When was the last time you watched a presentation without at least a few cat videos or TikToks interrupting your focus? (Don’t worry, we’re all guilty.)
It’s not just your lunch break that’s being hijacked by videos; the world at large is watching more than ever. And while you might be cranking out high-quality products behind the scenes, your audience is just as interested in your story as they are in your goods.
The manufacturing industry isn’t immune to this shift.
Today, connecting with your customers means showing your process and passion through the most engaging medium: video. If your business isn’t utilizing it, you might be stuck in the past.
This guide explains why video is important to compete as a manufacturing business.
So, you’ve got high-quality products and an efficient team, but the truth is, people want to see your process, and videos offer the most reliable way to show it.
From showcasing your products in action to giving customers an inside look at your craftsmanship, video can pique the interest of people casually browsing the internet.
Below, we break down exactly why video is essential to your business success.
Humans are visual creatures.
You’ve probably scrolled past endless articles without a second thought, but when a video pops up, you stop. There’s something magnetic about motion, about seeing a story unfold before your eyes.
It’s the reason why videos get shared and liked.
People connect faster with what they can see and feel in real time. In fact, studies show that our brain processes visuals 60,000 times faster than text.
Whether it’s showing off your product in action or giving a behind-the-scenes glimpse of your company, video allows you to build an emotional connection with your audience.
And when people experience something they care about, they engage.
You can have the most advanced tech and the most efficient supply chain in your industry, but if your messaging feels cold, nobody will know you.
People don’t connect with a product’s features. They connect with stories. With feeling. With something that reminds them there’s a human behind the logo.
Emotion is what makes a brand memorable. It’s what turns a factory into a face and a product into a promise.
That’s the edge digital storytelling (especially through video) brings. It gives you the power to communicate what you do and why it matters.
When your message hits the heart instead of the inbox? That’s when loyalty begins. That’s when people pay attention. Harvard Business Review mentions that when you connect with customers’ emotions, the “payoff can be huge.”
Check out this eye-opening video on connecting with customers through emotional videos.
Trust is built when people can see you, hear you, and decide for themselves if you’re the real deal. That’s exactly what video does.
It strips away the corporate polish and lets your audience experience the people and the pride behind what you make. Data reveals that 91% of consumers want more video content from brands.
Whether it’s a founder speaking from the heart or customer stories told unscripted, video gives you credibility that no bullet point does. It’s proof that you’re not hiding behind jargon or stock photos. You’re showing up as you are.
In a world full of empty promises and “limited-time offers,” that kind of transparency is rare (and powerful).
Nobody’s reading a 20-page product manual over lunch. They’re watching a 90-second video that explains it all while they eat tacos and scroll TikTok. That’s the game now.
Today’s buyers want fast, clear, and engaging, and nothing delivers that combo better than video. Business Wire highlights that 90% of Gen Z wants to see more videos from brands.
Whether it’s B2B or B2C, your audience doesn’t want to dig through PDFs or guess what your product does. They want to see it. In action. In context. On demand.
If you're not offering that, you're already one click behind the competition. So, if you’re still relying on dusty product sheets and emails with four paragraphs too many, it’s time for a reality check.
Hear more about the advantages of video for businesses with Tiana and Jess from Canva Design School:
To you, it’s a system of machines and precision. To the outside world? It’s… loud noises and mystery.
Most people have no clue what goes into making the things they use every day. That’s where video changes everything. It makes “boring” fascinating and the complex watchable.
Behind every product is pure craftsmanship and real people doing real work. And when you pull back the curtain, even just a little, you connect. All of a sudden, that widget is something someone made, which is powerful.
By showing the process, you invite people into your world. The moment they relate to it, they respect it. Your factory becomes a story. One that’s worth watching and sharing.
Here is an amazing short-form video example for manufacturing businesses:
Google’s got one job: giving people what they want. And guess what people want more of? Video. That’s why pages with video content tend to climb higher in search results.
That’s not some SEO hack; it’s how the internet works now. The longer people stay on your page watching, the more Google thinks, “Ah, this must be good.”
And they’re right. Because video makes your site worth visiting. It makes someone stay an extra minute, then another. That kind of engagement? Google eats it up.
So while your competitors are keyword-stuffing like it’s 2010, you could be ranking higher simply by showing your process and your story in motion.
You can say “high quality” all day long but so can everyone else. And let’s face it, the phrase lost its punch somewhere around the 10th About Us page. What buyers actually want? Proof. Not buzzwords or claims.
Video gives your audience a front seat to the pride behind your product. The materials. The process. The hands behind the build.
You’re showing people you’re legit instead of telling them, and that hits differently. It’s the difference between saying “we’re reliable” and actually looking reliable.
Seeing a product being assembled or tested, or better yet, performing flawlessly in the real world, builds confidence among your audience.
In all honesty, most manufacturing processes sound like a foreign language to anyone outside your industry.
You start explaining your tech and before you know it, eyes start to glaze, heads begin to nod politely, and brains silently buffer. That’s where explainer videos can help.
Instead of data dumps and dry diagrams, you give clarity through story and motion. That’s a solid way to make the complex not just understandable, but interesting.
Whether it’s how your product works or what makes your solution better, explainer videos make it stick. When your big ideas are easy to grasp, they’re easier to trust and act on. Because sometimes all it takes to land a deal… is the right 90 seconds.
Check out this manufacturing explainer video from Demoflick:
People don’t share spec sheets. They share what makes them feel something. And that’s where video wins, every single time.
Video has that built-in “pass it on” quality. A clever product demo or a customer story gives your audience something they want to repost. And when they do? You’re reaching their network, and their network’s network.
That’s how your brand moves from hidden gem to industry buzz.
When you create content people want to share, you’re letting others carry your message for you. And honestly, that’s marketing magic money can’t always buy.
Logos don’t smile. Taglines don’t make eye contact. And websites? Well, they rarely crack a joke or sound like a real human. But video? Video can do all of that, and more.
It brings your brand to life. It adds tone and character to your manufacturing business. Your company becomes a group of real people with values and stories to share.
Whether it’s the pride in your machinist’s eyes or the humor baked into your product demo, video captures the vibe just right.
So while others hide behind stock photos, you’re out here showing who you are.
The first impression is everything. You’ve got about 7 seconds before someone decides whether they’ll engage with your brand or move on to the next shiny thing.
And a block of text doesn’t stand a chance in those first critical moments. But a well-made video? That’s your golden ticket.
Consider this: You’re a manufacturer and someone lands on your homepage. Instead of staring at a wall of words, they’re greeted by a dynamic video showing your products in action or giving a behind-the-scenes look at your process.
Instantly, they feel like they know you. They’re now emotionally engaged. And when someone feels that connection, they’re far more likely to hit “learn more” or “contact us.”
Think of some of the most successful brands: Apple’s minimalist yet powerful product reveals, or Nike’s emotional “Just Do It” campaigns. These videos show why that product matters and why the viewer should care.
With video, you can do the same. Highlight the heart of your business: the faces behind your products and the thought process that goes into making something with purpose.
The aim is to show potential customers the value of what they’re getting.
The visual and auditory elements in video combine to trigger certain emotions in viewers.
Consider you’re watching a video of a product launch that’s only available for a limited time. The countdown timer ticks down while upbeat music amps up the energy.
You see testimonials from real customers who love it. The message is clear: “You don’t want to miss this.” At this moment, your mind won’t say “I should buy that” but something like, “I need to buy this now.”
But remember, urgency doesn’t have to be dramatic. Think about a limited-time offer flashing across the screen while showing off a customer enjoying your product. Or a flash sale announcement in a video, where your product is the star, and the sense of scarcity is subtly reinforced in the video.
The idea is to tap into the fear of missing out (FOMO) — one of the most powerful psychological triggers out there.
Video gives you a chance to ditch that mundane and explore a medium that sparks connection.
Take internal videos that showcase success stories and spotlight team members. It will make your employees feel valuable and like the characters of a bigger narrative. It’s also a celebration of the people driving the company forward.
Consider creating a “week in review” video or a series of short clips celebrating individual achievements. Watching a leader express appreciation on camera reinforces a culture of recognition
Besides, when employees feel appreciated, they’re more likely to be invested in the company’s success. And that, in turn, leads to better results all around.
The manufacturing world runs on tight tolerances and lean systems. But the moment it comes to marketing, things get… fuzzy. Which is wild, considering how much clarity video can bring to your brand.
We’re not talking about shooting slow-mo sparks flying off a lathe (although, yes, please), we’re talking about showing the real heart of your operation. The people and the excellence behind your work.
Video is the language your buyers and even your competitors are already fluent in. If you’re not speaking it yet, you're whispering in a world full of megaphones.
At INDIRAP, a leading video marketing agency in Chicago, we make videos that work hard. They educate and move people.
If you’re ready to stop getting left on read and start turning heads, we’ll help you make the kind of content your industry didn’t know it needed. Book a free, no obligation Discovery Call today to discuss how we can develop an effective video marketing strategy for your manufacturing business.