The Biggest Video Marketing Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them!)
Video marketing is one of the most powerful tools businesses can use today. At Local Video Marketing Agency, we’ve seen how a well-made video can bring in customers, tell a brand’s story, and increase trust. But we’ve also seen many people struggle when they make simple but costly mistakes. We’re Brenda and Dennis, and we want to help you avoid those pitfalls so your next video actually works for your business.
The first big mistake is not having a clear goal for your video. If you don’t know what you want your video to do, it’s going to be hard for viewers to know what to do next. Some businesses create videos just to post something without knowing if they’re trying to get more sales, more website visits, or more brand awareness. Before you even start recording, decide what success looks like. A strong goal gives your video a direction and helps you measure results later.
Another huge mistake is ignoring your target audience. You can’t speak to everyone, so you have to focus your message. Know who your ideal customer is, what they care about, and what kind of content they enjoy. If you’re selling handmade jewelry to young adults, your video will look different than one made for a roofing service aimed at homeowners. A message that truly connects only happens when you know who you’re talking to. Research your audience. Pay attention to their likes, comments, and buying habits. The better you understand them, the better your video will perform.
Now let’s talk about calls to action—or CTAs. A CTA is what you ask viewers to do after they watch your video. It might be “Visit our website,” “Call now,” or “Subscribe for updates.” We’ve seen so many great videos that end without giving the viewer any next step. That’s a big problem because people need guidance. Make your CTA short, clear, and easy to follow. It should show up at the right time in your video and match the goal you set from the beginning.
A lot of people forget how important mobile optimization is. More than half of video content is watched on mobile devices like phones and tablets. If your video isn’t sized right or doesn’t look good on a small screen, people will scroll right past it. Use subtitles, make sure the text is easy to read, and test your videos on different devices. Even the best message will be ignored if the video is hard to watch.
One of the most common problems we see is poor video quality. If your video is shaky, the lighting is bad, or the sound is unclear, it hurts your brand. It doesn’t have to be Hollywood quality, but it should be clean, steady, and easy to understand. There are lots of affordable tools you can use to improve quality, and sometimes it’s best to hire a pro—especially if it’s a video that represents your business to first-time customers.
Another major mistake is not using SEO in your video marketing strategy. You might make an amazing video, but if no one sees it, it won’t help your business. That’s where SEO—search engine optimization—comes in. Use strong keywords in your video titles, descriptions, and tags so search engines like Google and YouTube know what your content is about. Post it on your website, share it on social media, and include it in emails. Your video needs a plan for how people will find it.
Finally, a mistake that many people make is skipping the analytics. Once your video is out there, track how it performs. Pay attention to how many people watch it, how long they watch, and what they do afterward. If people stop watching after ten seconds, that’s a sign something needs to change. Learn from the data so your next video performs even better.
We’ve helped a lot of local businesses fix these problems and start getting results from their videos. Video marketing can be fun and creative, but it also needs to be strategic. If you’ve made any of these mistakes—or just want to avoid them altogether—we’re here to help. Reach out to us at Local Video Marketing Agency and let’s create a plan that works for your business.
