Month: October 2016

5 tips for Facebook video ads

Advertising on Facebook is an attractive proposition for many brands. You are able to target by demographic and interest and test run video advertising campaigns without the higher costs associated with TV advertising. As many people’s Facebook feeds are dominated with video, it’s essential to craft an ad that grabs people’s attention. Here are 5 tips to make your Facebook video ads stand out from the crowd:

1) Grab their attention in the first few seconds

As with all video the very first few seconds are critical, you need to grab the attention of the viewer who’s scrolling through their feed and keep it for long enough to convey the message of your ad. Try and tell a story which will keep the viewer gripped.

2) Craft a compelling Call to Action (CTA)

Once you have their attention you need to craft a compelling call to action. What do you want them to do and how can you word it in a way that makes it impossible not to click on? Use clear, thoughtful and well written text that will engage the viewer and encourage them to find out more. Try and keep it short and to the point as viewers will decide very quickly whether your offer is valuable to them.

3) Show your personality

Video is a great way to show your personality. Use your brand voice, be enthusiastic and relatable but most importantly, be genuine. People like to feel they are buying from people, not just a faceless brand. Millennials especially crave brands that are authentic, this is why platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram Stories are popular as they show a less edited, more genuine side of a brand. If you can show your personality in a more informal, less contrived way you will be able to benefit from this.

4) Make sure your video can be understood without sound

Around 85% of Facebook video is watched without sound so make sure to use captions or text in your video so that it still makes sense if watched silently.

5) Write the perfect description

Once you have crafted a short, sweet CTA and you have a compelling, engaging video you need to spend some time writing the perfect video description. Make it informative and don’t be afraid of being too wordy. The description needs to explain the video content in a way that encourages people to click on the CTA. If your video explains or showcases something quite complex, such as a service or product you provide, then using a detailed description will help the viewer. You could also use the description as a way to give more background on your brand, that way the viewer has more of an idea of who you are and why they should click on your CTA.

If you would like to discuss how our award winning production team can help you create a compelling Facebook or online video ad, get in touch.

TV advertising is easy like a Californian with Happy Hour

Posted in: TV Adverts

Happy Hour Productions’ latest TV advert is now live. We were delighted to partner with California Shutters to launch their first TV campaign, bringing their brand to new audiences and conveying their key messages.

The light-hearted 30 second advert airing now on TV highlights the cost-saving benefits of buying from California Shutters and how their DIY installation is “easy, like a Californian.”

This campaign aims to take the fear out of DIY and quashes the misconception that installing your own shutters is difficult. Mr California, the all-American, laid back, confident presenter highlights the brand’s extensive choice and range of support resources available to any would-be shutter fitters. Ordering and installing shutters yourself saves money that would traditionally be spent on salespeople and fitters, these savings are part of what makes California Shutters one of the market leaders as this campaign highlights.

The ad was directed by Michael Wright and filmed in and around Bristol. The DOP was Mark Stubbs and all post production was carried out in-house at Happy Hour’s Bristol production office.

Michael explains that “With California Shutters it was important to express the ease and flexibility of the product but also the great look of the shutters which we achieved through the lighting and the production design. Of course it’s not every day I have to ask the actor to climb in through the window of the set but, at least he was able to catch the tape measure!”

Murray Clark Director of California Shutters was thrilled with the experience of creating the campaign. “From the get go, we knew we’d made the right choice by selecting Happy Hour to handle the creative for our first foray into TV. The entire team have been supportive and patient throughout and nothing has been a problem when we’ve looked to gain better understanding or changed direction with our creative desires. We’re thrilled with the end result which has surpassed our expectations at the start of the project.”

If you are thinking about using TV advertising to bring your brand to a wider audience get in touch to talk to us about your objectives and how we can help.