Looking back at 2016, the year was one of the biggest yet for video marketing. More and more outlets adopted this form of advertising than ever before, and this massive adoption rate created new practices and trends that no one really saw coming.

Although all forms of marketing change and adapt over time, few go through changes as quickly as that of video marketing. The Internet Age is one that doesn’t slow down for anyone, and this is extremely applicable when talking about online video advertising.

While the core principles and practices will always remain true, the way in which we approach video marketing has seen some big evolutions that you need to properly adhere to if you want to stay ahead of the curve throughout the year. Here are the top 5 video marketing practices that you need to be implementing in 2017.

1. Live streaming

Live streaming has become huge. Sites such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and others popularized the idea of live broadcasting you and the world around you, and this is something that doesn’t show any sign of going away soon.

During 2016, we saw companies along the lines of Chevrolet, Disney, Buzzfeed, EA Sports, Ari BnB, and others adapt some sort of live streaming as part of their video marketing tactics. More companies have already jumped on the live streaming bandwagon in 2017, and all signs point to even more adopting it in the future.

A report from Tubular shows that Facebook’s live streaming activity increased by 200,000+ active users between January and June of last year, and YouTube’s live streaming service saw an increase of a massive 80%.

This is easily the biggest trend in video marketing right now, and as such, it’s important that you start working it into your own campaign so you don’t get left behind.

2. Virtual reality and 360-degree videos

Also referred to as immersive video content, video clips that can be viewed in 360-degrees on a device or feature some sort of virtual/augmented reality aspect boomed quite a bit throughout 2016. It’s been proven that people are sold on the idea of being able to completely engage themselves in different types of content, and this sort of deep engagement can be used to showcase richer and more fulfilling ad experiences as well.

Incorporating ads and marketing videos into this sort of form factor is still a relatively new endeavor, but it’s another trend that is still going strong at full speed ahead. And, with it being so young, jumping into the game now will give you an edge over competitors that decide to wait things out and see where this immersive video thing ends up.

3. Personalize your videos for your audience

With video becoming such a popular form of marketing, it means that everyone and their dog is creating some sort of video content for their marketing campaign. However, something that not everyone is truly taking advantage of is the power of personalized marketing videos.

Video personalization is specifically tailoring your video content to the audience and people who will be viewing it. The benefits of personalized video, including increased customer engagement and longer video viewing times, are far too great to overlook it.

Companies such as Nike and AT&T have already taken note of this trend and started to implement personalized video into their own campaigns, and with it working so well for big names like these, there’s no reason it won’t work for you and your brand as well

4. Carefully study and understand video analytics

We’ve had access to video analytics for a number of years now, but if you aren’t using them to their full potential in 2017, you might as well not even bother with video marketing at all.

Video analytics provide you with a deep understanding of your audience and how much of an impression your content is making, and you can use this information to help make your videos even more powerful than they currently are.

Creating and kicking out videos however you see fit is one thing, but creating videos based off of what your analytics are telling you is an entirely different ballgame — the ballgame that you should and need to be a part of.

5. Work with a professional

Handling all of your video marketing on your own end can be rewarding, but it can also be extremely stressful and tiring.

This doesn’t mean you don’t have any good ideas or video-making skills, but if you want to ensure that the content you’re kicking out is as good as it can be, it’s critical that you work with a video marketing agency to elevate your content to the next level.

With more and more people adopting video marketing in 2017, trying to stand out with quality content is more important than ever. With a trusted agency at your side, this is a very achievable and plausible goal.

Final Thoughts

There isn’t and never will be a one-size-fits-all answer to rocking video marketing, but there are tips and tricks you can follow based on what’s currently taking place in the advertising industry. By following the 5 tips described in this guide, you can be fully prepared and ready to absolutely rock your video marketing campaign now and throughout the rest of 2017.

This guest post was written by VideoRemix, a video software company that allows users to create, edit, personalize, and publish production-quality video campaigns to engage their audience.

According to the Pew Research Center, Millennials are the nation’s largest living generation. They are a age bracket that lack a long attention span; they crave experiences, activism, and constant connection. They are an age group that doesn’t settle, which means your marketing initiatives have to be a bit more creative in order to attract the right attention.

If you’re a business that wants to attract millennials, but haven’t figured out how, these are some of the best tactics you can use to create a relevant relationship between your brand and Generation Y.

Know what you’re after. If you’re confused about your business goals, your customers are just as confused. The millennial generation wants to associate with brands that are just as confident and deep-rooted in its values as they are. Developing an understanding of your industry and knowing what your product can do for the millennial consumer is half the battle.

Market where the millennials are. Generation Y are consistently connected. If a portion of your marketing dollars aren’t invested in a responsive website and mobile ads, your chances of reaching your target audience are minimal. Responsive websites make sure your web page displays optimally on all platforms, ensuring they’re always user-friendly.

Speak their language. During the 50’s and 60’s, marketers spoke to the consumer’s desire to go against authorities – the need to “stick it to the man.” Today’s millennials aren’t so much about resisting authority, but instead solving the problems the authority presents. Pay attention to the causes your audience cares about, but be careful about getting too political or too opinionated. You want to entice your audience with ways that they can help, not scare them away by presenting harsh criticisms or challenging positions.

Create a friendship. Millennials don’t want to be treated like a consumer; they want to be addressed as an equal. This generation of shoppers tend to be loyal to a product or service if they can adopt everything the brand represents. Create a relatable culture for your consumer and they will come.

Be transparent. Information is all too easy to access, making it vital for companies to be as open and honest as possible. If something goes awry (with the production of a product for example), you can bet it’s going to be covered on a number of media outlets that millennials pay close attention to. This generation may dislike what’s happened, but a brand that is real with their consumer is a brand that stands a better chance of keeping that individual as a customer.

Offer an experience. Millennials love being a part of something. Brands that create experiences for their audiences succeed with the millennial market. Look at Budweiser’s campaign to find the golden beer can. They’re playing on the nostalgia of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (a movie nearly every millennial has seen) and the advent of winning a prize. Regardless, everyone’s a winner because they’re getting what they want (a case of beer) with the added bonus of possibly winning a prize.

This guest post was written by Chloe Rapp from [ 2 one 5 ] Creative, a Philadelphia web design and branding company.