Online video marketing may have become the latest trend for website promotion, but does that mean you should make your own video to promote your products and services?
The truth is, many say you shouldn’t do it unless you have bought the latest video camera, professional lighting, top-quality microphone, blue screen, video editing software and that thingamajig which you read about, even though you are not really sure what it does.
After all, you wouldn’t join a gym unless you had the trendiest outfit and most expensive joggers … you couldn’t possibly have a good work out in your old running shoes and T-shirt.
And while you are researching the best equipment, talking to all the experts and spending thousands of dollars, getting ready to create the perfect video, the average 16-year-old is using his iPhone to videotape his skateboarding tricks and funny social media experiments, posting them on YouTube and getting loads of subscribers.
While you are getting your hair done, organizing a make-up artist and trying on the best outfits to ensure your video is of the highest standard, the average Internet marketer is sitting in front of his laptop camera, with his less-than-perfect hair, recording a video about video marketing, uploading it to YouTube and making thousands of dollars.
OK … so get my point?
You don’t need the latest and greatest equipment to make awesome videos. And if you are still saying “yeah, but …” Stop. You are just procrastinating and looking for any excuse not to get started.
How do I know? Let’s just say I have a lot of cute gym outfits that have never been used.
The reality is, when you first start creating videos, they are not going to be perfect. Some may even suck. The lighting may not be ideal, there may be background noise and your hair may be messy, but so what?
Do you think the average Joe Smith who is looking online to find a solution to his dog’s flea problem or the sleep-deprived Gemma Jones searching for a way to get her baby to sleep is going to care whether you are sitting in front of a blue screen or on the beach and, whether your make-up is just right? Of course not!
Both Joe and Gemma are looking for solutions to their problems. So if your video provides good information and offers them a way to overcome their challenges, they won’t even notice that you have shadows under your eyes.
The only thing you need to start creating videos is a bit of guts and a computer or Smartphone with a camera. Depending on the format of the video you are planning to record, you may also need screen capture software (if you are going to show your visitors how to do something on the computer). You may also need video editing software, which comes pre-installed on most PCs and Macs or perhaps even PowerPoint, which allows you to do slideshows.
You will need to spend a bit of time planning what you are going to show in the video and maybe even learn how to use the software (note: there are plenty of great videos on YouTube that will show you how to do just about anything, including video editing). Then you just need to start.
Don’t worry if you make mistakes, you will learn and, with each video you produce, you will become better. The good news is, while you are recording and learning, your competitor is procrastinating and still looking for the perfect camera.
Go on, give it a go. What have you got to lose?
Ivana Katz Post from: SiteProNews