Viral videos have reshaped the way we connect, share and experience stories. For eCommerce businesses, producing viral marketing videos can help engage targeted users, drive immediate action and create organic, widespread awareness.
In this blog, we help you master the art of video marketing by covering these topics:
• The Benefits of Video Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Strategies
• 10 Innovative Video Marketing Examples
• Key Elements of Viral Video Marketing Campaigns
Read on and discover valuable insights from some of the top viral videos of recent years.
The Benefits of Video PPC Strategies
First of all, what’s the role of video ads in business growth?
Whether it’s a product demo or a customer testimonial, integrating video ads into your eCommerce PPC strategies can bring numerous advantages:
1. Better Brand Recall
Video ads capture attention more effectively than text or images alone. Based on a survey, 72% of consumers favor video content over text when it comes to receiving branded marketing information (Industry Dive).
In a crowded market, powerful video ads are key to creating a memorable brand identity. Compelling visuals and storytelling make it easier for users to absorb the information you’re presenting and distinguish your brand from competitors.
2. Higher Return On Investment (ROI)
Over 90% of marketers said they get a good ROI on video content, up from 87% in 2022 (Wyzowl). Video is one of the fastest and easiest ways to connect with your audience. When viewers are emotionally engaged, they are more likely to convert, whether making a purchase or filling out a form.
3. Greater Reach and Brand Awareness
Viral advertising campaigns help increase brand recognition. Well-crafted videos can spread rapidly across social media platforms, reaching a vast audience within a short period. This widespread exposure can attract new customers and conversions.
10 Innovative Video Marketing Examples
To show you the power of video marketing, let’s take a look at some brands that have done it successfully.
1. Glozmo
Glozmo’s viral marketing video showcased the effectiveness of their car-cleaning wipes and sprays in less than a minute. It began with a do-it-yourself (DIY) style car painting demo and ended with the car being wiped clean and spotless using their products. The viral advertising video garnered 389 million views in five months.
2. Liekick
Liekick’s viral video marketing campaign for its Kick Speed™ Roller Skate Shoes illustrates the importance of brevity and impact. In under 20 seconds, the video captured the audience’s attention and brilliantly displayed the product’s unique features in action. One of the best video marketing examples in 2023, it received around 20 million views in nine months.
3. Volvo Trucks
When discussing the most viral videos of all time, one can’t overlook Volvo Trucks’ iconic ad starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. To showcase the stability and precision of Volvo’s dynamic steering, the legendary martial artist and actor performed splits between two trucks. What’s even more impressive is that the entire video was shot in one take!
By combining a daring stunt and flawless cinematography, this ad has rightfully earned its place among the top viral marketing videos to date.
4. Old Spice
Considered one of the most viral marketing videos, Old Spice’s “Smell Like a Man, Man” campaign gained 5.6 million YouTube views on the first day alone. It featured ex-American football star, Isaiah Mustafa, skillfully blending humor and breaking the fourth wall to communicate with the audience.
Prior to this groundbreaking ad, Old Spice faced challenges in competing with rivals like Axe, which excelled at attracting younger audiences. However, by the end of 2010, Old Spice successfully emerged as the leading body wash choice for American men with a remarkable 125% surge in sales.
5. Dollar Shave Club
Costing only 4,500 dollars to create and one day to film, this viral marketing video disrupted the men’s grooming products industry.
On the day the ad was launched, the Dollar Shave Club’s website crashed. When it was back online the following day, the company acquired 12,000 new subscribers for their $1 per month razor service. The campaign also garnered an impressive 3 million views within the first few days.
What makes this one of the most viral advertising campaigns is its clever use of storytelling and humor. It effectively showed how the service solved customers’ pain points in a fresh and engaging manner.
The video gathered 4.75 million views within the first three months and has since amassed over 28 million views.
6. Greggs
Introducing a new product is a significant milestone, and you only have one chance to make it memorable. Greggs, a British bakery chain, seized this chance when launching their vegan sausage roll.
This viral video marketing campaign cleverly parodied famous Apple ads by presenting the sausage roll as a cutting-edge gadget. The tech-like descriptions of the product are remarkably witty and inventive, leaving a memorable impression on the audience. In fact, the video clocked over five million views within the first two weeks.
7. Android
Android won the hearts of animal lovers around the world with this two-minute viral video advertising campaign. Combining clips of unlikely animal friendships with a calming soundtrack, Android highlighted its key edge over Apple: its open platform enabling seamless compatibility with other devices.
This viral advertising campaign emphasized how connecting with audiences on an emotional level can create a powerful impact.
8. Dream Crazier (Nike)
Nike is known for creating some of the top viral ads of all time. In this 90-second viral advertising campaign, female athletes took centerstage and gave the famous tagline, “Just Do It,” an entirely new meaning. Featuring the voiceover of Serena Williams, “Dream Crazier” gained over 6 million views on YouTube and exceeded 28 million on Twitter within a single day.
9. Dove
When it comes to top viral ads, Dove’s Real Beauty Sketches stands out for its focus on self-esteem and body image.
The short film featured a sketch artist trained by the FBI to draw women. The initial sketches reflected the women’s self-perceptions, followed by sketches based on how strangers perceived them.
This viral video advertising campaign successfully evoked emotions and resonated with a massive audience. It was uploaded in 25 different languages across 33 of Dove’s YouTube channels and has been watched in over 110 countries.
10. Shopify
This Shopify ad perfectly demonstrates the power of video storytelling. Within the first second, viewers are introduced to Jess, the hero of the story. By creating this relatable character, the ad effectively draws in viewers and inspires desired actions.
Key Elements of Viral Video Marketing Campaigns
To optimize video engagement and expand your reach, your video ads must prioritize the following:
1. Video Storytelling and Emotional Appeal
Whether you aim to share your brand story or promote a product, video storytelling is important. Incorporating relatable characters, authentic dialogue and meaningful themes can trigger emotional responses from audiences, driving them to remember and share your content.
Moreover, prioritizing emotional connections over in-your-face sales tactics can influence purchasing choices. In fact, approximately 70% of viewers who had a strong emotional reaction to an ad were highly inclined to make a purchase (Unruly ShareRank Data). By launching viral marketing videos, viewers are more likely to engage with your brand and recommend you to other consumers.
2. Brevity and Impact
In our fast-paced digital world, people often have limited time and attention spans. That’s why most of the top viral ads are usually brief and concise. It conveys their message succinctly, capturing viewers’ attention within the first few seconds and maintaining that interest until the end. Additionally, shorter videos are easily digestible and shareable on various platforms.
3. High-Quality Video Production
Good camera work and clear audio can heighten video engagement and ensure seamless message delivery. Investing in excellent video production elements, such as scriptwriting, editing, cinematography, sound design and visual effects, convey professionalism and attention to detail.
Likewise, being in tune with the latest video marketing trends can guarantee that your content aligns with user preferences and expectations.
By leveraging Thrive’s PPC campaign management services, you can rest assured that your video ads are free from technical barriers that might disrupt the viewer’s experience.
Boost Video Engagement and Conversion Rates With Thrive
Enhance your digital marketing strategy by leveraging video marketing trends. Thrive’s video production team specializes in all types of video ad formats, including behind-the-scenes, customer reviews, product or service demos, event highlights and drone videography.
We stay ahead of the latest tools and video marketing trends, helping you launch video ads that stand out. Contact us now for video production and PPC campaign management services that translate into increased sales.
