YouTube is the 2nd largest search engine next to its parent, Google. “How to” is the most searched-for phrase. This class covers the basics of YouTube and the 2nd video covers how to optimize your channel for SEO and branding.
Here are the class notes: https://azsocialmediawiz.com/wp-content/uploads/YouTubeBasics.pdf
You know you have to be doing marketing videos for the exposure. However, the challenge is getting your target audience to watch it.
Here’s an excellent example of a viral video for a brand who actually rejected it. It’s what’s called “user-generated content”. A fan of a product or service creates a video, on their own, without prompting by the brand. But this is not about the brand, but about the power of telling stories that provoke emotions.
German student, Eugen Merher, created this video in honor of a relative of his. He sent the video to Adidas, but it was rejected. So, he uploaded it to YouTube. As of this posting, it’s had over 12 million views!
Now, you’re probably thinking, “I can’t produce a video like this!” Well, the brand didn’t produce it. A fan/user did. However, you can still tell stories without going to the lengths of a full video production.
You have satisfied customers, don’t you? Tell their stories. You don’t have to use their names. Even if you’re just starting out, use fictional or hypothetical situations. No one needs to know that it’s not true. Or even a compilation of several clients.
Testimonial videos also carry a lot of weight. People want to relate with people.
To be able to generate emotions of your target audience, you first need to really get to know them. Here’s a free Define Your Target Market Workbook that will help you get started.
Note: top photo is a YouTube Screenshot.
Social Media never ceases to surprise me. I was checking out what was trending on Twitter for a client of mine. I know that usually every Monday is #MondayMotivation. My client just opened a Pilates studio and I’m posting a lot of motivational quotes. What surprised me was on Twitter there was a red “Live” button next to the hashtag #MondayMotivation. Lo and behold, it was a guy live streaming on Periscope using the hashtag #MondayMotivation! What a great, easy, and inexpensive way to broadcast yourself, gain exposure, and build a following!
First, notice the red “Live” button next to #MondayMotivation. That was the top trend in the U.S. when I grabbed this screenshot with 139,000 tweets! This guy’s live video was on top! Next, note how many viewers he had at that moment — 186. However, the reach/visibility he’s getting is in the thousands.
Then there are the holidays, awareness and observance days that usually trend on Twitter also.
A word of caution. Always check to see WHY something is trending before you take advantage of it. Never take advantage of a crisis or negative news item.
I know you want it! Viral Marketing! That one post, picture or video that everyone who sees it has to share it with their friends.
Do a search on Facebook for Forth Worth PD and you’ll see that dozens of news networks shared their videos with millions of views and shares. That’s what you want.
OK, you’re probably thinking that it was the fact that it was a police department and that these were professionally done videos. There’s no way that you have the budget for it, right? Actually, hiring a professional video production company is not as expensive as you may think. I’ve had several professional videos done all under $300. Although, I didn’t have costuming or professional actors in them. That will jack up the cost.
You should have at least one professionally done video.
That video can serve as the intro to your business on your website. It’s proven that visitors to a website stay longer when there’s a video. HOWEVER, don’t have it play automatically when the site loads. Allow the visitor to click on it if they want to watch it. And don’t use Flash!
“Skip the flash and Flash, and let people get right in [to your website] unless you want them to abort their visit or only visit once.” ~ Guy Kawasaki in [ad link] “Enchantment“
You can use that professional video also as your YouTube channel ad. Yes, you get a free ad for your YouTube channel. It has to be under 2 minutes. Keep in mind that you have to deliver on what that video promotes. If you say you’re going to be doing weekly videos, then do weekly videos!
Remember: People prefer to watch a 3-minute video rather than reading a 300-word blog post.
You’ve got the latest webcam in your pocket in your smartphone. Why aren’t you using video marketing to promote your business?
You can’t afford to NOT get Social Savvy!
Facebook Live Video is the latest cool tool to use to market your business! It’s so new that even the social media experts are still experimenting with it! Here are a few things you need to know before you start streaming live:
This inspired me to do a weekly live stream from my Facebook Page: “Wednesday with the Wiz”! Every Wednesday, at 4pm MST (PDT), come over to the AZ Social Media Wiz page and I’ll be talking about the latest social media news, some tips and rants.
Is it a fluke? Or can a video be made to be so popular that everyone that views it wants to share it? Both.
Sometimes something that starts simply can turn into something viral. Like the ALS Bucket Challenge. No one planned it. It just happened.
Others take a bit more creativity and cleverness.
One more thing – viral videos are easier for a B2C business than a B2B business. When you’re selling a product or service to consumers, you can get a little more daring and risky. Not so much on the B2B side. That doesn’t mean a B2B video can’t go viral — just don’t expect it to.
This week, expect all the Super Bowl ads to go viral. Here are a few of the early ones…. some have more views than others – you can see why…..
By Taylor Luke, Financial Potion, Guest Blogger
Who doesn’t love condiments? Ketchup, ranch, BBQ, buffalo; all condiments that add more flavor and flare to a meal to make it that much more memorable. Videos are your condiments to marketing.
By now every business owner knows they need a mobile website, and active social media sites to truly survive. However in order to thrive, businesses needs to pour videos onto these platforms like BBQ sauce to a rack of ribs.
It’s proven that when a video is on the top fold of the home page of a website, visitors will stay on the site at least three times longer than when there isn’t a video on the home page. Videos are first impression clones that allow people to get to know you and your business faster; making them one step closer to a confident buying decision. Sure, you probably have a lot of great content on your website, and you need that for SEO, however people retain 60% of the information given in a video versus only 20% when read. If someone decides to only visit your site once, how much information would you like him or her to retain?
According to comScore 45% of all Internet users view 1 video a month and the average views 32.2 videos in one month. If your target demographic includes Millennials, then you need to have video to educate them since 98% will watch at least 1 video a day to research content.
In 2006 Google bought YouTube because they knew it would be the future for communication. Google favors websites that have videos on them, and we all know Google runs the search world.
More social media platforms are leaning on video because it’s what people enjoy. Videos that are uploaded to YouTube can be simultaneously posted on Google+ and Twitter as well. Contents posts with a visible video attract three times more inbound links. On Instagram people can post short 15 second videos because of that fact alone. Periscope, a link of Twitter, is becoming very popular. This app allows people to live stream and become a reporter anywhere at anytime.
People want to work with people they know, like, trust and would hang out with. Videos create transparency for a business, and allow viewers to get an authentic view into the culture. A single video can be placed on multiple platforms to clone your message that could provide you a higher ROI than any other marketing tactic. Marketing is like a recipe, stick to a few basic rules, add your own ingredients and personality, then make sure to add plenty of video for flavor to make that meal, or your business, that much more memorable.
Taylor Luke has been practicing the art of video production for over ten years. Originally from the East coast, she moved to Arizona in order to get a way from the snow, cold, rain, humidity and expensive living. In Arizona she earned her bachelor’s degree in Film and Video Production at Collins College. During school she was a project manager at a video marketing company in Phoenix, then worked two years at a studio in Scottsdale, and since July of 2014 has been co-owner of her own video production company; Financial Potion. Her and her business partner believe video is the potion to relieve business owners of their financial worries. It’s an entertaining and effect way to communicate and educate people, and what she loves most about video production is the opportunities it grants to interact with so many different people and industries.
