Brafton’s Weekly Content Marketing Roundup features the latest news and trends in the world of content marketing. Now that you’ve had your fill of hot dogs and everything red, white and blue, settle in to learn all about the history of video, how you can boost trust with your content, how to create a long-lasting social strategy, and a whole lot more.

Stretching your video resource

A lot goes into developing, creating and publishing a video. Don’t let your efforts go to waste by only letting your finished video product sit alone on your website. This article from Social Media Examiner provides step-by-step guidance on how to make the most of your video and repurpose it to create several different types of content for your marketing strategy. Read it all here!

Profitable product demos

Are you looking for an effective video that will engage your viewers and bring in money? Then look no further than product demos! Brafton’s Michael O’Neill sat down with Senior Creative Director Perry Leenhouts to get the scoop on how and why product demos are great at generating revenue for brands, and how marketers can effectively convey their offerings in this easily digestible, and enjoyable, format. Get the scoop here.

Building trustworthy ties

If prospects don’t trust your brand, the chances of them doing business with you significantly diminish. So how can you create a relationship based on trust? You’ve got to start with your content. This piece from Entrepreneur highlights the ways in which you can make trust a cornerstone of your content strategy and create a lasting relationship with your customers. Check out the trusty tips.

LOL = live over lackluster

Live video has steadily been climbing in popularity recently, especially with the advent of Facebook Live. If you want to tap into this rising technology, check out this article from Eric Wendt. Along with Senior Social Media Strategist Walton Clark, he covers why live video has become so prevalent, and why you need to get in on the action now to boost your content marketing strategy. Learn all about live.

A social strategy that lasts

Social media may be all about fast and frequent updates, but if you want to make it in the social game, you’ve got to create a strategy that’s built to last. Highlighting an infographic from Yeager Marketing, Social Media Examiner offers up guidance on how to develop a sustainable social plan and how to get the most out of your efforts. Get all the details here.

A glimpse into the animation process

Animated videos are a fun and engaging way to capture your audience’s attention and show off your brand. But if you’re going to add animation to your marketing strategy, you need to know what goes into making them. This article and accompanying video does just that – you get an inside look into how Brafton plans, creates and delivers animations that exceed our clients’ expectations. Take a gander!

Rise to the challenge

You may think that making your content challenging may turn prospects away. But according to this guide from Sumo, creating and offering challenges for your prospects can significantly boost traffic and engagement. For example, you can ask users to join a challenge that gives them a tangible benefit at the end of a specified time period. People love challenges, so make it work for your brand. Accept the challenge!

The past, present and future of video

The video of today is a far cry from the video of the (very distant) past (let’s all be thankful that the Silent Era of film is way behind us). But it’s helpful to know about the journey that video has taken since its inception in the late 1800s. This article and accompanying video cover the history of video, the technological inventions that have turned it into what we know today, and the trends on the horizon that will shape it for the future. Get your dose of vast video knowledge.

That’s all we have for you this week. Be sure to come back next week for the latest trends and updates in the world of content marketing.

Tressa Sloane is the Sr. Manager of Editorial Development in Boston. Born a Southern belle, she now resides in the chilly (but wicked awesome) Northeast, and when she's not learning everything she can about content marketing, she's obsessing over Elvis, Auburn football and France.