Trends Suggest Visual Content Continues to Grow

List of Ways Visual Content Is Trending 

More Visual content  Includes both Pic's and Videos

Live video on social sites

Smarter visual content in a crowded market

Creativity super important

Video's to the point..trend suggest shorter video clips must gain attention

Tools for creating video and automation of cloud based editing

Add interactive messages inside video for response and call to action

More Video Content Platforms for User Generated Content

Custom Players for Built in messages, call to action and point of sale.

Mobile devices have HD Video camera for high end content on the fly and instant share

Short Podcast Audio Messages On Social Networks

I think about 11 years ago when broadcasting audio over the net was hard.   Video was in early experimental stages. Many technologies had to work properly for Internet broadcasting.  Those were the days when content streamed  live would land you in nerdville..

Now days any person with a little knowledge can take advantage of tools. Recently I pulled my Hurdie Burk Internet Broadcast Network off a Windows Server Farm fighting all the way.  Only because the technology was in my comfort zone and easy management of a broadcast.

I still do my 1 hour broadcast on Hangouts and broadcast live on my YouTube channel. These are long play and designed for a business interview.  All this lead to some ideas. The one that stuck. Download a mp3 recorder to my smart phone for short interviews with folks and push to social network footprints.

The idea replace our written post with some "moments that matter" audio podcast.

Short Video interviews work the same way.   Decided to add Quickvids to the mix.  These are additional products that support my main product the Video 6 Pack. Not going to get rich it does support my brand.

What Steps Are Needed

1. Download MP3 Recorder to your smart phone.
2. Limit interviews to 1-2 minutes ( get to the point).
3. Email recording to your email address.
4. Edit audio if you like.
5. Host on a a site like Libsyn.com .
6. Host site usually gives you links to embed and share.
7. Submit to itunes


By Hurdie Burk
Home of Video 6 PACK

Small Business Video Marketing Online

When asking small business today how they gain Customer Attention some head scratching and some er umm's sum up today's battle.  Old tactics and old marketing techniques are not winning the battle. Today's language is composed of actions, engagement, participation, collaboration, sharing, 1+, likes, video, and blogs.

Several years ago I remember,  thinking is social networking stuff going to stick?  In the early days, very few social networks were designed for business.  Nowadays business uses social networking for a brand, engagement, and lead generation.  How can a small/medium business gain customer attention?

My niche within social networking is helping small business owners with cost-effective branding, lead generation and search using video online.  A video is a powerful weapon for engaging customer attention. 

If you own small/medium business pay attention to the video. Research indicated several years ago short clips 1-3 minutes would keep attention and these should be personal, good, and make a point with a call to action.  Problem small business owners had no time, did not know where to begin and the video was expensive.  Today business owners are very busy (no time) and not sure where to begin however, video production is very affordable.

The battle for consumer attention should "include" video. Notice the word include not exclusive.
Think engagement. Want to win this battle for customer attention to engage, participate and learn to share. One concept that will never die in marketing.  Help others obtain what they need.

Think Video for Consumer Attention.

By: Hurdie Burk
Home of the Video 6 Pack

Video Marketing Checklist For Small Business

Remember those famous words spoken from Apollo 13. "Houston we have a Problem" .  The rest of the flight was about strategy to make it home.  Focused decisions and each one critical for survival.

Each step your business makes for marketing video is determined by  your "target market".  I speak from tons of time helping clients establish marketing goals using video.

We all know that Social Networks are here to stay.  We know they help provide avenues to push instant information to potential clients and build our brand.

Once you determine the all important  "Target Market" then the process for developing what works marketing your video's will keep the  "hey we have a problem" message on the shelve.

 1. Learn "How" folks search for your business, product etc...  Start typing in searches and see what appears and watch videos of other related business. Some of these searches could make excellent titles for your video's

2. Build a YouTube Channel.  The ability to share and embed is important.

3. Edit videos for a  professional look.  YouTube Cards ( links), end of video annotations,  custom thumbnails and audio library.

4. Embed video on your website.  Example:  Develop video's centered on top 5 questions your clients or potential customers ask. Embed on proper page.  Set a goal to develop 2 video's a month keep content coming.  Activity and Engagement.

5.  Make your point.. Don't be that car "rambler"..

6. Understand your social networks and understand one video for one may not work as well on another one.

7. Ask your social network friends for help. Would you please share my video's I am going out of business.
Kidding!  I started video marketing and would you mind sharing this with some friends which,  need my service/product.

8. Most of all make your videos personal and tell brief stories.  Example:  I was doing video for a business that organizes family photo's.  She was showing off a  very cool box  for organizing photo's.  This meant a lot to me when I was rounding up "my family" photo's ( personal).

9.   Learn the 4 basics ( narrowed down).  Video Capture, Converting, Basic Editing and  Tagging for search.

10.  Have fun.. Your producing Content. 

Why Offering a Free Service Is Not a Good Idea..

One of the top  words used in marketing to gain your attention is the word "free".  Next time your online watch how  ad's are structured and see how many times you see something offered for "free".  

Good advertisers use "free" as a hook.   Good ad's might say something like this.

Free 30 day trial. This is a great way to have a client  try your product.  You see this type of ad associated  with software.

Free with the purchase of X.  You buy and get something.

Free Appointment.  Lawyers use this one a lot.

Free Download..  Trade contact info for information. 

When "free" is used in the wrong way

Write this down!   Locate a 3 x 5 card and post it where you see and remember.

"CASH is KING"

This may have happened to you.  Your a small business and a potential client ask if you to provide a service for "free" to test your product.  You hopefully will do a short interview and find out what a client needs are however, your answer is going to be "NO".  The same amount of work is required for a "free" service and cuts into your ROI or your ROT ( Return on Time).. 

This does mean we cannot discount. Make sure your discount covers your service, labor and hard materials. Discounts can hook your customer long term.  

Trade outs should be Dollar for Dollar.  I stay away from trade outs for the simple reason "CASH is KING" and trade outs do not pay the bills.  If one chooses to use a trade out.  Make sure both parties are in agreement it is dollar for dollar.  I will do one  if it helps my business.. 

If you offer a "free" service call ( I would not) then make sure you have a means to cover that cost.  Better yet! Let clients know you will charge a fee and will apply it to the service if they chose your company for the work.  If they do not then let client know  the service call is non-refundable.  

I might lose clients if I don't offer something "free".  You might lose some clients.  In the long term your business will prosper and the market ( your market) will know you provide a service for a fair price.  Your marketing material may have strong slogans  like "100% Satisfaction Guaranteed" letting clients know you back up your work.

Hold your ground and make sure you have your "FAB" ( Feature, Benefits) for why a client should do business with you. Lots of business are offering a "free" something.  I recommend learning a word track ( have a answer)  when a client says will x down the street said he would do it for "free".   My answer is this.  I completely understand the temptation to use the free service does the "free " offer include ( list your FAB).   

Sometimes we have to walk away from business and focus on clients who can and are willing to pay for our service. Increase your pipeline and "free" will not be an issue. 

Remember "a free trail " can be a powerful tool for your business if used the right way or "free" can hurt your ROI and ROT  business model.

I will no longer offer a free service to another business who will become successful at my expense.

Give your clients several options when proposing  Services

7 Dumb Moves Small Business Do With Video Online Using YouTube

Why these Dumb Moves Will Not Help Your Business Video Online Using YouTube.

1. You have a YouTube channel  and never share your videos to your social networks.    Never learned  the tools on "your" YouTube channel.  Learn the basic Share (Social Networks), Email, Playlist and Embed.  
2. You leave the file extension on your YouTube Video Title.  Make sure the  title is properly worded for search.  Recently noticed company name on title.  People look for products, services and lots of "How To"  Take time and search what people search for related to your service or product.  Built your title for search.  Take off that file extension!  
3. When you embed the video using the code on YouTube make sure you scroll down once you click embed and take the "Check Mark" out of the box "play related video".  Do you want your  competitors videos playing on your website right after yours?  Hopefully they will send you a thank you card.  
4. Make sure and  add a Logo to Front and End of Video and add your URL website on Video. Having this on your video looks better and keeping your website as a subtitle might mean a visit to your website and remember indexing will find the subtitle.   
5. The Description Box where you enter what the video is about.  The very first item?  Your website.  You are required to enter http://www.yourcompany.com.  Imagine your customers having the ability to click through to your website. The last video I watched simply said "Cool Video" which means wasted space.  Write what the video is about.  Tell me your service areas.. Contact phone number. Give me reasons to call you, email or visit your website.
6. Tags and keywords need be simple and do the point.  Type in Google search and see how folks are searching for your product or service.  See what folks type related to your business. Use a Keyword  Tools service and do your research.  
7. Create your profile on your YouTube channel.  YouTube makes changes all the time to help support your efforts.  Add website link and social network links.  Go back to video editor and improve titles and click advanced settings and locate your video.  Customize your background, , learn how to create playlist for part 1, part 2 etc..  Add some annotations to your video.  

These are some very simple ways to improve your YouTube videos.  Other items can be tweaked. Make sure your asking folks to subscribe.  We hear about viral Video all the time.  Focus on learning  "how to brand" your business in your Local Market.   Watch your competitor's videos learn and see what they do.  Look at each video as a "mini website" .  Spend 1 hour per day sharing and asking folks to help share your business using "Inbound Marketing".  Activity rules.. keep adding video.  I have a local Home Inspector with 83 videos we are editing 50 more for his channel.