You’ve probably noticed video is “hot” right now.
Just look at the popularity and success of video sites like YouTube. And if you spend any time on these video uploading sites, you’ll notice they’re not all videos of cats and dogs doing funny things.
Tons of marketers are taking advantage of this medium to sell their products and grow their lists.
Can you get in on a piece of this action? You bet.
Note: Again, these tactics falls under the broader category of “article marketing.” While you can use create and distribute article videos to grow your list, you can also create videos without the use of articles. If you choose that route, follow the tips below while disregarding references to articles.
First off, however, you need to consider your market. Are they on high speed connections that can easily handle video?
Example: If you’re catering to a rural market, they simply may not be capable of a true broadband connection. Yes this happens even in today’s “modern” times.
There are a few different ways to use videos with respects to growing your list.
One way is to offer a free video or two as your freebie for anyone who signs up for your list.
Another way is to use your videos as “bait” to attract prospects to your site. This works much the same way as article marketing – you create impressive content with a call to action at the end that asks people to visit your site. People click through to your site and land on your compelling squeeze page.
Quick Tip: If people want to join your list after watching one of your videos, then offering “more of the same” is a good tactic to increase your subscriber opt-in rate. In other words, you can offer a video as your bonus freebie for joining your newsletter list.
Let’s talk about creating videos that get buzz… and new subscribers.
Here are the three steps to creating and launching a buzz-worthy video…
BUY good video and audio equipment.
Some people say – and it might be true – that prospects who are hungry for a particular piece of information wouldn’t care if you wrote it down on a piece of toilet paper.
Quick Tip: Let’s suppose I gave you the winning lottery numbers for tomorrow’s lottery. Would you care whether I scratched it on the back of a napkin or engraved it on a bar of gold? Probably not.
But of course we’re not all creating products that are the equivalent to a set of winning lottery numbers. So for the rest of us, presentation counts. That means you should buy the best video, audio and lighting equipment you can afford in order to create the most professional, polished videos you can muster.
I really like the Kodak Zi8 because it has an external mic connection.
BE creative… and controversial!
Prospects may appreciate plain, straightforward information – but they’ll rarely pass those sorts of videos along to their friends, post links to your video in forums, or blog about them.
If you want to create videos that get talked about, then they need to be centered around content that pushes the envelope. Be creative. Be controversial. Maybe even be a little offensive. After all, polarizing people and creating controversy results in plenty of niche buzz!
Quick Tip: Remember, your video has purpose. Namely, you’re using it to bring people to your site to join your newsletter. Always keep that over-riding purpose in mind as you produce your video.
Also, be sure to include your link multiple times throughout the video in both text and verbal form… especially at the end of the video. And as always, be sure to give those who view your video a compelling reason to go to your site!
BEGIN your video launch with a BANG!
Once you’ve completed your video, it’s time to get it in front of as many people as possible. If you can launch it with a “bang” – and if it truly is a viral video – then you can expect it to soon take on a life of it’s own.
For starters, post your video on the following sites and places:
- Upload your video to YouTube, Yahoo! Video, Viddler.com and as many other video sites as you can.
- Post links to your video on your blog, website, and forum.
- Post links to your video on other niche forums. (If nothing else, post it in your sig line.)
- Announce your video to your list, and encourage them to pass it along to their friends.
- Ask your friends and colleagues to blog about your video as well as adding it to their Squidoo lenses, HubPages, forums, newsletter and similar.
- Submit articles to article directories and include a link to your video at the end of the article.
- And finally: If your video is considered controversial or even offensive, then be sure to get it into the hands of the people who will be the most offended by the content. These people WILL talk about it, post links on forums, and blog about it too!
Peace,
P
Hi Paul
Good info. I tried trafficology which is a steep learning curve. I had almost no results. I have been trying to figure out how to find my niche. They are people at home, building home studios and hobby’s. My qualifications on my site are current and accurate I am working on multiple Television shows. Any suggestions? Be controversial, start with a bang. Will consider it Thanks Mike M
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Hi Paul,
I’m not a paying customer of yours (yet!), but I do want to say that your newsletters/posts are some of the very few I enjoy reading. I think it’s the lack of bull**it that lingers in the air of so many others
Anyway – great post, but I will take issue with “buy good video and audio equipment”…
…only because it’s not *needed* to create buzz-worthy videos. Using the first part of factor 2 (being creative) can overcome the technicalities in many cases (obviously depending on the context and aims of the video itself).
And I think the line…
“Quick Tip: Remember, your video has purpose.”
…should be in 24pt font size
– it’s the bit most people lose sight of when the lure of the snazzy bits and techy elements start taking over, and yet it’s the foundation of creating one in the first place.
Anyhoo, great post Paul, and thank you for continually providing such great content and insights into your businesses.
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Hi Paul,
This was a great post. I have been using video to market to offline business owners and I’m having a lot of success with it. I like the fact that I can use my newly acquired skill and help business owners get more customers to their businesses.
Since, I’m able to do that for them, now they can focus on their primary business and it creates a win-win for the both of us.
You tip about creating controversy is on point. I hadn’t been using that approach, but as of today a change is go to take place! Thanks.
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Paul…
I totally agree with the controversial approach.
For instance, although I have tried to depict a ‘smart blonde’ internet marketer in one of my free reports on market segmenting, niche & keyword research (see my website link) I’ve still managed to get a lot of hot responses, accusing me of being sexist, ha, ha!… while in fact all was exactly the other way around…
However, I have managed to get an 55%+ optin rate on that video squeeze page (pretty decent I’d say) and I suspect I didn’t get even a higher one simply because some visitors may be so mesmerized by the video itself that they may ‘forget’ why they arrived there in the first place… ha, ha, ha!
Anyway, bottom line is that controversy (with a measure) works – and works great!
Steve Lorenzo SEO Virtuoso
(Blonde Mary’s tamer)
http://stevelorenzo.info/BlondeMaryYOUandRedFerrari
PS
If you feel the above link to be out of line on the comment, feel free to edit it… but it is instructive, you know!…
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Hey Paul,
great article – I particularly like the idea of making sure your video gets into the hands of those that will be offended by it haha
One thing about video is that a decent audio soundtrack can make the world of difference.
When not making my own dramatic soundtracks using ProScores, I get my tracks from Stock20.
Their affiliate programme is cool too, since anybody following my link and registering (no purchase necessary) gets a free track (of their choice from the entire library) worth $20, and I get one too for referring them!
If you’re interested, then my link is http://stock20.re-voo.com
Hope that helps someone!
Do you use music very often Paul?
All the best,
Tony.
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I somewhat disagree with the “tell those offended by the video, first” concept. It actually depends on how much of the general population, they are. For example, a video selling taxidermy, sent to a PETA list, would cause major talk, and positive sales push. OTOH, a video passingly offensive to Christians, might go well on the Coasts, and *die* in the rest of the country.
Causing “talk” by being “offensive” is a very sharp, two-edged weapon. Use it carefully, as it backfires easily.
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Jackie Anderson :
Hi Walter,
What is “OTOH” ? I wasn’t sure what you meant or rather what it means. Anyway I’m revamping my video as a test to see how much controversy I can stir up. I’ll report my finding back here and keep you posted.
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Sherry :
OTOH: on the other hand
Joe :
Walter, I was just reading this page doing some research on video marketing and I saw where you responded and posted a reply because you disagreed.
What’s really funny is that you just proved his point! He got you to respond, which creates marketing buzz.
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Great post. I am in the middle of a video promotion right now and I really enjoyed these tips.
How do you feel about traffic geyser and tube mogul?
Dave
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Paul Evans :
Hey Dave,
I like them both. TG is more advanced feature wise, but TM is all most folks would ever need.
peace!
p
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Excellent stuff, Paul. Video is definitely a hot topic in the Internet Marketing world right now. These tips are great. I might go out a do a video today just because you’ve inspired me. Keep up the good content!
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Hi Paul, I wanted to thank you for your contribution to my life and business. You have inspired me to take steps that have improved my momentum in great ways. I have the great opportunity to host a Live Webinar with Gerry Robert author of Millionaire Mindset. He has a program that I think will help any business that needs to improve their momentum.
You talk about giving and I want to give this free webinar to as many people as possible it’s on Feb 23. Not to many days left. Can you help me pass the word? You can see the invitation page at the below link, no need to put your email to see it first. My video and more information about the Webinar is there.
Thanks again for all of your great works.
Talk to you soon
Kim Cobos
Here is the link http://www.challengeyourreality.com/swarm2010/
We are expecting lots of attendees and I would love to share your awesomeness with them. What can I do for you?
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