Videocasting 101

Business owners have always had many avenues for communicating their marketing messages to clients, but the newest avenue is videocasting (online video). This method is inexpensive, easy and helps quickly build rapport with current and potential clients. The only expense is a handheld video camera, which you may already own. With a little bit of practice, you can be adding this high-tech feature to your website or blog.

Videocasting has some unique advantages for many different types of business owners, like “Main Street” owners. How many times do you get asked the same questions on how to do basic maintenance by your customers? By filming yourself doing small basic maintenance tasks, you can answer these questions one time and provide a fantastic service for current and potential customers and a new reason for potential customers to seek out your site!

Service businesses benefit from using video as well. Your potential clients get to meet you and your team online ahead of time while YOU tell them about your business. You can offer short training videos as well and create relationships built on trust. This makes it much more likely for them to enlist your company’s services because they get to see, in advance, that you have real content to offer them.

One of the great things about videocasting is it isn’t expensive. Good video cameras, even those with high definition recording, can be found for $150 or less. It may be that your personal digital camera has adequate recording capabilities as well. Invest in an inexpensive tripod and use this when recording yourself talking at a desk. If you are recording a training video showing a process, an extra pair of hands managing the camera is preferred. Keep your clips short-3 minutes or less.

Natural lighting is always preferred, but make sure whatever you use is of decent quality. Keep your filming area quiet. But, do note that many successful entrepreneurs have built loyal followings while breaking every recording rule, like walking when talking or having moderate quality video. In the end, it is about offering something unique to your viewers. Be prepared to do several takes at first while you get used to the recording process.

Most video cameras come with free editing software. In the off chance it doesn’t, there are plenty of free or inexpensive options online. Many times you won’t need to edit and you can directly upload your video clip to YouTube. Be sure you have one set up in advance and that your profile includes a link to your company website. You can also use YouTube to network and communicate with your viewers and other YouTube members. Plus it provides free storage for your clips.

Once you have saved your video in your software, upload it to YouTube and make it public. After it is loaded, you will have the “share” feature, either a link or the actual code that you can easily add to your website. This allows you to put your video on your website easily. With just a little practice and a small financial investment you can easily add a unique marketing feature for your business that many of your competitors haven’t even considered yet.

With 30 years of consulting experience, Steven Schlagel offers training and coaching for startups, entrepreneurs and small business owners. Check his site for more articles to increase your success!