Video Marketing Trends for Chicago’s Corporate Sector

Covered in this post—

• How Video Content is Transforming Corporate Marketing in Chicago

• The Rise of Explainer Videos, Animated Videos and Social Media Content for Businesses

• How Chicago Companies Are Using Video to Engage Clients and Employees

As Chicago’s corporate landscape continues to evolve, so do the marketing strategies employed by businesses looking to stay competitive and engage their audiences. Video content has emerged as one of the most powerful tools for transforming corporate marketing. From enhancing brand awareness to driving client engagement, companies in Chicago are embracing video marketing to connect with their target audiences in innovative ways.

In this post, we explore how video content is transforming corporate marketing in Chicago, the rise of explainer videos, animated content and social media videos, and how local companies are using these tools to engage both clients and employees.

How Video Content is Transforming Corporate Marketing in Chicago:

1. Enhancing Brand Awareness and Storytelling

In a city known for its dynamic business ecosystem, video content allows companies to tell their stories in a more engaging and relatable way. Whether it’s a corporate video that introduces the company’s mission and values or a brand story that highlights the company's journey, videos offer a powerful medium for building emotional connections.

In Chicago’s corporate sector, many businesses are turning to video content to enhance their brand storytelling efforts. Videos offer a richer, more immersive experience than traditional forms of communication, making it easier to convey complex ideas and engage viewers. By tapping into the storytelling potential of video, companies can humanize their brands, showcase their impact and create lasting impressions on potential clients and customers.

2. Improving Audience Engagement

Attention spans are shrinking, and text-heavy content is no longer as effective at capturing the interest of today’s audiences. Video, on the other hand, is inherently engaging. It combines visuals, audio and storytelling to deliver messages in a more impactful and memorable way. In a fast-paced city like Chicago where competition is fierce across industries, businesses that utilize video marketing are able to stand out and engage their audiences more effectively.

Videos also offer an interactive component that other marketing methods lack. Features like clickable links, calls to action, and even virtual tours allow businesses to directly engage with viewers and encourage interaction, increasing the likelihood of conversions and lead generation.

3. Providing Versatility Across Platforms

One of the key reasons video content has become so popular is its versatility. Video can be adapted for use on a variety of platforms, from corporate websites and email newsletters to social media channels like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. This cross-platform flexibility allows businesses to reach a wider audience while maintaining a consistent message across different channels.

Chicago’s corporate sector, with its focus on innovation and technological adoption, is increasingly leveraging video as a way to streamline content marketing efforts and meet consumers where they are—online and on mobile devices. Whether it’s a promotional video embedded in a website or a brief, attention-grabbing clip posted on Instagram, the use of video is helping companies reach more customers across multiple touchpoints.

The Rise of Explainer Videos, Animated Videos and Social Media Content for Businesses:

1. Explainer Videos

Explainer videos have surged in popularity as a way for businesses to simplify complex topics and provide clear, concise explanations of products, services, or processes. In Chicago’s corporate sector, explainer videos are commonly used in industries like finance, healthcare and technology, where businesses need to convey technical or detailed information in an accessible way.

These videos often combine visual elements, animation, and voiceover to break down complicated subjects into digestible formats, helping potential customers understand how a product or service works. For instance, a Chicago-based fintech startup might create an explainer video to showcase how their app can simplify investment processes for users. Explainer videos are effective because they educate and engage viewers while offering valuable insights into a company’s offerings.

2. Animated Videos

Animation has become a go-to video format for corporate marketing, offering creative ways to illustrate ideas, concepts, or data that might be difficult to capture in live-action footage. Animated videos are particularly appealing for businesses looking to explain abstract concepts, showcase product features or tell a compelling brand story in a visually appealing manner.

In Chicago, many tech companies and startups are embracing animation to highlight their innovative solutions. For instance, a software company might use animation to visually represent how their system optimizes workflow processes. The flexibility of animation allows for endless creativity, making it an ideal choice for businesses that want to add a dynamic, playful, or futuristic edge to their marketing campaigns.

3. Social Media Video Content

Social media platforms, especially video-centric ones like Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn, have become key channels for businesses to connect with their audiences. In Chicago’s corporate world, social media video marketing has taken off as a way for companies to engage with clients, showcase their culture and promote products/services in real time.

Short-form videos, such as Instagram stories or TikTok videos, allow businesses to share bite-sized, attention-grabbing content. Many Chicago businesses, from corporate giants to startups, are utilizing these platforms to give behind-the-scenes glimpses, share client testimonials, promote events and even live-stream product launches. Social media video marketing creates a direct line of communication with customers and fosters engagement by encouraging comments, shares and likes.

How Chicago Companies Are Using Video to Engage Clients and Employees:

1. Client Engagement Through Personalized Video

Many Chicago companies are using personalized videos to engage their clients more directly. For instance, sending a personalized video as part of a sales pitch or post-meeting follow-up can create a more personal connection and demonstrate a company’s dedication to individual clients. Companies in industries like real estate, consulting, and law are adopting this trend, using video to explain processes, provide updates, or even walk through proposals.

In industries that rely on relationship-building, such as finance or consulting, personalized videos can enhance the customer experience, helping clients feel valued and understood while providing an engaging format for communication.

2. Employee Training and Communication

Internally, Chicago-based companies are increasingly using video content for employee training and communication. Video is an effective tool for onboarding new employees, providing training materials, and keeping teams aligned with company goals. It allows businesses to streamline the training process, ensuring consistency across departments and offers a flexible learning resource that employees can access at their own pace.

Large corporations in Chicago are also using video for internal communications to keep remote or hybrid teams connected. From CEO messages to company-wide updates, video helps to create a sense of unity and transparency, even in companies with decentralized workforces.

3. Promoting Events and Conferences

Chicago is home to a bustling business scene, with countless corporate events, conferences, and networking opportunities taking place year-round. Video has become a primary tool for promoting these events, generating excitement, sharing event highlights, and recapping major takeaways for those unable to attend.

For instance, a Chicago-based tech company might create a video to promote an upcoming product launch or panel discussion, using eye-catching visuals and interviews with speakers to build anticipation. Post-event videos, showcasing the energy and insights from these gatherings, can be used for future promotions and as valuable content for clients or prospects.

Video marketing has become a cornerstone of corporate marketing strategies in Chicago, enabling businesses to tell their stories, engage their audiences, and build stronger connections with clients and employees alike. The rise of explainer videos, animated content, and social media video marketing has opened up new avenues for creative storytelling, allowing businesses to communicate in more engaging and memorable ways.

As video continues to dominate the digital marketing landscape, Chicago companies are at the forefront of this trend, using video to enhance brand visibility, drive engagement and improve internal and external communication. For businesses looking to stay competitive and relevant in today’s fast-paced corporate world, investing in video marketing is no longer an option—it’s a necessity.

Ready to find the right professional videographer to use in your corporate marketing? Reach out to Mark Campbell Productions to get a free quote and discuss your needs. Let’s bring your creative vision to life.