Tolstoy Answers
Find answers to common questions about interactive videos, from the basics to the technicalities. We discuss the types of video content, how to create and use it, and the benefits it has to offer your online store.
Recent Answers
Video Sales Letters & Why Using Them Helps You Book More Meetings
Traditional sales letters are used to pitch an idea or product to a prospective customer by gaining their attention, discussing pain points, and offering your product as a solution. With video sales letters, the power of this marketing strategy is taken a step further. And since videos bring more engagement, there's no reason to leave them out of your sales letter strategy. » Are you new at video prospecting? Make sure to avoid the most common video prospecting mistakes. What Is a Video Sales Letter? A video sales letter is very similar to the traditional sales letter, as it uses the same methods to build a desire for a product or service by pinpointing issues and then offering the product as a solution to said problems. A good video sales letter should: Point out an issueProvide a product or service as a solutionBuild brand credibilityDiscuss social proof Why Are Video Sales Letters So Effective? According to surveys, more than 70% of people would prefer to learn about a product through video than by reading a text. Videos are more relatable, entertaining, and direct. This helps create better engagement by controlling your sales flow (viewers tend to skim text but watch entire videos). Furthermore, we are very visual creatures and respond to tone and body language. With video sales letters, you can personalize your content, giving your audience a more relatable experience. Key Takeaway Video sales letters take the successful strategy of sales letters and give it a modern-day twist by adding a visual and captivating aspect. After all, videos are the most viewed content on the internet, so why not take advantage of them?
Asked a month ago
How to Add Videos to Your Shopify Homepage (Without YouTube)
Videos are a real game changer in an online world where 96% of consumers find videos helpful when making purchase decisions online. It's important to grab attention and increase dwell times by embedding videos on your website. YouTube and Vimeo aren't always the best choice for hosting videos because of ads, lack of branding, and lackluster analytics. Below, we'll show you two ways to use Shopify or other hosting platforms to embed videos on your Shopify homepage. 1. Change Your Shopify Settings and Code Embedding a video on Shopify itself involves using some coding, but we'll show you just what you have to do so you won't be needing any previous technical knowledge. If you're hosting your video somewhere other than Shopify, skip to Step 5. Otherwise, follow these simple steps: Log in to your Shopify admin dashboard.Head to Settings and select the Files tab. If you can't find the Settings option, click on Sales channels and then find the App and sales channel settings option on the popup.Click the Upload files button, select the video to upload, and click Open. You're limited to video files of 1GB and 10 minutes maximum.Now that the video is uploaded, you should copy the video's URL in the box in the URL column on the Files page. Save it somewhere for later.Find your Online Store under Sales Channels and click on Themes.Find the theme you're using. Click on its Actions button and then the Edit code button.Under the Sections dropdown, click Add a new section and name it homepage-video.Once created, a text box with some default code appears. Remove all the code and paste the following in there (remember to replace the https://video.link.goes.here between the quotation marks on the third line with the copied video link you found in Files): <div class="section-homepage-video"> <video autoplay muted loop playsinline class="video-homepage"> <source src="https://video.link.goes.here" type="video/mp4"> </video> </div> {% schema %} { "name": "Homepage Video", "class": "index-section index-section--flush", "settings": [], "presets": [{ "name": "Homepage Videos", "category": "Text" }] } {% endschema %} {% stylesheet %} .section-homepage-video{ width:100%; } .video-homepage{ width: 100%; height: auto; } {% endstylesheet %} {% javascript %} {% endjavascript %} 9. Click Save. 10. Head back to themes (under Online Store under Sales Channels) and click on Customize. 11. Click Add section where you want to add the video, then select Homepage Video from the list (you may need to click on Show more first). 12. Save your changes at the top right. » Eager to break into the interactive marketing field? Be sure to take a look at the best interactive marketing tools. 2. Use Alternative Software If you're not up to doing all that yourself, you can always opt to use alternative software. While these plugins make it easier to embed videos, they usually cost money and have their own learning curve. Shogun's page builder has a handy guide for adding videos, and Shop Circle's Video Background plugin is purpose-built for embedding videos. Hosting the videos can take up a lot of bandwidth if your video files are too big for Shopify, you can host them elsewhere. We don't have space to list all the options here, but some good ones for video hosting are Wistia and vooPlayer, both of which have great marketing features beyond hosting itself. » Looking to engage your customers with interactive videos? Let Tolstoy help. Conclusion These are just two ways you can still embed videos on Shopify if you're not keen to use YouTube or Vimeo. While the first is a little technical, it's free and foolproof once done, while using alternative software is easier and more feature-rich for those who want deeper insights and better hosting.
Asked a month ago
How Does Shoppable Video Technology Work?
Shoppable videos are a useful tool that allows for more meaningful interactions and ensures increased conversions while gathering valuable user data as customers engage with the videos. » New to shoppable videos? Find out what is a shoppable video Understanding Shoppable Video Technology Shoppable videos make use of embedded links for purchasable items within videos. These links will redirect customers to where they can buy the item without needing to leave the video page. Customers are able to view products, make a purchase, and go back to the video without disrupting their shopping experience. Shoppable videos have created a real-world, interactive shopping experience where customers never need to leave the social or video platform, ultimately simplifying the shopping experience. Benefits of Shoppable Videos Simplify the buying process: Shoppable videos shorten your marketing funnel, allowing customers to view, click, and buy in the same place.Increase customer engagement: Videos increase engagement, and are a cornerstone in online marketingith the addition of Shoppable links, this goes a step further.Increase conversion rate: Because the buying process is streamlined, customers need to take fewer steps, which decreases dropouts and increases conversion rates.Improve brand loyalty: When customers can view a product demonstration they have a better idea of what they're purchasing, thus building trust and returning customers.Boost sales: As the buying process is simplified, more customers will make it to the final step without complications, and make a purchase. Encourage engagement, place a product link within the first few shots, and focus on a few products in your shoppable videos to see your sales rise. » Ready to get creative? Make a shoppable video with Tolstoy
Asked a month ago
How to Make an Interactive Branching Video for Your Online Business
Branching videos are a type of interactive video that allow business owners to create personalized, interactive videos geared toward their customer's specific queries and needs. Basically, interactive branching videos allow visitors to personalize their journey on a website. » Learn more: What are interactive videos? Creating an Interactive Branching Video in 4 Easy Steps Step 1. Prepare Your Script Having a premade script is essential as it helps you navigate the process of creating an interactive branching video. Each interaction follows a different journey, thus, it needs to be carefully considered and planned. Step 2. Record Videos and/or Segmentations Follow the script and record videos that will guide your customers to their destinations. Ask relevant questions that correspond to the response choices you plan on adding with Tolstoy's interactive video builder. Step 3. Customize Your Branching Video Use the Tolstoy video builder to add text, questions, as well as response options, and where the options will redirect the customer. Once all your 'branches' are complete, you can download your video, share it, or publish it on your website. » Ready to get started? Learn how to use Tolstoy's interactive video builder Step 4. Add the Interactive Video to Your Website Add your completed branching video to your website via the ‘Launch to Site’ button, where you can select to add it as a widget or embed it by pasting the link into the appropriate place on your website. Connecting with your online customers on a personal level is essential to gain leads, convert them into paying customers, and engage them properly. And, the most effective way to do so is with branching videos. » Ready to make your first Tolstoy? Make an interactive branching video with Tolstoy now
Asked 2 months ago
5 Steps to Add YouTube Videos to Shopify (+Screenshots)
Videos provide a visually stimulating experience for your viewers, increasing engagement and conversions. It is no wonder that over 85% of marketing professionals make use of video marketing, and if you're not adding videos to your online store—you're missing out. » Learn how to increase Shopify engagement with video advertising Embedding YouTube Videos on Shopify Store Page Here's how you can embed a youtube video to your store page. Step 1. Copy YouTube Video URL Your first step is to head to Youtube, find the video you wish to use, and copy its URL. Step 2. Embed Responsively Head to Embed responsively and paste the link you copied into the box of the respective channel (in this case, Youtube), and click Embed. Step 3. Copy the Responsive Embed Code Snippet Select and copy the entire snippet code that appears below. Step 4. Open Shopify Dashboard & Find Your Page Log in to your Shopify and navigate to Online store > Pages and select the page you wish to add the video to. Step 5. Click “Insert Video” & Add Embed Code Finally, from the formatting icon panel, select Insert video. In the popup window, paste your responsive video embed code and select Insert Video. Adding Videos to Shopify Product Gallery To add a video to your product gallery, navigate to Shopify Dashboard > Products, and select the product you wish to edit. Under the media section, select Add from URL and paste the video link. Insert Videos Into Shopify Product Description To insert a video into your product description, simply select Insert video from the product description pannel, paste your video snippet, and click Insert video. Adding videos to your Shopify products and pages can easily be done in a few simple steps, but the benefits of doing so are seemingly endless, some of which include increased engagement and improved sales. » Looking for a faster way to add videos to your eCommerce? Integrate Tolstoy with your Shopify store
Asked 3 months ago
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