stories

XR technology is a part of our reality, and its popularity is steadily growing. The AR and VR market is projected to grow to $72.8 billion by 2024. Therefore, brands that embrace this technology more often experiment with the content they share, so it’s remembered by the public and makes a long-lasting impression on their users. This year, they explored virtual reality stories from a completely new angle.

In 2021, companies are focusing on more meaningful and immersive online content instead of simply appealing visuals. This exceptional online experience will enable brands to highlight their uniqueness and build long-term relationships with users.

Sequential storytelling

According to YouTube research, 74% of users remember sequential ads better than standard 30-second videos. Ads that tell long and consistent stories generate more interest from the audience, are remembered longer, and inspire confidence in the brand. Therefore, many companies are starting to create videos based on the principle of sequential stories.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that this type of advertising requires a large investment of time, money, and the extensive experience and knowledge of a marketer. Yet, sequential storytelling is an effective tool for social media campaigns, such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or TV.

Shoppable video

In 2020, 70% of users made a purchase from a brand after watching their YouTube ad. This suggests that shoppable video is an effective e-commerce tool to attract leads and increase sales and company awareness. By including shoppable video in their marketing strategy, brands can expand upon their product or service, immerse the user in a unique story, and help make certain purchasing decisions.

User-generated video content

User-generated video ads are created to boost audiences’ trust. It is said that only one-third of customers rely on ads to buy products while the rest of users trust other customer’s opinions when investing in a new product. If you gain the trust of your clients, it is only a matter of time before it converts into brand loyalty.

Video content that’s viral and promoted properly can garner lots of comments and shares. This will indirectly establish trust with viewers. Unlike regular advertising campaigns, which are focused on sales, campaigns using user-generated content are based on honesty and sincerity.

Short-form video

Short-form videos continue to trend in 2021. The growth of Instagram reels and TikTok is living proof of that. Although these clips last about 15 seconds, they let brands communicate with the audience in a very exciting way thanks to their relevance and ambiance. Many of these videos go viral thanks to the unusual approach of adding memorable music that underlines the personality of a brand.