Survival = Re-Invention
As entrepreneurs for over 35 years, it has been necessary to re-invent our businesses almost constantly. Just as we change personally every year, so does the business world. We have grown through the birth of the PC, faxes, e-mail, websites, cell phones, networking, social media, online marketing and now mobile marketing. One of our companies developed one of the first hotel property management systems using PCs. It was the reason we moved from Colorado to Florida in 1989.

Five years ago we began an online tradeshow using the power of video to show how a business’s product or service worked. Instead to traveling to some distant city and paying for an expensive booth for a day or two, a business could showcase their product for an entire year for a fraction of the cost of a live tradeshow. Unfortunately we were ahead of the curve, as we had been many times before. Over time we transitioned to shooting videos for businesses to use on their website, then along came social media and gradually businesses began to realize the power if the internet.

Today more and more business owners are beginning to realize that video can tell a story faster and better than pages of written text. Video can provide a way to personally greet your online visitors, just as you would in your bricks and mortar store. It can show how your widget works or how you perform a service. It’s like talking face to face to your online clients.

Just when we thought everyone was using the internet to search for everything, along came mobile marketing … time to change again. Being entrepreneurs is a constant challenge and not for those afraid of taking risks.

Networking and Social Media have enabled SWFL Online Video to survive and build a brand through the tough economy. Stay tuned, changes coming again.

Sue Haberkorn is Owner and Video Marketing Consultant of SWFL-Online Video. www.swfl-onlinevideo.com 239-269-9683

More people than ever before are watching online video.  If you are not advertising online, you are losing 34% of your business.  Video is now an expected experience by online visitors and provides numerous benefits to both the businesses owner and the viewer.

As the business owner, it allows you to welcome your visitor and begin building that important relationship.  People like doing business with people. Your video is the next best thing to a face to face meeting, it begins that personal connection.

What’s Your Story

You have a story to tell and there is no better way to show what is unique about your business than with a well thought out video.  As the saying goes if a picture is worth a 1,000 words, imagine a video.  The reason video is so powerful is the combination of words and pictures.  People remember 70% of what they see and hear, but only 20% to 30% of what they see or hear.

Ways to Show and Tell

You can use video in dozens of ways: Home page personal greeting, how to tips, how it works, introducing your personnel, client testimonials (powerful), on the job showcase, recruiting, training or whatever you can imagine.  Remember, it’s about “them” not about “you.”  Tell your visitor how your product, service and personnel will benefit them.

The power of video helps you convert lookers into buyers.  Statistics show that 60% of buyers make a purchase after watching a video.  Reading long pages of text or searching your website to find the information, just isn’t going to happen.  The first few seconds must be compelling enough so the viewer knows what they are watching and their interest is piqued enough to watch the rest.  You have as little as 3 seconds to capture a visitor’s attention or it’s “click” and they are gone.

Video is like jelly, sweet and easy to spread.  It’s easy to share your video across the internet on places like YouTube, LinkedIn, FaceBook , Twitter and dozens of other sites.

Attract Search Engines and Clients

Another advantage of using video on your website is attracting Search Engines.  Google is 54% more likely to place your page first if it contains a video.  Of course it is necessary to optimize your page with the correct keywords and meta tags.

A big mistake frequently made is the location of website videos.  Your video must be on the top half of the page and if you only have one video it must be on the home page.  After all, you invested the time and money to create a video to attract new clients – why would you hide it?

Making The Most of  Your Marketing Budget

In today’s economy everyone is watching their budget carefully.  Professionally produced videos are more likely to be watched by online consumers.  Poorly produced videos reflect on the quality of your business.  However, for an investment of a few hundred dollars you can hire experienced, professional video companies to help plan your story, shoot and edit.  You do not have to lay out thousands of dollars like the giant corporations to make a great first impression.

Today’s online viewer is in a hurry.  They want the information they are looking for fast and easy.  Video is your answer, video means business.

The power of video allows you to give your online visitors an easy tour of your store or your service.  A video is a fast, easy way to showcase your product or service and provide the information they are looking for.   It helps you begin building that all important relationship.

Fringe Home Interior Design and Gifts showcases their products and services with the power of video.

In this video you take a tour of the store, hear how the owner will create a new look for your home and listen to her clients praise her services.  Now that’s the power of video!   It’s like having a salesman greeting your visitors 24/7/365 and it doesn’t even need insurance or take a vacation.

It’s about building relationships.

New customers are more comfortable working with people and places they know.  Video lets your future clients see you and what you do.   Video provides that initial comfort factor and visitors are 60% more likely to pick up the phone, place the online order or come to your bricks and mortar store.

Put the power of video to work for your business. Get the Video Advantage, call Sue at 239-417-0513

The Video Advantage

Video ads drive clicks and conversions among high-income web users. Video ads tend to appeal to consumers of all income brackets, and affluents—those with an annual household income of 100,000 or more ….   Video, Search Ads Drive Most Action Among Affluents – eMarketer.

60% of the more affluent online visitors purchased a product for which they had seen the video online.  Remember viewers actually choose to watch online video ads unlike ads that are displayed on TV.

Online video ads help inform your target audience

Video ads online not only attract SEO and consumers, they help build your brand and provide the information your online visitor is searching for.  Whatever your product or service is, a video is able to show the viewer faster and easier than reading a page of text.

Video ads are affordable for most business owners.

Newer equipment, software and technology make it easier for many video production companies to provide affordable videos for most small to medium businesses.  Be sure to review samples of a prospective production company’s videos and look for client satisfaction testimonials.

For more information contact Sue at 239-417-0513 or sue.h@swfl-onlinevideo.com

What story does YOUR business have to tell!

1. Be sure it is ABOVE the fold (the top half of your web page)

2. Share it on your social media sites

3. Create your own YouTube channel for additional exposure

This is an excellent article – videos by Social Media Examiner that helps explain how to make the most of your video.  Remember, you only have one chance to make a great first impression.  Make sure your future clients see your professional best.

Joe Macomber, Owner: “I signed a very large contract specifically because the client saw all the videos on my website.”
Video means business!