YouTube is the second most searched site next to Google. It has more than 1 billion unique visitors each month and nearly 700 YouTube videos are shared on Twitter each minute.

How many times have we heard about this ‘YouTube’ sensation or the watched a “feel good story” on TV about somebody becoming a millionaire because they posted videos of their cat there?

Video is the next best thing to actually talking to your prospects in person, but it’s not for everyone. If you’re “camera-shy”, you can still use video by recording screen casts of a Keynote or PowerPoint presentation.

Try something like Animoto, PowToons or Video Scribe to make an introductory video explaining what you do. This is the closest thing you’ll get to a traditional tv commercial.

Video can also be very effective for building a list. It’s not uncommon to see a video on a landing page these days because they’re known to drastically increase conversion rates.

It’s also a great way to re-purpose content from a blog or newsletter. People absorb information differently and most likely have a preference in how they receive it. Some may prefer a blog, others newsletters or podcasts and if you’re like me it’s video – you can expand your reach by just reformatting the exact same content from one format (like a blog or podcast) to video.

Remember to focus on the first ten seconds of your video. You have about 10 seconds to say something compelling & engaging enough to capture their attention, before they move on. Try not to make your videos too long – keep them to five minutes or less.

Don’t forget about the quality of the video, especially the sound and lighting. A poorly made video will send prospects running, if they can’t see or hear you. They will become annoyed and just click away.

You don’t have to go pro right away. You can record a high quality video without spending a fortune. If you search YouTube, you can find some great tutorials.

With regards to content, keep in mind that most people are conducting some form of research online. If your videos can educate or answer questions related to your industry, product or service then you’re already heading in the right direction.

If you feel like this is starting to sound a lot like blogging – you’re right. Blogging and social media outlets like YouTube are perfect platforms for content marketing and for bringing traffic to your site.

Don’t forget to optimize. Any content you put online should be optimized for search and video is no exception. Make sure you write keyword rich titles and use keywords in your description. The closer you can get your keyword phrases to the beginning of the description the better and don’t forget the tags – videos are still posts!

Conclusion
If you want to build a solid platform online at some point you’re going to have to start adding videos into the mix. Without video, you could be leaving leads and money on the table, that your competitors will make sure they don’t leave behind.

Question: How could you use video to market your small business? Share you comments, questions and concerns below.

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