The Dos and Don’ts of Creating a Successful Unboxing Video for Affiliates

Unboxing videos have become a popular trend in recent years and for good reason. Not only are they entertaining to watch, but they also provide valuable insights into products before consumers make their purchase decisions. As an affiliate marketer, creating unboxing videos can be a powerful method for driving sales for sure.

But there’s more to creating successful unboxing videos than just opening boxes on camera. I’ve been there, done that, and I can tell you the dos and don'ts. So if you are a new affiliate marketer considering giving unboxings a try, read on. 

DO Choose Products That Inspire You

You can choose any products you want, but you know that some products interest more viewers than others. So go with your heart and choose the ones that inspire you for your unboxing videos.

Products that are in high demand are supposed to attract more viewership but are equally competitive. Other marketers would be unboxing the same products by the time you create your version. So choose products that;

• Excites you.
• You know the best.
• You know what to talk about before you even get them.

Otherwise, you can research industry trends, social media buzz, and consumer reviews to identify hot products worth featuring.

Don’t Try To Understand Your Audience

Self-proclaimed affiliate marketing gurus may tell you that understanding your audience is crucial to creating effective unboxing videos or promoting anything online. They tell you to take the time to research and analyze your target demographic before even you start filming.

But this is total BS. Trying to search for your audience is a waste of time.

You pick one product and whether the audience or your unboxing video will be tech-savvy millennials or stay-at-home parents looking for practical solutions, you never know until you receive thousands of views.

So don’t try to identify who your audience is or what their needs are. You work that out yourself and soon you will find out what your needs are. That’s what matters.

DO Try To Help

You don't have to understand what the audience is looking for just to sell. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't be helpful.

Addressing pain points that viewers may have and then explaining how this particular product solves those problems can be very impactful. It not only highlights what sets the product apart but also resonates with viewers who are looking for solutions to specific issues.

DO Showcase Unique Features and Benefits

When creating an unboxing video for affiliate marketing, it's essential to showcase the unique features and benefits of the product you're promoting. By doing so, your audience will understand why they should purchase it.

• Provide a detailed demonstration of how the product works. Showcasing its functions or capabilities can help viewers appreciate its value and relevance in their lives.
• Mention the benefits that come with using the product. For instance, if you're promoting a skincare item, you could talk about how it improves skin texture, reduces wrinkles or makes skin look younger.

DON’T Oversell or Misrepresent the Product

When creating an unboxing video as an affiliate marketer, it can be tempting to oversell or misrepresent the product in order to increase sales. However, this approach often backfires and leads to distrust from your audience.

One common mistake is exaggerating the benefits of a product or making false claims about its effectiveness. Your audience will quickly catch on if you're not being genuine, which can damage your credibility as a reviewer.

Another pitfall is failing to mention any potential drawbacks or limitations of the product. While you don't want to discourage viewers from purchasing, it's important to provide a balanced review that includes both positive and negative aspects.

It's also crucial to avoid using clickbait tactics or sensational language in your title and thumbnail. This may attract initial views but will ultimately harm your reputation as an honest reviewer.

Staying truthful and transparent with your viewers is key to building trust as an affiliate marketer. By providing honest reviews that accurately reflect the strengths and weaknesses of each product, you'll establish yourself as a reliable source of information within your niche.

DO Create a Compelling Thumbnail and Title

You may already know that this is important - the thumbnail and title of your unboxing video are the first things that potential viewers will see. So you must create a thumbnail and title that entice people to click on your video. 

The thumbnail should be visually appealing, clear, and eye-catching without being misleading or deceptive. Whereas your title should also be attention-grabbing while remaining descriptive enough for viewers to understand the content of your video. Use relevant keywords in your title so that it appears in search results.

Consider using bold fonts, bright colors, or other visual elements to make your thumbnail stand out in a crowded field of videos competing for attention on social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram.

DON’T Ignore Lighting and Audio Quality

The visual and auditory components of your video are just as important as its content, if not more so.

When it comes to lighting, you want to ensure that your product is well-lit and clearly visible. A dimly lit or poorly lit video can give a mystic feeling but can also be frustrating for viewers if they struggle to see what's going on. Natural light is always best, but if you're filming indoors, invest in some good lighting equipment.

Similarly, audio quality is crucial when it comes to engaging viewers. Poor sound quality can be a major turn-off for audiences and may result in them clicking away from your video. Invest in a good microphone and test out different recording locations until you find the best one.

Pay attention also to how they work together. If there's too much background noise competing with the spoken words on screen then this will negatively impact viewer engagement levels.

These are the absolute basic and you may know already, but I cannot emphasize enough that you should be creating an unboxing video that looks professional and polished - something that will help build trust among potential customers looking for authentic reviews from affiliates like yourself.

DON’T Neglect Editing and Post-Production

Neglecting editing and post-production is a common mistake in creating unboxing videos. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of unboxing a new product, but taking the time to edit out unnecessary footage and add some polish can make all the difference in your final video.

This means cutting out any long pauses or awkward moments that may disrupt the flow of your video. 

• Use jump cuts or transitions to smooth over any rough spots.
• You could add some background music and sound effects to enhance your video's atmosphere. But be careful not to overpower your voiceover - balance is key here.
• Don't forget about color correction and lighting adjustments. Even if you're filming with natural light sources, subtle tweaks can make a big impact on how professional and polished your final product looks.

Always watch through your finished video before publishing it online. Look for any errors or mistakes that may have been missed during production - such as audio glitches or visual inconsistencies - and correct them as needed.

Post-production plays an important role in creating high-quality unboxing videos that engage viewers from start to finish!

DO Plan Your Video Script and Shot List

It’s almost always best to prepare your video script and shot list. Unless you are extremely good at ad-libs, a well-planned script will help you stay on track, communicate key points effectively, and keep the viewers entertained.

Start by identifying the essential features or benefits of the product you want to highlight in your video. This will form the backbone of your script, which should be concise but informative enough to pique viewers' interest.

Next, create a shot list that outlines every scene you need to capture for editing purposes. Consider incorporating different camera angles and close-up shots to add visual interest to your footage.

When writing your script, make sure it flows naturally from one point to another without sounding forced or overly scripted. Don't forget that personality goes a long way when creating engaging content!

Rehearse before filming so that you can deliver lines smoothly while keeping things spontaneous enough not to seem rehearsed on camera. By following these tips for planning a successful unboxing video script and shot list, you'll be able to produce high-quality content that resonates with viewers!

DO Disclose Your Affiliate Position

As an affiliate marketer, you should be transparent with users about any potential financial gain you may receive from promoting a product. This is where disclosing affiliate links and commissions comes into play.

Make sure you place a link to your affiliation disclosure with the brand or company in every unboxing video you create. This can be done through a verbal disclaimer at the beginning of the video or by adding a disclosure statement in the description box below.

You don’t have to say how much commission you will receive as an affiliate for each sale made through your unique link, but instead, you can say you may receive a “small amount of compensation”. It’s because your affiliate income is not guaranteed. If something happens, for example the affiliate agreement with the merchant is cancelled for any reason, your commission payment will also be cancelled. 

Just prioritize transparency when creating unboxing videos for affiliates. By disclosing any potential financial gain or relationships with brands/companies upfront, content creators can build stronger connections and credibility with their audiences while still producing engaging content that promotes high-quality products.

DON’T Hesitate To Share Customer Reviews

…It means DO talk about what other customers say. Be honest - if the majority of existing customers (users of the product in question) are happy or have left genuine, positive testimonials, then tell your viewers that you are impressed. If there are mixed reviews, tell your viewers so, and share your own opinion.

Just don’t over/understate existing customer reviews. Viewers can easily find out that you’re lying, and you’ll quickly lose your reputation otherwise.

Why I Quit Unboxing Videos

I used to do unboxings on YouTube and made some affiliate commissions but decided to quit because, for the time and money I invested, I didn't feel the outcome was particularly satisfactory. Here are the main reasons;

• Too competitive: More YouTubers started to do unboxing videos, and people got used to them and found them less exciting.
• Not enough revenue: Many viewers already knew the cheapest deal so they wouldn't buy through my affiliate link. They just wanted to check how the product works.
• Difficult to appear genuine: Some people who make unboxing videos get free products or get paid to promote them. Although I always said my boxing was genuine, viewers often questioned me if my videos were honest or just advertisements.

While unboxing videos still have a place, I don't think they are as effective on their own anymore due to a large number of videos, questions about authenticity, and decreased engagement.