The benefits of video
Video, done well, can connect viewers to a person or subject in ways other formats can’t. Globally 82% of all consumer internet traffic will consist of video traffic by 2021. Companies using video receive 41% more web traffic from search than non-users. Given video’s popularity, it can be an excellent medium through which to tell your story, whether it’s demonstrating an amazing discovery, sharing an alumni journey, or recruiting the next great faculty member, colleague, or student.
Creating an effective video
Effective videos are interesting and engaging and often tell personal stories. Things to keep in mind when creating a video:
Subject/topic
The subject, or topic, of a video may include:
- Faculty/staff/student profiles
- Research breakthroughs
- Scientific explanations
- Research, educational, or program descriptions
Tone/voice
A voice that is authentic, friendly, informative and instructive is more engaging for audiences than one that is pedantic or monotone.
Length
The length of the video isn’t as important as the content; people will watch if it is a compelling story. Research shows hooking an audience within the first 10 seconds is very important. Keep in mind that if you plan to share this video on social media, some platforms limit the length of posted videos, so a good general guideline is between 1–3 minutes.