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
Where to Place Video Testimonials on Your Website
If you want to focus on creativity and skip the long talk, you should probably look into video testimonials. They are a unique way to showcase customer success stories while maximizing the potential of videos. Testimonials are also an incredibly effective way to build trust with potential customers and show them how your product can benefit them. All in all, the powerful combination of video and testimonials can give you an edge in the market. So, where should you place these important video testimonials on your website? The answer is that there are several places to consider, so let's check them out. 1. Home Page The most important place to showcase your testimonials is on your home page. This is because it’s the first thing visitors will see when they arrive at your website, and we all know how important it is to make a good first impression. Having video testimonials on your home page will make your brand appear more trustworthy and give visitors a good indication of what they can expect from you. 2. Product or Service Page Another great place to put your video testimonials is on the product or service page. Here, testimonials would allow the visitors to learn more about the product they are looking at, see how your products can benefit them, and potentially inspire them to make that final decision. » Check out the 3 main reasons product demos can boost your sales 3. About Us or Contact Page Video testimonials are also a great addition to your About Us or Contact page. This is because they give visitors an insight into the success your brand has achieved, and thus, help increase the trustworthiness of your website. 4. A Dedicated Testimonial Page Finally, you can create a dedicated page just for your video testimonials. This is the perfect place to showcase the best of your customers' experiences and show off your excellent customer service and customer relations. What to Keep in Mind When Creating Testimonials When you’re creating video testimonials, it’s important to make sure they are of good quality. Your videos should be clear and well-lit, with minimal background noise. Make sure that your customers speak positively and enthusiastically about your product, and that they use language that is easy to understand. Finally, don’t forget to include a link back to your website so that potential customers can follow up and learn more about you. » Learn how to collect consumer video testimonials easily
Asked 4 months ago
4 Tips to Easily Collect Customer Video Testimonials
Most customers are tired of advertisements that keep pushing products on them. So, a great way to approach your marketing campaign from a fresh angle is to use customer video testimonials where real people explain the benefits of your product. It's much more convincing when viewers see people they can relate to offering an honest opinion. Here's how you can persuade your customers to provide you with invaluable video testimonials. » Boost your Shopify engagement: 5 great video advertising tips 1. Ask at the Right Time Don't jump the gun and ask your customers to do this for you before they've had the time to test the product. Their testimonial will be much more genuine and valuable once they've explored your product—and it will also give you a chance to address any issues they may run into. 2. Offer Incentives Video testimonials are a lot more complex than 5-star reviews or text comments. So, tailor each outreach to the specific customer. For example, you can do it as a follow-up on a positive review that you can see the customer put effort into. Offering incentives, like discounts or free products, can persuade them to help you out with little cost to your business. 3. Offer to Create a Script While you want the customer to explain their personal experience, it's easier for them and better for your marketing team to offer your customers a script. Having a script is likely to reduce any nervousness or stammering that may come with speaking on video. 4. Explain the Value of Testimonials for Your Business If the customer likes your product and appreciates your business, explaining to them how valuable their testimonial would be (without being too pushy, of course) will go a long way. Work with customers who will understand their value to your business, as they usually create the best testimonials. » New at video prospecting? Learn why videos are effective for sales prospecting Final Thoughts Now you have all you need to start collecting customer testimonials. If you could use some additional help creating interactive testimonial videos, partnering with a platform like Tolstoy, which understands the medium and will stay with you every step of the way, is bound to improve your chances of success.
Asked 4 months ago
3 Reasons a Product Demo Video Can Help Increase Your Sales
Instead of making another typical advertisement for your product, why not create a demo video that showcases how the brand's product is used? Here are three reasons why creating a product demo video can help you increase sales quickly and easily. 1. It Can Persuade Potential Customers to Purchase Your Product Product demo videos showcase how the product's key features and benefits can be used in everyday life, which is great for helping your viewers understand the product better. This increases the chances of your customers purchasing it, as they can see actual proof that it does what it's supposed to. To capitalize on this confidence boost, you can make the product demo interactive through a platform like Tolstoy, with a direct shoppable integration that lets viewers purchase the product through the video. This also provides each customer with a personalized experience. » Learn more about how interactive videos can boost your sales 2. It Can Help You Engage Your Customers on Social Platforms As effectively engaging customers on social platforms gets harder, interactive product demos are becoming more relevant. These videos make it easier to advertise on social media thanks to their high levels of engagement and unique feeling, resulting in a bigger audience and more sales. 3. It Can Help You Grow the Number of Satisfied Buyers With the growth of your base of satisfied customers, remarketing will become increasingly challenging—especially if you have a product that lasts a long time. Creating a demo video of an updated version of the product or optional accessories can inspire customers to repurchase. Sharable product demos also help build a base of loyal customers who may share these videos with their friends and family, further increasing your customer base and building trust. Final Thoughts Beyond these three benefits, creating product demos showcases your business' expertise, improves advertising variety, and provides customers with the final push they need to take action. Adding an interactive aspect to the videos will increase engagement even more, and it's a surefire way to boost your brand. » Ready to start? Follow our guide to make a perfect interactive video for your online store
Asked 5 months ago
How to Write a Founder’s Story That Stands Out (+ Examples)
It's often difficult for marketers to communicate the ethos of a brand just through typical ads. This is where a founder's story comes in handy. A founder's story stands out by sharing the ideas, challenges, and passion behind a business and inviting the audience to join the journey. Here are some tips to help yours stand out. 4 Expert Tips for Creating a Distinctive Founder's Story 1. Keep It Short, Memorable, & Easy to Endorse Storytelling is an art, but you don't need to be an expert to do it right. The best way to make the story memorable and easy to endorse is to make it personal. If the audience can connect with the founder and their story, they'll engage more. Keeping it short and sweet goes hand in hand with this since the one emotion you don't want your audience to feel is boredom. TOMS does a great job of keeping it short while still managing to communicate the company's humanitarian origins. 2. Be Honest & Express Gratitude Honesty is the best policy, giving your story the genuine tone it needs. The story should share the founder's raw emotions throughout their journey—especially their gratitude to those who continued to support the business through challenges (such as the employees, customers, investors, and partners). Chipotle's story is one of being honest with their customers and especially grateful to their employees. 3. Make It Relevant When composing the story, make sure to keep it relevant to the brand and the audience. Don't stray from the main storyline unless necessary. Sticking to the point will bring out positive emotions in the audience, especially if you're targeting something they're passionate about too. Warby Parker, for example, addresses the pain point of expensive eyewear, as it's the very reason the founder started the company. 4. Share Your Beliefs, Vision, & Mission Most importantly, the founder should share what motivated them to start the business and what the beliefs, vision, and mission that drives them are. Describing these details briefly will give your audience a better understanding of how they can fit into the brand's vision. SoulCycle is genuine and isn't afraid to share what drives them, which does a great job of attracting those who can relate. » Interested in interactive marketing? Take a look at the best interactive marketing tools and strategies Final Thoughts While it may seem daunting at first, all you need to make your story stand out is just sharing your journey in a genuine, relevant, and positive way. Your brand's unique approach will inspire the audience and give them something to think about.
Asked 5 months ago
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 5 months ago
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