Everyone I talk to wants to create online videos to support their business. So I decided to put together some tips to help you get started. An expanded version of this post will be available, in video format, on Wednesday.

Here are the twelve tips to help you begin promoting your business through online video:
 

1. Buy yourself an inexpensive camcorder. I use the Flip Ultra HD. I paid $179.00 for it at WalMart. The picture quality is very good and it is super easy to use. Just plug it into the built-in USB on your computer and then watch, edit, or upload your videos. It really is that easy.
2. If you don't have a new product or a dozen video ideas banging around in your head, record your Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).  That way the most common questions you're asked by customer and prospects will have an entertaining way of being answered and your customers won't have to scroll through screen after screen of online text searching for answers.  
3. Another idea is to create a list of your 10 best tips for solving customer problems. Shoot a short video for each one, put them up on your site and be sure to share them through various video platforms such as YouTube and TubeMogul, and others.
4. Interviews make great videos. Interview industry experts, your senior executives, and your customers and then post them as outlined in the previous bullet. Note, you'll want to keep the interviews short so I suggest asking only one or two very specific questions to whomever you interview. Ideally videos should be under 5 minutes and many would argue they need to be under three.
5. Video your newest product being used or any of your product application scenes. Demonstrate why your solution is the best solution. You may even want to do comparisons between your product and your competitor's products.
6. Use several Social Media sites, not just YouTube, to promote your video. Tubemogul, which I covered in another blog post, is easy to use and an effective way to promote your video to a wide audience and measure the results.
7. Online videos don't have to have Hollywood level production value but you'll want to make a reasonable good impression. My suggestion is you hire someone to help you with editing if you're not comfortable with video editing software.
8. Record yourself reading your favorite blog posts and then promote the videos.
9. Have a good idea of what you're going to say before pressing the Record button on your camera. I like to use an outline but some people prefer a script, more of a teleprompter approach. The point is; be prepared.
10. Add some text when posting your video on your website so you can attract the search engines and be sure to write a description of your video when posting it on video sharing sites.
11. Include a clear call-to-action. Ask people to visit your site, call or email for more information, subscribe to your newsletter, or "click here" to buy your product (and "Get 10% off").
12. The most powerful videos are customer testimonials. If you can get a customer to tell the world how great you are then you will have one of the most powerful marketing tools available. If they don't have a camera, send them yours.

Bonus: (13) If all this sounds a little daunting and outside your sweet-spot, call me!

Steve
800-707-9150