One of the most popular social media methods for promoting your blog is through free video websites such as YouTube and Google video. According to marketingcharts.com (www.marketingcharts.com), 84% of all internet users view videos online. YouTube is the most popular and rapidly growing video sharing website with over 128 million viewers and over 15 billion downloads just in September 2009 alone! Due to its popularity, YouTube can significantly help increase your blog traffic.
Here are a few techniques to promote your blog with video:
- If you feel uncomfortable, showing your face on the video, then you can create a voice-over slide presentation. You can add music, pictures and video effects. I utilize Windows Movie Maker for visual effects for my videos. Window Movie Maker allows you to easily integrate audio, (other) video, captions and music and it is free!
- Add your blog URL in the beginning or at the end of the video to invite new visitors to visit your blog and join your community.
- People have a short attention span, so limit your video to about 5 minutes.
- It does not have to be perfect! People want authenticity. There is no need for expensive webcams, perfect lighting, a 5 hour wait at the beauty salon or a makeup artist on staff. As long as you look neat and presentable, home office video can have a tremendous impact on your audience.
- The relevancy of your message is almost more important than the video itself. Offer value with quick tips and strategies that can provide any assistance that your audience needs.
- Do not limit yourself with uploading to just one or two video sharing sites. Try to be everywhere. Use TubeMongul (www.tubemogul.com) to publish video in as many places as possible and on as many sites as possible. Your video can be simultaneously unloaded to Google, YouTube, MySpace, Yahoo!, HowCast, Blip.Tv, Metacafe and much more. TubeMongul also offers analytic reports. They will give you reports on how well your videos are performing on each website.
- Some viewers are going to visit your blog and post comments. Comments can also be posted on each site your video is being played on. Respond back to comments and try to respond quickly. I suggest using tools that notify you when a comment is posted to your blog or video sharing site. This form of etiquette is still missing in social media. If you are pleasant enough to respond back to your Facebook friends, please do the same for your video audience. Besides, your video audience does not know you. But, engaging them allows your video audience to trust you and utilize your suggestions, tools and ideas.
Nan, you look good girl! Ok, I hear you. Using video would really help me I know. In the past I have relied on in person networking to make friends and find new business. So, I realize that the reason why people who I network in person with are more likely to call me is that they have an opportunity to meet me. In person, I have the opportunity to have a two way converstion. I see that the same can happen with video.
Ok, so here’s my quesiton. I have that Windows Movie Maker but so far all I’ve been able to make is a mess! Could you give a brief step by step just for how to put my web address on the video? Maybe you already have one here and I haven’t seen it yet. You know, what do I click first, then next until that thing says my website on the screen. LOL! I’m going crazy with too much learning but it’s holding me back from getting this video show on the road.
Thanks.
Thanks, Lori! You know what? I will post a video on how to use Window Media Maker for video editing. I think many people do not know how to use this free Microsoft tool.
You have such a cute personality! You will be great on video!