3 “Out-of-the-Box” Video Ideas for Small Business Owners

June 24, 2011 By 1 Comment

3 “Out-of-the-Box” Video Ideas for Small Business OwnersOnline video is hot, hot, hot right now. Personally, I think it’s because so many folks are just so busy that they would rather watch a quick “to-the-point” video than read through a 500-word article.

That being said, most small business owners still don’t incorporate video into their marketing efforts.  There are two main reasons for that.

First, small business owners feel that they don’t have the time to record, edit and produce a video.  And second, they’re not sure what to record a video about. They have a bad case of “video-block.”

In terms of lack of time, small business owners can eliminate that problem immediately.  Videos should be short. In fact, your prospects prefer videos that are 3-5 minutes tops.  So, there’s absolutely no reason that you can’t record, edit and load your video to YouTube in under 30 minutes flat.

If you’re stuck with coming up with a topic, here are three “out-of-the-box” video ideas that should get your creative juices flowing:

1)    Record an interview with an expert.

Find an expert in your industry and ask them if they would be willing to record a 5 minute answer to a question that you prepare for them.

The best part of this strategy is that you don’t even have to schedule an interview with them. (And, your super-busy expert will appreciate this as well!) You can simply have them record the answer and send it to you at their convenience.

2)    Make a “how-to” screencast.

This is one of my favorite quick and painless video strategies.

Put together a simple PowerPoint presentation on a current “how-to” strategy in your particular industry. Then, record the PowerPoint using screen-capture software program such as Camtasia (or you can use the free alternative Camstudio). Once it’s recorded, load the video to YouTube for the world to see.

If you’re not sure what your customers/clients want to learn about, just ask them. You can send out a survey using SurveyMonkey’s free survey service.

3)    Ask your customers or clients to send in videos.

The sky is the limit with this idea. Of course, you can always ask your customers or clients to send in traditional testimonials.

Or, you can get really creative and ask them to create fun videos where they are actually using your product. Green Mountain Coffee does a fun job with this idea on their Facebook Business Page.

Obviously, there are dozens of other ways to create quick videos that promote your small business brand.  Just let your imagination be your guide.

Filed Under: shoestring marketing tips, small business marketing, video marketing Tagged With: , ,

“Camera-Shy” Guide to Video Marketing

January 17, 2011 By 5 Comments

The camera-shy guide to video marketingAs you already know, video marketing is a red-hot marketing platform for small business owners on a shoestring marketing budget. As prospects’ attention spans shorten, a succinct, interesting video will keep them engaged and absorbed in your marketing message.

But, what if you dislike being in front of the video camera? Does that mean that you can’t tap into the power of video marketing? Not at all!

Even if you detest the idea of being a “movie-star,” there are still ways to ensure that video marketing works for you and your small business.

One of the simplest ways to reap the rewards of video marketing is to record a screencast. Once completed, your screencast can be used in dozens of places to promote your small business: landing pages, websites, blogs, ezines, video sharing sites, etc.

Here are 7 steps for creating a 3-5 minute screencast that will grab hold of your prospect’s attention:

1. Establish a marketing purpose.

Before you sit down and put together your screencast, it’s essential that you understand what you are trying to accomplish. Are you interested in driving traffic to your landing page or blog? Do you want to entice the viewer to become part of your list? Or, are you trying to make a sale? You want to have one defining purpose when creating your screencast.

2. Decide on a clear call to action.

At the end of your screencast, it’s essential that you ask your viewers to take action. Depending on your marketing purpose, you should invite them to visit your blog, persuade them to become part of your list or direct them to a sales page to make a purchase.

3. Focus on solutions.

The most powerful presentations focus on a particularly challenging problem your prospects’ face and then offering specific solutions. For instance, the dog trainer might draw attention to the difficulty of barking dogs and highlight various solutions to that problem. At the end of the presentation, her prospects would be directed to take specific action (download a special report, visit a website for more information or purchase a program).

4. Create a PowerPoint presentation.

Locate PowerPoint slides and create 12-15 slides based on the problem and solutions that you are offering your viewers. The first slide should be a title slide including all your business information and the last slide should be your clear call to action.

5. Download free screen capture software.

Obviously, you’ll need software to record your PowerPoint presentation. The good news is that you can download free screen-capture software from Camstudio.  In addition, Camstudio has simple tutorials that will teach you how to use their software.

6. Record your presentation.

Once you understand how to use Camstudio, you need to record your presentation. You can talk into a microphone (either the internal microphone on your computer or a purchased microphone) while you progress through your PowerPoint slides. Once you’ve completed your recording, you should save your presentation as an MP4 file on your hard-drive.

7. Submit your video.

To get as much visibility as possible, submit your video to as many different places as possible. You can place it on your own website, blog, landing page and sales pages. In addition submit it to video sharing sites such as Youtube, Viddler and Google Video.

With the possibility of creating a screencast video, the “camera-shy” small business owner has no more excuses. A screencast can be put together in less than an hour and create massive visibility, generate new leads and ultimately create more business.

Filed Under: shoestring marketing tips, small business marketing, social media marketing, video marketing Tagged With: , ,

The Video Marketing Sales Process for the Small Business Owner

August 26, 2010 By 2 Comments

The Video Marketing Sales Process for the Small Business OwnerVideo marketing is hot, hot, hot in today’s small business world. However, it’s not enough to shoot a video, load it into Youtube and sit back as the sales roll in.

In order to launch a successful video marketing campaign, you need to follow a step-by-step process that encompasses solid marketing strategies.

If you follow the proven tips and strategies below, you’ll not only create brand awareness, but generate more quality leads and eventually make more sales.

The 5 Step Video Marketing Process:

Step One: Educate And Inform Your Prospects. Remember, you never want to aggressively “sell” yourself or your products/services.  If your video is one big “sales pitch,” your prospects click off your video faster than you can even imagine. Instead, offer valuable information in order to educate your prospects. When your prospective customers and clients watch your videos, they should learn something that they didn’t know before.

Step Two: Brand Yourself And Your Business. As you educate your target market, you naturally begin the branding process. Ultimately, you want to position your small business in an important place in the minds of your prospects.

Step Three: Drive Traffic To Your Website. Believe it or not, the goal when using videos as a marketing tool is NOT about making an immediate sale. The purpose of your videos is to drive prospects to your website in order to find out more about you and your company.

Step Four: Build Trust and Credibility. Once visitors come to your website, they should be able to supply you with their name and email address in exchange for additional information about your company. (ie. a free report, ebook, tips booklet, etc.) Once you have “captured” your visitors’ information, you can continue to market to them over and over again. Most prospects need to see your offer up to twelve times before they make the decision to purchase from you. Therefore, it’s imperative that you continue to build a relationship with your prospects.

Step Five: Increase Your Sales. Remember, individuals want to do business with people whom they know and trust. So, continue to offer them valuable information, access to important resources and free, helpful advice. If you adhere to this rule, your small business profits will skyrocket.

So, if you are going to use videos as part of your overall marketing strategy, make sure to take the time to implement a rock-solid marketing process.

Filed Under: small business marketing, social media marketing, video marketing Tagged With: , , ,

5 Video Options for Camera-Shy Business Owners

August 18, 2010 By 5 Comments

5 Video Options for Camera-Shy Business OwnersMany small business owners shy away from video marketing because they’re camera-shy and don’t want to be the “star” of the video. However, even if you don’t do well in the spotlight, you should still consider using videos as a marketing strategy for your small business.

Whether you want to be the main focus of your videos or not, here are four ways to produce your videos.

1)     Someone Else Is The Star. If you don’t want to be the main focus in your videos, you can always have a business partner, employee, assistant or someone else associated with your small business be the star. It’s important to keep in mind that they need to have a strong grasp of your business and be able to relate it effortlessly to your viewers.

2)     Record Your Screen. Screen capture software allows you to record what you’re doing on your computer screen along with voice narration. You can create instructional videos, demonstrations, or a powerpoint presentation. Usually screenware capture software is well over $200. However, there is a free alternative available at: www.jingsoftwareproject.com Jing has excellent editing capabilities and allows you to convert your videos to many different formats.

3)     Use a Free or Low-Cost Service To Produce Your Video. You can put together an interesting presentation highlighting your products or services using pictures, music and text. One such video service can be found at: www.Animoto.com. If your presentation is 30 seconds or less, the service is free.

4)     Make Your Own Picture Movie. In addition, if you are a “do-it-yourselfer,” you can download free movie editing software (Windows Movie Maker for PC’s or iMovie for Macs) to use on your own computer. You are then able to import your own pictures, your own music and even your own voice narration.

5)     You Are The Star. If you are not camera-shy, starring in your own videos is a great option. When you talk directly to your audience, it helps them understand that there is a real person behind your small business. It allows them to connect and relate to you. Of course, if you focus on educating your prospects and giving them tips and strategies related to your industry, they will also perceive you as an expert in your field.

So, even if you aren’t a natural-born movie star, you can still use the power of video marketing to bring extra exposure to your small business.

Filed Under: shoestring marketing tips, small business marketing, social media marketing, video marketing Tagged With: , ,

5 YouTube Time Management Tips

August 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

YouTube Time ManagementVideo marketing through YouTube can be an incredibly powerful way to attract new business and customers for the small business owner operating on a shoestring marketing budget.

One of the reasons that video marketing is so effective is that prospective customers can actually “see you” which immediately helps establish a sense of trust for the consumer.

However, many business owners find YouTube to be too time-consuming and overwhelming. To keep your marketing time to a minimum, here are five tips that will streamline the time that you spend marketing on YouTube:

1) Shoot Five Videos in One Sitting

One of the most time-consuming parts of video marketing is setting up your camera, the lighting and other essentials. Instead of shooting five videos on five separate occasions, shoot five videos all at the same time. Each video only needs to be between 3 and 5 minutes.

Overall, if you spend 15- 25 in one sitting, you will save loads of set-up and take-down time.

2) Use An Outline

Never sit down and start talking. You need to have some sort of a plan before you begin shooting your video. Although you definitely don’t need a full-script, you do want to have a basic outline to follow. This will save you time, energy and plenty of frustration in the end.

You can type up a few bullet points and hang it from your video camera. This allows you to follow a general outline and sound more professional.

3) Upload Five Videos At Once

Instead of uploading a video on Monday and another on Wednesday, make it a point to load five videos in one sitting. The process of loading videos all at one time will save you roughly thirty minutes every week.

4) Do Not Be a Perfectionist

One of the top mistakes in video marketing is that individuals become overally perfectionistic when it comes to their videos. Then of course, they start over – again and again. I once had a client who shot 150 takes before he was happy with the results. Obviously, shooting videos over and over again will destroy your time-management efforts. Remember that your goal is not to shoot professional quality videos. Your goal is to relay important and relevant information to your audience.

In fact, many people appreciate the small quirks and imperfections that accompany video marketing. So, if you say a few “ummms” while you’re shooting your video, don’t despair. Your video will still perform just fine.

5) Don’t Get Lost in the YouTube “Black Hole”

When you log into your YouTube account, remember that you are there as a small business owner. You don’t want to fall into the trap of getting sidetracked with that cute little dog video or the latest Britany Spears debacle. You should log into Youtube with a sense of purpose.

In conclusion, don’t allow the YouTube marketing process to consume hours upon hours of your valuable time and energy. Because, if managed effectively, YouTube is a goldmine for marketing your business and can literally bring hundreds of free visitors to your website every single month.

Filed Under: small business marketing, video marketing Tagged With: , , ,

7 Tips For Marketing Your Small Business On YouTube

May 24, 2010 By 5 Comments

YouTube is taking the industry by storm. It seems that anyone and everyone is beginning to make a statement on YouTube.

So the question is, as a small business owner, should you market your small business through YouTube? The answer is a qualified yes!

According to Computerworld, YouTube is the 12th most visited site on earth and receives over 20 million views every single day. In addition, YouTube is now the 2nd most utilized search-engine (right behind Google). These statistics are absolutely staggering.

Furthermore, many researchers believe that a top-rated video on YouTube will reach 40% more people than a commercial on a national TV station.

So, obviously if you aren’t marketing on YouTube you are clearly missing the boat. Plus, we’re talking about a free boat ride to boot!

The best part of all, is that if you are a small business owner on a shoestring marketing budget, Youtube is certainly your dream come true.

Marketing on YouTube is similar to marketing elsewhere. You want to stand apart from your competition. You want to make a statement and have people remember you. This can be accomplished if you follow a few simple steps:

1) Your video should not be a blatant advertisement. Most people that watch YouTube aren’t looking for a “sales pitch.” Instead they’re looking for relevant and helpful information.

2) Make it crystal clear what product your represent. As prospects view your video, you never want to make them guess what product your represent. Go ahead and insert a URL back to your website at the end of your video.

3) Use adequate lighting. Dark videos are a sure way to turn off prospects.  You should shoot your videos in a well-lit room, preferably with natural sunlight.

4) Check your audio. It’s important that people can hear what you are saying. If your video is too quiet, too loud, raspy, or filled with static your prospects will leave immediately.

5) Don’t expect perfection. Your videos won’t be perfect and you shouldn’t expect them to be. YouTube is certainly not about perfection. In fact, most people find that a few quirks and quibbles will give your video a less “staged” feeling.

6) Have some fun! You should smile and look like you are having a good time while you shoot your video. Add some energy to your voice and a bounce to your step.

7) Don’t over-worry about your appearance. It’s absolutely fine if you aren’t a Skinny Minnie or a Studley Stanley. In fact, oftentimes people relate better to people who are just Regular Joes.  So, remember to comb your hair and put on a clean shirt, but don’t worry if you haven’t lost those last ten or fifteen pounds. You will do just fine.

Remember that shooting videos for YouTube involves a learning curve. At first, it will take some time to learn. But, before long, you will discover a whole new segment of prospects that will be introduced to your small business marketing message.

Filed Under: shoestring marketing tips, small business marketing, social media marketing, video marketing Tagged With: , , ,