Viral Video Marketing

5 Video Marketing Mistakes You Must Avoid

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Video marketing is a technique used to promote a business, service or product through short videos. These videos are informative, educational and attractive, while at the same time highlighting the item being marketed. It can be a highly effective marketing tool--if you avoid the pitfalls.

Five video marketing mistakes to avoid:

ONE:  Don’t forget that video marketing is just that – marketing! Your video should be entertaining, educational or thought-provoking; but most importantly it should market whatever it is you are selling.

• Call to Action: Your video is designed to get your marketing message out to as many people as possible. But if your video doesn’t include a call to action, your message is incomplete. You need to clearly let your audience know what you want them to do. Your call to action can be at the end of your video, or it can be spread through out, but you need to be concise and specific. First provide the information in a helpful and genuine manner, then ask your audience to do something for you; make a comment, sign up for your newsletter, buy your product.

• Tracking:  Consider offering a special promotion within your video. Use a unique code to track when your viewers make a purchase or access additional information. These techniques will help you track the ROI against the cost of your video.

• Branding: Incorporate your brand (name, logo, website information, etc.) into your video. You can add a watermark or a small box in one corner with your brand information. However, don’t let this overwhelm the video itself.

TWO:  Don’t make your video too long! Statistics provided by YouTube indicate people will watch approximately 3.5 minutes of a video before they get bored and move on to something else. No matter how interesting your video is, your audience is unlikely to watch a long video. The best blogs and online articles tend to be short and to-the-point; your video should be the same. If you have a lot to share, make a series of short videos.

THREE:  Don’t upload your video before it has been properly edited! A poorly or improperly edited video will be bad for your business and for your reputation. View your video several times yourself. Determine who your target market is, then show your video to friends, relatives or business associates within that target market. Don’t get into such a hurry to share your video with the world that you miss something important in editing.
 
FOUR:  Don’t forget to be ready to share!  Even the world’s greatest video will be ineffective is no one sees it.

• Use YouTube: When you create a YouTube account you get a profile (called your channel), friends and followers (subscribers), ratings, favorites, playlists, comments, and a variety of other capabilities. Study the YouTube tutorials and learn all about these marketing methods – then use them for your video marketing!

• Facebook:  Share your video on your personal and/or business Facebook page. Encourage “friends” to comment on your video and to share it with others.

• Twitter, LinkedIn, blog sites, websites, emails: Share your video whenever and wherever you can. And encourage your viewers to share your video.

• Remember: Sharing is caring – caring about your business!

FIVE:  Don't forget to be authentic in promoting your business and your product.

• Boring:  Don’t be boring! Unless a video is so terribly boring that it becomes funny, you will find people don’t share boring videos. If it is appropriate for your product or service, have fun and let that show in your video. You will find people like to share in the fun.

• Be genuine:  Let your personality and your belief in your company or product show in all video marketing projects. You will connect with more people, and connect in a positive way, if they believe you and like you.

• Equipment:  Don’t get caught up in the idea that you must purchase the most expensive equipment available in order to create a good video. The message is what is important, and your sincerity.

• Instant results:  Don’t expect instant results from your video marketing. Think of it like planting a flower garden. First you prepare the soil, then you plant the seeds, then you water them and watch and wait. Soon small green shoots will emerge and grow into beautiful flowers. Video marketing is similar, it takes time and patience; but if done correctly will provide beautiful results.

Video marketing is an exciting way to market your business. These tips should help make your experience easier and more profitable.