In today’s business world, video is increasingly becoming a preferred medium for content consumption.
It’s too simplistic to say that it’s overtaking the consumption of written content, but video certainly has a popular place with buyers.
As a result, more and more businesses are turning to video to promote their products and services.
It’s an important area for business owners and directors to focus on, because it’s on the areas of marketing and sales where you can gain an advantage over your competitors, even in competitive online spaces.
One type of video that is growing in popularity is the employee bio video.
What is an employee bio video?
An employee bio video is a short video (typically one to two minutes in length) that tells the story of a particular employee.
These videos are usually shot in a casual setting, such as in the office or around town, and they will always be based around an interview with the employee themselves.
Employee bio videos can be an extremely valuable asset for businesses, as they help create a connection between the company and its potential customers.
When done correctly, employee bio videos can humanise your brand and make it more relatable to your target audience.
Additionally, these videos can help build trust and credibility with your audience, as they provide a behind-the-scenes look at your company.
Finally, employee bio videos can be extremely helpful for sales and marketing efforts.
These videos can be used on your website, social media channels, and even during sales presentations.
One of the key areas to put employee bio videos is in the signature of your emails.
If you gave readers of your 1-2-1 emails the chance to find out more in an easily accessible video, how powerful that could be for building relationships.
And we know that people buy people right?
Examples of Employee Bio Videos
If Justin doesn’t use this video in his email signature to make it easier to build rapport and relationships, he needs to. What a great video he and Gemma have got. It’s such a good way to build relationships via one dimensional email.
Examples of Employee Bio Videos for Recruitment
Bio videos can also be useful for recruiting.
This chain of restaurants in Norfolk uses their videos to show how good it is to work there, to encourage people to apply for jobs.
A not so good example of a bio video
The video below is of Joe Alsop, a head of a Hong Kong senior school. While the video is very professional, this is more of a promotional video for the school, and the unnatural speech holds it back.
When you’re doing your videos, keep it natural so people can relate. Interviews are great for encouraging the tone and language that you need.
But of course, even though it almost looks like a bio video, it could simply be a promo video, in which case it’s not as bad. Naturalness is still the best way though.
Is an employee bio video important?
There are a few reasons why employee bio videos are so important for your marketing and sales efforts, and should be one of the first videos you create.
First, they help humanise your brand.
In today’s increasingly digital world, it’s easy for businesses to come across as faceless entities. But when you put a real person in front of the camera and let them tell their story, it helps potential customers see your company as made up of real people who care about their work
Second, employee bio videos help build trust with your audience.
When potential customers see that you have happy, engaged employees, it goes a long way towards building trust and credibility. After all, if your employees are happy, chances are your customers will be too.
Finally, employee bio videos can be used as an effective sales tool.
When your sales team is working with potential customers, they can use the video to show what your company culture is like and what it would be like to do business with you. This can be a great way to close more deals and bring in new business.
How do I create an effective employee bio video?
If you’re thinking about creating an employee bio video for your business, there are a few things you should keep in mind to ensure that your video is effective.
First, it’s important to keep your video short and sweet.
Remember, you’re trying to tell the story of an individual employee, not the entire history of your company.
Second, make sure that your video is visually interesting.
Use different camera angles and shots to keep things interesting for viewers.
Finally, don’t forget to include a call to action at the end of your video.
This could be something as simple as asking viewers to visit your website or follow you on social media. They could connect with you on LinkedIn, or arrange a call (with a link to your calendar).
Top 5 reasons why employee bio videos may make sense for you
1. They Showcase Personality
A big part of the sales process is building relationships with potential customers. And in order to build relationships, you need to be able to connect with people on a personal level. That’s where employee bio videos come in. By showcasing the personality of your employees, potential customers will be able to see that there are real people behind your brand—people who they can relate to and connect with.
2. They Tell a Story
People love stories. And when it comes to marketing and sales, stories are essential for building an emotional connection with your audience. An employee bio video is the perfect platform for telling the story of your employees—where they came from, what drives them, and why they do what they do. When potential customers can see the passion and dedication that your employees have for their work, they’ll be more likely to do business with you.
3. They Highlight Skills and Expertise
In today’s competitive marketplace, it’s not enough to simply list your employees’ skills and expertise on a piece of paper—you need to be able to show them in action. An employee bio video is the perfect way to do just that. By highlighting the skills and expertise of your employees, you’ll be able to show potential customers that you have the knowledgeable staff that they need.
4. They’re Shareable
In the age of social media, it’s more important than ever to create content that is shareable. I’m not sure how shareable a bio video would be, but they can certainly encourage engagement in places like LinkedIn.
5. They’re Cost-Effective
When compared to other marketing tools and strategies, employee bio videos are relatively inexpensive to produce—yet they offer a high return on investment. Not only will employee bio videos help you attract more customers, but they’ll also help you close more sales and boost brand loyalty among existing customers.
How much your videos will cost depends on what resources you have.
You can certainly bang a smartphone on a tripod, and with decent sound and lighting produce and impressive video for little cost.
But you can also make some very professional videos if you have a bigger budget.
Summary
Employee bio videos are an excellent way to promote your business and build trust with potential customers.
When creating your own employee bio videos, be sure to keep them short and sweet, visually interesting, and include a call to action at the end.
By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating an effective employee bio video that will help take your business to the next level.
Make sure all your employees have one, especially your customer facing employees such as your sales team.
When used in sales presentations, or online, employee bio videos can help you close deals by giving potential customers a personal look at your company culture and values, break down barriers and help build trust quickly.
If you’d like to talk to me about creating employee bio videos and other videos to help you earn trust with your target buyers, I’ve love to talk more…
…click here to arrange a no-pressure conversation with Mark Reynolds, or learn more about us here.