The cutthroat competition in today’s digital landscape, makes it difficult to decide on the correct channel of marketing. Advertisements – both video and image have been the traditional means of marketing. Though image advertisements have been a forerunner in this case, the value of video advertisements have also made a deep impact on the minds of the consumers. Now, because advertisements involve an angel of investment, we must know which basket to put our eggs in. This holds especially true for those who do not have surplus funds to invest in all channels. So, here I am to help you figure out which channel of advertisement, the video or the image is more lucrative for your business. Read on to find the breakdown of the advantages and best-use scenarios for video ads and image ads:

Video Ads: Engaging and Informative

The most important advantage attached to a video advertisement is that it is more engaging and gives you the opportunity to pass on more information. Let us see its advantages.

1. High Engagement: Videos certainly grab more attention with the movements in them and keep users engaged longer.
2. Storytelling: This is perfect for explaining complex concepts or showcasing products in action as compared to the image ads.
3. Better Retention: Viewers are more likely to remember videos than static images.
4. Versatility: A video ad works well across different platforms like YouTube, Instagram Reels, and Facebook.

When Should You Use the Video Ads?

• Introducing a new product or service.
Whenever you are planning to launch a new product or service, the video ads are the most useful.
• Building brand awareness with emotional storytelling.
Emotions are the key focal area when it comes to marketing, we need to identify the pain points and challenges that our potential consumers could be facing and accordingly present them with a solution. A video depicting the same becomes extremely instrumental in helping tell a story that resonates with the audience.
• Targeting platforms where users spend time consuming video content.
Platforms like YouTube, Instagram Reels, TikTok, and Facebook prioritize video content. If your target audience spends significant time-consuming video on these platforms, investing in video ads ensures your message reaches them in the format they prefer. Videos designed for these platforms are highly shareable, boosting visibility organically.

Image Ads: Quick and Effective

The image ads on the other hand have the plus point of being cost effective and quick. There are, however, other areas of advantage as well such as those given below:

• Instant Impact: Static images convey messages quickly and are ideal for users on the go. A well-designed static image can grab attention in an instant, making it an excellent choice for users who are browsing while travelling.
• Faster Production: As compared to video ads, these can be produced within a relatively shorter time frame, speeding up the process of marketing.
• Cost-Effective: Easier and cheaper to produce compared to videos. This makes them ideal for small businesses or people with limited funds.
• Versatile: The highly adaptable image ads perform well across platforms like social media, display networks, and retargeting campaigns. Their simplicity ensures broad applicability.
• Simple Call-to-Actions: Immediate response is stimulated with images ads. Viewers are encouraged to click a link or visit a website, making them an effective tool for driving traffic and conversions.

When Should You Use the Image Ads?

• Driving Quick Conversions: Image ads are perfect for time-sensitive sales or promotions. Immediate actions like purchases or sign-ups ensure quick results. This is the consequence of direct and concise messaging.
• Capturing Limited Attention Spans: In a world where users scroll rapidly, static images can instantly grab attention and deliver key messages, making them highly effective.
• Budget-Friendly Campaigns: When resources are limited or deadlines are tight, image ads offer an affordable and fast way to execute campaigns without compromising on impact.

How will you choose the right format?

Now when it comes to selecting which is the best suited for your business, you can rely on the following things:

• Target Audience: You need to be very clear headed about the kind of audience you are aiming at. Younger audiences often prefer video content, while professionals may appreciate quick, informative image ads.
• Campaign Goals: Fix a specific goal for your campaign – use videos for engagement and storytelling, and images for direct calls to action or brand recall.
• Platform Focus: Try to understand which format will give a better out on which platform. For example, video ads for YouTube and image ads for LinkedIn or Google Display Network. Take a call based on that.

Well, do not think that you need to select anyone of the formats, you can also choose to select a mix of both formats tailored to your business goals and audience behaviour. This can leverage maximum reach and impact. It is better to test and analyze performance to refine your strategy and then achieve the best ROI. Get the best of both worlds!