Think of the last 10 branded videos you saw on digital channels. It’s likely that many of those have been created using professional stock footage.
Before getting into how you can manage stock footage for your business explainer videos, let’s get a clear picture of what stock videos actually are.
Stock footage is made up of short video clips (almost always less than a minute long) that are:
- Snippets of existing videos
- Archival shots
- Generically or specifically shot video clips for varied industries, situations and concepts with the idea that these video clips can be licensed to agencies, businesses and individuals once they pay a royalty to download and use these stock clips.
In the digital world that we live in, stock footage videos are the new normal.
Below are 5 reasons that stock footage is a great option for your business videos
1. Low production cost and time as compared to a live shoot
Shooting live is expensive. You need to allocate budgets for locations, casting, crew, equipment, wardrobe, hair & make up, transport and the list goes on. Shooting specific shots of cities, crowds, specific locations, rainy days, or just day and night shots, requires not just planning but also getting permission to shoot. And let’s not forget weather issues which could result in your shoot day being washed out, leading to higher expenses. Stock footage is a safe option because all you need to do is purchase and download your stock clip, and it’s at your disposal.
2. Professionally made HD stock clips
Quality is paramount if you want to achieve engagement and eventually conversions for your business. Stock footage doesn’t necessarily have to look like stock footage. You can choose from an extensive pool of professionally created animated stock video footage or live-action stock video footage clips available through stock footage banks. It’s best to color correct all the stock footage you will be adding to your video to ensure that the video clips looks high quality and that your video looks professional. Add graphic overlays and supers to create better engagement.
3. Unlock history without time travel
If your story includes a reference to an era gone by, in all likelihood, you’ll be able to purchase stock footage that fits. Stock footage also brings to your disposal historical events that would otherwise be impossible or expensive to recreate.
4. International locations/tough spots at your fingertips
Stock footage becomes the only viable option when you have restraints due to budgets, schedule or logistics. Look for nuanced stock footage that displays the cultural and regional richness of your chosen location, era or event.
5. Get the required punch for your narrative
Viewers today seek out impressive narratives and story lines when it comes to branded content. Brands can weave an interesting story by creating a great script and sourcing appropriate stock footage which can be edited with supers, animation overlays and more to engage audiences.
If you like the idea of using stock video footage for business, rest easy knowing that you have all the information you need to make a good video here.
If you need a professionally made stock footage video that drives business results, visit our website or e-mail us at hello@ripplemedia.co
Our experience in creating stock footage video content has given us insights into finding the right footage at the right price. Aside from curating the perfect stock, we also host a vast inventory of pre-animated stock footage that’s available for download on our website.