The Train Has Left Without You. The Online Video Revolution
Has Started Without You.
Use whatever cliché you want, but the hype is true. The Internet is being driven by video. In fact, 90 percent of all Internet traffic will be video within the next three years, according to Cisco and YouTube. Simply put, if you’re not embracing video, you’re missing a huge opportunity.
My first question is why are you putting it off?
Let’s look at the 5 most Pitiful Excuses I have heard or been told.
- You can’t figure out how to make a video.You are Technophobic!
If you can do PowerPoint, you can do video. If you have a webcam, you can do video. Heck, if you have an iPhone, you can do video! Video has become mainstream, low-tech and easier than ever. The truth is you need very little equipment or technical skills to crank out decent video. Fear of technology is no excuse, because today there’s so little technology required to produce video.Things are more user friendly than ever before for beginners. (please Like my Facebook page)
- You think you don’t look good on camera!
Are you camera-shy or just plain uncomfortable on camera? The club for that is full. For the vast majority of us not blessed with Tatum Channing or Angelina Jolie’s good looks, being on camera is not a natural, everyday thing. That leaves you with two options:
Plan A is to suck it up, buttercup! Get used to it. Practice. Work at it. Force yourself outside your comfort zone until it gets easier. (Otherwise, you can do what many do and hide behind kids, costumes, pets or props!)
If you’re absolutely dead set against being on camera, then you’ve got to go to Plan B: Skip the camera altogether and do a PowerPoint video, screencast, photo montage, or some other “off-camera” alternative.
- You Assume it is too expensive!
This is old-school thinking. Video used to be cost-prohibitive, but you’re not making a major motion picture or producing a Superbowl commercial. YouTube is free; Facebook is free; webcams are $30 dollars, most laptops come with a camera. You can even edit your video right on YouTube for free. My computer came with Windows Movie software, so I use it, most of the time. And if you have a smart phone, you have a video camera in your pocket. Even if you really want to go hog wild and get studio lights or editing software, you don’t need to spend more than a couple of hundred bucks.Natural lighting(sunlight) is the best and it is free.
- You think it takes too much time!
I say, Make time. Video marketing is an investment and you’ll find that it’s time well spent. Your first few attempts may take a little more time, but once you develop a process that works for you, you’ll get better and faster at it. Stick to your system and the time challenge won’t be as daunting as you think. I set aside time and do several videos at the same time.I change my shirts so it looks like they were done at different times.(now you know my secret)
- You are not sure where to start!
Think about your goals for your video. What’s your business objective? More visibility? More leads? Better search engine optimization? Do you want to be the next viral sensation or do you just want a video on your home page to introduce your business to your web visitors? Your goals will drive your video strategy, so begin at the beginning!
So now you know the pitiful excuses I hear so often. Eliminate these excuses and Get Started Today! The sooner you add online video to your marketing mix, the better and stronger your business will be.
I recommend you use all the free tools out there but I also recommend these tools. 10 video tools that are great, user friendly and will help you get yourself branded even faster. Check out this video.
Looking forward to your comments below.
