You’ve unfortunately probably heard the saying, “Why buy the cow, when you can get the milk for free?” While this phrase is a bit dated, it is sort of relevant when it comes to teaser videos, because this is exactly what teaser videos are meant to do: show off a little “milk” to encourage your customer to purchase the “cow.”
While you’re certainly not a cow, teaser videos can be an incredibly effective way to get new fans and make some serious cash. To that end, here are some tried and true tips for creating teaser clips that results in sales.
Create a full-length video with an intro that can also serve as a great tease.
Keep Them Wanting More
Keeping it short and sweet is key. Therefore the optimal length of a teaser video should be around 10 to 20 seconds. A shorter video may not give users enough to get excited about, whereas a longer video may result in a user feeling like they already have what they need to satisfy themselves. Those 10-to-20-second videos are the sweet spot to leave them wanting more — and reaching for their wallets.
Set Your Price Based on Wardrobe (or Lack Thereof)
If your teaser video doesn’t include nudity, post it for free. If it includes nudity or is pretty dang sexy, price it at $1 or $2. If you charge too much for a teaser video, it won’t really serve its purpose. Instead, try filming video clips that don’t show quite as much, so that you can feel comfortable pricing them at a lower rate. If you’re new and haven’t accumulated many fans yet, definitely try posting your teaser videos for free. When in doubt, just think of those free Costco samples that have totally convinced you to purchase something. Freebies pay off if done properly!
Kill Two Birds With One Video
Want to know the best way to maximize your time and your sales? Create a full-length video with an intro that can also serve as a great tease. For example, if you’re going to film a striptease video, spend a bit of extra time taking off the first layer of clothing and crop that part of the video to use as your teaser. That way, your users will know exactly what they’re getting when they buy the full-length clip.
Include a Call to Action
You probably already know that using your voice in a video is a surefire way to increase interest. Take that knowledge a step further by working a call to action into your script. Saying something as simple as, “Want to see me take it all off? Go to my profile for the full video” will encourage viewers to spend more money. It sounds simple, and maybe more sales-y than you’re normally comfortable with, but there’s a reason that calls to action are one of the oldest marketing tricks in the book.
Play Up the Amateur Vibe
While you naturally want to have good lighting and high-quality video resolution, many users actually prefer a somewhat amateur setup so that it feels more personal and “real.” You certainly shouldn’t feel the need to hire a videographer or have a studio set up to produce a teaser video, or any of your videos for that matter. Just act like you’re filming a cell phone clip to tease your significant other that you’re trying to get into the mood.
Don't Bury the Plot
You probably wouldn’t choose a Netflix movie if you couldn’t read the synopsis, right? If your teaser video is meant specifically to encourage users to purchase a specific full-length video, make sure they know what they can expect to see, and reflect that in your teaser. For example, if your longer video involves you playing with a toy, try to show that toy in the teaser video in a more SFW way, like a quick shot of you with the toy in your hand. If you’re selling your videos on a site that allows you to write a description, never skip this step. Not only will it help encourage users to purchase, it can also help your video show up in user searches.
Ashley Uzer is a Los Angeles-based writer who focuses on sex and relationships. Her writing has been published in Vice, DC Magazine, Bustle, Hello Giggles and elsewhere.
