Author: David Bain

Got a new business product but don’t know where to start? Video marketing just might be for you. This article discusses video marketing, its advantages and a short guide on how to make a video perfect for any marketing campaign.

There are a lot of ways through which you can market your products and your services. Among these methods, the most cost-effective means is perhaps the internet.

Through the internet, you can come up with every marketing campaign possible. The internet is so flexible and vast that with the right moves, it can help your business become more popular and more prominent. That being said, let me introduce you to the latest trend and possibly the most effective of all online marketing strategies: video marketing.

— Video Marketing —

Video marketing just might be the hottest trend to date in the marketing field. The time for telling through text marketing copy has passed. Instead, it’s now time for showing and demonstrating through video clips.

If you’re not that familiar with video marketing, there’s absolutely no need for you to worry. The internet provides a lot of resources on how you can make your videos. You can learn about the tools that you need to make videos and the techniques that can make your videos work for marketing purposes. The following are some tips on how you can make video marketing work for your business.

1. Determine where to post your videos.

First of all, you have to know where you are going to post your video marketing material. There are many choices available to you. You can place your video in your website for more interesting site content. You can also post video clips in online communities and blogs. Of course, you should not neglect to post videos in video blogging sites like YouTube.

2. Determine the video content.

The prior step will help a long way in determining the content of your video marketing materials. As a general rule, your videos must contain information that will build more interest in your business’ products and services. However, the actual and specific content will have to vary, depending on where you’re posting your videos.

For instance, videos in your website can be much more product- or service- oriented. Particularly, your videos can demonstrate how effective your product or service is. Your videos in your site can also be video testimonials from your customers. Moreover, they can be video clips about your special promotions and special updates.

Videos posted in online blogs should be more about updates, news and special promotions. They should merely inform your viewers about the latest news and induce your audience to click on the link to your site for more details.

For video blogging sites like YouTube, your video should be less product-oriented and more entertaining and creative. Your website link can be provided with the video and your products can be featured in them, but your videos must never be a simple sales pitch. You’re never going to be referred and reposted that way.

3. Identify your audience.

All along, you should keep your audience in mind. How old are your intended consumers? Who are they and where do they come from? The content of your video marketing materials will also heavily depend on the demographics of your intended recipients.

After you have done all of the above mentioned steps, all you will need to do is to make your videos and post them online. Of course, you may have to engage the services of a video server for your purposes.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-articles/3-tips-to-help-your-online-video-marketing-beat-the-competition-139006.html

About the Author
David Bain is an online videos marketing specialist. Visit http://freeiq.com/headingtags for a free demonstration video of how to choose your own inline H Tags (Heading Tags).

Despite the fact that many small businesses now realize that video marketing is something that they can implement relatively easily, for some reason they still aren’t doing it.

With the benefits that video marketing can offer a business, this could be a fatal mistake.

This is possibly due to the fact that the concept of video marketing is still relatively new, and this could mean that most business owners simply do not understand how to use it effectively.

So if you’re business is not using video at the moment, then this is potentially good news for you, and bad news for your competition. If you could start creating some videos about your business, you could steal a march on your competitors.

The Good News Is

Your competitors are unlikely to be using video marketing yet, and so this could be happy days for you and your business. And as you may have read in my previous article about video marketing, it is neither very difficult or expensive to create and produce a video.

In fact the very concept of video marketing has grown in popularity hugely in recent years, mainly due to substantial improvements and the greater availability of affordable technology. Digital and HD (High Definition) camcorders are now relatively inexpensive to buy compared to when they were first launched, and this has allowed many more people to film and upload their videos for all the world to see.

This Is Why Video Is So Powerful

And this is without doubt one of the assets, the power if you like, of video marketing. It allows your business to capture the imagination of your prospects, and be completely honest and transparent about the products and services that you are offering.

Video also gives you the opportunity to enhance your reputation in the process. It can of course, also allow you to demonstrate in a few seconds on video, what would potentially take longer to explain in audio or in print.

Video marketing has now emerged as possibly the fastest, most efficient and persuasive mode of online marketing available, hence the importance that I believe it has as part of a successful marketing campaign.

But despite the fact that some larger corporations are now using it, the small and medium sized business community still appears to be lagging behind. They still do not appear to have grasped the fact that video marketing can be hugely beneficial in attracting more interest in what they are selling.

And It Gets Even Better For You

Fortunately for you, this is still great news for your business as your competition are unlikely to be using it either.

One of the keys to the success of video marketing has been the popularity of the You Tube website. Since the creation of You Tube a number of other video sharing sites have emerged on to the scene, however You Tube remains the one that is the most popular. In fact, such was the success of You Tube that in October 2006, internet giant Google purchased the site for a reported $1.65 billion. Yes that was billion with a ‘b’!

And in 2008, according to a service called Alexa, You Tube was the second most trafficked site in the world, getting 60 million unique views per month. Alexa is a well respected source of online information that has built an unrivaled source of information regarding websites, including visitor statistics, related links and much more. Given these facts, do you think it may be beneficial to your business to have a presence on a site that has 15 million visitors each and every week? I think you know the answer.

Simon Thurston is an expert business consultant and marketing consultant, and author of “The Death Of Traditional Marketing”.

You can find out more about him by visiting his blog today at simonpaulthurston.com.

So, you’re an entrepreneur who’s decided to start making your own online videos in order to boost your marketing and social media efforts.

To get the best results, you’ll want to follow a plan that takes you from pre-production to shooting and editing to online distribution.

Here are some simple steps that can guide you in that process:

Strategy

Concept

• Imagine you’re giving a presentation to your ideal clients. What unique, valuable information can you provide? What do they need and want to hear? Now imagine the camera is your audience and you only have two minutes to talk. Keep it brief, focused and valuable.
• Examples of good concepts – giving tips in your area of expertise, demonstrating your product or service, describing an event or workshop you’re leading.
• Example of not-so-great concepts – video blogging about your wide array of thoughts and philosophies with no clear focus or outcome for the client.

Script

• Don’t wing it. Have an outline or script prepared so that your video is a focused, polished presentation of the most valuable information.
• You don’t need to memorize every word. However, do rehearse (in front of a mirror is very helpful) so that your performance comes across as confident and natural.
• Keep it short. Web attention spans are very short.

Some general length guidelines:

• Ads or business profiles – 30 sec – 1 min
• Demonstrations – 1-3 min
• Webisodes or presentations – 2-4 min

Basic equipment

Camera (keep it simple and easy for you to use):

• Flip camera – you can upload right to YouTube.
• Macbook – built in camera and you can use iMovie.
• Any basic consumer camera that you already have – they’ll come with uploading instructions and possibly some basic editing software.
• Video cameras that record to memory cards are great – no dealing with buying multiple tapes and converting them.

Audio:

• Use your camera or Mac’s built-in mic.
• If you’re having problems with audio quality using just the camera’s built-in mic, and you have an external mic jack, then you can consider buying a mic to plug in. Check for inexpensive options on Amazon.

Tripod:

• You just need the camera off the ground and level with your eyeline. If you can achieve that with a counter or books on a table, more power to you!
• If not, purchase an inexpensive tripod – go to Best Buy or any store that sells cameras.

Lighting - At the DIY level, this helps increase quality more than the type of camera you use.

• Find a spot in your home, office or outside (if noise is not a problem) where your face is well lit in an even and soft manner. No harsh shadows.
• If you need more light, use some standing reading lamps and move them closer to you (not in the shot but between you and the camera).
• If that’s still not working, then you need to buy a light, especially if it’s a wider shot or the camera is further away.
• If necessary – buy a basic continuous lighting kit on Amazon for $80.
• Do a Google search for “lighting tutorial” to get additional setup tips.

Production - keep your production simple and focused on offering great information or inspiration.

• Dress as you would if you were having a meeting or giving a presentation to your ideal client. In the majority of cases, you’ll want to look well-groomed, neat and professional. Stay away from wearing bright or distracting patterns, but feel free to wear color (“jewel” tones are usually best – think rubies, emeralds, etc.).
• Speak confidently and let your personality shine through.
• Look into the camera and imagine the audience that you’re talking to.
• Set up your set with bright, natural lighting with an uncluttered background.
• Stay fairly close to the camera (about 2-3 feet away) for a medium shot that is optimal for image and audio quality.

Editing

• To cut down on editing time, try to plan and execute videos in one take, or tape different clips and then put them together.
• Use simple software such as iMovie(.mov format, free with Mac) or Movie Maker (.avi format, free with Windows).
• Online distribution
• Set up an account on YouTube.com. Fill out your profile and subscribe to other channels that match your marketing goals.
• Upload your video and make sure to include a relevant, interesting title, description and keywords.
• Embed the video on your website and/or blog.
• Share it on:Facebook, Twitter, your e-newsletter.

These are the basic steps to follow to make the most out of online video on the DIY level. Check out these examples of small business videos to inspire you in your efforts. And, remember to have fun!

Melissa Mansfield is the co-founder of Green Gorilla Media, a San Francisco-based production company that helps its clients use online video to build brand recognition and meaningful customer relationships.

As a producer at Green Gorilla, Melissa guides clients through every step of the video production process, including social media strategy, concept development, scriptwriting, production and post-production.

To find out how Green Gorilla Media can help you boost your social media and marketing efforts with online video, visit http://www.greengorillamedia.com.

You can also follow Green Gorilla Media on Twitter: @greengorillas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melissa_Mansfield
http://EzineArticles.com/?Make-Your-Own-Videos—Easy-DIY-Tips-For-Small-Businesses&id=4589518

Jeff Korhan is a new media marketer, an award winning entrepreneur, and a top-ranked blogger. He applies over three decades of marketing experience to helping companies implement online strategies that maximize Web visibility, reputation, and referrals, especially with social media and Internet marketing. Jeff began his career as a Fortune 50 Sales and Marketing Manager with an MBA.

Jeffs practical business and marketing experience helps his clients to differentiate their companies in crowded markets by using relevant social Web practices that capitalize on emerging business trends. Jeff maintains a busy schedule of speaking and consulting on the topics of social media marketing, relationship selling, and entrepreneurship trends.

He is a social media columnist for GIE Media and a Leadership Consultant for the National Speakers Association.  He blogs daily at www.jeffkorhan.com and you can reach Jeff at speaker@truenature.com or 630-774-8350

Putting video on your website is a very important piece of your marketing. Used correctly, it will get people to stay at your website longer, they will make more inquires, and they will get to know you.

Used incorrectly, your video will chase your visitors away faster than a New York Second…..

To place video effectively, on your website, follow these Ten Rules:

Rule #1 – Avoid having your video start automatically when visitors arrive to your website. Along with having different models of computers and speakers, your visitors may have their audio setting at full volume, may already have their speakers in use, or may not even have speakers at all. Customers may very well leave your website if it starts blaring noise as soon as they arrive. It’s much more difficult to look around to try and figure out how to turn off your audio than it is to simply leave the website or hit the back button.

Rule #2 – Make sure it looks professional! Make sure your video both look and sound good, otherwise you will appear to be an amateur. The good news is, for about $100.00 you can purchase a decent camera. Even the least expensive digital still cameras have the ability to film movies surprisingly well. Also, always dress the part.

Rule #3 – Keep promotional videos short and lots of camera angle changes! The place for long audio messages online is almost never the main page of a website. Your messages will be most effective if kept concise, direct, and easy to interpret. This can be what makes or breaks the video message. A good length for your video is between 30 and 90 seconds. Keep in mind, commercials are only 30 seconds long and manage to convey their messages clearly; use them as a model when making your video. Also, the goal of Hollywood is to change camera angles every 7 seconds.

Rule #4 – Prepare yourself by shooting tons of videos! It helps to practice out loud after writing a complete word for word script and then change it as necessary. People will know if you are just “winging” it. Prior to recording your script, be sure to have other people listen to it and offer their criticism. Then remove unnecessary words; reduce the length and change wording to better convey your message.

Rule #5 -Smile! Always smile and appear friendly on your video. Most people find those who enjoy what they’re doing much more enjoyable to do business with. Be sure to convey your passion for your loan business to the viewer. Body language is also much more of a factor on video than voice.

Rule #6 – Avoid putting too much video up on your site. People will not choose a play button at all, if there are too many to choose from. Visitors are more likely to watch your message if you limit the number of video buttons on your site. It’s usually sufficient to have a properly done single play and pause button to get your point across.

Rule #7 – Allow them to see your personality – let it shine. You are making a video in order to let people get to know you. Believe it or not, they want to learn about who you are. Television is filled with reality TV shows. American viewers are intrigued by other people’s lives. Let them get to know you, your family and your pets. Your Voice should also have a Cadence to it or a natural rhythm.

Rule #8 – Make sure your video actually has a point! While this may sound redundant, people often put video on their website for no other reason than simply because they can. If there’s not much of a point to your video, it won’t make any difference to anyone how fancy it is. Your video must have a well-defined purpose.

Rule #9 – Instruct people to view your video! Simply having a play button available on your website isn’t going to be sufficient. Let people know what to expect – what’s it about, how long is it, what can they expect to hear – and, obviously, where to click to start it playing. People need to be given instructions online, so it’s a mistake to assume they will figure out on their own that they need to watch your video. It can also be helpful if you let the audience know how long the message is, because people will be more likely to listen if they know how long it is. Sometimes, as research has shown, people will not click on a play button to a video message for fear that it may be too long. Let your visitors know if it’s a long message so they will be prepared for it.

Rule #10 – Perform a test run on your video! Don’t assume that simply putting video up on your website will increase sales. Test it out, get opinions from your visitors, friends, and family, and then do split testing. With your video, figure out if there is an increase in conversions. You’ll never know if your video messages are helping or hurting your website without a measurement of your results both before and after its addition.

Learn More about video marketing from Author Keith Goeringer at http://www.keithgo.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Goeringer
http://EzineArticles.com/?Video-Marketing-Secrets-For-Your-Web-Page—10-Rules-to-Follow-to-Not-Drive-Visitors-Away!&id=4590434

From an increase in search engine traffic to the power of RSS technology, your company should be seizing the opportunities that blogging presents. This is Part I of a 2 part series.