VIDEO MARKETING: Object Lesson 101

As you know, video marketing is pretty hot right now. In fact, I generate over 95% of the leads for my primary business using video.

Well, last weekend, I went to Mike Dillard's exclusive Traffic Formula LIVE 101 event held in Austin. This was a very cool event -- never to be held again. ( Actually, I think Mike lost a ton of money on it, because he gave so much away at a ridiculously low price. )

But, whatever, I was one of the lucky 100 who DID get to go... And I took my trusty video camera along :-)

One of the videos I took did not quite turn out as I expected. In fact, I got kind of sick when I first looked at it...So, I thought this would be a great object lesson, and something that you could learn from if you get into video marketing.

First off... You'lll need to watch the video. It's only a couple minutes long, so go ahead and watch it now, or the rest of this won't make much sense to you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AZ7fzntebE

Lesson #1 -- Always take your camera with you - everywhere you go.

A couple of month's ago, I went out and bought myself a new FLIP video
camera. Undoubtably some of the best money I've spent in a long time. I
think I paid about $140 bucks at Sam' s Club. This little camera is so
handy because if fits right into your purse (or shirt pocket for you
"non-metro" guys :-) AND there are no cables and stuff to mess wth - it
just plugs right into any standard computer USB port. AND, as you can
see, the video quality is excellent.
So, if you don't have a video camera yet, go get yourself a FLIP

Lesson #2 -- USE the camera....

I don't know about you, but (believe it or not), I tend to be a bit
reserved. Sometimes I feel like I'm being obtrusive if I start
videoing. But, let me ask you a question... Do you even notice when
others are videoing? I know I don't. So... If you want to be successful
with video marketing GET OVER IT, and start shooting as much as
possible. (There was a whole bunch that happened over the weekend that
I didn't video for this very reason, and now I'm kicking myself for it.
Oh well, live and learn.)

Lesson #3 -- Learn to use the camera <i>correctlly

So, if you watched the video, there's not a lot of explaining to do
here. Chin and up the nose shots are not the best, wouldn't you agree?

Lesson #4 -- When you do mess up, go with it anyway (as they say, when you get a lemon, make lemonade)

Being a perfectionist can be a HUGE problem in this business. And, I'm
speaking from personal experience here. With a background in computer
science, it's in my nature to spot all the mistakes, and try to fix
them.

Then, I began to realize that people who get ahead in this business all
seem to know that "You, don't have to get it right, you just have to
get it going!". So, rather than throwing out the video of Mike's chin,
I decided to go with it, and actually come up with a way to generate
even MORE traffic by making an object lesson out of it!

Lesson #5 -- Learn to use your editing software

If you watch this video closely, you'll notice that at one point there
is a "fade-in". Reason for this is that there was a whole section of
that video that I didn't like. So, I got out the good old "scissors"
and cut that part out. It's easy to do really, and with a little
practice you can make it almost un-noticable. (A little, secret tip
here...when you are recording a "speaking video", just let the camera
run. Then go back later and edit out a lot of the "ums" and "uhs".
That's what I do now, and it seems to be working :-)

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Video is a VERY powerful piece to effective, low-cost marketing. It
gives you a way to connect with your prospects in a way that PPC or
other static ads just can't give. So, Mari, let me encourage you to
start studying, and learn to use it in your marketing efforts.

Ok, that's it for now.

Happy marketing :-)

Mari Ann