Four tips to make your business video rock!
YouTube is the #2 search engine and video gets a higher SEO ranking than other content. Wonder why? Well, Google OWNS it! Nevertheless, video brings your personality to life: your competitors are on YouTube- so you should be, too!. There are many good reasons to create a video and broadcast it to nearly two billion daily online viewers… and more than a few reasons NOT. Before investing time and energy, and even cash into creating a video presence, consider these four tips.
Reasons NOT to be on YouTube (or any other online video site, for that matter):
1. Are you “camera ready”:
The camera is unforgiving. It shows you at your best…and your worst. Do not assume that because you are good in front of a “live” customer or group that it will translate to video. Like one Colorado-based furniture store used to advertise, it’s “not natural” to speak to a camera, but there are specific techniques you can master to make things easier. It is more than just hitting “play” and “record.” Moreover, don’t believe that all you need is a camera to get on the ‘net.
Most customers are not impressed by amateur video. They expect well-lit, high-quality productions. After all, they are used to watching TV! Learn the right techniques for speaking to a camera to highlight your personality and greatly enhance your message, and you will appear natural – and not phony. Do yourself-and your business-a favor and get professional assistance. Nearly every town has a professional video company that is eager to help make your foray into video a success.
2. You only get one chance to make a first impression – do not make it your last:
More than two million minutes of video get uploaded to YouTube every day. How will you make yours stand out? You have seven seconds to capture a viewer – do not waste it. Video viewers can turn you off with a click of their mouse the second you lose their attention and most people take too long to get to the good stuff.
Grab viewers at the outset with compelling content with an engaging, professional delivery. Remember, the average YouTube video is 2.23 minutes in length. I don’t know about you, but I rarely watch even the most popular videos in their entirety. Give them something to hold their attention or your audience will be long gone before you know it!
Newspapers got one thing right- don’t bury your lead…
3. Don’t be a “one-hit wonder”:
NEW content is king. Data from TubeMogul shows the average half-life of a YouTube video is six days – your video gets half its views the first six days after posting. After twenty days, your video has seen 75% of its total views. Do not rely on a single video to carry your message indefinitely. Be consistent in your plan and keep posting new content. Put new video online at least every month- preferably every week. Shooting more than one piece in a session is the key to building content in an easy manner, and working with a professional to help you create fresh content, and make sure you deliver it at your best, will keep your message fresh and current.
4. What is your USP:
People can watch crazy cats, and toddlers hitting Dad in the jewels all day long- but if YOU don’t have something different to say, or a different way to say it, no one will notice. What makes your message unique – your USP – unique selling proposition. What would compel you to watch a video about your business, product or service? Check out hot topics in your industry’s social networking discussion groups and emailed newsletters. Ask your contacts to submit guest information or testimonials. What can you do to make yourself stand apart from your competitors?
It is tempting to just “throw something together,” but remember video is forever – almost. Don’t become a YouTube casualty! If you want it “bad”, you will get it “bad”- and bad does not mean good in this case!