By Paul D Gustafson
Internet video marketing. Why?
Sometimes I receive inquiries asking if it will really help generate new local business. Well, the numbers don’t lie. There are currently over 3 billion Google searches a month for local information.
Never before have businesses had the opportunity to reach so many prospects, I reply. With video ranking as well as text in online searches, the odds are stacked in your favor.
But what should your video message be? Keep it simple and apply these three components:
Share Your Story
1) Develop a quick explanation in your video on your company and team members. The concept is to share who you are as a company. Because video draws the viewer into a story, your video needs to center around your story.
Also, add emotion into your video. Using emotion engages the viewers. They’ve already found your video. As they begin to watch, you are nearly halfway there turning them into a prospect. Include footage such as employee interviews, customer testimonials and why people do business with you create compelling emotional messages.
Fire Up Your SEO
2) Video ranks very well across all search engines. In a recent Forrester research study, nearly 80% of search results contain a variety of media. Granted, you will see an enormous amount of text websites and blogs along with article sites in any search result. Adding simple keywords embedded into your video will help you rank well against the competition.
Share Your Video Everywhere
3) In June of 2010, nearly 173 million Internet users viewed video. The majority did so on sites like Facebook, YouTube and Google. If you have a modest interest in improving your company’s online exposure, video is the icing on the cake to celebrate growth. Remember, if you are not growing, you are going. Meaning, if you cling to the more traditional methods of driving traffic (AdWords, paid traffic, article marketing and banner ads) your competition will surely catch wind of the video storm brewing.
Bonus: Turn One Video into Dozens
Doing so is easier than you think. Start by writing a simple script of your first video. Focus on the history of your company (stuff like when you were founded, by whom and why). Then keep this same script format but change the video footage to include your employees. Ask them to answer one question. “(Your company name here) to me, means what?” Have them ask the question on camera and then answer it.
Suggest employees answer from their heart. Also, recommend they keep their answers short. One sentence answers work best when you edit your video footage.
Next, using the same script, invite a few of your top customers for a free lunch or dinner outing. In return, ask them to say a few words on camera answering the same question. With some rock solid planning, you will have enough footage to build dozens of videos. Another trick is to use the same video footage and pictures but insert the new employee and customer footage in each video.
Good luck and remember, online video plus SEO equals more customers.
