How-to video or UGC Review. Which Product Video Should I Make?

What are How-to Videos?

How-to videos have always been at the top of video content in the online world. As the name depicts, these are the videos made to demonstrate how a product operates. How-to videos are often created by reviewers or keen individuals who test a product and make a tutorial video talking about the features, mode of action, pros and cons, etc., of a product.

Many businesses are taking advantage of online how-to or guide videos, which help them to connect with their users at a personal level and cut down the cost of making product videos. How-to videos are supposed to be precise in describing or explaining a product in detail and help the customers understand what they need to do. Customers are frequently using these videos to understand all about a product before investing in it.

Benefits of Making How-to Videos:

Following are a few tips on the benefits of making how-to videos:

• How-to video gets you maximum attention and traction.
• How-to video ranks amongst the top 4 video categories on YouTube search.
• Over 30% of people on YouTube search for how-to videos
• A how-to video is most popular amongst millennials, and Gen Z. stats reflect that over 70% of millennials watched a how-to video to learn something new.
• Studies suggest that viewers reported that they were able to retain 95% of the message communicated in the video as opposed to only 10% retention from text/reading.
• 70% of people said they prefer videos over text to learn about a product or service.
• 43% of vendors reported that videos reduced the number of calls their support agents receive due to clarity being communicated.
• 65% of people reported that they use YouTube to solve a problem or learn a new thing.

Why Should You Make a How-to Video? 

Here are a few good reasons why you should be creating how-to tutorial videos.

Discover why creating how-to tutorial videos is a smart move for your brand. How-to videos are an engaging and effective method to teach people essential skills, troubleshoot issues, and enhance problem-solving. In today’s consumer landscape, customers value their expertise and prefer personalized guidance to ensure they’re making the right product choices.

Modern consumers seek to become “product experts” and favor tutorial videos over written content to grasp product usage and features. For businesses dealing with complex concepts like enterprise software, comprehensive how-to video guides are a game-changer. These videos also reduce dependency on support teams, ensuring customers can solve problems independently.

A well-rounded knowledge base for your website is essential to cater to diverse user needs and avoid user frustration. Incorporating how-to videos empowers users to solve common problems and efficiently use product features. Instead of tedious product manuals, videos offer a more engaging learning experience.

Videos foster trust and brand loyalty, leading to increased sales and sign-ups. Sharing how-to videos not only enhances support efficiency and customer satisfaction but also boosts conversion rates. With videos retaining around 83% more information than text after six months, they create a lasting impact on users’ knowledge.

Harness the power of video tutorials to address common queries, build user trust, and elevate your brand’s credibility, ultimately resulting in better sales, sign-ups, and overall customer satisfaction.

Types of How-to Videos:

The following are the most common type of how-to instructional videos:

• How to create
• How to make
• How to get
• How to use
• How to take

Instructional videos Tips and Tricks:

These are some tips to help you further enhance the quality of your instructional video, reduce the number of support requests you get, and get more traction.

• Engaging title – your instructional video title should focus on adding value. People seek how-to videos to know and learn something. Your title should express how it is going to help the viewer add more value.
• Share key points & best practices – try to put together points into simple, doable steps that are easy to remember. You should also try to share what are the best practices of doing something and how it makes the process more efficient.
• Keep it short – try to keep it brief and simple. How-to videos are ‘pull content,’ i.e., users are drawn to this content due to a need, so if you make the content good enough, users will like it. So, it is suggested to keep the videos short and crisp.

What is a ‘How-to’ Video Good for?

• Instructional Guidance: ‘How-to’ videos are essential because they offer clear, visual instructions on how to use products or perform tasks. Unlike written guides, videos demonstrate each step in action, making complex processes easier to understand.
• Problem Solving: These videos excel at troubleshooting common issues. When users encounter problems, a well-structured ‘How-to’ video can guide them through solutions, reducing frustration and enhancing their experience with your product or service.
• Building Trust: Providing valuable guidance through ‘How-to’ videos builds trust with your audience. When customers see that you’re committed to helping them effectively use your offerings, it fosters a sense of credibility and loyalty towards your brand.
• Increasing Sales: ‘How-to’ videos play a pivotal role in the buyer’s journey. By showcasing products’ features and benefits, they aid potential customers in making informed purchasing decisions, thereby boosting conversion rates and sales.
• Enhancing User Experience: User experience is paramount. ‘How-to’ videos enhance it by offering concise, engaging content that directly addresses users’ needs. This creates a positive association with your brand, making customers more likely to return.

In essence, ‘How-to’ videos go beyond mere tutorials. They empower users, foster loyalty, and contribute to higher sales figures by combining effective communication, problem-solving, and a customer-centric approach.

What are UGC Review videos?

User-generated content or UGC reviews are simply clips featuring content creators reviewing different products. You can use this content to showcase your product. They’re a great way to showcase your product and have your potential customers learn more about it. These products are featured and reviewed in these types of videos. Products include but are not limited to, makeup, toys, kitchenware, and practically any product available in the market.

These days, the format is not just used for explainer videos or for simple demonstrations of products. If you look closely, you’ll notice that most review sites provide information about the strengths and weaknesses of the product. You need to use product reviews to help your business succeed, whether it’s an e-commerce store or a YouTube channel.

Why Should You Make UGC Reviews?

You should definitely consider using social media content to promote your products. Creating videos is a great way to increase traffic to your site, grow your business, and get more customers. Why? Well, that’s because people engage more with videos than with words or static photos.

And that’s where it gets interesting – you can share your life story through vids, images, and more. Everyone these days wants to be a part of the live, global conversation in the digital age. The following are some major advantages of using UGC review videos:

• It increases the engagement of the audience
• Helps in building a strong online community
• Users can relate to reviews.
• Review videos humanize the products, thus adding a layer of reinforcement
• It helps in converting viewers into buyers

Benefits of Making UGC Reviews:

UGC is a powerful content form that many organizations have been focusing on in recent times. There are plenty of reasons why UGC has been making rounds on the internet lately. One major reason is due to the organic nature of this content. In the B2C sector, UGC is a major force, and digital buyers seek such content.

• According to a study conducted by Stackla, 90% of digital buyers said authenticity is the major factor when they are considering buying online.
• This study also opined that 85% of buyers said they put their trust in peer recommendations before buying online.
• 80% of the people said UGC has a key role in making a purchase decision.
• Online buyers said they find UGC 10 times more powerful content as compared to influencer content.
• 70% of the UGC is created and consumed by millennials.

Types of UGC:

Following are the major types of user-generated content. It is not necessary that user-generated content must come from customers. It can be generated by brand loyalists, employees, and dedicated UGC creators. The following are the major types of content that users can make.

• Social media content (tweets about a brand/product etc.)
• Product Reviews
• Testimonials
• Livestreams
• Blogposts
• YouTube channel content

You wake up one day on a sunny morning, and just when you are about to brush your teeth, what you see is you have a broken tap. You can’t just sit there like a toad and wait for it to fix itself. But then again, you’re no expert. Your first instinct will land you on YouTube search where you’ll search for ‘How to fix a broken tap?’. 9/10 times the video will help you out.

What are UGC Reviews Good for?

Review videos are particularly good for the following type:

• Tech products & gadgets
• High-ticket items like home décor
• Beauty and cosmetic products
• Automobiles
• Fashion and apparel
• Online services like a digital course

How to Create a Good UGC Review Video:

You don’t have to be a professional filmmaker to create UGC content. Here is a step by step instructions to help you get started:

• Write a video script: jot down all the major points that you want to highlight. For instance, if you’re reviewing a mobile phone, highlight the phone’s specifications, its build quality, price comparisons, and pros and cons. It’s important to keep things simple and not have to adhere to a rigid format that follows every single word. Your script should help guide you when you record your video. Record your video like this, so you have a point of reference to use in the editing process.
• Filming – A great way to improve the quality of your video is to use a high-quality camera and lens to create high-quality video footage. This doesn’t mean that you have to purchase expensive tools to film your videos. A lot of smartphones today make high-quality videos, and those include iPhone, Samsung, and Android devices.
• Editing – Everyone now has an attention span that is shorter than a goldfish! People don’t want to sit through long videos. They’re too busy, and short attention spans are the norm. You should aim to have a video that’s less than that in order to keep your viewers engaged all the time and not lose their attention.

Tips for Creating a UGC Review Video:

In this step, we’ll discuss some helpful tips for creating videos:

• Have a clear understanding of the features of the product – what the product is, what it does, how it fares against the competition, reviewer’s honest feedback regarding the product.
• Include other people’s opinions – it’s always great to have a second opinion. It adds to the validation. Some YouTubers do it by reading Facebook comments and tweets of opinion leaders regarding the product in the discussion.
• Keep it to the point – don’t lag the video. Just keep it crisp and clean. Keep the edit simpler. Less is often more.
• Be attractive at the start – try to grab attention at the start of the video. If you manage to grasp the viewer’s attention at the start, you are more likely to get him to watch the complete video.