subject: Using Video to Bring Your Business Blog Alive and Generate More Sales [print this page] Using Video to Bring Your Business Blog Alive and Generate More Sales
Think of a typical blog and many people have the image of a simple text-based web page run by an individual blogger to communicate with their online audience.Certainly many blogs still look like this but as blogging becomes an ever more sophisticated marketing tool, the use of video really is the way to go.
Video blogging or v-blogging is more user-friendly for the viewer as they can now watch and listen to content on your blog as well as just reading text. Not so long ago it was considered cutting edge to encourage bloggers to include photographs on their blogs but now video is taking blogging to the next level. Depending on the software the blogger uses then it may be possible for the visitor to start, stop, pause and replay videos at will.
Certainly adding quality video makes producing the blog just that little bit more complex and not every blogger will want to go to this extra effort. However for those that use blogs for business, taking the time to include videos could be a very wise move indeed.Video is far more immediate than the written word and many more people will take the time to watch a short video than they would to read a few hundred words of text.
If you are going to incorporate video into your blog then you will have to set aside more time to produce your posts, learn new skills and perhaps buy new software. You might also have to use a faster server with greater disk space for your videos so more planning is involved than for a simple text based blog.
As an internet marketer you can use video to demonstrate your products, show software in action and transform yourself from just a name on a blog to a real life living and breathing expert in your niche.
You could write a 20 page sales letter about a new product and some people will certainly read it all the way through and go on to buy from you but others may prefer you to show them the product in action via video.Just seeing something being used or demonstrated allows people to get a better feel for it than mere words alone can convey. A video lets customers see for themselves how good (or otherwise!) your product actually is.
To start video blogging you will need a web camera, a microphone, adequate lighting and software to edit your v-blog.
Your videos won't need to be mini Hollywood blockbusters but the image and sound quality must be good. Some marketers try to save money by using the built-in microphone on their webcam even though they may be positioned some distance from it. Don't be tempted to do this because the sound quality will generally be poor and this will ruin your entire video.Likewise don't rely on the existing light in the room you are in or your video will look dull and dark but take time to illuminate the video well so that it looks impressive.
With the hardware sorted out you will need to work out what you are going to say so that you don't stumble through your presentation while mumbling the first words that come into your head.
The video editing software need not be complicated but it should allow you to insert still images and add captions, titles and other effects to make your video look more professional.
Don't be scared of experimenting with video on your blog. You are not aiming for perfection and your customers will forgive the odd flaw here and there because after all you are an internet marketer and not a film producer.
However if your niche is selling video editing software then you will really need to make your videos look extra special. For everybody else then just good is good enough.
