Internal vs. External Video Marketing
In today's digital age, video has dominated how people consume information. With the rise of social media platforms and the growing preference for video content, businesses are leveraging this medium to engage with their audience and employees more effectively. There are two distinct categories of video: internal and external video production. Understanding the differences between these categories and when to use them effectively can significantly enhance your internal and external marketing efforts.
Understanding Internal Video Production
Internal video production intends to communicate information inside an organization. This approach aims to communicate with employees, partners, and other stakeholders. The primary purposes of internal video marketing include:
Training and Development: Companies use videos to train employees on new skills, processes, and technologies. This method is particularly effective for remote teams, as it allows consistent delivery of training materials.
Internal Communications: Internal videos are a great way to convey important updates, policy changes, and company news. They ensure that messages are delivered uniformly, reducing the risk of miscommunication.
Employee Engagement: Internal videos are a great way to engage employees. Motivational videos, success stories, and corporate events are some examples. These videos foster a sense of belonging and boost morale.
Benefits of Internal Video Production
Consistency: Ensures uniform communication across the organization.
Engagement: More engaging than text-based communication, leading to higher retention.
Scalability: Easily scalable across large organizations and remote teams.
Cost-effective: Reduces the need for in-person training sessions and meetings.
Exploring External Video Marketing
External video marketing, on the other hand, targets customers, prospects, and the broader public. The primary objectives of external video marketing include:
Brand Awareness: Videos help build brand recognition and awareness. They allow companies to tell stories and showcase their values, products, and services.
Lead Generation: Video content can attract potential customers and generate leads. Videos can drive traffic to your website and social media channels by providing valuable information and engaging visuals.
Customer Engagement: Videos are a powerful tool for engaging customers with product demonstrations, tutorials, testimonials, and more.
SEO Benefits: Search engines favor video content, making it a valuable asset for improving SEO. Videos can enhance your website's visibility and increase organic traffic.
Benefits of External Video Marketing
Reach: External videos reach a global audience through various online platforms.
Engagement: External videos are highly engaging, leading to better audience retention and interaction.
Conversion: External videos are effective in driving conversions and sales.
Brand Image: External videos build and enhance the brand image.
Key Differences Between Internal Video Production and External Video Marketing
While both internal and external video marketing serve distinct purposes, understanding their differences can help in crafting more effective strategies:
Audience
Internal: target the organization's employees, partners, and stakeholders.
External: Aimed at customers, prospects, and the general public.
Content
Internal: Focuses on training, internal communications, and employee engagement.
External: Emphasizes brand awareness, lead generation, customer engagement, and SEO.
Goals
Internal: Enhances internal processes, communication, and employee satisfaction.
External: Boosts brand visibility, attracts leads, engages customers, and drives conversions.
Distribution Channels
Internal: Utilizes intranets, internal networks, and private platforms.
External: Leverage social media, websites, email marketing, and public video platforms like YouTube.
Integrating Internal and External Video Marketing
For a holistic video marketing strategy, it's crucial to integrate both internal and external approaches. Here are some tips to achieve this:
Consistent Branding: Ensure your internal videos reflect the same branding and messaging as your external content. This consistency reinforces your brand identity.
Feedback Loop: Use insights from your external video campaigns to inform your internal video strategies and vice versa. For example, employee feedback on training videos can lead to better customer-facing tutorials.
Technology: Invest in video production and distribution technologies that can serve internal and external purposes, ensuring high-quality content across the board.
Cross-Purpose Content: Repurpose video content when possible and appropriate by pulling relevant clips from internal videos that supplement your brand's external marketing goals.
Conclusion
Internal and external video marketing is vital in a comprehensive marketing strategy and communication. While internal video marketing focuses on enhancing internal communication and engagement, external video marketing aims to build brand awareness and engage customers. By understanding and leveraging the unique benefits of each approach, businesses can maximize their reach and impact, driving growth and success in the competitive digital landscape.
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