YouTube has over a billion users and each and every day, people watch hundreds of millions of videos. If you haven’t yet included video as a part of your content marketing strategy, then it’s worth taking action before you get left behind. Infographics, eBooks, customer case studies, blog posts, guest outreach, email campaigning- these are all effective elements of any content marketing strategy.
But right now, nothing beats the impact of video when it comes to educating buyers, building trust, and improving customer satisfaction.
Here’s a few simple tips on how you can use the power of video:
#1 – CREATE YOUR OWN YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Your YouTube Channel is the repository for all your videos. Why? Because YouTube is the second largest search engine, and is owned by Google, earning backlinks from the platform can work well for your website. Once your videos are uploaded to YouTube you can share it everywhere with the YouTube ‘share’ and ‘embed’ buttons.
#2 – EMBEDDING VIDEO ON YOUR WEBSITE
Integration of the video on your website itself can make a significant SEO impact. With the increase in consumption and production of videos, search engines will continue to favour results based on good customer experience – 73% of all consumers are more likely to make a purchase after watching videos explaining a product or service.
#3 – SHARE YOUR YOUTUBE VIDEOS ACROSS YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS
Videos can be posted on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn but sure you broadcast the right video to the right social media channel. What is perfect for Facebook, isn’t necessarily the right one for LinkedIn, but it’s not complicated to do. When polled about which platforms they are actively using, more than 90% of effective marketers reported using both YouTube and Facebook platforms for video marketing. Smart marketers reach over 85% of the total market through these two social video platforms.
#4 – POST YOUR VIDEOS ON YOUR FACEBOOK BUSINESS PAGE OR YOUR FACEBOOK GROUP
You can also use the Facebook ‘live’ mobile app to post your video straight from your phone to your Facebook page/group for the quick 1 minute video when you have a nugget to share or at an event that you want to share with your network. Videos don’t always have to be professionally created to be effective and powerful. Some of the best videos we have created – from a reach and engagement perspective – were shot in a hand held Smartphone
#5 – NOTHING IS EASIER THAN WATCHING A “HOW TO VIDEO”
If you have a complex topic, break it down into easy instructions and post. Using screen share techniques your audience can follow your point and click instructions and re-run the video or backtrack the video until the topic is clear.
#6 – THE INTRODUCTORY VIDEO
Why not use the power of video as an introductory tool. This can be used across multiple media channels. It is much more personal than reading the text and gives the feeling that participants are attending a live event.
#7 TRY VIDEO PROMOTION VIA EMAIL CAMPAIGNS
An email campaign is another great way to boost your video’s success, and e-mail is still the best choice to interact with and retain customers personally. Including videos to your email strategy can provide outstanding results if used correctly.
You don’t have to have fancy equipment to make a video. Perhaps this is why the power of video is so attractive as a marketing tool. All you need is a cell phone, or a computer with a webcam (built-in or add-on), movie making software (free). Add to this a good microphone and lighting and away you go.
The biggest hurdle is getting over the fear of being on video. If that is your number one fear, because you aren’t remotely like a spokesperson, then make your product or service the highlight and downplay your own role.
Is turning on the power of video one your 2017 business goals? Will we be seeing you soon on YouTube?