In the last couple of months we have been trying to focus more on our youtube account and also experimenting using video to promote our events. In Drew McLellan’s blog this month, he talks about using online video. Here is a sample of our first video promoting our upcoming showcase. http://www.youtube.com/user/MidwestSpeakersBur Also check out our new youtube channel. http://www.youtube.com/user/MidwestSpeakersBur
If you missed Drew’s article on using online video, here it is!
No excuses – use online video!
You’ve heard all the stats.
* 179 million Americans watched online videos each month in 2010
* Over 88 million people watch an online video on a given day
* Online video is currently 40% of consumer internet traffic
* YouTube is the #2 search engine, right behind Google
* 75% of C-suite executives watch work related videos weekly
While Google Plus, mobile marketing and QR codes are garnering a great deal of attention; what has now become a marketing staple — the online video — is really demonstrating that it can deliver a consistent audience.
Are you putting online videos to work for your organization? If not, I suspect it’s because of one of three reasons:
* You hate being on camera
* You don’t have the budget to shoot enough high-end video
* You can’t imagine what you know or do would make an interesting video
None of those excuses is acceptable. Let’s dig into them and find solutions that will get your first video uploaded in no time.
I hate being on camera
It’s a rare human being that likes the way they look in photos or on video. So they avoid it like the plague.
The good news is, no matter how beautiful you are, the talking head style of video is typically pretty flat. Using other visuals will actually enhance the viewer’s experience and increase the likelihood of your video being shared with others.
I don’t have the budget to shoot enough high-end video
There will always be a place for high-end video and animation. They’re both very valuable marketing tools and shouldn’t be dismissed. For example, the video that is on your home page and introduces your concept, product or service to your web visitors deserves to be professionally produced for maximum impact.
But all online video doesn’t always require high production values. What YouTube has done is democratized the world of video. Now, it’s about content much more than presentation. In fact, if it’s a little raw — it feels more authentic and personal.
I don’t have anything of interest or value to put on video
In many cases, good online video is a snack sized sample of what you do every day. Odds are you have plenty of content already created that could be converted into some valuable videos. Think of the top five questions you get asked by clients. Each one of them (with your corresponding answer) could be a 60 – 90 second video.
Have you put together a presentation lately? Odds are there are 3-4 video ideas within that presentation. How could you break it down into segments that could stand alone? Use the PowerPoint slides as your visuals and you’re halfway home.
How about case studies? Those make excellent videos. Or you can interview your best clients on how you helped their business. You can also do a product demo or some customer testimonials. (Remember, there are ways to shoot those so they don’t have to be on camera either)
No more excuses. With video being such a prevailing and influential tool on the web, you can’t really afford not to be out there. It’s time to fire up the camera!