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Archive for the ‘Video Marketing’ Category
Friday, August 20th, 2010
There is one aspect of small business that is generally not promoted often enough online. That aspect? The fact that they are small; they can be personal; and that the person you are talking to is most likely the owner. If it is the owner you are dealing with then you know it’s in their best interest to provide a good service. When it comes to big business, the person you are talking to is a wage earner and their vested interest is in their paycheck each week – not necessarily you.
Small businesses have capitalized on this in the bricks and mortar world for decades. I am somewhat surprised that online businesses are not also promoting their size as being a benefit to customers. Trust is always an issue for many customers and small businesses have access to a tool that can quickly resolve some of these trust issues and that tool is video.
All it takes is a short video in which the small business owner introduces themselves, their products or services and perhaps what their web site has to offer customers. The one thing missing from the online world is that face to face contact. While video is only one way, it certainly provides a means to communicate with customers, and for customers to see and hear who they are dealing with.
Short videos like this can do wonders for an online business’s trust factor. Of course, it is important that you come across in the video as being trusting – but that’s something that you will need to work on. Video marketing doesn’t have to promote a product, it can be used to simply build trust, and for small businesses, it can serve them much better than large businesses.
Tags: building trust, online marketing, small business marketing
Posted in Video Marketing | 1 Comment »
Thursday, June 24th, 2010
I hadn’t seen this prediction yet, but it sure is striking:
Cisco is also predicting that by 2013, 90% of web traffic will be for video content, a significant jump from today’s 30%.
So what does it mean?
One thing I think it means is that we are on the verge of a new kind of mass marketing. Video marketing has been around for a few good years – about 5. But it is slowly picking up speed. We’re almost at the apex of video marketing as a mass marketing tool, about where article marketing was in 2003.
I’m not sure the 90% prediction is accurate or not, but let’s say that it’s partially accurate. Let’s say that by 2013, 60% of all online content viewed will be video content. That’s a lot of content. And it’s likely that the lion’s share of that – probably 80% – will be on YouTube. YouTube could then very well be rivaling Facebook and Google for traffic.
But will it be a good marketing vehicle?
I believe it already is, but I also believe the opportunities are about to get better. You’d better brace yourself for video marketing because it’s coming and when it hits the big time the world of online marketing just won’t be the same.
Tags: online marketing, Video Marketing
Posted in Video Marketing | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 6th, 2010
If you’ve never heard of Episodic, don’t worry. I hadn’t either. But Google recently purchased the company, which provides online video creation and monetization services.
Was that a whoop-tee-do moment, or what?
For some of you, I imagine that it would be. We’ve got YouTube. Why do we need Episodic?
Well, it’s true. YouTube does have more visitors. It probably has more visitors that Episodic ever will. But there are some possibilities with video monetization products. YouTube has them too, I know. But it can be done better.
Now I don’t know anything about how Episodic goes about the monetization of video. I have no basis of comparison between the Episodic and YouTube services. But I do know that Google owns both services. So the question that begs to be asked, in my mind, is this – will the two be integrated?
Episodic has suspended all new account signups, though their blog does say the service will continue unabated for current users. The comment on the blog about online video still being young is an understatement (though I wouldn’t agree, it’s 15 years old). While online video technology may be 15 years old, online video as a serious undertaking is only about 5 years old.
But let’s not digress. The question is, Will Episodic – with Google’s help – spark a revolution in the way that online video is monetized, or do you think it will simply fizzle out? Speak your piece.
Tags: monetization, online video
Posted in Video Marketing | No Comments »
Saturday, March 27th, 2010
Some small business owners may be tempted to host their own videos rather than post them on YouTube. That might be a mistake. But then again, it might not. But here are some things you should think about before you decide to host your own videos.
Do you have enough storage space on your server for your videos? If you are just going to host a couple of videos then it should be no problem. But if you’re talking about hundreds or thousands of videos then your shared hosting account likely won’t be enough. You’ll have to upgrade your hosting and that’s going to cost your money.
You’ll also need to think about the speed of your site uploading when a visitor lands on it. A lot of video hosted on your server could slow your site load and that will hurt you in the search engines.
Those are the two big issues. If either of those works against your then you’ll need to think about hosting your videos elsewhere. YouTube is an option, but if you have legitimate reasons for not wanting to host on YouTube, there are other alternatives. There are other video sites and you can always host in the cloud or set up a dedicated server just for your video. Just be prepared to spend some money if you opt for the dedicated server.
Tags: hosting, videos, YouTube
Posted in Video Marketing | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010
Apparently, YouTube is giving video producers another option – rentals. So, not only can you use YouTube as a marketing vehicle, you can also use it as a rental vehicle. Make excellent videos and rent them a la Blockbuster style.
I love the fake logo that accompanies the article on Marketing Pilgrim:
OK, it’s a funny joke, but YouTube is also sharing the money so let’s not too giddy. Plenty of time for that after you cash the checks. To me, it seems like a real opportunity for video producers who are serious about their business. Just one word of caution: Make sure you have a really good video or it could just fall on its face.
Tags: Video Marketing, YouTube
Posted in Video Marketing | No Comments »
Friday, March 12th, 2010
The YouTube Partners Program has been a bit of a success and there are quite a few people running full run entertainment and educational series on YouTube. It’s become a bit of a monetary game on its own. Well, Google is now taking ideas to improve the program and you’re invited.
I’d just like to take this time to suggest to you that being a YouTube partner might be a way for you to grow your audience. If you have not tried video marketing yet then this could be your big chance.
But understand the difference between video marketing and running your own YouTube channel as a YouTube partner. It’s a bit like the difference between NPR and a syndicated radio show host. While both have their merits, publicly-funded radio simply cannot hope to reach the same pinnacle of monetary success that privately-funded syndication can. That’s not to say the programming is better – it’s just apples and oranges.
The age of the video has arrived. Now is the time to get on the train. I hope you’re at least standing at the depot.
Tags: partners, Video Marketing, YouTube
Posted in Video Marketing | No Comments »
Friday, January 15th, 2010
YouTube has grown to be in the top 5 largest sites online. It is one of the top three biggest social networks (along with Facebook and Twitter). Plus, the fact that it is a video network means that it has something unique to offer that other social networks don’t.
The latest statistics show that the audience for online videos is growing. But that alone is not reason enough to start your own YouTube channel. However, if your business niche is such that an audience exists for your type of video content then your own YouTube channel would be extremely beneficial.
YouTube marketers who have their own channel tend to pick up more viewers over time. Just like other forms of Internet marketing, video marketers works better long term when frequency and longevity are at work. The more videos you produce more often, the better.
Having your own YouTube channel is like owning your own TV station. You set the programming, time of production, and frequency of material. Then you find your audience. If you can build a solid and loyal audience for your content, it’s powerful marketing.
Tags: Video Marketing, YouTube
Posted in Video Marketing | 2 Comments »
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
If you’ve been watching Bing for the past few months like I have then you might be interested in the latest development, Bing Videos.
First, I want to say I’m impressed. Bing had already introduced the video preview, which I thought was a great feature. Now, they’ve taken video search one step further and organized it around the popular topics. Go the Bing video search page (the link above) and you’ll see what I mean. The navigation is stupendous.
Plus, you still get the famous Bing preview of each video – the ability to watch a clip right on the search page.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think Bing Video Search has what it takes to topple YouTube or Hulu. And probably won’t even come close to Facebook, which has moved into the third most used video site position, either. But it could outdo both Yahoo! and Google in video search. Of course, Google owns YouTube so that will be a small consolation, but it will be a consolation nonetheless and it could mean greater competition between the search engines in at least one vertical. I’ve been looking forward to that day for some time.
I think Bing’s Video Search is an important step for a search engine. Is it a huge reputation enhancer? Not really. I don’t expect users to abandon Google overnight and flock to Bing. But I do think Bing may pick up some additional share due to its video search feature.
Tags: bing, Bing Video, search engines, video search
Posted in Video Marketing | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
You’ve considered video marketing, but you’re not quite sure how to approach it. Is it about marketing or is it about video production? It’s not as stupid a question as you might think.
Many online marketers – even small businesses – are using video to their advantage. They are engaged in video marketing, but they aren’t spending thousands of dollars producing high quality video products that are designed as massive marketing campaigns. It isn’t high gloss.
That’s not to say the videos aren’t high quality. Many of them are. They just aren’t high gloss. In other words, no paid actors with rehearsed smooth talk, no scripts, no elaborate stage sets; in other words, they aren’t video “productions”. They are video messages designed to aid the small business owner to enter into a relationship with prospects through multimedia images where body language can be interpreted as much as anything else. We’re talking about friendly productions that are real and offer real communication from one person to another, not some hyped up marketing message delivered by a paid actor.
If this sounds like you then video marketing is a good way to go. Just don’t jump in without a plan.
Tags: small business, Video Marketing, video production
Posted in Video Marketing | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
Online marketers are extremely interested in building trust. In fact, if you don’t build trust among your readership you will likely not make money online. Video marketing is the perfect tool for building trust.
Text is one dimensional. In order to build trust you have to go to great lengths to convince people that you are not a scam artist, or worse. That’s why so many sales letter are so long. The writer is trying to appeal to as many personalities as possible in as many ways as possible. He is trying to cover all his bases.
Audio also has its weaknesses. While you can use voice and tone to achieve an element of trust, you can’t rely on the most common form of communication – body language. It’s no secret that most of the clues people receive in everyday communication are visual. Body language provides receivers the majority of those clues. And that’s why video marketing is picking up speed.
The best way to build trust online is to use videos in your marketing. This gives site visitors a chance to evaluate your body language and see if they want to trust you. I think we are now entering the age of video marketing.
Tags: building trust, online marketing, Video Marketing
Posted in Video Marketing | 5 Comments »
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