8 Places to Find Sample Videos for your Content Marketing

February 11, 2016

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]There are a number of obstacles both small and large businesses face when setting out to integrate video content into their marketing plan. Some companies wrestle with how much is done in-house and how much is outsourced to agencies or production companies. Other companies have challenges with selecting cameras, gear or software. But, before production […]

There are a number of obstacles both small and large businesses face when setting out to integrate video content into their marketing plan. Some companies wrestle with how much is done in-house and how much is outsourced to agencies or production companies. Other companies have challenges with selecting cameras, gear or software.

But, before production begins, most organizations find it is difficult to just get started with video. Since there are so many variables involved, it can feel a lot like drinking from a fire hose.

One of the things that we’ve found to be incredibly helpful is discussing other videos. Because video is such a dynamic medium, it’s very difficult to communicate “dislikes” or “likes” without actually watching. We’ve discovered watching or sharing videos with our clients helps to break through some of those initial barriers. Ultimately, if we have a video to reference, it’s much easier to understand when someone says “I like the level of humor in that video.” Or, we can firmly understand what a person means when they say “I really like those graphics. I like the pace.”

Now that we’ve learned reviewing other videos can actually improve your own video content, what is the best way to find relevant samples? Well, we’ve got you covered there, too. Here is a list of eight places to find sample videos and help you identify concepts for your own video content:

Many folks know all about Pinterest’s ability to share awesome images. It’s such a great visual interface and is becoming more mainstream for brands that have a visual product. But, Pinterest is also a great place for identifying videos. Users can “pin” videos to a gallery as well. So, make sure to checkout the video category (i.e., excluding images) in the search tool and see what you can find.

Let’s face it – many of us try to skip around ads and television commercials these days. However, some of the greatest minds in the world create the ads and these spots can be a great source of inspiration. Check out the The Best Ads on TV to keep tabs on the latest commercials. The site is helpful for users who want to find spots in specific industries – the menu system allows you to identify content for the automotive industry, clothing, cosmetics, food, etc.

This is a cool little site that aggregates a bunch of videos created by start-up companies. Although your particular business may not be a start-up per se, you can still get an idea on how these companies are communicating. In addition, start-ups are typically budget-conscious, so it’s a great way to see how well they use video to market their company. Be sure to sort by the different categories of videos as well (live-action, motion graphics, etc.).

YouTube is the beast of online video, no doubt there. But, sometimes it’s difficult to find what you’re looking for on the site. One of the things I do is check the charts. The charts takes you to a dashboard of what is trending on YouTube. Feel free to filter the results by category and also break it down by today, this week, this month or all-time. This may not tie directly to your business or audience, but it does help to identify what is engaging visitors online.

Just like the tagline states, these are “videos worth watching.” Devour estimates it would take you 6,400 years to watch all of the content on YouTube. Who has that kinda time? This site aims to cut through all of the clutter and bring you the best of online video.

This site curates things in categories we all know about: wtf, fail, omg, etc. The site includes articles from around the web and also has a section dedicated to video content. Checkout their video section to see what is trending as well. Unlike Devour, these videos aren’t exactly hand-picked and you’ll still see your typical “cat in the laundry basket” video. But, you might find something that catches your eye.

Powered and funded by Sharethrough, this website curates the most meaningful and story-driven content on the web. The site captures articles, images and videos and showcases content that is successful on the company’s platform. If you’re looking for inspiring video content that drives action, this website is a great place to visit on a regular basis.

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