Transform a simple transaction into a meaningful exchange, with the addition of video gift messaging. Video gift messaging is an online feature that allows brands to offer personal video experiences to their target customers.
Any online ecosystem can integrate video gift messaging without disrupting its CX flow. Video gift messages can be shared physically in the form of a custom QR code or sent digitally to the gift recipient.
Video gift messaging is much more than a CX enhancement, it gives brands the opportunity to open new marketing and sales channels while engaging with an entirely new audience.
Why Choose Video Gift Messaging?
There is no question that eCommerce has exploded! A digital world is the new norm and brands are realizing the need to create an avenue for engaging experiences within their online ecosystems as well as open new marketing and sales channels.
Due to the lack of personal interactions during the global pandemic, the adoption of shareable video content was expedited. This time proved that connectivity is always needed no matter if people are together or not.
Video gift messaging is a no-brainer when it comes to creating lasting moments that will give shoppers the ability to connect with each other. This feature allows the customer to share a meaningful moment and their recipient an enjoyable unboxing experience.
There is no denying that the unboxing experience is the most important component of eCommerce gifting. Delivering an intentional unboxing can lead to new sales and brand affinity. Video gift messages are delivered through custom QR codes that have multiple CTAs on the landing pages that are scanned into, giving brands the opportunity to directly engage with this new audience and drive further sales.
A study from the University of South Wales found that consumers who received a video message were 3 times more likely to buy from the brand again than those who did not receive any videos.
Creating Personalized Customer Experiences
Who doesn’t want to feel special? We Do!
Creating personalized experiences for your customers can be time-consuming and expensive. However, there is no denying that it strengthens the relationship between a brand and its customers.
Good news! Video gift messaging not only makes it easy for you to personalize experiences but also puts the personalization in the hands of the customer as well, by allowing them to generate the video content that is sent to the recipient. A brand could never deliver a more intimate experience than what their customer can share with the gift recipient.
In one Infosys survey, it was stated that 86% of consumers said personalization has some impact on what they purchase. Personalizing retail shopping leads to better experiences, more word-of-mouth promotion, and increased customer loyalty.
The idea that a personalized one-on-one experience can increase sales and influence consumer behavior isn’t novel. Almost half (40%) of U.S. consumers say they’ve purchased something more expensive than they originally planned because their customer experience was personalized.
How Do You Do It Right?
Education, education, education!
In order to best leverage video gift messages, a brand must educate consumers. While short-form video content and QR codes have exploded over the last two years, consumers are not used to them in a gifting use case. That being said, evolution is nothing new.
No different than a software update on your phone, when video gift messaging is explained and demonstrated, your customers will understand the value and adapt to this new gifting experience.
Here are a few best practices for executing video gift messaging in the right way:
- Run a marketing campaign across your marketing channels
- Display an advertisement on your store’s home page letting customers know you have this new feature and how to use it
- Share “how to” videos across multiple marketing channels
- Incentivize your customers to try out this new feature with promotions
- Customize your QR codes and landing pages creating a more desirable and memorable experience for the gift recipient
- Utilize the CTA that is on the landing page that recipients scan into to view their video message by offering promotions
- Design a video gift message button or banner that will stand out in your online store to customers
Celebrating Your Customers
The core idea behind personalized video messages is to celebrate people. You are not celebrating the sale, your profit, or even the product and what it will do for the customer. You are genuinely celebrating the buyer themselves.
Video messaging is a great way to build customer loyalty, drive sales, and improve customer satisfaction. These messages are also a convenient way for your customers to interact with you. They can ask questions, request information, or get answers from you in a hands-free manner.
It doesn’t have to be limited to customers either.
Whether you’re sending a video gift to show appreciation for an employee, celebrating a new baby, or just sending a video gift to say thank you, it’s an opportunity to personalize your store’s experience individually.
Customers and employees are the reasons your still in business – and to celebrate them is no waste of time.
With video messaging, you can show customers exactly who and what you appreciate. It’s also a great way to show employees how much they are appreciated for their hard work.
Video messages are becoming a more common and preferred way to communicate with customers, especially in the B2C world. They offer more flexibility than text-only emails, can be delivered at any time of the day, and allow for more personalized content.
Video is particularly useful for occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays when you want to send personalized messages that are meaningful but not long or complicated.
Here are some tips on how to create video messages that will drive sales and improve customer satisfaction:
Focus on the Person
Use video messaging to show your customers in a personal light. Instead of just sending an email with a link to your store’s product catalog or pricing page, why not send a video message instead?
It is an easy way to show customers how much their support means to you personally — and it shows that you care about what they think of your business!
Be Prepared For Questions or Concerns
While sending a video may seem like an easy way to communicate with customers, there may be some questions or concerns that arise during the process.
A good strategy is to respond promptly and clearly when people ask questions via email or social media so they have confidence in your brand.
Highlight Relevant Products
In addition to being more engaging than text-based marketing, video content also allows you to highlight products and services in a way that would be impossible with words alone. This can create an emotional connection with potential customers — and drive sales.
Wrapping Up
Video gift messaging is the latest trend in retail. It is a fast and easy way to personalize your store’s customer experience. It is also a great way to get more sales without spending money on advertising or creating new content.
Video is a leading marketing channel that’s growing in popularity, especially among millennials. The ability to share a message in an entertaining yet informative way has the power to increase brand awareness and loyalty.
Video is one of the most effective ways to connect with customers today. It’s also a powerful tool for personalizing your store’s customer experience by sharing messages that celebrate users’ birthdays, anniversaries, and retirement moments, for example.
In fact, even Facebook has adopted video gift messaging.
Facebook’s video gift messaging is a new feature that allows you to send personalized messages to customers who have shopped at your store. It is an extension of mobile web checkout and allows you to personalize the experience for customers with specific messages.
This is a testament to the power of the technique – and all the more reason why you should adopt video messages ASAP!