5 Great Ways to Use Video To Promote

The Video Editor has made it a point with every client to give them the most effective video possible. We know that there are many elements involved that the average person doesn't think about. Key would be what does the end user want to know about.
Here are 5 Easy ways to use... video to promote your business.

This post is republished from my original article on the Amex Open Forum website. It is part of "Small Business Friday" on this blog, where I share ideas and marketing techniques specifically to help small businesses stand out. To read more articles like this, visit the "Small Business Friday" category on this blog.

You may have heard the saying that content is king – but if you had to get specific about the online environment, the saying might go video content is king. The reason is simple – most people will respond much better to moving pictures and a story through video than any other type of content online.

If you are like most small businesses, though, video is likely the last type of content that you are actively using online to promote your business. After all, it seems much harder to produce than it really is. In fact, video can be the easiest type of content to create if you follow a few basic rules.

The 3 Basic Rules Of Using Online Video

1. Get an easy to upload camera (like a Flip Cam). This will make the process of getting your video online much easier and make it more likely you will actually follow through and do it.
2. Shoot exactly what you want so you don’t need to edit anything. The biggest time investment in using video is having to edit afterwards, so as much as possible, film things in one take and only get what you will use.
3. Make sure to get close enough for good sound. Video quality is no longer the major issue with online video as long as you are using a real camera and not a mobile device. The issue with quality usually comes from sound – so try to get close enough so everything you want to hear will be audible, or invest a bit of money and buy an external microphone.

Once you have these rules down, you are all set to create videos to promote your business. The first part of having everything ready to go is the easy part. The harder part is answering the question about what your content should be. Let’s look at a few examples of how to make this process easier.

5 Super Easy Ideas To Promote Your Business With Online Video

1. Answer your customer’s biggest questions. In any business, you likely field the same questions from customers or potential customers over and over. Whether your business has a product or service to sell, if you can use video to effectively answer those most common questions, then you can not only use video to promote your business but also as a way to field those questions in a more engaging and shareable way.
2. Creating an “unboxing” situation. The art of “unboxing” is becoming popular online as a way to experiencing a product without buying it. In an unboxing video, someone simply places a camera on a tripod and films themselves unpacking a product so you can see the packaging, what comes in the box and virtually watch the experience you might have if you did purchase the product. These types of videos help demonstrate to potential customers what their experience might be if they did purchase your product and though it is better suited to tangible products instead of services, the concept could be extended to services as well.
3. Do an office tour. This is exactly as simple as it sounds. While it may seem like a trivial exercise, simply letting potential customers have a virtual look around your office can do wonders for helping them to see you as a real business with real people instead of a yellow page ad or a static website.
4. Interview your best customer. Not everyone will be able to get their customers to talk on camera, but if you have a customer that you have a particularly good relationship with, ask them if they would be willing to talk with you in a short video to share what they like about your business and why they might recommend you.
5. Demonstrate your product or service in action. Think of this as a simple demo video, where you can show how your product works or demonstrate the thinking behind your services in action. Ideally, you can just capture something that you already do every day on video.

Using video online can help you bring your small business to life and it does not need to be a daunting task requiring a professional crew and big investment. So what are you waiting for?
Source: Influential Marketing Blog

More Video Watching on Smart Phones

Mobile Video Usage Stats

The amount of video watched on mobile devices has exploded over the last 12 months and will continue to grow throughout 2011. Based on that prediction, we analyzed our traffic to determine which devices visitors were using to watch video on MeFeedia. Source Mefeedia.

The Video Editor is not only shooting corporate videos to be distributed via the web, DVDs but now more often for smartphones. Businesses are realizing a training video available for download can be watched by staff all over the world in a short period of time. The training cycle is cut sharply with the use of mobile video. Sales people can carry the latest sales video on their ipad or iphone and played for clients anytime.

What’s Your Intention With Branded Video?

When it comes to developing a branded video, to anchor and support your company’s marketing and branding campaigns, the question of what is the intention of the video will inevitably pop up. The easiest way to answer that question is by first being clear on the intention of your marketing and branding campaigns. For a basic understanding and a frame of reference for your video’s intention here are 5 essential intentions for all campaigns.

1. Attract profitable customers

2. Secure profitable customers

3. Maintain your customers

4. Up-sell existing customers

5. Generate referrals

Whatever your primary intention is - one thing is clear - video is a tremendously valuable communication vehicle. Video can play a pivotal role in getting your brand and solution to become Emotionally Relevant to your customers. In short, video can shorten your sales cycle and significantly improve relations between your company and your target audience.

The Video Editor President Steve Kosch presents a talk called Web 3.0 Marketing How to use video to increase revenue and influence on the web. Invite Mr. Kosch to speak to your group.
This link will take you to more information including a .pdf overview of the talk.

http://www.thevideoeditor.com/web-3-0-marketing.html

Editing High Definition Video

Powerknot and Layer 42 in Milpitas California contracted with The Video Editor to edit video shot on-location by the client. The Video Editor edited the HighDefinition footage and sent previews via email to the client until they were happy. Completed the project in 1 week with posting to Youtube and company website. Collaboration worked extremely well. The client was extremely happy. See a sample at this link http://www.powerknot.com/case-study-layer-42.php

Jennifer Aniston Biography

The Video Editor had the opportunity to videotape an interview for A & E Network television for Markmark Productions in New York for an upcoming Biography on Jennifer Aniston.

We shot in Hi-Definition with Q & A direct from New York City via Newport Beach. Isn't technology great. We shot location photos got approval and conducted Q & A via cell phone speakerphone. Look for this episode in December or early 2011.

Repurposing older videos

Recently The Video Editor had the opportunity to work with a Power Generating Company with multiple plants throughout California. AES Southland needed their safety video updated with newer images/video and to make the narration also available in Spanish. The Video Editor went on-location to several plants and picked up shots of newer equipment and videotaped the company president giving a welcoming message. These new shots replaced older outdated video. Creative video editing and new graphics also gave this tired video new life. We re-voiced the video with English and Spanish narration.

So with very little money and time The Video Editor was able to gave that safety video a much needed face-lift. Sometimes video production is really just a simple update. What about your older media assets that you paid dearly for a few years ago, could they use a few cosmetic updates?

Simple Low cost changes can give years of new life to those safety, training and marketing videos.

Why video on the web must be SHORT.

As a people we have been programmed to watch television and the cost of admission to the entertainment or news program was commercials. Advertisers know that they only have seconds to grab your attention and inform, educate, entertain and give a call to action message. We have come to tolerated 30 seconds and expect all our interruptions to be that short or less. You are the new advertiser: we are expecting (inviting) our viewers to watch our video among other things so we need to be respectful of their time or they are going elsewhere in a heartbeat.

During my time with major U.S. networks we learned that the viewer is the boss - and the boss wants to know what's in it for them, they want us to get to the point and to be quick about it.

See my homepage video as an example.

http://www.thevideoeditor.com/

I can't tell you the number of people that have echoed my exact sentiments about marketing and being respectful of viewers time and attention.

Keep your videos short and sweet and leave the viewer wanting more.

Get To Know The Video Editor

Don't know much about us? Get to know The Video Editor and what services we provide. The Video Editor is an award-winning video production, video editing, videotape transfer, and CD & DVD duplication company. We can help you tell your story through video. Our experienced staff uses the latest in digital broadcasting quality video and promise timely and high-quality. Whether we are taping a five minute sales or marketing video, or a one hour complete training tape, our crew has done it all and we will deliver the best results.

Here are just a few examples of the corporate video communication solutions we offer:
Corporate Video. Every company needs a corporate overview DVD. It communicates effectively who you are, your purpose in business and your competitive advantage. Give a company tour; tell your history, show the audience why you are a forward thinking company.

Training Videos. Your company can reduce effort and expense of employee orientation and training by using video to do the job. Not only does video perform the task perfectly, everytime, it's available 24/7 on your secure website.

Live Events. Attract attention and traffic to your trade show booth with a company or product promotional video playing on a big screen monitor. Corporate Meetings or seminars, we video tape the event for multiple uses later.

Advertising. We produce commercials that cut through the clutter. We work with you to create professional advertising pieces from 15 seconds to full 30 minutes infomercials. We also produce short welcoming messages or product overviews that are available for viewing on your website.

Sales Presentations. We can create video that can be integrated into PowerPoint presentations, CD's or DVD's and even placed on your website that can raise the bar and electrify the crowd.

Non Profits. We have worked with a variety of charities to produce low budget emotional appeal videos that are designed to enlist volunteers, solicit donations and challenge the viewer to get involved.

Public Relations Video. If you need to promote a campaign, convey a concept, build a brand, or media train a client we have your solution. We have produced Video News Releases and have experience training management how to speak to media.

We produce videos that support your need and we look forward to helping you with your next video project.

The Typical Production Process

Today is it possible to shoot a high quality video at nearly half the price you would pay just 10 years ago. This allows clients to get more bang for their buck! While each video production is significantly different, the following guidelines are the basic production steps in creating a successful project with The Video Editor. Call us concerning your particular project; we will set up a meeting and carefully construct a solution that fits your exact needs and expectations. Until then, take a look at the typical production steps of the video creating process.

1. Client consultation, we discuss intended audience and how to best convey the message points. You or we will begin writing the script.

2. Pre-production planning. This is one of the most important steps in the production process. The shooting schedule is planned; we discuss how the shoot day will happen and when. This pre-planning is where potential pitfalls are averted. Proper planning is were we save customers times and money.

3. Production day-we efficiently shoot all the elements of the production.

4. Post production begins. First we edit a rough cut of the production to show the client how the video is coming together. After approval is given we proceed to the final edit where we polish the project up with the addition of music, titles and other special effects if necessary.

5. We deliver you the final product in the format of your choice. DVD, CD, Web, videotapes or other formats, you name it! Typical completion cycle takes from 14-30 days.


Contact The Video Editor today to get started on your next video project.

Off the Charts!

Youtube has recently announced their addition of the Youtube Chart feature to rank and organize top videos. This feature was designed to keep viewers updated on the trending videos of the day as well as surface "interesting and timely content" from the site. The video are listed several different ways; you can choose from the top 100 viewed videos, most liked videos, or most subscribed videos of that day. This list of around 900 videos will keep you up to date on which videos you should be watching and how they stack up with the competition. Youtube is also looking for suggestions from viewers on what other categories they would like to see on their charts. The most subscribed comedy channel this week or the most liked music video today? You decide. Take a look at The Video Editor's Youtube Channel and subscribe and help us climb those rankings!



Resources:
19 August 2010. O'Dell, Jolie. http://mashable.com/2010/08/19/youtube-charts/