{"id":26337,"date":"2023-01-31T14:30:48","date_gmt":"2023-01-31T14:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/tutorials\/how-to-use-testing-to-improve-your-videos\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T13:55:33","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T17:55:33","slug":"how-to-use-testing-to-improve-your-videos","status":"publish","type":"tutorial","link":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/tutorials\/how-to-use-testing-to-improve-your-videos","title":{"rendered":"How to use audience testing to improve your videos"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The moment you\u2019ve been waiting for has finally arrived \u2013 you\u2019ve hit that publish button and released your video into the world. So now what? First, take a moment to celebrate all of your hard work! It takes guts and determination to put something you\u2019ve created out there, so even getting to this point is a success all its own. But the work isn\u2019t over once you publish your video. Now it\u2019s time to start t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/blog\/what-is-ab-testing-in-video-marketing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">esting to improve your videos<\/a>, and planning how you can make your next project even better.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AsGSQuim-CE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><b>Episode 8<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of Storyblocks\u2019 exclusive web series, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/courses\/the-beginners-guide-to-creating-video\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><b>The Beginner\u2019s Guide to Creating Video<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you\u2019ll learn how to make your videos more successful through a combination of strategic testing and audience insights. Your hosts for this episode are Beth Cormack, Storyblocks\u2019 social media manager, and Ryan Barrales, our performance marketing manager. In it, the duo reveals their own processes for testing and optimizing video content \u2014 and they share some useful tips and tricks you can use to do the same.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tip-1-test-your-videos-to-determine-what-works-then-do-more-of-it\">Tip 1: Test your videos to determine what works \u2014 then do more of it<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-49563\" style=\"font-size: 16px;\" src=\"https:\/\/sb-wp-assets.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/27104218\/Tip1_OptimizeThroughTesting.png\" alt=\"Image of a dart board with white text that says Tip 1 Optimize Through Testing. How to use audience testing to improve your videos.\" width=\"1425\" height=\"800\"><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once your video is live, it\u2019s the perfect time to learn more about your audiences on your channels. Each video is a new opportunity for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/guides\/ab-testing-for-video-marketing-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">testing different things<\/a> out to see what resonates with your viewers and what doesn\u2019t work for them.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For paid media, Ryan suggests going live with several different copy variations, landing pages, or even edits to your video across different channels. Sometimes these subtle variations can result in wildly different audience responses. That data can give you key insights into what will perform well for different audiences.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Testing is your chance to assess <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/tutorials\/how-to-set-video-distribution-goals-and-measure-success\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">how your video performed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> against the goals you set. But it can also help you <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/tutorials\/how-to-understand-your-audience-and-create-videos-they-want-to-watch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">understand your audiences\u2019 preferences<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on a deeper level. That\u2019s especially true when you consider how your audiences respond to variations in your videos across the different channels where you\u2019ve posted them. You won\u2019t find that data in an analytics dashboard, though.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-it-helps-to-read-the-comments-section-even-when-it-hurts\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It helps to read the comments section (even when it hurts)<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Number of views, time watched, and other quantitative metrics can certainly help you understand overall video performance. However, it\u2019s essential to look at your qualitative data, too. The easiest way to do that is by reading the comments people leave on your videos. Internet video watchers usually don\u2019t hold back their opinions. That\u2019s not a bad thing, though. Even the most brutally honest takes can offer you a glimpse into what people really think about your content.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Remember:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Whether the feedback is good or bad, your viewers\u2019 comments hold valuable insights that you can apply to future testing to improve your videos. Ignore them at your own risk.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you create more videos, try to identify any patterns in your comments that indicate which videos are gaining traction (and which aren\u2019t). As you find your most popular videos, start brainstorming about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/blog\/5-easy-a-b-test-ideas-for-your-videos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">other tests<\/a> you can try next. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At Storyblocks, we often measure our videos\u2019 performance based on engagement metrics. These include both in-platform and on-site engagement. For in-platform performance, you may want to look at video views and click-through rates. For on-site, you can check out metrics like bounce rates and time spent on site.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"sb-cta sb-cta--theme-yellow-400 sb-cta--alignment-horizontal-left sb-cta--alignment-vertical-center sb-cta--additional-content-position-right wp-block-storyblocks-wp-blocks-call-to-action\" data-cta=\"\" data-cta-theme=\"yellow-400\" data-cta-heading=\"Learn how to use video tests to drive better performance with our free guide\" data-cta-content-id=\"\">\n\n\t\t<div class=\"sb-cta__copy\">\n\n\t<p class=\"sb-cta__heading\">\n\t\t<a class=\"sb-cta__heading__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/guides\/ab-testing-for-video-marketing-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\n\t\tLearn how to use video tests to drive better performance with our free guide\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n\n\t<p class=\"sb-cta__body\">\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"sb-cta__button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/guides\/ab-testing-for-video-marketing-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-cta__button>\n\t\tGet Your Copy\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sb-cta__additional-content\">\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/guides\/ab-testing-for-video-marketing-guide\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"574\" data-src=\"https:\/\/sb-wp-assets.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/27103919\/AB-Guide_Blog-1-1024x574.png\" alt=\"A\/B testing for video marketing: Unlock higher conversions &amp; engagement\" class=\"wp-image-27202 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/sb-wp-assets.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/27103919\/AB-Guide_Blog-1-1024x574.png 1024w, https:\/\/sb-wp-assets.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/27103919\/AB-Guide_Blog-1-500x280.png 500w, https:\/\/sb-wp-assets.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/27103919\/AB-Guide_Blog-1-768x431.png 768w, https:\/\/sb-wp-assets.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/27103919\/AB-Guide_Blog-1.png 1120w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/574;\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tip-2-tweak-and-refine-testing-small-to-improve-your-videos\">Tip 2: Tweak and refine (testing small to improve your videos)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/sb-wp-assets.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/27104216\/Tip2_TestSmall.png\" alt=\"Image of a hand holding a science beaker with pink liquid with dark blue text that reads Tip 2 Test Small. How to use audience testing to improve your videos.\" class=\"wp-image-49564 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every successful video you publish becomes fertile ground for testing and experimentation. After all, if you struck gold once, you may as well give it another go. We generally categorize our tests into 2 distinct buckets: Testing big and testing small.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both types of tests have their own strengths and weaknesses, and you\u2019ll get the best results if you use them in tandem.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The process of testing small involves taking one of your top-performing videos and tweaking minor elements one at a time. Here are some of the variables you can adjust while testing to improve your videos:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Opening hook<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Narration<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/blog\/what-is-the-perfect-video-length\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Video length<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Call to action (CTA)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Post copy<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Post headlines<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">B-roll<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Music<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This gives you a chance to play scientist a little, as you\u2019ll essentially be applying a form of the scientific method to your video production process. Testing small allows you to gauge how the audience reacts to subtle differences in your videos. And that can help you isolate the specific elements that will contribute to ongoing success. Once you\u2019ve identified those variables, it\u2019ll be much easier to iterate on them and optimize your future videos.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Want to <b>learn how to conduct small, iterative tests on your videos?<\/b><br>Watch Episode 8 of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/courses\/the-beginners-guide-to-creating-video\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Beginner&#8217;s Guide to Creating Video<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tip-3-nothing-ventured-nothing-gained-testing-big-to-improve-your-videos\">Tip 3: Nothing ventured, nothing gained (testing big to improve your videos)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/sb-wp-assets.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/27104215\/Tip3_TestBig.png\" alt=\"Image of a satellite in outer space with white text that reads Tip 3 Test Big. How to use audience testing to improve your videos.\" class=\"wp-image-49565 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, let\u2019s talk about testing big. This is where you\u2019ll pit two completely different video concepts against each other. You\u2019ll essentially serve up multiple, vastly different video concepts to your audiences, and see what sticks. Testing big involves a bit more creativity than testing small, so you can let your imagination run wild and just try stuff out to see what happens.&nbsp; This approach can be particularly useful for keeping a pulse on rapidly changing <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/news\/video-production-trends-2022\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">trends and audience preferences<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ways users engage and interact with social content are constantly changing. This means today\u2019s viral sensation or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/blog\/how-to-find-tiktok-trends\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">trend<\/a> could be a total belly-flop tomorrow. Sometimes testing out new ideas and video formats is your only hope to hit that moving target. For example, if you primarily make animated product demo videos, try throwing a live-action, interview-style customer testimonial video into the mix to see how your audiences respond.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Testing big requires you to think beyond simple A\/B tweaks (which is primarily what you\u2019ll do when testing small). It does involve some risk, as there\u2019s always a chance your audience may not like some of the concepts you create for them. But negative feedback can be just as useful as glowing praise. No matter what, you\u2019ll uncover new information to inform your video strategy. And the things you\u2019ll learn from testing big are nearly impossible to discover if you only test small. Sometimes you have to just go big or go home, baby!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Want to <b>learn how to swing for the fences with your video testing?<\/b><br>Watch Episode 8 of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/courses\/the-beginners-guide-to-creating-video\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Beginner&#8217;s Guide to Creating Video<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tip-4-develop-a-testing-strategy-that-works-for-you\">Tip 4: Develop a testing strategy that works for you<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/sb-wp-assets.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/27104212\/Tip4_FindATestingStrategy.png\" alt=\"Image of a stack of colorful post-it notes with dark blue text that reads Tip 4 Find a testing strategy. How to use audience testing to improve your videos.\" class=\"wp-image-49566 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, now that you understand the basics of testing big and small, how can you start testing to improve your videos?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ryan and Beth recommend that you start out by testing big. This is not only a great way to spot winning concepts, but it also gives you a clearer picture of what types of videos will resonate with your audiences. It may seem daunting to test out concepts that are completely unproven, but stepping outside your comfort zone a little is your fastest path to big wins. There\u2019s a chance some of your ideas may not perform well, and that\u2019s ok. If you\u2019re not testing big, your creative runs the risk of going stale. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-remember-all-it-takes-is-one-great-idea-to-build-long-term-success-nbsp\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember, all it takes is one great idea to build long-term success.&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019ve landed on some winning concepts by testing big, testing small allows you to fine-tune your videos and dial in on the finer details to make them even more useful, interesting, or effective.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beth and Ryan both stress one final important point: Don\u2019t assume testing big requires big budgets. Content creation is easier than it\u2019s ever been. You can start making top-performing videos with nothing more than the phone in your pocket. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/video\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Storyblocks\u2019 stock video library<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> includes all the assets you need to experiment and create stunning content \u2014 fast.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><b>\u201cVideo creation is less about the resources you have, and more about the quality and value you provide to your audience.\u201d&nbsp;<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>\u2013 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beth Cormack, Storyblocks\u2019 social media manager<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Never break the bank when testing big. We actually encourage you not to put too much time or money into videos when you\u2019re testing out something completely new. Test the waters with smaller budgets and fewer resources first, then build out your winning concepts once you figure out what types of videos work for your audiences. Spreading your budget across more big tests means more opportunities to uncover and validate your next great idea. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Want to <b>learn how you can put video testing into practice?<\/b><br>Watch Episode 8 of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/courses\/the-beginners-guide-to-creating-video\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Beginner&#8217;s Guide to Creating Video<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-next-time-on-the-beginner-s-guide-to-creating-video\">Next time on The Beginner\u2019s Guide to Creating Video\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Storyblocks&#8217; original series, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/courses\/the-beginners-guide-to-creating-video\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><b>The Beginner\u2019s Guide to Creating Video<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, is free for you to watch right now. You can binge the whole series in less than an hour, or just pick and choose individual episodes that interest you. Regardless of how you watch it, you&#8217;ll pick up tons of tips. Tune in now to learn how you can start making great videos faster than ever before.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coming up in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=LGF43nZAkNk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><b>Episode 9<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you\u2019ll explore the power of repeatability, and learn some shortcuts that will help you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/tutorials\/how-to-scale-up-video-production-to-make-more-content\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">scale your video strategy<\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how to use testing to improve your videos through a combination of strategic tests and audience insights.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":87,"featured_media":26342,"template":"","topic":[16,15],"class_list":["post-26337","tutorial","type-tutorial","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","topic-video-production","topic-video-marketing"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tutorial\/26337","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tutorial"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/tutorial"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/87"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26342"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26337"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=26337"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}