With the growing importance of visual content in today’s digital age, video marketing has become a powerful tool that can support your summer intern housing marketing efforts. Videos provide an immersive experience, allowing prospective interns to see and get a feel of the spaces they’ll call home during their internship.
In a competitive landscape, a well-crafted video can highlight the unique features of your accommodations, creating an inviting, informative, and compelling presentation.
Why Video Marketing Works
Video content consistently outperforms other formats when it comes to engagement and brand visibility. According to a statistic posted by CreatorKit, “52% of business owners say that video marketing has generated better ROI than any other marketing content.” For universities, video allows for an authentic connection with students weighing their internship housing options, bringing the campus experience to life through visuals that photos alone can’t convey.
Levitate Media further highlights video’s impact, noting that “81% of marketers say video has helped them directly increase sales.” This is a valuable insight that underscores the need for a well-produced video showcasing your campus’ attractions, living accommodations, and surrounding views. In 2024, video marketing has become the standard for real estate and property listings, making it essential for universities promoting intern housing.
Types of Video Content to Capture
There are multiple ways to approach video content, and each can provide value to your intern housing marketing efforts:
- Virtual Tours: This can be as simple as a “walk-through” video where viewers experience the spaces as though they’re being guided by a campus tour guide. Highlight rooms, community spaces, dining areas, and any additional facilities, such as study lounges or recreational spaces that summer interns can gain access to. See Example
- Drone Footage: Drone videos offer a breathtaking perspective, showcasing the layout of intern housing within the broader campus landscape. Highlight nearby amenities, green spaces, and proximity to key campus areas from above, giving prospective interns a unique overview of where they’ll be staying. This approach not only emphasizes location but also provides a cinematic, visually engaging experience that can captivate viewers and set your housing apart. See Example
- Day-in-the-Life Videos: Capture snippets of everyday life for summer interns living on campus. Showing students cooking in shared kitchens, studying in quiet areas, or socializing in common spaces provides a realistic look into what interns can expect from the experience. See Example
- Sizzle Reel: Include video clips and images, coupled with a voiceover to describe your campus and amenities to create a video that highlights all that your property has to offer. See Example
Video Production Options
Depending on your budget and resources, several video production options are available:
- Outsource by Hiring a Professional: If you are looking to make a more polished impact, professional videographers offer expertise in lighting, editing, and storytelling. While it may require a larger investment, professionally captured content can reflect a higher standard that may appeal to both students and their families.
- In-House with Campus Staff: Many universities choose to capture video content in-house. With today’s high-quality phone cameras, campus staff can record authentic footage, capturing candid, relatable scenes that resonate well with viewers.
- Student-Produced Content: Consider using your students’ talents by having them capture, edit, or even narrate videos. This approach can give the video a genuine, insider feel that resonates with prospective interns who value transparency and authenticity.
Distribution and Promotion
Once you have your video content, sharing it across the right platforms is key to reaching your target audience. Consider posting final videos on:
- Social Media Platforms: Share clips on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or LinkedIn, depending on where your prospective audience is most active. Instagram Reels and TikTok, for example, are great for short, engaging snippets of campus life. 63% of marketers said this is the most effective way to promote video (Hubspot).
- Your Website and Landing Pages: Include videos on your main housing information page and your IHH profile (see example), providing prospective interns with an immediate sense of place. 47% of marketers said this is the most effective way to promote video (Hupspot).
- Email Campaigns: Include video links in emails sent to prospective interns. Emails with embedded videos can increase engagement rates and provide an additional touchpoint to showcase what makes your campus housing unique. 36% of marketers said this is the most effective way to promote video (Hubspot).
Final Thoughts
Today’s students are visual learners who are drawn to video for information and inspiration. By using video marketing, your university can better connect with interns, stand out from competitors, and provide a memorable impression of campus life. So, whether your video is produced in-house or professionally shot, having a strategy in place can make all the difference in reaching and attracting your future interns.