How to Improve Your Video Ads in 2024

 Here are 5 ways to improve your video ads:
1. Create vertical videos

Thanks to Snapchat, TikTok, IG & FB Stories, WhatsApp status, etc., we are all now used to consuming videos in vertical format.


And this includes your potential customers.


So does it not make sense to serve them ads in a format they are already familiar with?


Remember that the first rule of advertising is to make your ad NOT look like an ad.


Vertical videos look chilled and fun, and that’s why they caught on with everybody. It’s the natural way we hold and use our phones.


So use it more if you want your ads to perform better. Don’t make your ad look like a TV commercial or news broadcast.
2. Highlight your message in the first 3 seconds.

If you knew anything about copywriting, then this shouldn’t be new to you.


From time immemorial, it’s been established that you have just 3 seconds to grab your prospects' attention. Whether it’s text or video or even still image.


This is why you must always use powerful, attention-grabbing headlines for your text ads or sales copy generally.


The principle applies to videos too. In fact to any kind of communication — audio, stage, webinar, phone call, one-on-one in-person, etc. you must find a way to grab attention in the first few seconds.


For video ads though; it’s more than just grabbing attention. It’s also about highlighting (drawing attention to) your message.


The only thing people care about is what is in it for them. And they want to know upfront.


They want to know ASAP, so they can determine if it’s worth staying or not.


No need for sneaky tricks or irrelevant clickbaits just to keep people glued to your ads; that would come back to hurt your brand in the long run.


Simply grab your target audience’s attention with the most interesting part of your message, and they’ll not just stay; they’ll take action at the end.
3. Make your videos entertaining, relatable and digestible.

People come to social media to get entertained and distract themselves from real life.


Good luck to you trying to bore them with your ads.


They’ll simply scroll away.


The concept of “native advertising” is trying to make your ad look like what people are used to consuming on each platform. Your ads should be “native” to each platform.


If it’s a quick-consumption and entertaining platform like Instagram, then create an ad that fits just that.


If it’s a tutorial-content consumption platform like YouTube, then feel free to advertise in such style.


Just keep your ads entertaining on social media. Also keep them simple so they are easy to digest (or understand) and relatable so your viewers don’t get lost.


4. Experiment with sound.

You see this one uses the word “experiment”?


This implies that you should try different things when it comes to sounds for your videos.


Definitely use sounds, but don’t stick to just one type in all your ads.


Music, voiceover, sound effects, you speaking to the camera, popular meme sounds, etc. just try different ones from time to time, as long as you have the right to use them.


There are too many royalty-free sounds out there that you can use for you to start worrying over sounds.


Even Meta has its own sound collection that you can use for your ads.


Adding sound to your video makes it livelier, more engaging and captivating.


And of course entertaining — which is one of the goals you want to achieve with your ads.


We no dey gree for boring ads this year.


5. Put a face to your business.

This is not a new tip; it’s long proven that videos with human faces would outperform ones full of graphics.


In fact, according to Meta, Reels ads with a human presence had a 25% higher CTR than those that did not.


Now you know an easy way to increase your click through rate (CTR)!


Putting a face to your ads doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be in front of a camera talking for your ads to work.


Doesn’t even mean you have to hire someone or use a model.


Great if you can do all these. But even if you’re using stock photos to create your videos, let there be humans in them.


This applies even to still graphic images too. Throw a human in there and get better engagement and conversions!


Conclusion

These are five powerful tips that’ll help you get better results from your video ads, and from your advertising efforts in general.


Make sure you bear them in mind when next you’re creating videos to promote your products and services.


Move with the times. Give people what they want — in fact, what they already consume — and your business will improve for it.


I hope these tips help you kill it with ads this year.