Try Something New This Year . . . Video!

Assuming the Mayan Calendar is wrong about the world ending this year, you should probably think about how you want to market your business in 2012.

There are thousands of ways to market a business today, you can't do them all. A good idea is to take a good long hard look at emerging technologies on the web.

One such technology worth looking into is video. You can implement video directly on your website or through YouTube, Facebook or similar sites.

The biggest question people have when thinking about video is the content. "What on earth can we put into a video to market my business?"

Here is a short list to get you thinking about it.

• Introductory Clip A short 2-3 minute homepage introduction that tells viewers who you are and what you do.
• Product Demonstration You must offer a product that can be demonstrated. Show your product being used successfully, seeing is believing. Keep this video around 5 minutes, not too much longer.
  
  Show the best features and explain repeatedly (3 times) how this solves a problem for your prospective customer.
• Professional Abilities Similar to product demos this will work very well for product manufacturers or suppliers. Show off what it is that makes your abilities better than your competitors. If you run a machine shop, show off the capabilities of high tech equipment. 
  
  You can let this one run a tad longer, 5-10 minutes.
• Company News Spotlight your achievements or participation in community.
  
  If the video is about the business you must include 3rd party references to make it valid. An award from a prominent group or talking about your status such as obtaining ISO 9001 certification.
  
  If the video is about employee achievements or community involvement, you must be absolutely sincere. The human interest element will help people with like values connect to you.
  
  Keep this one down to 2-3 minutes.
• VLog Posts This is your chance to provide information. Think of it as a training video, taking someone step by step through a task using software. Another way to accomplish this is through a talking head (boring in my mind) or an interview cutting between the participants.
  
  Keep these videos between 5 and 15 minutes long and limit the content of the video to prevent drifting and loss of interest.
• Testimonials Any time you can a testimonial from someone it is as good as gold. People trust people that other people trust.
  
  They must be actual and the person giving the testimonial needs to appear relaxed and natural in the video. Keep these at 2-3 minutes as well.
•  Video Interview What if you have no product to show? This one is for you. Consultants, Lawyers, Accountants or others that offer a service instead of a product can use an interview to build trust.

No matter what your business, if your competitors have not yet discovered video presentations . . . this can be a powerful way to separate yourself from the rest of the crowd.

If your competitors are using videos, this is your chance to level the playing field, gain a couple of extra yards by having your video content professionally produced.

Don't be afraid to try something in 2012.

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Tip of the Month

It won't happen if you don't give it a try.

Over the years I have heard many coworkers make comments like, "I am not going to get that position so I am not even going to post for it!"

Well, yeah your right . . . if you don't post for it, you most definitely will not get it.

I think that is what is called a defeatist attitude or Stinkin' Thinkin'. No matter what it is, give it a try. You never know it just might work out in  your favor.

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Quotable Quote

A pat on the back is only a few vertebrae removed
from a kick in the pants,
but is miles ahead in results.
-Ella Wheeler Wilcox

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