Today I just wanted to give you a quick tutorial about video marketing. Video marketing is one area where I am most certainly NOT an expert. So what I will not be doing is giving you a step-by-step video making course. But I will give you some tips and advice for where to get started in this area. I think it’s important to have at least some presence in the video world for a couple of reasons:
1. Youtube…. millions and millions of views EVERY DAY and killer Google rankings.
2. Backlinks…. the more mediums you have your information in, the more backlinks you will be able to procure for your website.
3. Visibility…. videos, for many people in this day and age, are the preferred learning/information gathering method. Therefore, if you are basing your marketing strategy on providing information and positioning yourself as an expert and you do not have videos to share, you are missing out on a very large chunk of your market.
4. Branding…. as I have mentioned before, if people see you in a video it speaks much more loudly to them that you are in fact a REAL person and not just another advertisement. Pictures are great – videos are better.
5. Expertise…. again, if you are looking to be seen as someone who is knowledgeable about their trade, videos go a very long way in portraying know-how and even professionalism, if done correctly.
There are several different “styles” of video marketing. Especially if you are new to creating videos, it would probably be most beneficial for you to choose a particular style to begin with. And then, once you have mastered that style, you can add a new style if you would like to mix it up a little. There are various styles of video marketing, but I will go over a few basic ones to get you started.
Option 1: Live Video
A live video is simply a video that you take with either your own video camera, or a webcam attached to your computer, it features you talking to the camera about yourself, your product, giving training tips, etc. This traditional approach to video marketing is, in my opinion, one of the most effective because people see and hear you directly. It’s almost as if you were in the room with them.
The best way to use this type of video is to introduce yourself to prospects (like with the Facebook video we did earlier) or to sell a particular product. This kind of video induces trust between you and the viewer, because it makes you more real to them than an email or banner advertisement really could.
The downside to this kind of video is that it is the most intimidating of all the video styles to create. Most people do not like getting in front of a camera, let alone with the intention of blasting it out to the world wide web. So, if that’s not for you, there are some other great options.
Option 2: Computer Screen Video
The second option for a video is a computer screen shot. You will need a webcam to do this kind of video. In this style of video marketing, you record on your webcam whatever you are seeing on your own desktop as well as your voice. This style of video, I think, is best implemented for training purposes.
If you are giving a tutorial on how to do something specific on the computer or online, you can show the viewer exactly what you are doing as well as walk them through it by talking. This is a very effective training tool, but it is not as effective for marketing. Although, if expertise is how you are marketing yourself, this could be great for getting out your backlinks and positioning yourself as a coach and trainer in your field.
This method also takes much of the fear out of video marketing, since you don’t actually have to be in front of the camera.Option 3: Slideshow Video
This is my personal favorite of all three options, simply because I believe it is the most versatile and also one of the easiest methods of video making. A slideshow video is just like a screenshot video, except that you don’t have to click all over the place and go through a process while you are trying to talk and record. You create your PowerPoint presentation in advance, and then you just click through the slides while discussing your topic. It’s simple and easy. Not only that, but it can also be used in a variety of different ways. You can use the slideshow as just a slideshow on websites such as Slide Share. Or you could add the audio to it and send it out to the video websites.
The downside here is that I do not think it is quite as effective for training as screenshot videos, and it is not as effective for trust building as the traditional video. But it certainly has an opportunity to provide you with the most backlinks and visibility for your website.
Again, I am not going to give you a step-by-step tutorial on video making. But I will give you some pointers to start out with. If you are going with a traditional video, write out a brief script outline and practice it a few times before you get in front of the camera to alleviate nerves and get your wording the way you want it.
I personally memorize a script… but that’s just me.NOTE: If you are going to create a traditional video make sure that you ooze Alpha. If you don’t know what Alpha is, I will tell you.
There are three personality types: Alpha, Pre-Alpha and Beta. To way oversimplify this: Beta personalities are followers. Pre-Alpha personalities are wannabe leaders. Alpha personalities are leaders. How you succeed in this business is by convincing people to follow you, which is why I have been repeatedly endearing you to brand yourself, not your product or company.
People are attracted to Alpha personalities and you want people to be attracted to you. Now, if you are like me and started out in this industry as a Beta personality, that’s ok! A lot of successful network marketers have started out that way. But in order to be successful you need to switch your mindset from being a Beta to an Alpha. Of course, this switch doesn’t happen overnight – fake it till you make it.
This “fake it” phase is not being deceptive, it is simply the process of changing your mindset from being a follower to becoming a confident, knowledgeable leader. You must think of yourself this way before you can actually be this way. Whew… crash course on personalities there. I cannot possibly teach you everything you need to know about attraction marketing today, so go HERE for a free video series to learn more. The point is, if you are going to take a video of yourself, you have to present yourself as confident (not nervous or unsure) knowledgeable (not stumbling over your words and information) and a leader.
You should have good posture and appear well kept. If you don’t respect yourself how can others respect you? Your tone should be forward and commanding while also personable and friendly. If you don’t think you can pull this off, don’t make this type of video… yet. Wait until you do have the confidence and personality to do so.
Making a video in which you are obviously not an Alpha personality will do much more harm for your online image than making no video at all.If you are going to go with the second or third option you also need to make sure that you are presenting yourself as an Alpha personality. Your tone of voice, vocabulary and presentation will all affect how you are perceived by your audience. Always enunciate, speak with confidence and believe in what you are saying.
Once you are finished making your video, the next step is to send it out to the masses. There are several ways to do this, and depending on which video style you chose, you can decide where the best places are to publish your video:
· Social Networking Sites: Like our Facebook video! Perhaps your video has some neat training tips that would be helpful to your Facebook friends. Videos are always popular on social networking sites, and it is a good idea to post your video there as well – as long as it’s valuable and appropriate content for the community.
· Your Blog: If you are making a video that has new information you have not written about in your blog, consider posting it to your website as well. I find that a change of media every once in a while is usually very well received by your readers.
· Everywhere: Seriously! Just like with articles, you can also mass post your blog to a multitude of video uploading sites like Youtube. TubeMogul is a great free resource for this type of video syndication.
· SlideShare: Don’t forget your slideshow presentation! There are several great places to upload your PowerPoint presentations. SlideShare is just one of many sites like this that you can use to get greater visibility for your presentation and more backlinks to your website.
· Email: Finally, send your video over email. All you need is a webcam; it’s free and super easy. Go HERE to set up your account and learn how.