If you’re looking to gain more customers and leads, one of the best ways to attract them is through video, a commercial video, to be exact. They can help promote your business, in more ways than one. After all, they can be shown on any digital and broadcast media platform, from your TV to social media websites, to YouTube, and even at major events. Videos are the most useful tool in your arsenal for promoting your business. However, sometimes it can be difficult to know how long you need to make those commercials. So, here are a few tips to help you make your decision.
1. Less Than A minute
Sometimes you don’t need too much time to get your message across to your audience. In many cases, you don’t need more than a minute to attract the attention of your target audience. These very short videos are usually very punchy and to the point. They’re also very high energy. So, if your company has that energy, say for example, if you’re looking to provide fast delivery services, you’ll want to use these types of videos, to advertise your company.
These videos are usually found online, especially on YouTube or social media. This is because most viewers online are young people, who don’t want to spend their time watching adverts all day. They usually would like to get to their video, without waiting. So, by making a video that’s roughly 30 seconds long, or less, will guarantee that they watch the video all the way through, because, for a video platform like YouTube, 30 seconds can guarantee that viewers watch your advert to the end, without the “Skip Ad” button.
2. 1 to 1 ½ Minutes
These are the more typical advert sizes. Usually found on TV and online, these adverts will give a company more time to explain what they do and hook their target audiences. You can be even more creative with these types of adverts, because you have the opportunity to not only appeal directly to your audience, but also tell a story. You can even include testimonials into your video, if you have the time.
If you want to appeal to a wider audience, these videos are perfect, because they’re not too long, and not too short. And they can be viewed nearly anywhere, since most broadcasting companies need to fit a certain number of videos, between programmes. Or, if you can, include your video advert in the line-up, before a movie starts at the cinema. There are many options for these types of commercial videos, because they’re perfect for nearly any setting.
3. 3-Minute Trailers
Many TV shows and feature films utilise these lengths, and are usually released alongside other, shorter teasers. 3 minutes is usually the best length for any feature film trailer, because it not only sets the scene and explains the basic storyline, but it gives audiences time to decide whether they want to watch the film or TV show or not.
For most companies, these types of videos are not the best option, but if you are showcasing a certain aspect of your company, say for example, if you’re sending out a holiday greeting, for Christmas, you might want to employ this 3-minute video, which will mostly be viewed online, to send out those greetings. Also, if you’re a fashion design company, or an artistic company, these 3-minute videos can help you show off your company’s aesthetics.
4. 5-Minute Short Films
These are the most niche commercial videos. They’re mostly used by luxury brands, like Prada, Gucci, Ferrari and even Aston Martin. Usually, these 5-minute short films are artistic endeavours that show off the company’s ability to branch out into other areas of entertainment and art. These cinematic pieces don’t usually directly address their audiences, and instead they feature products or services by the company it’s advertising.
So, if you’re looking to expand your company’s artistic style, like these luxury brands, you can use these 5-minute short films that employ these cinematic techniques. Of course, these short films require a lot of investment. After all, these videos may require the use of A-list stars and well-known names in the film and entertainment industries. Not to mention, your film will most likely be showcased in cinemas and online, and even in art exhibitions or film festivals.
Think About The Audience
Now that you have a basic idea of how long your commercial video should be, it’s time to start thinking about the target audience you want. Do you want to attract younger audiences, or older audiences? Do you want to attract a wide range of people, or a select few? As a rule of thumb, the wider the range the shorter the video. So, be careful with your choices. Also, be mindful about how much you want to spend on your commercial videos.
More often than not, companies will have a certain budget, for marketing purposes, whether it’s used in social media, or broadcast messages, there will always be a set amount. So, if you really do want that 5-minute short film, you’ll need to set aside quite a bit of money, to create it.
Now You Know
Bear in mind that these time frames are typical of many commercial videos. Sometimes, you can get the odd adverts that are shorter, or longer than these time frames. After all the Gucci brand made House Of Gucci, which is a feature film that lasts 2½ hours long. However, for the most part, adverts tend to be between 30 seconds to 1½ minutes, with the aim of attracting as many new leads as possible. So, if you’re looking to create an advert that appeals to a wide range of people, think about their viewing habits first. Are they willing to sit down for a few minutes, to watch you speak to them about how great your products and services are? Or are they more likely to skip your videos? However long you make your video, make sure it attracts the right audience.
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