5vGCqKLcuuB9UoVsGgeT4HZjYaw1Yu: 2012

Friday, November 30, 2012

Exposed! 5 Myths of YouTube Success

Four billion videos are viewed on YouTube each and every day; 27 million videos are watched every 10 minutes and 2.7 million are viewed every minute!

So how come you haven't launched a YouTube channel for your business yet? Maybe you're holding yourself back because you believe one of these 5 myths.

Exposing these 5 myths should ease every entrepreneurs' worry and anxiety about diving into video marketing.

YouTube, Your Business and 5 Myths of Viral Video

Recently, YouTube's group product manager Baljeet Singh wrote an article entitled "YouTube, Your Business and 5 Myths of Viral Video".

Myth #1: Your Video Has to Go Viral or It's Worthless

Even if millions of people were watching your videos, it doesn't guarantee success. Millions are unnecessary. Having the right people watching is crucial!

Singh cites a toy company, Rokenbok, as a prime example.

At a time when specialty toy stores were closing down, Rokenbok started a YouTube channel showing entertaining and informative videos. These videos have led to the store flourishing when they otherwise would be out of business.

Because their toys are pricey, they don't expect people to buy anything the first time they learn about Rokenbok. The company recognizes that they need to build a relationship with the family first.

Sounds like a lot of entrepreneurs doesn't it?

Rokenbok now says, "YouTube is becoming our most important vehicle for advertising."

Lesson Learned: Don't worry about going viral! You can have great video marketing success without it.

Myth #2: Only Funny Videos are Popular

Can you think of anything more boring than ceiling tiles?

Ceilume, a 40-person company which produces decorative ceiling tiles has gathered more than a million video views on their YouTube channel and sales have increased by 15% as a result.

What's so fascinating about their videos? They instruct their audience in how to install, repair, and clean ceiling tiles, and they demonstrate the quality and price of their product.

This topic may not be engaging to you or me, but to their target audience it's helpful, instructional and obviously has made an impact.

Lesson Learned: Stop trying to be funny! Create videos that interest your target audience by providing them information they can use and benefit from.

Myth #3: Only Young People are on YouTube

Believe it or not, there are a lot of older people on YouTube!

Singh says that "55% of all women 18-54 use YouTube." And YouTube reaches 20 million females aged 35-54. (Oprah's website reaches 19 million!)

Be sure to optimize your videos with keywords that apply to your audience, and no matter what their age, you'll find them on YouTube.

Lesson Learned: Even if your target market is over the age of 18, you'll find them on YouTube. So you need to be there too, ready to provide them what they're looking for.

Myth #4: People Only Watch Entertaining Videos on YouTube

Uh, re-read Myth #2 above. A million views for a ceiling tile channel!

In fact, "how to" videos are searched three times more than "Music Videos. How-to videos rock!

A quick search of how to videos on YouTube reveals videos on how to:

Grill like a pro Apply makeup Plant a garden Sew Change the oil in your car Replace your pool filter Scoop dog poop

Yes - how to scoop doggy poop! One such video has over 2,500 views!

Lesson Learned: Even if you or your business is as dull as dishwater, a how-to video targeted to your market can boost your business and your sales.

Myth #5: Videos Must be Professionally Done to be Effective

Some of the "lower production value" videos that are shot while just playing around actually perform as well as the scripted "higher production value" videos.

In fact, when Usher first signed Justin Bieber (who initially gained his visibility via YouTube), the recording label made the intentional and strategic decision to continue building Justin up on YouTube with home-produced videos prior to launching his first album. They recognized the incredible power and authenticity of "unprofessionally produced" video distributed via YouTube.

Rokenbok Toys (from Myth #1 above), likewise found that some of their "lower production value" videos shot while just "playing around" perform as well as their scripted "higher production value" videos.

Lesson Learned: You don't need to look slick if you have good content targeted toward your market.

So there you have it. The 5 myths exposed!

Video is quickly becoming a "must do" for small business success. And it's quite clear. If you aren't taking advantage of video marketing for your business, you're leaving money on the table.

Business Blogging and Lead Generation How To Do Videos - For Local Business Owners 8 Ways To Socialize Your Video Marketing Strategy What Is Video Marketing? A Valuable Strategy

YouTube Blows Out 7 Candles

For the past few days, YouTube has been celebrating 7 years of bombarding the world with amazing - and not so amazing - videos. The video-sharing website created in 2005 by three former employees of PayPal has been growing ever since it was produced. Bet the people at PayPal are not happy to realize this precious website didn't stay in their premises.

YouTube changed the way we communicate and more importantly it allowed people to showcase their talent in an easy, user-friendly, and extremely interactive way, which offers unique possibilities to people all over the world. Needless to say, among these talented people, some stand out for the wrong reasons, but that's what makes YouTube so funny and still whimsical after almost a decade.

Along the way, the Google-owned website has reached important milestones which are the clear manifestation of its power and magnitude. To celebrate the seven year milestone, the video-sharing site announced that users now upload about 72 hours of video each minute, which means the amount of content fed into the service per minute has almost doubled in only one year. Moreover, YouTube said something like 4 billion videos are viewed every day on their site, which makes roughly over 3 billion hours of video watched each month by 800 million unique users. Pretty mind-blowing numbers right?

Some may say Facebook attracts more attention and traffic, however, YouTube's patterns clearly show the website is growing. Besides, 500 years of YouTube video are watched every day on Facebook, so they both boost each other, making the YouTube/Facebook combination one of the best couples that ever lived.

"Like many 7-year-olds around the world, we're growing up so fast," announced YouTube on its birthday, and indeed it is. The people at YouTube wants us to know that the three days worth of content people upload each minute is, according to them, equivalent to "61 Royal Wedding Ceremonies, 841 Bad Romances and 1,194 Nyan Cats". That's too many Pop Tart Cats.

To illustrate these jaw-dropping numbers, Google's YouTube also released a video broadcasting its history and most known episodes, such as the "Charlie bit my finger" kid and the infamous KONI. This timeline documents iconic moments and some of the funniest YouTube videos that will really go down in history. Try to see it without shedding a tear or two or even letting out a smile.

Founded by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen e Jawed Karim after an alleged dinner party and with its first headquarters above a pizzeria and Japanese restaurant, it's hard to believe YouTube has come such a long way. The social impact is unprecedented and YouTube videos have led to a lot of discussions in the mainstream media. Plus, the site gave a new meaning to the word "viral".

For everything you have accomplished, Happy Birthday YouTube team and thank you for all the talented people you shed light on but please try to keep the bad singers in the darkness.

Business Blogging and Lead Generation How To Do Videos - For Local Business Owners 8 Ways To Socialize Your Video Marketing Strategy What Is Video Marketing? A Valuable Strategy The Six Steps to Start Making Online Video

Website Video Production - A Modern Way to Gain Business

Websites are no more a lump of texts; they are today filled up with photographs, animation, graphics, beautiful tunes and technologically advanced short videos. Earlier having a website used to be enough for a business to advertise and promote its products, but with the proliferation of all kinds of websites it became logical to take it a step further, that is, to make it more advanced and sophisticated.

Website videos are working as a necessary addition to a website these days. They have become a major attraction to a visitor to a website. The advantages associated with a website video production are:

Being a short video production they are quick to attract everyone's attention: Today a visitor to a website is not willing to go through all the texts existing there; instead he wants to gain all the information quickly and conveniently. This all inconvenience has actively been taken care of by web videos, adding them to websites makes the message and information flow in a faster and smoother way.

Can showcase a product from all angles: Texts clearly lack the ability to effectively portray a two or three-dimensional view of a product, whereas a web video production can make the sight of a product visually appealing.

Producing them is economical and time-saving: To have a website video production doesn't costs much. The reason is simple: these videos are animated, made with cartoon characters and not with real actors. They are produced from a single location with the help of software, which makes their cost of production remains low. This low production cost is passed onto customers who end up paying a much lesser sum. These videos can also be made within a short period of time.

They make the transfer of complex data easier: Texts on a website can also transfer complex data but not without taking too much space and putting a strain on viewers mind. A short video production, on the other hand, can not only make viewers understand a complex piece of information but can also do it quickly.

Gives a movie-like effect to viewers: Yes, a web video production with all its fun and informative elements gives a wholesome, movie-like effect to its viewers. Elements include moving texts, graphics, photographs, characters and several others. They sum up to play like a movie.

Today websites are identified more with their videos than with their texts: Hence it's important not to miss the opportunity of having one for your website.

Using Video in Internet Marketing

There's no question about it; video marketing works. The use of video in online marketing is on the rise, and for good reason, that is where the people are. A recent study showed that videos were 50 times more likely to receive an organic first page ranking than standard text submissions. Online video is the fastest growing medium in history. 52% of people took action as a result of watching video online. 77% of Americans who use the internet watched an online video last month.

1. Make Your Video Public. This obviously basic step allows your video to be searchable and is a step often missed.

2. Choose the appropriate category and tags for your video and use the description box to actually describe the video. Stuffing this area full of keywords may seem like a good idea, but trying to trick Google is risky.

3. Create at least one call to action including a link to your website. Activate your viewers by giving them the next step to learn more about your offer or the topic.

4. Publish transcripts on the same page as the video because it provides search engines with information and it provides users useful information. Search engines don't index video content very well.

5. Use tools other than YouTube. There are things you can do on other services that you can't do on YouTube.

6. Include unique URLs in the Video Description. The URL could be for a landing page, or even your homepage. The objective is to minimize obstacles which might prevent leads from being driven back to your website. In B2B marketing, generating leads is typically an important content objective. Links back to your site facilitate this lead generation process while simultaneously improving various page-ranking metrics with search engines.

7. In video, less is more. Your video needs to end, and it should probably end sooner than you think. Break your video content up into shorter sections, 2.5 minutes or less, if needed. Keep in mind, people have short attention spans and it is unlikely they'll sit through 10 minutes of video.

8. Use a sitemap to facilitate search. An XML Sitemap is a structured format that a user doesn't need to see, but it tells the search engine about the pages in your site, their relative importance to each other, and how often they are updated. HTML sitemaps are designed for the user to help them find content on the page, and don't need to include each and every subpage. This helps visitors and search engine bots find pages on the site. Besides video sitemaps, there are video microformats. Facebook and Yahoo (SearchMonkey). It makes content more easily discoverable. Microformats and structured data are becoming more common for supplying/formatting content to search engines.

9. Creating interesting and engaging video content isn't about featuring the smartest person in the company, it is about tone and manner. When selecting the talent to appear on-screen, consider who would be the best at presenting content and explaining things clearly and in a compelling way.

10. Remember branding. Besides blogs, YouTube and your own website, video can be embedded and shared almost anywhere. As you plan and produce your video, be sure to incorporate your brand identity and key messaging into the video content. Create a clear and consistent brand message that shines through regardless of the video platform you use. You can also watermark the video with your brand and website address, or you can go a step further and include intro and exit segments that ensure branding is clearly delivered alongside your website URL and other key messaging.

Business Blogging and Lead Generation How To Do Videos - For Local Business Owners 8 Ways To Socialize Your Video Marketing Strategy What Is Video Marketing? A Valuable Strategy

Guidelines for Web Video Victory

What constitutes a superior video? What are the elements that format a successful video? These are the questions that need to be answered to enhance a company and promote the product. Because video production has taken over the media world, it is essential to the distributor that the video contains these few key elements for a successful recall rate. Implementing these factors will draw in the crowd and will leave them wanting, even needing more of the company.

First and foremost, the company's site needs to add web video to all properties. Whether it a quick snip it or an informational piece, having a video will generate the "hook" that will engage the audience and keep them interested. The viewer wants to know it all upon entering the site and previewing them with a video will tell them what they want to know in a short period of time. With an increase of video usage to 81% (web video marketing.com), it is only logical to add videos to all properties of the site. The viewers want to see what is going on and visualize themselves with the company. By doing so, they can do just that.

Secondly, execute a video on the homepage. Videos offer entertainment and adding sights and sound to the website will increase the return and conversation rates. For example, Dallas video production companies welcomes the viewer with a pleasing, imaginative segment that previews examples of their work. The aesthetic appeal correlates with their passion about web video production and creates a personal connection that instills a lasting impression. The site "kills" the skepticism that often times comes with first entering a site.

Thirdly, make the company information available and known to the viewer. After viewing the video on homepage, the audience has an immediate "in" with what the company is selling. According to BIA/Kelsey, 1 in 5 people who watch the primary video will execute a call to the company. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that the company's contact information and/or purchasing information is within site. With 72% of buyers more willing to purchase after viewing the video (web video marketing.com) and having the purchasing information present, it is easier for the consumer to take action. The consumer will respond more quickly to the call to action.

Using these simple tips for success has proven to be practical. With an 81% increase of marketers in the past year (web video marketing.com), how can a company not use these tactics? They are quick, easy, and most importantly keep the attention of the viewer on the page. No one wants to read pages upon pages of information, but would rather watch a two minute web video that gets right to the point. The audience is all about getting the information now, and video production gives it to them. So, why not create something short and sweet that is entertaining? Kill that immediate skepticism and stimulate the viewers' minds with a web video, but be sure to include the guidelines for success.

Web Video Production on the Rise

It has been published by Online Casale Media, a media business, that the growth of video ads purchased by marketers and online promoters will increase by as much as 25 percent within the next year. This ratio equals to about 23.9 percent of complete ad costs on the whole World Wide Web.

In the study, "Digital Video Ads: Removing Barriers," it questioned over 150 media professionals, planners and buyers at conventions from all over the United States. This specific study was aimed at gaining information about the ideals and principles that form the decision over a certain media choice.

In the day and age where information and media is at your fingertips, it is easy to be able to get your information in many different forms. It has been found that most people are more willing to watch a video clip than they are to read a short paragraph. When you use video, you are able to employ more elements into your advertisement than just the visual aspect. In a web video you are able to use visual, audio and entertainment value as a ways to reach your audience.

Most of the participants of the study believed that it was a more attractive and innovative way to showcase their merchandise to potential buyers or investors.

eMarketer performed their own analysis and found that 85% of the business's that purchase ads would do so if it meant that the deal would be not very complex and cost-effective. Over one-third of the cases believed that the complexity issue was not worth the investment deal.

Web videos can help your company expand their ranking on Google and other search engine results. When you upload a video, you have all the keywords that an article would have but since the way a product is presented for a customer, the content is put at an increased value. Your visitors can then rate the video, comment or share. When the video is shared it can be shared for free by anyone and you will see the benefit of free advertisement or even if it goes viral. When these videos are then regularly posted and linked back to a homepage for a business all this content is put in an algorithm by Google and then ratings are then boosted.

Financial Return

The reason some companies are wary when they go into this territory, is because there is a hard time when it comes to handling the Return on Investment (ROI-40 percent) and it can be hard to pinpoint just how effective they are. This could only be because it is under explored territory. Joe Casale, the CEO of Casale Media believes some media outlets in the web view web video production as the 'Untamable Wild.' This would be in reference to the fact that it is a frontier that will keep moving and changing no matter who believes they can get a foothold over it.

He went on to further add that this study helped gain material for other companies to make educated choices when it came to dealing with their online presence.

Ten Video Production Tips for Demo Videos

More and more web videos have become a cornerstone in recent years to any fully developed web marketing program. However, given this growth, it is no longer enough that companies be able to produce and distribute web videos. Where high quality, well developed video content may be able to do immeasurable good for a company's marketing campaign, conversely, poorly made videos have the potential to do irreparable harm. This can be even truer when talking about demo videos whose quality, if poor, may then reflect equally as unsatisfactorily upon the product of service being demonstrated. Therefore, in order to help companies avoid any unnecessary setbacks as a result of subpar demo videos, here is a list of ten brief tips outlined that organizations may effectively guide their video efforts.

1. Keep things simple and straightforward. Trying to mimic some TV infomercial will only come off as gimmicky and over produced. Instead, stick to real life situations, settings, and people, to let the audience see how this product or service works in an everyday situation.

2. Take a step by step approach. If there are various stages of setup, use, and break down required, illustrate each stage in an orderly fashion one after the other so as to avoid confusion.

3. Keep things as simple as possible. Overloading the audience with too much complex information will only muddle the message and damage the goal of the video.

4. The whole point of demo videos is to allow viewers to see the product. So show it to them rather than telling them about it. While using a narrator or spokesperson to demonstrate the product's function and highlight certain features is acceptable, these individuals should not be relied upon to carry the video. Keep the focus on the product itself.

5. While brief, concise message can be displayed throughout the video to highlight or stress certain points, audiences don't want to spend an entire video reading text. One of the biggest advantages of video is its ability to share information more quickly and effectively than text, therefore overloading a video with text that the viewer must then read defeats the point.

6. Perhaps one of the most effective tools that companies can use in their videos is people. More specifically, those individuals who really understand the product. Having someone in the video to physically demonstrate a product, even if it is just someone's hands, can help to create a human connection between the video and the viewer to help hold their attention.

7. Timing is everything in web video production. As important as it is not to drag the message out and bore the audience, it is just as important that the message not be rushed, wherein the viewer may not be able to keep track of information and may become irritated or annoyed and equally loose interest. Finding and maintaining an efficient pace is key.

8. Having the proper tools to get the job done, and create a quality finished product is also important, so that viewers may see a professionalism in the video and come to trust the company to be equally so.

9. Creating a video is only part of the battle. Next comes placement. For this, companies will want to employ SEO strategies in the placement and tagging of their videos to ensure that search engines will better be able to locate these videos and allow a greater audience to see them.

10. Finally, it is important for companies developing demo videos to remember that these are not meant to be promotional or branding tools, but rather are intended to more easily convert interested parties from leads into customers.

Viral Video Marketing

Now that your video has been created, how is it going to draw 1000s of viewers? First, you need to know the best place to start viral marketing. YouTube is ideal as it generates great website traffic. Here's the hint: there are around 80 million videos that are watched everyday on YouTube, and a lot of those views are from people who click the "Videos" tab. Your goal should be getting your video on that Videos page which includes a list of the Daily Most Viewed videos.

If you succeed, your video won't merely be one of those 10,000 new videos each day. It will go viral and be part of the twenty videos listed on the Most Viewed page. The higher your rank is on the page, the more views your video will receive. Now the next question is: How are you going to get the first 50,000 views required to get your videos on the Most Viewed page?

1. Blogs. Try to contact individuals who manage relevant blogs and even pay them to post or embed your video. This is referred to as pay per post. It may sound like cheating but it's effective and there are no rules against it. It is simply marketing.

2. Forums. Start new threads then embed your video. At times, this may require you to initiate conversations by creating multiple accounts on each form and posting messages back and forth between a small number of different users. It sounds wearying and time-consuming, but if you can get enough people to work on it, it can be very helpful.

3. MySpace. You can embed YouTube videos in the comments area of the members' MySpace pages. Take advantage of all the exposure you can get through this viral marketing strategy.

4. Facebook. This social media site makes it so easy to share YouTube videos. By sharing your video to everyone in your friends list, you will discover great results. You can also create an event that publicizes the launching of your video. Invite friends, tag them, write notes, and post the video on Facebook Video and other video websites.

5. List of Emails. Create an email list and sent your video to everyone on the list. This can be a very effective strategy depending on the size of that list and number of people who are willing to opt in to accept links to your YouTube videos.

6. Friends. Convince everyone you know to watch your video and encourage them to share it with their friends, or at least on their social media website.

Every video has a shelf life of around 48 hours before it's repositioned from the list of Daily Most Viewed videos to the list of Weekly Most Viewed videos; therefore it is important that this happens fast. If you want real viral marketing, YouTube makes it possible. With these strategies, you are guaranteed no less.

Video Marketing? Advanced Strategies To Get Your Videos Viewed

In this article I want to cover some advanced strategies for your video marketing to ensure all the hard work, blood, sweat and tears you've put into creating your videos results in worthwhile views and therefore the return on investment is high in both traffic and awareness terms.

Don't Expect Miracles

Video marketing isn't as easy as just putting a few videos on YouTube and waiting for the traffic to pour in. In this article, were going to look at some more advanced strategies for getting your videos seen and shared.

Be Social

Video sites are also social networking sites. They've got all kinds of tools for rating, sharing, liking and bookmarking videos. What you're going to do is get to know everybody in your niche. There's going to be some mutual back scratching.

Find videos in your niche and participate in all the social functions the site has to offer. Make friends; leave comments, like, share, etc. Spend a little bit of time each day getting to know people.

Don't self-promote or try to push your videos on others. Instead, just hang out and see what there is out there. If you're natural with it, people will appreciate that and be happy to link to you.

Get Those Backlinks

Another sure-fire traffic strategy is to point all of your other sites to your videos. If you're using Facebook, Twitter and any other Web 2.0 sites, tell everybody there whenever you post a new video. You can post your videos directly on some sites like Squidoo for example.

Go Viral

Now, the Holy Grail of video marketing is going viral. What this means is that a video is so cool, funny, weird, out-there, entertaining or mind-blowing that everybody who sees it tells all of their friends about it. These are the videos that climb into the millions of views. Every video marketer prays each night for a viral video!

What makes a viral video?

If you've spent any time on YouTube, you've probably seen a few: Weird-looking people singing or lip syncing badly; guys rolling over golf carts; babies or pets doing really bizarre things. These are all things that are unique in some way and we can't take our eyes off of them.

It takes some real creativity to make a viral video and probably some chance as well. The first rule of all viral videos is that it has to be real. It can't be something staged or performed with actors. Second, it has to be something that people find so amusing or interesting that they're going to email it to friends.

Completely stumped yet?

Most people are, but that doesn't stop them from trying. If you want to see what's viral to get ideas, get on YouTube or any other video site and see what the most watched videos are. I mean the ones with 5 million views. Get a pen and paper and start jotting down ideas!

Life Beyond YouTube

Finally, YouTube is the most popular video site, but your video marketing campaign has to go beyond it. Plaster those videos on every site you can. Here are some other high-ranking video sites you can check out, just find them with any search engine

Google Videos Daily Motion Blip TV Metacafe eHow Viddler Vimeo

OK guys that just about wraps up my short guide to video marketing. But please remember this, although video marketing for some of you just starting out might be very daunting as you progress and get stuck into your internet marketing and your online business generally you'll start to find those tasks that you never believe d you'd get the hang of, starting to be common everyday tasks that you complete without even batting an eye. So do persevere and it will come good.

Business Blogging and Lead Generation How To Do Videos - For Local Business Owners 8 Ways To Socialize Your Video Marketing Strategy What Is Video Marketing? A Valuable Strategy

Web Videos: Messages Through Entertainment

Web videos are powerful tools for promotion of a business. The content is being put out there for viewers to take in. Videos that have humor are able to keep the attention of the viewer creating a satisfaction and need for more. An entertaining video enables the brain to remember the content because it stimulated the mind. This is the kind of material that needs to be executed. Humor acts as an essential part of video production.

Humor does more than make our stomach hurt and bring tears to our eyes. It humanizes and personalizes the web video. Providing that personal connection to really draw in the audience is done so through humor. With a response rate increase from 4 to 7 (webvideo marketing.com), humor is a tactic that brings life and remembrance to the video. It hooks the audience into the company and keeps them connected to what the message is. Whether it is slapstick humor or comedic relief, it will get the job done. A 4 to 7 increase in response rate is what companies want and seek to gain.

People today want to view content rather than read it. Information is often skipped over or forgotten when reading text, but with a web video the information is given at hand and gets right to the point. The content/message is communicated better through sight, sound, and motion. Videos execute all of these characteristics with aesthetic appeal and with a little humor thrown into the mix. Humor adds authenticity to the video and the company as well. A brand or product is better remembered through light use of humor that enhances the content of the company and makes the message visible to the audience. That initial attention getter is what companies seek after in their online videos to keep the viewer coming back.

Web videos that provide insight into the company and give that immediate buy in hold the power of social sharing. When a video strikes a viewer and resonates with their thoughts, the social sharing factor will most likely be implemented. Producing a video that generates the power of social sharing will ultimately create a limitless audience. Implementing the links to other social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Linkedin, and many others is crucial for the social sharing factor. Also, having a comment section attached to the video will create conversation between viewers allowing them to express their ideals and thoughts about the topic and/or company.The message of the web video will be shared with those who are looking for such a company and who are not looking for such a company. Either way the content will be out there.

This is what a company ultimately desires. Driving sales, taking action, and instilling a call to action is the goal and it is done through online videos. Web videos hit the highlights of the content and give what the consumer wants in a short time frame. Add a little humor to the web video along with the tips of the trade and you have yourself a successful, knee slapper.

Blogging Content: Multimedia, Visuals, and How-To's

The content that you produce on your blog or your company's blog is essential. Do not put any content on your blog that seems interesting. It is crucial to strategize and plan for what kind of information you are sending to your audience and potential new followers. Irrelevant, random information will be overlooked and not shared among others. The content that you put out there needs to be relevant and needs to send a message to your audience. The information needs to be worth their time and effort to read over and/or watch. Follow these tips to ensure that your information will be noticed.

In regards to multimedia and visual aspects, Screencast with Screenr of your product and share it. Demonstrate a step by step guide on how to perform a task using Screencast, a how-to video, or show various steps in a series of photos. Try to incorporate as many different ways as possible to show the content. Taking alternate routes will instill interest in the audience and grab the attention of other potential clients. Portray your message another way. Create a music video and add it to your blog content. This new and exciting bit of content will keep the viewers attention and will cause them to want more. Share a cartoon on your blog of your choice or create an original cartoon to demonstrate your business' personality.

Writing a how-to video needs to incorporate certain details and instructions to be effective and successful. The first step is to write a "how-to" article. Within the article, be sure to give specific instructions with various screenshots or photos on the steps that need to be taken. Integrating photos into the steps with vastly help the viewers with the instructions. Step by step photos shows them what they should be doing and how they should be doing it. For those visual people, this is aid them tremendously. Add your view on your common mistakes in your industry and offer a solution to the problem or problems. To better understand, ask some help from the video production expert.

Specify ways on how to avoid or fix the problem so that the viewers know that your business is aware of how to combat an issue that arises. Because they are following specific instructions provided by your company, offer an incentive for them. Their time and effort is just as precious as yours so be sure to incorporate something to drive them to follow through with it. Along with the "how-to" video add a list of some things to avoid with the instructions. The viewers will appreciate the heads up before they embark on this task. It would be extremely helpful to relate the content to a current event or a factor that everyone will be able to recognize. Doing so will drive them even more to want to complete the task at hand. Incorporate all of these elements of multimedia, visuals, and how-to videos and you can ensure a successful blog. After these have been taken into consideration, target as many groups as possible.

Web Videos Versus Television

The internet has a way of drawing the viewers in and grasping our attention. Its quickness and availability keeps the attention of the audience keeping them involved and engaged on the internet. A way the internet holds the attention of the viewers is through the use of web videos. Web videos have the ability to visually stimulate our eyes and mind feeding the viewers more and more to keep them engaged. It helps the viewer skip over all of the extra fluff that is implemented into the text and hits them with the highlights, the good stuff. Television does just the opposite of video production. Television clutters the segment with advertisements every four or so minutes leaving the consumer annoyed and frustrated. Television does not simply get down to the point, but leaves the viewer hanging till the very last second. Living in such a fast paced environment does not require the extra fluff that television serves hence why web videos are of the utmost importance.

Web videos have a leg up on television in every possible way. Internet videos are short, sweet, and to the point. Video production makes sure to give all the information up front without the clutter that comes with television. The highlights are there for the taking within seconds of watching the video and can be viewed over and over again. There is not any waiting till the very end to get what is really wanted. Advertisements in web videos, if there are any, are reduced and very short. They do not litter the video and do not taint the viewer's perception.

The recall rates for web videos tower over television. There is simply no comparison between video production and television. Videos have a 65% recall rate compared to televisions 46% recall rate which proves how much more successful videos are then television. Not only the astounding 65% recall rate, but videos have a 50% brand recall (28% for television), 39% message recall (21% for television), and 26% likeability (14% for television) (Nielsen). These percentages demolish what television has to offer. Video production and online videos soar over television statistics crushing any competition. Video production companies create such products that draw in and keep the attention of the viewer within a short time frame.

In regards to cost, video production is much more cost conscious and is more of a bang for your buck. Television is much more costly and has less of an influence than web videos. Web videos have the ability to be distributed over multiple different sites including Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, among many others. Having this ability creates a wider audience ultimately communicating the company's business and product in an impressive manner. The audience also has the ability to comment on the videos and share their thoughts which increases customer service and helps enlarge business credentials. Video production companies produce videos that are continuously accessible. This constant accessibility keeps the audience coming back for more. The video can be viewed as many times as possible with a guaranteed lack of advertisements and buffering.

Business Blogging and Lead Generation How To Do Videos - For Local Business Owners 8 Ways To Socialize Your Video Marketing Strategy What Is Video Marketing? A Valuable Strategy

Using Video To Market Your Business

Why Video?

Video is a big deal these days. Yet many businesses do not use it at all. Using video to market your business is a great opportunity. Part of the reason it's a great opportunity is that so many people who could benefit from it are not using it! Much of your competition is not using video!

Video is a great online marketing tool. Many people would rather watch how something is done than read copy from their computer screens.

When you know the routine it's easy to create videos. The process has a few tricks to maximize results. But it's relatively quick and easy once you get the hang of it.

Video and Search Engines

When we talk about online video we have to talk about YouTube. YouTube is the largest video website in the world. YouTube videos are uploaded at a rate an astonishing rate. It is estimated that 60 hours of video are uploaded every minute! The site is growing fast.

Google often shows videos listed among their search results. They call this "Universal Search". Many times there are just one or two among the 10 results listed on a page. But wow do those they stand out. Even if a video is listed at the bottom of the search page it seems to attract more attention than all the other text-only listings. Having your video on a search results page can be a great advantage.

Creating Your Video

Making your own video is easier than it's ever been before. Thanks to the many choices of cameras and easy to use websites you can begin making videos right away.

Many smart phones can record videos. This is the handiest way to do it since you always have your phone with you. To get better quality you should use a camcorder. Digital camcorders are common and do not require tape or disks. They are easy to use. Copying video to your computer is easier too!

There are numerous resources and video tips online to help you with the creation of your videos. The biggest tip is to use an external microphone or separate digital audio recorder to get good sound. If you don't try this you won't even realize the difference it can make. Getting good sound really does add a lot of quality. Lighting is another obvious concern. For indoor videos you should have plenty of lights. Outdoor lighting is best on shady days because shadows can be tricky to control.

Editing Your Video

You can get by without editing your video. But if you want it to be a bit more polished then using a video editor will do the trick. Many editors are available in the under $100 range. I've used Corel Video Studio for several years. Other editors in the same price range include CyberLink PowerDirector, Adobe Premiere Elements, Roxio Creator, and Sony Vegas Movie Studio. Check the web for a review of video editor software. With a video editor you can easily cut out unwanted pieces of video, add music and narration, and add on screen titles. After editing you will end up with a polished version of your video. This is the version that will be ready to upload to the internet. I usually create videos in the MP4 format, then upload them to YouTube.

Getting Your Video Online

As mentioned in the previous paragraph I use YouTube. You must set up a YouTube account before you upload your videos to it. I recommend creating a Google account and using that account when signing up for your YouTube account. You'll have one Google login that will get you into all of your Google products. Once your YouTube account is set up you should create your YouTube channel. Fill it in with all of your business information as completely and accurately as possible.

Use a video aggregator to publish your video to multiple video sites at one time. I don't use aggregators but many internet marketers do.

I recommend putting your website URL ("http://www.yourwebsite.com") in the description of your YouTube video. Also put the link to the YouTube video into your YouTube video description. The reason is that some websites copy videos from YouTube and display them on their own website. This helps optimize your Video and can generate more traffic as it gives you a back link.

Integrate Video on Your Website

After you've uploaded your video to YouTube the next step is to integrate the video in your website and other online properties. The video below shows how this is done. YouTube makes it very easy to embed videos on your website. Google places and other online business directories make it easy to include video within your business listings too.

More Reasons to Use Video

Besides that benefits of generating more leads for your business, video can make a much more personal connection between you and your potential customers. So much of the Internet is impersonal. There is a big lack of trust online, and rightfully so. To get customers and do business you must build a trusting relationship with your customers. Video can get this done faster than most things. I always recommend a simple, short welcome message on a website home page. One that greets the visitor and makes them feel welcome. Here's more video tips that will help with your video creation.

Video Production: A Revelation

Video production has changed the way we view the world. It allows us to see and understand what is being presented without the tediousness of reading small print text. Without the presence of a video, it is much more difficult to grasp what is at hand and what is meant to be conveyed through the piece. It was reported that over 700 billion videos have been viewed on YouTube this year alone proving that video production has such a phenomenal impact on the public.

YouTube receives over 3 billion hits per day whether it is through "how to" videos, gag videos, or through music videos, the information is streaming right to the consumer without any buffering or implications. The consumer is able to see the product in a more creative way that enhances its sales and recognition. With its availability and consistency, videos produce the ability to generate opinions, brand recognition, and instill a working relationship with the customer.

Video production companies connect the customers with what they want to see without the fluff and clutter of the words. Web videos are directing them right to the purpose of the article which is ultimately what they want. The viewers' needs the information now just like every other consumer. Websites that implement web videos immediately draw in the crowd enhancing their experience with the page which improves the site's search engine ranking. It keeps their interest sparked and juices flowing.

Through the web videos the information is conveyed quickly and effectively, the site is navigated more efficient, knowledge about the company is provided, and it generates popularity among the cohorts. In such cases with video production companies, they are presenting numerous videos displaying their talent and knowledge about the topic. It gives the viewer a chance to see the skills of a video production company and what they have to offer. That is what the viewer wants to see. Knowledge about the company is immediately presented along with a myriad of videos that showcase the company's expertise in video production.

Video production has the ability to link to other social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn among many other social media platforms. This feature that creates a connection to a greater base of people in due course creating a snowball effect that will increase the companies search engine optimization (SEO). The association of the video with the company will create a remembrance and a better feel of the company because of the video. It allows the viewer to also engage in what the company is presenting through their video. The viewers can post comments about the video, can share the video with their friends and family, and can rank whether they like the video or not. They can be a part of what is going on and what kind of traffic is being generated. This kind of interaction establishes a base between the company and potential client. Regardless of these features, the video is still be viewed by those who visit the site.

The internet has become a necessity to the consumer population. The public spends hours upon hours surfing and searching the internet for medical advice, humor, friends, news, or whatever they please. It has become the main source of consumption. Without the internet, products would not be consumed, companies would not be known, and the consumers would be at a loss. There would not be a channel to produce information.

According to a study conducted by CNN Money Report, it is predicted that online consumer traffic will increase more than 75% in just three years. This increase proves how important video production is to the consumer market and how it has become an absolute necessity. The immediate stream of web video production upon entering a site will not only draw the consumer in, but will also navigate their perception of the product and the company creating a lasting impression.

Business Blogging and Lead Generation How To Do Videos - For Local Business Owners 8 Ways To Socialize Your Video Marketing Strategy What Is Video Marketing? A Valuable Strategy

Why Web Videos Are More Effective

With YouTube being the second largest search engine, it is apparent that videos have taken over. 60 hours of video material is uploaded every minute of each day and 800 million new viewers are added each month. It is pretty safe to say that videos have an extreme importance to the lives of the viewers, which is everybody. But, what makes web videos more of a requested amenity than television, print, or radio? Well, first and foremost web videos are within reach at any time of any day. If the viewer wants to know about a company and their services the video will always be there. For example, video production company websites has an aesthetic pleasing video upon entering in their site. The viewer is greeted with bold words and samples of their work in a short time frame that hits all the senses the right way. These qualities will ring true with the viewer and keep their interest sparked.

Web videos are clear, concise, and short. No one wants to sit and watch a ten minute video about a business or product. The viewer would lose interest within the first minute and would veer off and exit out of the page. That is the beauty of web videos. They are only a few minutes long and throw all of the information right at the viewer. Rich with content, videos deliver to the success of business goals by increases sales and recognition. The viewer is not left wondering at the end of the video. Video production companies communicate directly to their target audience in an impressive manner through the use of web videos. The videos develop a new image for the company and shed positive light onto their capabilities. It also allows the viewers to create a public opinion on the business/product that will lean towards the company's ideals. With a new developed image, the viewers will know the company's passions and how they are better compared to other businesses.

The rich content of the videos educates the viewers with the ideas and goals of the company. After a few minutes of detail implemented in a web video, the viewer will know what is being conveyed and what the message is. With the hook of the video, the message will be seen and recognized by the viewer. The video is offering the viewer "inside knowledge" of the company and is allowing them to buy in what the company does.

Video production companies take into account the viewer and their needs. The company considers the visitor and places themselves in their shoes. They are producing segments that they would also want to watch and appreciate. Video production companies do not clutter the web videos with advertisements and excess fluff. The viewer is given everything right then and there without reading the fine print. There is no doubt about what is being presented and what the message is of the video. The goal of a web video is for the viewer to respond to the content and to keep their attention directed toward the company. Web videos fulfill all of those requirements.

Business Blogging and Lead Generation How To Do Videos - For Local Business Owners 8 Ways To Socialize Your Video Marketing Strategy What Is Video Marketing? A Valuable Strategy