Graphic design is a creative industry—if you’re not already using video marketing, you’re behind the eight ball. That's okay, though, because there’s still time to get back on track and back on top of your marketing efforts. Of course, the bar is set a little higher here because you’re already in the business of design. If you don’t put out impressive videos, you’re not going to get very far.
Who's to say what “impressive” means? Well, that depends on who you ask. Your audience is the most important, of course, but then how can you find out what they want if you haven’t acquired them yet? Here’s a hint: it’s all in the title of this article. Find others who have come before you and learn from them to build your own video marketing success strategy.
The time to get on board with video marketing is now. It's estimated that as much as 82% of all traffic will come from streamed or downloaded videos by 2022. That's a lot of video traffic that you’re missing out on if you’re not implementing your strategy.
With the help of the people on the list below, you’ll be able to learn all about the best ways to integrate video, how many different ways you can use video, and how to build your audience on all the platforms that you desire. We’ve taken the time to find the people who are most successful at video marketing, including some within the design and creative industry and others that are just impressively good at marketing.
After all, a good marketer can create a following for anything as long as there’s something worth offering.
First, though, let’s talk about why you need to incorporate video marketing and how your graphic design firm can ensure that you get maximum exposure doing it.
Video marketing comes in all shapes and sizes, which is part of the reason that it’s such a useful tool. When you put it to use for your graphic design firm, you’ll find a lot of different perks. Not only will you be able to market your agency, but you’ll be able to showcase what you do, help clients understand your services, and so much more. Video gives you the chance to do so much, and you can even spotlight designers or employees that deserve a little extra recognition to help build personal brands, too.
There's no limit to what you can do with video marketing when you take the time to learn. Plus, you don’t have to spend a lot to do it—some of the best video marketers are notorious for uploading selfie videos from their phones regularly. This just proves that it’s not so much the production quality as the video value and entertainment and engagement factor.
What are you giving people? With video, you can give them:
You can use video marketing in so many different ways, and even take input and suggestions from your audience to help you build your video brand online. You shouldn’t limit yourself to one platform, either—it's best to start with a dynamic marketing strategy that includes YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and the other platforms that you want to grow your audience on. That way, you can take a comprehensive approach and you aren’t starting over every time.
Videos give you total control. You can invest in producing videos that showcase your organization, post selfie-style videos about updates and news, or even share your own opinions and insights, and so much more. When you take notes from those who are doing it well, you’ll see that there is a lot waiting for you with video marketing.
And now, without further ado, here are the video marketers that need to be on your design firm’s list.
While David specializes in visual identities, he also offers a lot of consulting support for other designers and firms that want to grow their following online. He has a great social network, and his Twitter includes almost 60K followers, and he’ll offer a lot of reading with the books that he’s published, too. From Northern Ireland, he works independently and has collaborated with clients around the world to create impressive logo designs and visual identities for various brands. He knows what it takes to connect with people and interpret their needs in various ways, which is how he can help you hone your video marketing in the design world.
Adrian is a designer, publisher, writer, and art and culture buff that loves helping other designers get their feet wet. He's got more than 44,000 followers on Twitter and has even more if you combine his Facebook, YouTube, and other social channels. He offers tons of insight on how to use your expertise to grow your brand and connect with people in a unique way and has tons of YouTube and Facebook content that will keep you engaged and coming back for more. You'll find interviews and tons of firsthand videos, along with helpful advice and insight on marketing in the modern world of graphic design.
This graphic designer and blogger is also a major YouTube influencer and offers a lot of inspiration for those who are trying to build their online video efforts in the graphic design realm. She's got more than 45,000 subscribers on YouTube alone, along with robust social media profiles and a following that will impress even the most discerning. She offers videos on her art, job hunting and art school, how to succeed with freelancing, and more. She wants to share her creativity and her art interests with the world and does that by helping others learn how, too.
Lizzie has more than 150,000 subscribers on YouTube and is taking the design world by storm. She's all about inspiring others, and especially women, to create their own business in the industry and push the boundaries of creative careers and the way that they are approached. Her own business, known as Hau Media Operations Inc., is a company that focuses on helping create corporate videos, commercial marketing, and more. She even offers tutorials for vlogs, photography, and tips for making short films, offering a little bit of something for everyone. Her attitude will help you feel like you can make more out of your creative business with video marketing, too.
James is one of the most popular vloggers in the graphic design industry. He even features a Q&A series every Tuesday on his YouTube channel, with most videos being less than five minutes and capable of delivering powerful insights. He talks about all kinds of design topics and creative subjects, and is always taking direction from his audience, which is key. James Victore runs an impressive design studio, too, and has years of experience to lend to his audience. If you’re interested in getting on board with video marketing in the design trade, this is a good guy to follow. He’s an artist, activist, and filmmaker, in addition to being a good voice of expertise for those in the design world.
This designer has more than 13 years of experience and has worked in 35 different design studios. While he focuses most of his videos on digital art, tips, and designer reviews, he also has quite a following that points to a good grip on video marketing. More than 500,000 YouTube subscribers are just the start for Gareth, who also has a strong following on Facebook, Instagram, and other sites. He is a mentor and consultant and is passionate about what he does, helping brands around the world create innovative designs and more. Plus, he offers a lot of different types of videos and can show you how to engage your audience and get a better following, no matter what approach you take.
Tom Cargill is the brains behind Satori Graphics, specializing in brand identity and logo projects. This UK designer has a zealous approach that has helped thousands of others get inspired and helped him gain more than 529K subscribers on his YouTube channel. There are tutorials, design tips and tricks, and plenty of other videos to assist with marketing and inspire other designers to create the best artwork that they can using the latest tips and tools. Tom has a unique approach that draws people in and if you can learn from his charismatic approach and eager nature, you can stand to gain a lot for your own video marketing efforts.
Femke Van Schoonhoven is based in Toronto and primarily is a designer for Uber Eats. She also has her own YouTube channel where she covers all kinds of graphic design topics including research, product reviews, UX designs, and more. She also has interviews, features, and other appearances that you can check out that will showcase just how great she is as an influencer in the design industry. Her videos are unique and stand out to offer a little more than the average designer, and she knows how to connect with people in a way that works. Her approach to design comes from her experience as a consumer, and she takes a realistic approach while also realizing that she can’t limit herself, which is how she has created such innovative success.
Mike Locke is a UX/UI designer, but he’s still someone that specializes in design and that is worthy of being followed by anyone in the graphic design industry. He's got tons of followers, more than 100,00 YouTube subscribers, and offers a lot of valuable insight that can help everyone improve their own marketing efforts and create better videos to engage their audience. He has spent over 20 years in the industry creating impressive designs and apps and he’s a true visionary that can provide problem-solving support, as well as valuable insight for designers looking to build their following on various platforms.
This creative influencer is known for his illustrations that are colorful and whimsical, offering imagination on YouTube in a way that many people don’t even expect to see. He captures the attention of his viewers in a unique way and uses different mediums to create dynamic final products that are going to get noticed and help draw in the audience and keep them coming back for more.
Dan is a fun creative influencer that a lot of people can look to when they’re trying to build their following on YouTube and Facebook, among other sites.
At Smith.ai we know how valuable your time is. You’re busy building a business and you have a lot to do if you’re going to get your video marketing up to snuff. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about doing it all yourself. Our dedicated virtual receptionists are available to help with after-hours phone answering, live website chat, and even intake and scheduling that comes from your improved marketing efforts.
Plus, we’ll work with you to develop the perfect strategy for managing it all, no matter what you have in mind. And we’ll integrate with your CRM to keep everything streamlined and ensure that you never miss a beat. Add that to our 24/7 availability, and you really can’t go wrong.
To learn more, schedule a consultation to discuss our 24/7 Facebook message answering, live chat, and other solutions for your graphic design firm. You can also reach us at hello@smith.ai or (650) 727-6484.