Video–A “New Year” State of Mind

Since we’re all in a “New Year” state of mind, be sure that extends to the marketing plan for your business. Use this time of renewal to examine how you’re marketing your business and evaluate what works, what doesn’t, and what needs to change. Unless you’ve got all the money you want, and all the business you need, chances are you would like to grow. Keep what works, purge what doesn’t, and add something new. Now since I don’t know the details about your business, I can’t give you much direction on what works or doesn’t work, but I can guarantee you something new that WILL work for your business: video marketing.

You know the saying, “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you always got.” Well, have you “done” video marketing yet? If not, it stands to reason that when you do, wonderful things will happen. OK, I’m stretching it a bit, but you get my point. You know you need to be using video. But you haven’t because…let me guess: 1) it just seems so complicated; 2) it’s too expensive; 3) I’m not ready to be on screen.

This is the year for no more excuses. This time next year, you don’t want to be looking back and saying, “Why did I put this off for so long? It’s so not a big deal like I thought it was.” You really don’t.

Here’s where you can start

• Pick a camera. Your smartphone. Your webcam. Your camcorder. If you don’t have one of those things, you can get a good webcam for under $100 (I recommend Logitech 9000). I know you can get them cheaper, but this isn’t the place to cheap-out.
• Secondly, normally I always recommend an external microphone, even for smart phones. But in this case, in order to make this as easy (and excuse-free) as possible, just make sure you’re recording in a quiet room and be as close to the microphone as reasonable (don’t be across the room).
• Thirdly, work out the recording kinks; make sure your camera is setup properly and select the program you want to use. Now hit record.

But wait! You didn’t tell me what to say!!

You’re right. For now, just practice. Get the technology headaches out of the way. Practice by recording your name, company name, and what you do. Make it simple. Use your elevator pitch if you have one. (Warning: practicing with your elevator pitch may cause you to continually rewrite it. Being able to see and hear yourself giving your pitch may result in an improved pitch–just don’t let yourself get sidetracked!).

Spend an hour or so practicing, recording and re-recording. You never have to show these to anyone (unless you’d like me to check them out), so relax about how you look and how you sound. There are some very important principles to achieving good video, but for now, just practice getting used to being in front of the camera. That’s half the battle for most people. Everything else can be learned.

Feedback Loop

So tell me, are you going to try? I take that back. There is no try. There is only DO or DO NOT. So DO. Now tell me about the experience. Were you nervous? How long until you were a little more comfortable being onscreen? (Tip: the more you do it, the easier it gets. Every time. Every day.)

Leave me a comment blow, or connect with me on Facebook. I really would like to hear about your excuses and if you didn’t have that excuse, how would you use video in your business.