While checking out a product, customers often tend to go for a shortcut way rather than reading the whole product description. According to a study by Animoto, in the US, 73% of adults make purchasing decisions after watching a product video and Amazon falls into this as well. The same study shows, Amazon sellers were able to increase 9.7% in revenues after adding videos to their product listings.
Creating videos for Amazon listings can be a bit tricky, but I’ve got some helpful tips to share. As someone who’s familiar with the process, I know there are certain things you’ll want to avoid to ensure your videos are top-notch. Whether you’re a seasoned seller or just starting out, it’s important to understand the dos and don’ts of video creation for Amazon.
Through my experience, I’ve learned that even minor missteps can greatly impact the effectiveness of your videos. That’s why I’ve put together this handy guide – to help you steer clear of common pitfalls and create videos that truly showcase your products in the best possible light.
Procedure for Creating Product Videos for Amazon Listing
Creating a great product video for your Amazon listing is not as hard as it seems. Just follow these simple steps, and you’ll be able to make a video that showcases your product in the best possible way. With a well-made video, you can attract more customers and increase your sales on Amazon.
Step 1 – Research Your Direct Competitors
Before starting video production, it’s crucial to understand the competitive landscape. Analyze the product videos of your direct competitors to identify their strengths, weaknesses, and strategies. Take note of what works well and what could be improved. This research will provide valuable insights and help you create a video that stands out from the crowd.
Begin by searching for your product category on Amazon and carefully studying the videos of the top-selling products. Pay attention to the video quality, content, and overall presentation. Additionally, read customer reviews to gauge their reactions to the videos and identify any areas that could be improved.
Step 2 – Create a Plan and Prepare Your Script
With your research in hand, it’s time to devise a comprehensive plan for your product video. Start by outlining the key features, benefits, and unique selling points of your product that you want to highlight. Determine the tone and style of your video, whether it’s informative, entertaining, or a combination of both.
Next, craft a compelling script that aligns with your plan. Your script should be concise, engaging, and focused on addressing potential customer pain points and showcasing how your product solves their problems. Remember, Amazon recommends keeping product videos between 30 seconds and 2 minutes, so make every word count.
Step 3 – Start Video Production
With your script ready, it’s time to bring your vision to life. If you have the resources, consider hiring a professional videographer or a production team to ensure high-quality results. However, if you’re on a tight budget, you can create a professional-looking video using a smartphone or a digital camera with decent video capabilities.
When filming, ensure proper lighting, sound quality, and camera stability. Follow Amazon’s guidelines, which recommend recording with an RGB profile, a bit rate of 1 Mbps or higher, and audio with a bit rate of 128 kbps and a sample rate of 44 kHz or higher. Besides this, ensure that the frame rate (FPS) is kept at 30 or under 30 FPS. Additionally, use a video codec like H.264 or H.265 and an audio codec like PCM, AAC, or MP3 with a bit rate of 96 kbps or higher for optimal quality. Consider using a tripod or a stabilizer for smooth, steady footage.
Step 4 – Edit Your Videos
Once you have your raw footage, it’s time to edit and polish your video. Utilize video editing software to trim unnecessary parts, add transitions, and incorporate any additional graphics or text overlays. This is where you can truly bring your product to life and create a cohesive, visually appealing video.
Remember to follow Amazon’s guidelines regarding aspect ratio and resolution. Your video must be in a 16:9 aspect ratio with a resolution of at least 1280 x 720 pixels, and it must be in one of the following formats: MP4, MOV, 3GP, AAC, AVI, FLV, or MPEG-2. Make sure your final video file size is less than 500 MB to ensure smooth uploading and viewing on Amazon.
Additionally, consider adding captions or subtitles to your video, as they can improve accessibility and enhance the viewing experience for customers who prefer to watch without sound or have hearing impairments.
How to Add Videos to Amazon Product Listing?
After creating the videos per Amazon’s guidelines, it’s time to add the video to the Amazon Product listing. Well, adding video isn’t rocket science, you can do it quite easily. Just you will need to follow the steps below –
- Log in to Seller Central.
- Navigate to Catalog and Click on Upload and Manage Videos.
- Click the Upload Video button.
- Select your video file.
- Fill in the required details –
- Video Title: Informative and keyword-rich.
- ASINs: Select the relevant product(s) for the video.
- Choose a thumbnail –
- Use a clear and captivating image that represents the video content.
- You can use Amazon’s auto-generated thumbnail or upload your own.
- Click Submit to upload your video for review.
By following these straightforward steps, you can effortlessly add engaging product videos to your Amazon listings, providing potential customers with a comprehensive understanding of your offerings and ultimately driving more sales.
Things to Avoid While Creating Product Videos for Amazon Listing
While creating product videos for your Amazon listings, it’s essential to maintain a professional and engaging approach to captivate potential customers effectively. To ensure your video meets Amazon’s guidelines and provides an optimal viewing experience, avoid the following missteps:
❌Adding visuals that lack clarity, sharpness, or recognizability, fail to accurately represent your product.
❌Including customer reviews, star ratings, or any other form of product evaluation within the video itself.
❌Promoting special offers, discounts, or any other pricing-related promotions during the video.
❌Distracting or overwhelming elements such as rapidly flashing images, spinning objects, blinking texts, pulsating graphics, or high-contrast transitions can divert attention from the main content.
❌Adding unexpected audio elements, including sudden volume spikes, excessively high-pitched voices, or sounds that are contextually irrelevant or startling.
❌Uploading video with poor quality with low resolution.
❌Using language that pressures, confronts, or conveys a sense of urgency, aimed at eliciting an immediate click or purchase from the viewer.
❌Adding poor audio quality like static noise, crackling sounds, muffled or faint voices, rapid speech, inaudible or indistinct audio, or unrecognizable sound elements.
❌Adding text elements that are too small or blend into the background due to poor color contrast, renders them illegible for the average viewer.
By avoiding these common pitfalls, you can ensure that your Amazon product videos are professional, engaging, and informative, ultimately enhancing the customer experience and driving more sales for your listings.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, your Amazon product videos should be a reflection of your brand’s professionalism and commitment to quality. By avoiding the mistakes outlined here, you’ll be well on your way to creating videos that not only meet Amazon’s guidelines but also captivate and inform potential customers.
Remember, a little extra care and attention can go a long way in making your videos stand out from the competition. If you ever feel unsure or need additional guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out to experts in the field. Wishing you the best of luck with your Amazon endeavors!