Most small businesses understand that content marketing is important. They have a website, complete with Certa hosting, and lots of interesting, informative content to fill the blank pages. This is a great starting point, but what happens when you have done website design, SEO and social media to death – what else can you do to promote your business online?
YouTube is the final frontier. It is one of the few marketing channels left where businesses can do really well, really quickly. This is because, despite the fact that YouTube attracts a lot of traffic, it is relatively unsaturated with content. However, although YouTube has a lot of pluses, most small businesses invest nothing in YouTube marketing.
Why Is This?
Whereas it costs very little to write blog posts, articles, press releases and post on Facebook, Instagram and other social media channels, it costs time and money to create video content. The high entry barrier puts most smaller businesses off, which is a real shame because YouTube marketing is well worth the time and effort. If you are intrigued, here is a quick guide to getting started on YouTube.
Define Your Target Audience
Before you begin creating video content, think about who your target audience is. This is fundamental to YouTube success, so start by looking at the type of people who buy your products and services. Where do they live? How old are they? Male or female? Be as specific as possible, so your content can target the right people.
The point is to make videos that your target audience wants to watch and will actively look for. For example, if your business sells landscaping materials for homeowners, your target audience might be 40-60 year old homeowners with a passion for gardening.
Get Your Information Across
Work out the best way to get your information across. In the above example, product demonstrations might be appropriate. You could create some video tutorials on how to use your products in a garden.
People love to learn new things, which is why they go looking for video content. Reading a ‘how-to’ tutorial on the page is OK, but it doesn’t offer the same insights as a video. Personally, if I am trying to learn a new skill, I much prefer to watch a few videos. I can then choose the best video and let it guide me through my task step by step.
Create a Professional Video
There are many different types of video, from classic white background films where a narrator speaks to the camera, to white board presentations and ‘how-to’ demo films. Once you have decided upon the right style of content presentation, it is time to create a professional quality video and optimise it for SEO purposes. If you don’t have the capability, hire a freelancer. Include your keyword in the video title and a couple of times in the video description text.
The better your video, the more people will watch it. Great videos rank well because people watch them until the end. They drive visitors back to your website, which is the point of the exercise. Don’t ignore YouTube; it will give your business the edge.
Special Offer:
Sign up for a complimentary consultation during December and receive an Annual Marketing Planning Guide valued at $475! We offer a 30-minute phone consultation with our CEO, and can answer your questions and discuss your specific marketing needs - no strings attached. Call 408-218-2391 or contact us today to arrange your consultation!