5 Reasons To Start Web Video Marketing Now is a post from: #1 Melbourne SEO Services Company

Improve your rank using web videos.

Can you name a good reason why you haven’t started web video marketing for your business yet?

No?

I’m not surprised, because video can help virtually every business; it is considered one of the “low hanging fruit” areas of online marketing because it will enhance virtually everything you are doing online and increases conversions over traditional text and images.

So why wouldn’t you start now? Here are 5 reasons that might just convince you to get started:

1. People Do Business With People

In an online world full of faceless businesses and companies, video allows you to cut through the anonymity and connect with your audience, face to face, person to person.

The importance of this cannot be over-estimated, because it has always been (and maybe always will be) the case that people buy from people.

If you can connect to your clients through video, they are already pre-sold by the time they pick up the phone or request a quote; they already have a sense of who you are and what you stand for; they already know you love what you’re doing because it oozes through in your videos.

Quite simply, they are more likely to buy from someone they know – and they’ll feel they know you better through watching your videos.

2. Increased Authenticity And Transparency

Web video marketing allows you to keep it real! You can demonstrate that you are authentic and trustworthy with nothing to hide: that’s important because people’s biggest fear online is being scammed.

You can show them who you are, what you do and how you do it. This is much more important than having slick, rounded videos – that can all come later!

Don’t worry if your first videos are rough around the edges; the key is to just get started, make your mistakes now and improve the quality of the videos over time; people forgive mistakes in videos, but they don’t forgive someone trying to con them.

3. Heightened Expert Status

Web video also allows you to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise – whether it’s via How-To videos or FAQ videos, you are able to show that you know your stuff. It may take time to get to where you want to be but video will get you there quicker than any other medium.

4. It Makes Life Easier For The Visitor

The YouTube phenomenon means that we have come to expect video when we land on a page; many of us don’t want to read large chunks of text but if we see a video front and centre of the page we will click on it. It’s just more inviting and easier than reading a long sales letter, for example.

5. Better Rankings

If we’re in online marketing we’re in the business of getting rankings to generate traffic to our website. With web video it’s relatively easy to rank well because the competition is still not that fierce in many business areas.

We have seen how video results have merged with text, images and maps in search engine results; using some general video SEO pointers can help you dominate results for certain keywords.

Are you convinced? You still don’t believe in the power of web video marketing? Well I suggest you head on over and watch the FREE Competition Crusher workshop at www.crusherworkshop.com. Then let us know if you’ve changed your mind!

5 Live Video Recording Tips For New Video Makers is a post from: #1 Melbourne SEO Services Company

Don’t let the hot flushes ruin your first video-making experience! Live video recording can be a little daunting at first but good preparation for your videos will go a long way to calming the nerves and shooting something that looks and sounds professional.

We go through five tips to record live video below, which should help you.

1. Script It But Don’t Read It

Prepare what you’re going to say; in fact the script you write will be the single most important aspect of your video because, ultimately, it’s your message and how you deliver it that counts.

When you’re delivering in front of the camera don’t read or you will probably sound “wooden”. The skill is in using the script as a guide but making it sound natural – like it’s off the top of your head.

This may not come easy but it’s what actors do all the time; the Braveheart speech from William Wallace on horseback that sends chills up everybody’s spine – it’s highly scripted but appears natural, of course.

Now, you don’t have to be Mel Gibson, but there are little tactics you can use to make things seem more natural. For example, break your script down to bullet points and then practice using those instead of the full script; gradually make fewer bullet points until you have only a few and you can fill in all the gaps naturally.

2. Use A Mirror To Practice

Stand in front of a mirror and practice it; pin the bullet points on the mirror even and be comfortable with what you’re saying and how you look in front of the camera. Don’t worry if you don’t look like a movie star – that’s not important; it’s the message that’s important, not you.

As you do more and more of these, you’ll get more comfortable and won’t need to take this step.

3. Speak To The Camera

Imagine your ideal customer and talk directly to them as a friend; this will make sure your video hits the right pitch and tone most of the time. Avoid making your web video too formal as you can come across as fake or tense. A conversational tone is usually best.

4. Don’t Be A Donoz Direct!

Australians are generally pretty smart at smelling shameless selling when they see it; in the US the “sales” culture is much more brazen and direct but it generally doesn’t work over here or in Europe either.

Make sure you are as real as possible with your videos and don’t lay the sales on too thick!

5. Fix It In The Editing

Remember that editing will fix anything that’s not quite right, as long as you plan well. You don’t need to shoot it in one take; break the filming up into small components so you don’t have to memorise large chunks – a minute at a time or something like that; then you can zoom in at each cut so that it will look to the viewer, once it’s pieced together, as if it’s all shot in one take.

It takes time to achieve the right balance with all the aspects of live video recording but you will get there; successful video requires a lot of attention at first and tips like those in our Competition Crusher workshop will help you. Watch it for FREE by clicking here.

Practice makes perfect.

5 Places On Your Website To Use Web Videos is a post from: #1 Melbourne SEO Services Company

Your web videos should be spread far and wide but, in terms of your website, there are some key pages where it is irreplaceable.

Video increases conversion rates of leads – so it is a powerful tool to encourage a call to action. That means it needs to be sitting on your pages with the highest traffic.

Check with Google Analytics what your most visited pages are. Then add video to it. The likelihood is that some of the following pages will be the key ones:

Your Homepage

When customers land on your homepage they are looking for something. If you have done your “homework” you should know before you set up your site who will be visiting, who your ideal client is, what they are looking for and what you should be saying to them.

This means that your video on the homepage can address their biggest frustration; you can describe it better than they can and this will create the all-important connection by showing them that you understand their problems; then offer the solution and call them to action.

This will increase the chance of getting them to pick up the phone, sign up for your free report or send an email for a quote, because you are “pressing all the right buttons” in their minds.

Services Page

On your services page you can use video to explain exactly what you offer, with no ambiguities. The visual and practical element of video should be a great advantage over using text and images to convey the benefits of your products and services.

About Us

Tell your story through video on the About Us page and show your customers how you have faced many of the problems they face and how you overcame them to be where you are today. This will create the connection and show what a great position you are in to offer the solutions.

FAQ Page

FAQ auto-responders are great for demonstrating your authority and expertise in your market area. Choose 10 of the questions your customers regularly ask and 10 questions they should ask; then make short web videos for each.

Testimonials

Video is excellent for providing proof and credibility for your business. Create customer testimonials and try to interview some of the industry leaders on video so that everyone can see how you and your business are mixing with the right people and getting results.

Promotional business videos can be uploaded to video hosting sites like YouTube, Vimeo, Viddler and many others, but the purpose is usually to drive visitors back to your website. That means you need to get videos on all of the pages of your site where people will land.

There are plenty more online video and general online marketing strategy tips like these in the free-to-watch Competition Crusher workshop. Simply click here to learn more about it.

Use web videos to transform your web pages.

The Top 8 Questions To Ask When Making Video Testimonials is a post from: #1 Melbourne SEO Services Company

Get OK'd by your customers.

Video testimonials are like gold nuggets for your business. Every one adds credibility and authority to you – and we’ve mentioned many times that this is the currency you want to be dealing in online; you NEED it to make sales.

There is a definite strategy to making good customer testimonials that sell your business and that begins with knowing what to ask.

Try the eight questions below for size, first of all:

• How were things going before us?

This allows them to talk about the problems they were facing and some of the issues they were struggling with before you came along.

• How did you find us?
• Why did you choose us?
• How was it working with us?

This gives your customer the chance to say how easy and pleasurable you were to work with and how you addressed their needs and concerns.

• What were the results?

The all-important results are what any prospective buyers want to hear about, so spending time on this point is important.

• What did it mean to you?

This allows them to tell the “afterwards” story about the benefits your products or services brought to their business.

• Why would you recommend us?

Again, this focuses the viewer on the things you do better than any other business for your customers.

• Anything else you’d like to add?

Before, During And After

The above questions will be effective in eliciting the responses you need from your customer because they will tell the before, during and after story that you need to connect with your viewers.

The customer’s story should ring bells in the viewer’s head, identifying similar problems and issues they have and showing how your business was able to address and solve those issues. This connects them to the customer and they will see how you will be able to do the same for their own business.

Early And Often

The general rule with testimonials is- whether by text, audio or video – testimonials should be gathered early and often; don’t wait around – strike when the iron is hot!

If you have delivered great products and provided excellent service nobody will mind raving about how good you are; it’s best if you can get video testimonials as these have the greatest impact of all.

This important aspect of online business is just one of many topics covered in the Competition Crusher workshop; from start up through to ongoing marketing strategies, all the key points are covered and it is available to watch just by clicking here.

Guide To The Essential Web Video Equipment is a post from: #1 Melbourne SEO Services Company

Web video equipment needn’t cost you a fortune; but there are certain essentials you’ll want, to make decent-looking and sounding video that helps you get your message across.

Below we take you through the basic equipment that you’ll need; you can spend as little as about a thousand dollars on this…or the sky’s the limit at the upper end of the range!

The Lights

Lighting is important – you are making a business video, not a ghost movie, so make sure you have three lights positioned in a 3 point system: that’ one to the right, one to the left and one behind you; this will avoid any “Hammer House of Horror” effects!

Another lighting tip is to turn off any external light sources in the room.

The Camera

This needn’t be a camera to rival Steven Spielberg’s! A “Flip” camera will be fine for many of you or, if you want something a little more advanced, try a Canon 60d which is a digital SLR model that shoots great video.

If you are really on a tight web video production budget just grab an iPhone 4 from a friend – the camera on that creates video good enough to be uploaded to YouTube or embedded on your website.

The Tripod

It’s important to get a tripod and the best ones have spirit levels so you can ensure your camera is completely level when filming.

The Microphone

Many budding video makers under-estimate the importance of sound, seeing video as a purely visual media. Well try making a video with no sound or distorted sound and see how much good it does you!

Poor sound distracts people and obscures your message – which is the whole point of the video.

Really, invest in a good microphone – such as a wireless Bluetooth microphone if you’ll be moving around or a good omni-directional lapel microphone; avoid hand-held mikes as you may end up fidgeting with them and this looks bad on camera.

The Editing Software

iMovie (for Mac users) or MovieMaker (for PC users) is editing software that will allow you to edit your own movies relatively easily, even if you have no prior experience. Take a few tutorials and you will be able to arrange your video how you want it to look and feel; don’t worry – your skills will improve the more you practice your editing.

Screen Capture Software

The last essential web video equipment is screen capture software, such as Screenflow (Mac) or Camtasia (PC) which allows you to make videos of what’s on your screen (presentations etc); you can narrate a soundtrack over the top and produce your own videos easily this way, if you just need a simple video done relatively quickly.

None of these need to cost much at all. Everybody loves money-saving tips such as these and there are loads more for your business in the Competition Crusher workshop. Just click here to find out more.

A good microphone is one video equipment you will need.

Don’t Be A Perfectionist Non-Starter With Business Video Making! is a post from: #1 Melbourne SEO Services Company

Just do it!

Being a perfectionist is great in some areas, but I find that when it comes to business video making, it can be used as a reason not to do anything at all!

The only thing worse for your business than bad web video is no web video, so it can often be a case of biting the bullet and just getting started.

Typical Reasons Not To Start

We hear many reasons why businesses have not yet started a web video strategy:

• “We don’t have the right equipment”
• “We haven’t found the right video production company to help us”
• “We’re waiting for the end of the financial year”
• “We just need to get “this” out of the way …then we’ll….”
• “We want to read up a bit/go on a course/find some tutorials so that we get it right…”
• “We are working on a strategy now” 

Just Do It!

Our advice to any business that finds itself uttering any of the above is “Just do it.”

The point is – your video does not need to be perfect and wasting time by waiting for the perfect moment to start…which may never come…is harming your business.

Get started now – make your mistakes now – and everything else will follow!

The Trading Systems And Melbourne SEO Example

You will probably find, like we did, that our first videos were our worst. When I look back on old trading videos I made of me in front of a webcam in the bedroom, I cringe. A lot of the 300 plus videos were not exactly masterpieces but many received between 20,000 and 35,000 views!

Even the early Melbourne SEO videos, of which there are now over 500, weren’t the best. The point is that it’s the message and the information that counts, more than the quality of the video or presentation skills.

Every business will go through it and the sooner you get started the sooner you will start to polish your skills. Technology allows you to shoot good videos straight off the bat with reasonably priced equipment these days; of course your live video recording skills will need honing along the way, but the most important thing is to begin the process.

Quantity vs Quality

There is a good argument to mix a bit of quantity with the quality in the case of business video making.

If you have an in-house video maker or outsource it, you may have to battle with them to accept that you just want to get the video out there in a 75% finished state rather than the perfection that they are after.

Strike a balance between quality and quantity and that should serve your business well.

If you are just starting out try making 4 or 5 initial videos and see how you go. Remember – everything can be adjusted and edited later, so don’t worry too much about your initial efforts. Just get started and play around with it!

The Melbourne SEO Services “Competition Crusher” workshop carries a lot more information for budding web video makers. It’s not to be missed and you can get your copy for free when you click here.

Discover The Main YouTube Channel Optimisation Secrets is a post from: #1 Melbourne SEO Services Company

It’s true that every Tom, Dick and Harry can have their own video channel these days; but very few businesses go about YouTube channel optimisation the right way to make theirs stand out in the crowd.

Remember that your channel is important for promoting videos that drive potential customers to your website so optimizing this process is an integral part of generating traffic.

Below we look at a few strategies you can use to make sure that you are on the map when it comes to online channels that make an impact.

Your Channel Username

Select a username that includes your main keyword as this will help with optimisation. You are looking for opportunities to include your keywords wherever you can, within reason – the effect is similar to the on-page SEO effect of getting the right keywords in the right places.

Background Image

YouTube provides options for customising the background image, so you should use them; this can help to brand your business – include your logo and website URL wherever you can. This looks sharper and more professional than the default background.

Channel Type

This is a useful little tip that is sometimes missed and can give you an edge.

You are requested to select a channel type – either basic YouTuber, Guru, Director, Comedian or Musician etc – when you set up your channel.

The basic, generic “YouTuber” category gets most sign ups, so picking the “guru” type will mean there are less competitors when it comes to handing the YouTube awards out.

The Melbourne SEO Services site has received awards such as the “13th most viewed today” in the “Guru” category; we wouldn’t have received them in the “YouTuber” category.

It’s a small but potentially significant distinction to make – don’t forget we are trying to make our channel stand out from the hordes of others.

Tell Them To Subscribe

Include a call to action for people visiting your channel – not only to get them to watch your videos but to get them to subscribe to your channel. This may be important later when your videos are aiming for high ranking and competition gets tougher; one measurement in YouTube’s algorithm appears to be the number of subscribers you have.

Learning how to do YouTube channel optimisation in a competitive market can help drive healthy amounts of traffic to your website. You’ll find tips on all other aspects of video marketing in the Competition Crusher workshop which is available to view totally FREE when you visit it by clicking here.

Help your viewers quickly understand your YouTube channel.

The 5 Pillars Of YouTube Video Optimization is a post from: #1 Melbourne SEO Services Company

Check the competition.

You’ve spent time planning, shooting and editing your video; it’s been uploaded to YouTube and is looking great on your channel! Now – it’s time to sit back and watch the viewers flock to view it, right?

Not quite so fast! Video optimization is a key component of video marketing as you need to give your creations the maximum chance of appearing in YouTube search results.

Remember that YouTube is a “vertical” search engine, meaning a search engine that delivers results for one type of medium only– online video.

Therefore many of the rules of optimizing video are similar to the rules of on-page SEO for your website – much of the emphasis is on using the right keywords in the right places.

Here are five of the main guidelines to get your video ranking:

Select Keywords

Your keyword phrases may be the same as you have used for the on-page SEO of your website or they may have slight variations.

You need to consider what you are hoping people will search for when they find your video. Often on YouTube people are looking for educational or instructional videos that answer questions or solve problems and show people how to do something.

Title

Choose your title carefully – include a main keyword phrase in it but make sure that it does actually reflect the content of the video or people will just get frustrated and click away from your channel.

Description

In the description you expand on what the subject matter of the video is – not many people read the description because only the first line or two is shown and the rest is hidden until you reveal it.

Include your URL at the front of the description and at the end – there are few places on YouTube where you can include a clickable link so make sure you take the opportunity here.

Tags Section

In this section you want to consider again what people will be searching for when they find your video; these may be the same as your keyword phrases. If you tag your videos well you may appear in the “related” or “suggested” videos that YouTube displays to their users once a video has finished playing.

Check On The Competition

Understanding what the level of competition is, in your area of expertise, on your YouTube channel will tell you what you have to do to optimise it. In a non-competitive area following the above four guidelines may be enough to have you ranking well – because most people don’t optimise their videos; in a more competitive area, other strategies will be unnecessary.

We will take a look at some strategies for video optimization in a more competitive market in a separate blog post. In the meantime why not head over and take a look at our free Competition Crusher workshop by clicking here. You’ll find plenty more great tips like those above.

How To Optimize YouTube Video When The Competition Is Fierce! is a post from: #1 Melbourne SEO Services Company

We have covered in another blog post about how to optimize YouTube video in a non-competitive business area – but sometimes there are some “buzz” areas that attract a lot of videos; this makes it harder for your videos to rank and therefore, unless you learn some “guerilla warfare” tactics, your video will be rustled out of town!

Optimizing for keywords in the title, description and tags is all well and good most of the time. Most people uploading to YouTube don’t even do that.

But for some areas – usually where the stakes are higher and the “big boys” are involved – it helps to know what YouTube is on the lookout for in its algorithm.

Backlinks & Embeds

The more back-links to and embeds of your video the better; getting it posted in blogs, on your website, social media pages and as many other places on the web that can display a video, will make yours more competitive for your tags and keywords.

Views, Ratings And Comments

In a non-competitive area you don’t have to worry too much about getting ratings and comments from your users, though it always feels great to get a lot of views and some positive comments alongside the video.

As the competition becomes stiffer this becomes more important as YouTube credits those videos that are the most popular and generate the most interest. It is partly the huge influence of social media globally that has added currency to this aspect of your videos.

Age Of The Video

The age of your video may play a role too. It’s difficult to get hard and fast data on how the age of your video will affect rankings but we’re pretty sure it does. It’s probably best not to take down old videos unless they are completely misleading or irrelevant.

Playlist Additions

If your videos are regularly making playlists then others you make may have more chances of being ranked high in YouTube search results.

Channel Views And Subscribers

As competition becomes fiercer YouTube also looks at the popularity of your channel as well as your individual videos; they will take into account your number of channel views and subscribers; so it’s always good to encourage subscriptions and to market your channel.

And Dave’s Golden Tip…

The golden tip that may just outweigh all the others is to embed your video onto high page rank pages. Seek out those pages that are truly popular, get a lot of hits and that Google rewards with a high page rank – this will see your videos ranking up near the top.

It’s not easy to get your videos on these sites but a bit of research, mixing with the right crowd and some quality video making and marketing should get you there.

Learning how to optimize YouTube video in a competitive market can help drive large amounts of traffic to your website. Want to see how we do it? Visit our YouTube channel by clicking here and see how we optimize our own videos.

Get more channel views as possible.