Do you have a Media Plan?
Use the Power of Video in your Marketing Plan
| 
| 
Video as a Marketing Tool
You are a savvy business owner and no doubt have a killer marketing plan that includes various forms of media. But does your plan include video? When you mention video to most business owners they think of 30 second TV commercials and the hundreds of dollars it can cost just to air one spot. What should pop into your mind? Your website of course!
The same technology that allows YouTube™ to webcast video around the world makes it possible to include video on your own website. You can leverage an existing marketing tool you already have into something new. Your website becomes more than an electronic version of brochures or catalogs. It is a way to speak directly to customers showing them your goods and services. This develops relationships with visitors to your site and establishes yourself as an expert in your field.
Traditional TV advertising for small business has been simple: We have a business; This is what we do; Come in and buy our stuff. This is a good direct selling method of driving traffic to your shop and hopefully making a sale.
However, video on your website is subtly different. A visitor on your site is already in your "virtual" store. Talk to them face to face like you do with actual customers or clients.
Online surveys show that web visitors love to learn stuff. They especially like "how to" videos. This is fantastic news! Unlike the TV viewers who try to avoid commercials by channel zapping or TiVo-ing a , your web visitors wants and is ready for you to tell them about your business. You have a willing audience so take advantage of it!
Have a flower shop? Produce videos about flower arranging or what flowers are good for different occasions. Have an electronics store? How about a video on the difference between 720p and 1080i? Every business or service has a set of questions most potential customers ask. These are ideal topics for your online videos. Show them that you are an expert!
Things to keep in mind when planning online videos:
Make it professional. The quality of the video reflects on the quality of your business. Most likely you had a professional design your website get a professional to produce your videos.
Keep it short and simple. Our attention spans keep getting shorter and shorter. It is better to have several short videos than a longer one.
Remember that video is a visual medium. When planning your video think images or pictures first then words second. It is show then tell.
