subject: Video Marketing [print this page] Google has become the Mount Everest of nearly all marketers it seems. Everyone wants to get a great rank and be among the top of the first Google search results list. The most popular tool these days is using videos. In the US alone the number of online video viewers has grown from around 55million in 2003 to nearly 140million in 2007, with around 160million by the end of 2010. 1 billion people watch videos on YouTube everyday!
You can write the best blog ever with rich content but you might not get as many views as the next guy who posts a 2 penny video. Videos are used to capture the attention, learn, teach and promote concepts, products and people. In short videos are being used to do everything and anything!
Im going to help you make your video as well as give you tips as to how to best use them.
Step 1: How To Make a Video
Making a video is actually quite simple. You can even create one from your phone! You need appropriate minor lighting so you dont look like a bleached ghost (well-lit room but with no bright source of light immediately behind or besides the subject), microphones (Lavaliere Microphone is one of the best to be used at home or elsewhere) so you dont have to yell, a camera (full device or phone) and a bit of rehearsal to get your text straight and feel at ease in front of the camera.
Depending on what the video is about choose an appropriate background, for example a harmonious and sober room to share tips or a bright and peppy mall to send a boost up message.
Step 2: Keep It Short
We know you have many ideas and a burning desire to share but your viewers might catch the message better if it is more concise. You can always give them a link to another video or to a blog to view the full video or read the detailed blog. This is an excellent way for you to know which works better from the number of views you get. Is your market more receptive to short or detailed explanations?
Step 3: What You Should Retain
From an online video you can easily gather data on metrics such as percent of your video played (you will understand which part they liked best and which part they skipped), interaction rates (did they feel the need to react?), resulting site visits and in-store sales. A world of information is available to tell you exactly how your online videos/ videos ads are influencing actual consumer behavior.
Step 4: Have fun!
No one wants to listen to the tips of a stressed-out, crisp or awkward mentor. So make this as much fun as you can for yourself. Make sure youre relaxed and in a good environment. If youre lucky enough to be near a beautiful setting like the beach or park (and its not raining) you could shoot the video there. Be creative and dont forget have fun.
Step 5: Show Them The Real You!
Have you ever met the writer of a blog you often read and were like OMG I Cant Believe Youre The One Who Writes This Stuff? Well this is because your outer personality doesnt always come out through your writings. Visual communication is one of the main advantages videos have over blogs so grab the chance to show your viewers your energy, humour, facial expressions and all those little things that make you different from others in your field. Remember people often buy the buyer before they buy the product!
You might not feel overly-confident about this, especially if you are a newbie but after you try it a few times (Its ok not to post the first few ones if you dont like them!) you will get the hang of it. You can then upload them on your Facebook profile and fanpage, share the link via Twitter and other social media you use and, of course proudly post it on the homewall of your website.
