Last year, we posted over 40 video ads on LinkedIn and we are here to tell you ALL about what we learned.

When we set out to build an awareness campaign, our goal was to create 12 videos, each speaking to a different pain point our audience feels.

That’s a lot of content for just the awareness stage. But here’s the thing: video is subjective. What really matters is if your audience connects with the message and 12 is a good sample size.

We thought they were all good (we wouldn’t have made them otherwise). But in business, things either work or they don’t…the same goes for video ads. The market decides.

And honestly? The results surprised us.
Our second-highest performing ad was one we were a little nervous to put out.

It also goes directly against a lot of the video advice people hear all the time.
Our takeaway?

It resonated with people struggling to make video work.
“What if the reason my content isn’t working… isn’t what I think it is?”

If you’re creating video content for your business, this one is worth a watch.

Watch the video here →
And if you (or someone you know) needs support with your video strategy, we’d love to help.

I used to think I knew when a video was performing well.

Then we started running LinkedIn ads and realized we’d barely scratched the surface of what video data could tell us.

Now we look at things like:

CPM – What you pay to get in front of people (per 1,000 views)
CPC – What you pay to get a click
Video dwell time – How long someone watches in the moment
Retargeting retention – How many people watch enough to be worth targeting again

And that’s just to name a few.

To say it’s changed how we think about every video we make is an understatement.

At Mainstream, one of our goals is to walk the talk, testing what works before our clients try it. Last year, we made over 40 videos. And one outperformed everything.

There was a lot to learn from it.

Check out this week’s #BehindTheStream vlog to see our top-performing video ad across every metric. Then tell us…why do you think this one beat all the others?

Our analysis:
Copy – Written by Seth. Funny (a little snarky), but still makes a clear point and is our brand.
Visuals – A strong, clear match for what we were saying.
Pace – Short, tight, and always moving. Perfect for an awareness ad! Grab attention, spark that “this is me” moment, and keep them watching so we can retarget with a solution.

So, what do you think made it work?

And by the way if you know someone who needs help creating videos that actually perform, send them my way. Consultation booking link in the comments below!

A question I hear a lot:

Why hire a video production company when I can do everything on my phone?

Honestly? That’s a great question. And I’m not insulted by it at all. 🙄

The short answer is: you absolutely should be using DIY video tools.

But if you rely on DIY video too much, it can quietly start costing you.

In this week’s True Confessions, we talk about when DIY makes sense… and when it doesn’t.

In fact there’s a moment where Erica starts breaking down something pretty specific about how video is shot, and I (someone who has been doing this for 20 years) admit that I’m not exactly sure what she’s talking about or why it matters.

That moment kind of says it all.

And if someone comes to mind who’s been trying to figure out whether to DIY or bring in a team send them our way. The 15 minute call is free.

Most video projects take longer than they should. And the reason might surprise you.

While filming our latest True Confessions of a Video Company episode, the whole team suddenly stopped mid-conversation to look something up.

The content was about tight turnarounds something the Mainstream team has never been afraid of.

But somewhere in the middle of it, I referenced a term no one else in the room had heard before.

Steph hadn’t heard it.Erica hadn’t heard it.Seth definitely hadn’t heard it either.

Turns out there’s actually a law that explains why projects expand to fill whatever time they’re given. Once you hear it, you’ll start noticing it everywhere.

This week’s #BehindTheStream is worth a watch for that moment alone.

And if someone comes to mind who’s been putting off a video project because they assume it’s going to swallow their calendar, send them our way.

The best thing you can do for someone about to start a video project is connect them with the right people early.

Have you ever hired someone to do a job… and then spent the next two weeks just trying to find out where things stood?

Most people have. And it’s not just frustrating, it quietly erodes trust in a way that’s hard to come back from.

It’s one of the most common things we hear from people who’ve worked with creative vendors of any kind. Not that the work was bad. Just that nobody seemed to treat the deadline like it actually mattered.

This week’s #BehindTheStream pulls back the curtain on where that problem really starts and why the Mainstream team thinks about deadlines a little differently than most.

Turns out, there’s a reason Stephanie has recurring nightmares about them.
Watch this week’s episode here to see what we mean.

And if you know someone who’s been burned by a vendor who couldn’t seem to deliver on time video or otherwise feel free to connect us.

Happy to point them in the right direction even if it ends up not being a fit.

Let me ask you something.

If video has crossed your mind as something your business should be doing… what’s actually been stopping you?

Is it the cost? The time? Not knowing where to even start, or who to trust to do it right?

Most people we talk to aren’t opposed to video. They just don’t have a clear picture of what it actually takes to pull it off, and that uncertainty is usually enough to keep it on the back burner indefinitely.

There’s a moment in this week’s Behind the Stream where Steph asks a few very specific questions about what running a video production actually involves.

If you can answer them confidently, you’re probably more ready than you think.

If you can’t… that’s exactly why it feels so hard to start. And this episode might be the thing that finally changes that.

Watch this week’s #BehindTheStream.

And if someone comes to mind who keeps saying they need to do something with video but never quite gets there, feel free to connect us. Happy to point them in the right direction even if it ends up not being a fit.

What makes a great video? It depends. 

On the goal.

On the audience.

On the brand.

Are you trying to attract a bold, edgy brand?
Or a polished, buttoned-up industry leader?

There’s no right or wrong.

But there is alignment.

And here’s where things fall apart:

If your video partner perceives your brand differently than you do…

You might get a “cool” video.

Just not one that feels like you.
Or resonates with the audience you actually want.

I hear all the time from people that they loved their videos… “it’s just not us.”

At Mainstream, we’re borderline obsessive about eliminating that gap.

Before cameras roll, we align on:

Where is this going?

Who this is really for?

What they need to feel?

What action they should take?

And how your brand should show up?

Because once production starts, it’s too late to fix misalignment.

If you want to see exactly how we create that alignment before production ever begins, watch this week’s #BehindTheStream.

And if someone comes to mind who’s about to start

When you look at your ad performance… do you feel confident in what the numbers are telling you?

Or do they look good… but still leave you wondering if they’re actually driving business?

A lot of teams we talk to aren’t struggling with running ads. They’re struggling with knowing which numbers actually matter.

And honestly? The platforms don’t always make that easy.

We just released a new video breaking down what we learned after spending $45,000 on video ads… and let’s just say it changed how we look at performance entirely.

If you’ve ever asked yourself:

“Are these the right metrics?”

“Should this be producing more results?”

“How do I even know what success is supposed to look like?”

You’ll probably want to watch this week’s #BehindTheStream.

Check it out here!

And if it raises a few uncomfortable questions about your current ad strategy… that’s usually a pretty good place to start a conversation, so book that 15 minute call and let’s get that figured out.

Let me ask you a question. Have you ever listened to a team explain what they do and thought, “Yeah… this makes sense, but only because I already know this space”? We see this all the time. Smart teams.Great products.Really …

Behind The Stream: Ever Notice This About Your Marketing? Watch The Video »

Let me ask you a question.

When you need something fixed at your house, do you hire a general contractor… or a specific trade?

The right setup depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. Video is the same way.

I talk to a lot of teams who are doing video, but it’s not working like they know it could. A lot of times it’s because they’re managing a specialist, juggling timelines, coming up with ideas, and spending way more time and energy than they should.

If you ever hear someone say, “We need video, but it’s hard to keep up with,” or “We have a freelancer, but it takes forever,” this is exactly what I mean.

This week’s video breaks down freelancer vs. production company and how to choose the right fit based on what you actually need.

Watch this week’s video!

And if someone comes to mind while you’re watching, feel free to connect us. I’m always happy to point them in the right direction, even if it ends up not being a fit.