Ironically, I create web video promotions for other local businesses, but when it comes time for my site, I’m the last person in line. Well, hopefully I can change that over the next week.
I’ve scheduled some time to do some quick videos, so watch for them to appear shortly, along with some other changes for the site as well. In the meantime, I’ll use some of the videos I have recently put together to help explain web video marketing for local businesses a bit better.
If you aren’t aware of some of the recent headlines, more and more people are moving away from regular TV and watching all their shows and movies online. Companies like Apple with iTunes and Netflix with their service are making it easier and easier to accomplish this.
This is all leading to an entire marketing shift, at least for those paying attention. Effectiveness of Yellow Pages ads has dropped drastically (yet prices continue to go up) as people search online rather than leafing through big phone books, commercials on regular television have become costlier, yet less effective and with PVR’s saturating the market the majority get fast forwarded through anyway. Even local radio ads are losing effectiveness as more people switch to satellite radio services.
So how can companies get their products and services in front of consumer’s eyes? One huge area of potential is Facebook. If you are on Facebook, who hasn’t seen a video marketing a product on their wall or an ad down the side of their profile page? Combine this with the explosion of Facebook Fanpages (which ironically even show up at the end of TV commercials that are fast forwarded anyway) and you can understand why Facebook is poised to become a major player for companies advertising online.
As an example, just last week our Realtor took my wife and I out for lunch to a fabulous little Greek restaurant here in Calgary, Plaka Greek Taverna. We had such a great time there we are looking forward to going back. Now while I was there, I managed to take some pictures, capture a little video and then when I had some time, I put the following video together, and then I added it to my Facebook stream to show to people and help promote Yianni’s business
.
After seeing the video, wouldn’t you like to go for lunch there? If you do, tell them you came after seeing the video Bill did!!! This is a simple example of how you can market your business online by using web video.
The important aspects of the video, which are often missed by people creating their own promotional videos, are the following;
- The name of the business is listed several times
- The phone number and address are included for people to write down
- Music adds to the experience
- It’s short, but effective
If you are interested in creating some web videos to help promote your business online, be sure to include the above information in them. Alternatively if you would be interested in having me come in and talk about creating some promotional videos for you, I can be reached via email at bill(at)bill.biko.com, just replace the (at) with @, or you can reach me via phone at 403-870-4663.