In an age of increasing video content, should writers fear the rise of video? Should they change their writing style to accommodate for a different medium? Should they target a more visual audience? Should writers be worried about the future of written content in this “video-first” world? These are all questions that we will explore in this article.
With video taking over modern marketing, writers will soon be left behind. With global venture firm KPCB estimating that by the end of this year, nearly three-fourths of all online traffic is from videos and Brightcove saying that people share them 1200% more than hyperlinks or text combined, Facebook’s European VP Nicola Mendelsohn predicted in just five years time they’ll have a network 100% made up with video content. This trend leaves many worried for future generations as kids grow up watching films not reading books – but it doesn’t need to stay like this! At least some media organizations are going back to blogging which means there still might be hope on the horizon for those who want their words read rather than seen.
With the rise of machine-generated content, many writers are worried about their careers. Gartner predicted that 20% of all business articles would be written by machines in 2018 and this led to a string of journalists proclaiming “the death” or writing jobs. Although high profile advocates rushed into defend the medium as soon as they heard these predictions, it didn’t stop marketers from believing HubSpot’s report which said there is fear among some who earn money through editing and writing for video will replace them more often than not.
How Writers Can Adapt to the Rise of Video?
The idea is to stay up-to-date with something that’s constantly changing.
Do you enjoy feeling like the only one who doesn’t know what Facebook Live or Snapchat are? Maybe not, but it can be easy if a person does nothing about personal growth and development in their skillset. With so many changes happening every day, staying on top of things takes more than just showing up for work; someone has to lead by example as well!
If you want to improve yourself, try learning a new skill.
There are many different types of writing styles you can learn, including creative and informative. One example is SEO writing which lets you grow your business online.
Remember, the internet has made the world a much smaller place. But it’s also created so many more opportunities for those who know how to write good content that appeals not only to people, but other devices too! From images and videos on Instagram or Facebook posts, all of these things require captions and scripts written by someone else in order for them to make sense. Writers are needed everywhere – from podcasts like Serial to landing page copy where you’re trying your best at getting new shoppers interested in checking out what they have available.
Network with others.
There is an old saying that goes “No man is an island.” This phrase rings true with writers because they need other people in order to be successful. Many times, the best ideas come from working together and collaborating on projects.
As a writer you are not alone at your desk all day; it takes more than just one person’s input for great writing or editing. Ideas flow better when there are multiple minds involved who can offer different perspectives into what needs work and how something could change without losing the essence of creativity.
Know what your skills are and take time to improve it.
Make a list of things that you do well. Then create another list of areas where you want to grow as an individual or professional. Finally, build on the strengths and work on them. Improving your skills can help you to get more opportunities.
Don’t be afraid to be yourself.
In the world of writing, there is nothing new under the sun. So how can one hope to stand out? One way: Bring your own personal experiences, attitudes and beliefs to the table – they are something no writer has or will ever have again! You don’t need a whole lot- just be yourself in your work enough so that you’re not like every other person looking for recognition on page 3 because everyone else gets it too.
Bottom line
The rise of video is inevitable. It’s not a question of if, but when and how you want to make your move with it. If you’re an author or publisher looking for new ways to market your book, the addition of video to social media feeds might be just what you need.
You’ll have more opportunities than ever before to connect directly with readers on different platforms while reaching out in new directions through live streaming events and videos that can reach audiences around the world instantly from anywhere at any time. There are no guarantees about success, but we know one thing for sure–video will only continue growing as a powerful marketing tool for authors and publishers alike!
