Remember when video killed the radio star? The question is whether video also killed content, however. Indeed, search engine optimization (SEO) experts have been very worried about the impact of video on content, particularly because content marketing is a huge element of any good SEO agency. However, the debate has now been raging for years, which means it is safe to say that video did not, in effect, kill content. However, it certainly damaged it and changed the face of internet marketing. In fact, take a quick look on Twitch, Facebook, Vine, and YouTube, and you will be bombarded with video.
Naturally, SEO experts have adapted, and most good SEO companies now offer video marketing as part of their services. Video is now known to have a huge positive impact on its audience, because it enables for greater interaction. In fact, numerous statistics have shown this, including:
- That video content is highly engaging and more likely to be shared.
- That consumers are 39% more likely to share video.
- That consumers are 39% more likely to comment on video.
- That consumers are 56% more likely to like a video.
Looking at that, it would seem that text is dead, but this isn’t true. What is true, however, is that the format has changed. Today, websites need to have a mixture of both: video and text.
The Data Doesn’t Lie
There are staggering numbers when it comes to video content, including:
- That some 206 hours of video is watched each month by an average internet user (Nielson).
- That 64% of online marketers want to increase their use of video.
Video is more engaging, that is clear. However, there are a lot of instances where people simply prefer text. This is why it is so important to speak to a professional SEO company, who will be able to determine what will work best for you. It is likely that this will be a combination of video and text.
A Video Is Lazy
One of the reasons why video has become so popular is because it is lazy. Did you know that processing a video is 60,000 times easier for the brain than text? Add to this the fact that the powers that be have decided that video is better, and it is no surprise that people are turning towards it. Reading requires a long attention span and direct engagement. Video, by contrast, does not. Again, therefore, which one is better depends on the goal of the information itself.
Video is an amazing new marketing feature and it is no surprise that they are now such an integral part of SEO. That said, you have to remember that there are visitors who don’t want to see video. Perhaps they have a poor mobile signal, or only very little mobile data. Perhaps they simply do not like to watch video because they like to think for themselves a bit more and process information. Hence, a good marketing campaign must include both.