Launching the Manifesto vlog with Episode 0: Test & Learn

At Manifesto, we have launched our official vlog on our official YouTube channel. That’s right, this is a vlog blog. The first of it’s kind. Maybe not.

We’ve been running our well-read blog (you’re reading it now) for 5 years, and in that time we’ve seen fantastic growth in subscribers an engagement. It plays a very important part in our marketing mix, helping us to share our knowledge with the industry.

Earlier this year, our CEO Jim Bowes co-founded AlexaSTOP!, the podcast focused on technology and the future of this crazy roller-coaster industry. Here’s the latest episode.

I felt, we were missing one vital part of the content jigsaw: video.

I have been a film-maker and content creator working in digital for 10 years, but in the last year or so I feel the landscape has really started to mature. Digital has become accepted as a way to watch and discover entertaining and informative video content. I think Netflix et al have a large part to play in this, driving consumer behaviour and consumption of long-form content on-the-go, turning our phones into the new TV.

I advise our clients on the best practice of video content on the web and I firmly believe now is the time for brands to enter the space with original, informative, inspiring, episodic content – not ads. It’s a mouthful.

We know when we’re being marketed to, but we do love brands. If your brand is an expert in something and can provide value to your target audience, episodic video content could be a fantastic way to build the engagement and advocacy that brands so dearly long for.

Episode 0 is very much a test and learn exercise. Rather than worrying too much about what we should or shouldn’t do, we just went and did it. Here it is.

We’ll learn from this, and the next one, and the next one. Hopefully, by episode 50 we’ll know whether it’s any good or not. I hope you enjoy it.