Okay, it’s a bit of a dramatic title but at least I’ve got your attention, right? This article sets out to (1) convince you to publish a short corporate video and (2) provides some simple (cost-free) ways of going about it.
So who doesn’t get a bit embarrassed when uncle Harry produces the video camera at Christmas time? I suppose we wouldn’t be human if there wasn’t a hesitancy about appearing on a video and particularly one that could be seen by complete strangers. But when Google purchased YouTube a few years back it became an important marketing opportunity for small business owners.
So Why Record a Video?
So why consider recording a video for your business and uploading it to YouTube? Well it goes without saying that prospective customers that can physically see your business are more likely to buy from you. And let’s not forget the sheer number of prospective customers who watch YouTube:
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Over 800 million unique users visit YouTube each month
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Over 3 billion hours of video are watched each month on YouTube
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YouTube is available on 350 million devices
So how to do it
There are a couple of options here: firstly, you could hire a corporate video firm to direct your video (with the associated cost) and secondly (and my personal recommendation) ask a friend to use their smart phone for free. Okay, the second option might not get nominated for an Oscar, but it will be quick, cost free and effective. It will show prospective customers that you are genuine and are really interested in doing business, and after all that’s all we really need to achieve.
Saying that I must pay tribute to the excellent corporate video which you can see at the top of this article. This was produced by a client called the Nail and Beauty Bar in Bangor and is fantastic. This would normally have cost a considerable amount, but Corine’s contacts got them an unbelievable deal!
Follow these steps to produce a simple but effective 30 second corporate video:
Step One: Preparation
Write out four bullet points on what you want say using the following format:
– Introduce yourself and state your role in the business
– State how long your business has been established and the areas it services.
– Quickly outline your main products and services
– Offer a free consultation and how people can take it up
Step Two: Set up your video
If recording at your desk make sure to tidy it up and ensure that any awards and promotional materials are visible. Also make sure to wear something appropriate.
Step Three: Record your Video
Make sure your friend keeps the phone still and don’t be afraid of doing some dry runs. You will tend to run over the 30 second limit, but make sure to keep it to around that time. The most important bits are the beginning and end – make sure you say the last sentence confidently and hold your stare at the camera for a few seconds.
Once recorded most smart phones can trim the video to remove the inevitable “go!” at the start and the pause at the end.
Step Four: Upload to YouTube
If you haven’t already set up a YouTube account now is the time. This simply involves setting up a free Google account (which you did following last week’s tip) and upload the video. YouTube will guide you on how to do this, but make sure to give the video and description that matches your company name, your service and where you are based.
Step Five: Share, Share and Share some more
Once your video is uploaded to YouTube you will be able to grab a link to share the video on emails, Facebook, Twitter and all other social media outlets. A really important place for it is in your Google Places listing, which i explained last week. YouTube will also provide you with the code required to place the video on your website. I will do this for you for free, yes for free – that’s my offer!
So, are you ready to give it a go? What’s the worst that could happen? Go for it!
