Put Videos to Work in Promoting Your Small Business

Are you using video to promote your small business?

No matter what kind of small business you run, video is a powerful promotional tool.

Just what can video do for your business, and how can you make the best of it?

Advantages of Using Video in Your Business

Video is a worthwhile investment for your small business.

Video is a dynamic way of getting your message across. Your customers are subjected to a lot of marketing messages every day; a well-planned video can help your business stand out from the crowd.

Some of the advantages of video include:

  • Putting a face to the name - Video is a good way to show the human side of your business, especially if you feature real team members;
  • Showcasing benefits - A video lets your customers see for themselves what makes your business stand out;
  • Telling a story - You can use video to tell a story, gaining and keeping your customers' attention as the story unfolds;
  • Eliciting a reaction - Whether you want to inspire trust, hope, happiness, security or any other feeling in your customers, video can help you do it;
  • Creating a connection - Video can be as informative, emotive or entertaining as you like, creating a connection between your business and your customers.

How to Create a Winning Business Video

The advantages of video for your small business are clear. But how do you go about creating a winning business video?

The good news is that you don't need to hire a video production company and a troupe of actors.

Those are certainly options if you have the budget and want to add that extra polish to your video. However, a simple video camera (or digital camera with video capability) is sufficient.

The first thing your business video needs is a message. What do you want the viewers to take away from it?

Focus on what will be most useful or entertaining for them.

A simplified history of your business is unlikely to grip them, but a demonstration of how your business can improve their lives will.

Choose one clear message and focus on conveying that. Trying to pack too much into one video is a common mistake, and leads to confusion.

Once you know what you want to say, say it clearly and well.

Plan-out your video using a script, storyboard, or flashcards to highlight the main points.

Choose a place to film where you are guaranteed good light, pleasant surroundings and a minimum of noise and interruptions.

 

Choosing a Video Hosting Service

The article "The Amazing Rise of Beauty Videos" says that businesses who want to stand out from the competition need to post some videos on YouTube.

YouTube is certainly one of the most popular video hosting services. It's easy to use and has a large and active user base of 1 billion unique visitors a month. But what about other video hosting sites?

Take a look at:

  • Vine videos are only six seconds long. It sounds daunting, but in fact a short video (or a series of them) is an excellent way to distil your main point and create something memorable;
  • Google Hangouts offers a Hangouts On Air option for if you want to live stream a video;
  • Instagram's 15-second videos offer a little more space and flexibility than Vine. Instagram has an active community of 300 million users;
  • Vimeo is a smaller community, with a very creative and artsy focus.

YouTube is undoubtedly a good choice for your small business video, but these alternatives each have their benefits too. Compare them and see which best fits with your video style and small business aims.

If you want your message to connect and make a lasting impression, it's time to start using video to promote your small business.