Image via CrunchBase

I remember two years ago listening to a Web expert predict that eventually websites would be all video instead of print. While it hasn’t quite reached that extreme, it’s hard to ignore the impact videos and YouTube are having as a marketing tool. As a small business owner, you may want to take a close look at this amazing tool.

Thanks to companies like Bizbox TV and Pixability, creating videos is not necessarily cost prohibitive. If you are more of a do-it-yourselfer, you can even arm yourself these days with your phone or Flip video, along with some editing software, and be on your merry way.

So how can you use video?

1. A Two-minute commercial of what you or your company does
2. Testimonials (much more impactful than just words)
3. Blog posts (sometimes referred to as Vlog) can be great to mix things up, or if you don’t like to write
4. Promotion (demo a product or your speaking style)
5. Credibility builder (“how-to”, webinars or statistical videos)
6. Lead generator (think “sales letter or sales presentation” but in video)
7. Ad or info on other websites (think advertising or strategic alliances)

Where can you use the video?

The two big ones of course are on your website (or blog) and YouTube. YouTube right now is the second largest search engine after Google. What does that mean? That means millions of people are searching for specific information on YouTube. You should also know that people pay more attention to a YouTube video than they do their TV set. Finally, you should know that it can do amazing things to your Search Engine Optimization (being found on the Internet).

But definitely look for other options. Incorporate a video into presentations, as an introduction to your company at a live event or as an “ad” on your website or other websites.

A few key tips:

1. Keep it real – the more authentic the video, the more believable.
2. Keep it short – unless you are providing how-to info or product demonstrations, try to keep to two minutes or less.
3. Make it entertaining – seems obvious, but boring videos will lose your audience.

While video may seem daunting, it doesn’t have to be. Look for great resources and, for a start, why don’t you try today to “point and shoot.” You never know what the result might be!

Tagged as: Cidnee Stephen, marketing, online video, small business, social media, video