- Mar 30, 2021
Updated: May 24, 2021
Bloomingdale's collaborated with Smartzer to create a shoppable campaign for all of the family.
Using Smartzer's interactive video platform, Bloomingdale's UAE created a shoppable video just in time for Ramadan.
In the immersive, dynamic video, a variety of models demonstrate a variety of products from handbags to clothing to jewellery and more. The exciting, clickable campaign allows viewers to find out more information about several products, engaging them and informing them at the same time.
Execution:
Smartzer's interactive video platform allowed Bloomingdale's to tag their video with products to make them shoppable. Products were added into a clickable overlay via Smartzer's Product Import feature. The video was seamlessly integrated into Bloomingdales campaign landing page and customised to match the brands e-commerce style. By clicking on product hotspots, viewers can find out pricing and product details as well as add the item to their bag to purchase. As a result, Bloomingdale's was able to create a sleek and stylish campaign that supported video interactivity.
Explore the NEW DAWN campaign on Bloomingdale's UAE website here!
Results:
E-commerce placement
Add to bag CTA
Size personalisation
Multiple product links for easy product discovery
Shoppable carousel
Group popups
Conclusion:
As a result, Smartzer and Bloomingdale's generated a shoppable video that featured multiple products for men, women and children. By using video interactivity, Bloomingdale's successfully created a campaign that informed consumers and encouraged them to add products to their baskets without leaving the video. The video's family focus provides something for everyone, encouraging families to celebrate Ramadan traditions and create new ones through fashion.
Find out more on how to create your own interactive video with Smartzer here!
- Mar 30, 2021
The pandemic has changed the way we live drastically. We have had to look for new ways to overcome obstacles set by the instruction to 'stay at home' and thankfully, science and technology have come to our rescue.
Video technology has rapidly developed over the past year, from Zoom, to Netflix, to streaming on social media. This growth has been accelerated by COVID since video has provided people with a virtual solution to connect with others.
In this post, we will investigate just how we have used video to adapt to a new, socially distanced life and how interactive video technology has progressed and changed for the better.
How interactive video has helped religion during the pandemic
Livestream has helped many congregations bring people together virtually. For example, Conservative synagogues can now livestream Shabbat services. Here, video conferencing has been embraced as the only viable and safe solution to maintaining community during the pandemic. Now, for many, the needle has moved, and post-pandemic synagogues intend to keep those options available indefinitely. The convenient online services mean that people do not need to travel long distances to attend places of worship, they can practice their faith using technology from the comfort of their own home. This means that for many, livestreamed services will remain a part of practice for many religions in a post pandemic world.
How interactive video has helped e-commerce
As a result of the pandemic, marketers have looked to find new ways of reaching potential customers when bricks and mortar stores are closed. Interactive video is set to become the biggest video content marketing format out there. With the market rapidly growing as 86% of businesses use video as a marketing tool. This was 85% in 2020, 87% in 2019, 81% in 2018, 63% in 2017 and 61% in 2016. So, it isn't a surprise that many brands are using the clickable, immersive interactive format to increase engagement, click-through-rate and conversion. Consumers click on brand videos and can instantly find out information about products, prices, sizing and more with the option to add to basket or make a purchase without leaving the video. See above for French fashion brand, Promod's video made with Smartzer's interactive video platform. Using the format, brands can tag videos with product links so consumers can interact. Promod's interactive and shoppable video successfully brings the benefits of offline shopping, online. This gives customers the confidence to make purchases when they cannot see products in real life.
How interactive video has helped education
Interaction video turns every passive viewer into an active participant. Therefore, the format is perfect for engaging and educating students online. Classes conducted on interactive video platforms would follow a format similar to that found in a traditional classroom. The events would take place live on a fixed schedule. With video interactivity, not only can teachers lecture, take live questions, and respond, but the students can also see and interact with one another, just as they would if they were all in the same physical classroom. Conversations would happen in real time, and teachers could see whether students were alert and interested or bored and disengaged. This means teachers can adapt and respond to student feedback. Thanks to interaction video, education has been less compromised during the pandemic. It is likely that in a post-pandemic world, video interactivity will continue to aid the education system and could quite possibly mark the end of snow days.
How interactive video has driven virtual events
Online livestream venue StageIt has been helping to connect fans with lesser known artists for years. Here, acts stream live from the comfort of their homes via laptop cameras. Through an interactive chat room feature, fans can communicate with artists by asking questions and requesting songs. With venues closed, StageIt enables fans to financially support artists through a monetized system and acts can show their appreciation for viewers via a virtual tip jar. Through interaction video streams, fans can win prizes such as band merch or one-on-one Zoom sessions. Bigger artists such as The Weeknd have held live, interactive virtual concerts. In August 2020 he took to TikTok drawing over 2 million total viewers and raising over $350,000 for the Equal Justice Initiative. Adam Lambert hosted a series of live streams in February 2021 discussing Stonewall day and up and coming LGBTQ artists. Eddie Vedder, Phoebe Bridgers and more performed virtually for the 34th annual Tibet House US Benefit concert. These have been a welcome alternative to completely cancelled event, entertaining people even when they cannot attend in person. Virtual events are incredibly accessible, inclusive and have opened up a whole new way for fans to engage with artists. This has caused organisers to consider continuing with some virtual events following the pandemic.
For more information about how to create interactive video and livestreams click here!
- Mar 26, 2021
Updated: Jun 18, 2021
Interactive video is the next big thing for marketing.
With the global pandemic influencing a lot of businesses and the way they connect with customers, interactive video has provided a handy solution to bridging the gap between the offline and the online. In fact, 70% of marketers say interactive video engages audiences “very well,” and 68% of marketers believe it will continue to become a super important trend in the video industry.
Many consumers trust video more than static images as it provides a detailed view of a product. The engaging, clickable element provides a fun and engaging experience that stays with the consumer. As a result, engagement rates are high, click through rates increase and conversions sky rocket.
So, here is a basic overview of how to make interactive video.
Interactive Video: A Breakdown
Interactive video doesn't have to be difficult. Platforms like Smartzer, allow brands to create immersive, interactive content that engages and converts.
Brands can tag videos with products or information via a clickable overlay.
Hotspot technology allows consumers to interact by clicking, hovering, scrolling and dragging areas of the video
Brands can add products via images, text, URL's, product feeds, product API's or manually.
Videos can be imbedded seamlessly onto e-commerce sites and shared across social media
Interactive videos can also be used by agencies in banner adds, pre-roll ads etc.
Types of Interactive Video
There are a variety of ways to use interactive video depending on your content. Brands can make new and existing content interactive by choosing the most appropriate format:
Videos can be shoppable with hotspots displaying product info and options to buy
360 views might give the user the ability to drag the screen and see in all directions
Branching gives users different path options allowing them to customise what they see, experiences can be gamified
Data inputs allow users to enter information like name, age etc.
Quizzes and polls combine buttons and branching to deliver an assessment and reveal a personalised result at the end of the video
Customers can shop live through streaming commerce, watching videos and clicking the products shown to buy in real time.
How Interactive Video Engages
Interactive video can help engage a viewer for 44% longer than linear video. The clickable element immerses the viewer, making them less likely to get distracted. By gamifying the experience the viewer actually enjoys and remembers the brand content. Therefore, the viewer remembers the ad and is encouraged to visit the brands e-commerce site to learn more or make a purchase.
How Interactive Video Informs
By clicking on areas of the video a viewer can instantly find information about the products being shown without leaving the window. Here, products can be demonstrated in a detailed way. 360 degree videos consumers get a realistic view of a product as if seeing it in person. Likewise, with livestreams, viewers see products in real-time, giving them the confidence to buy. This shortens the path to purchase as the consumer is instantly informed about the product early on in the funnel.
How Interactive Video Converts
Compared to standard, interactive video is entirely measurable and converts at a rate of more than 11%. In fact, Smartzer’s interactive video platforms prove that by using these formats to tag videos, brands can increase their conversion rates by 4x their linear rates. Interactive video has enabled stronger analytics. You can track clicks within the video and analyse different paths taken, data inputted etc. Useful call-to-actions like “add to carts” measure the popularity of products and even purchases completed.
Summary
There are several platforms available that will show you exactly how to make interactive video. Click here to discover the options!
The exciting, engaging format can successfully convert when it may not be possible to sell in person. In a rapidly advancing digital world, marketers should take advantage of the format to boost sales.