How to use easy video marketing strategies

By Sherry Bonelli / Guest Column

Did you watch an online video today? Maybe a friend posted a video on Facebook or you checked out a YouTube video. If you’re watching videos, your customers are, too.

Video is becoming an essential part of every business’ digital marketing strategy. Here are some video marketing statistics from Insivia.com:

  • 90 percent of users say that product videos are helpful in the decision process
  • 92 percent of mobile video consumers share videos with others
  • Video in an email leads to 200-300 percent increase in click-through rates
  • After watching a video, 64 percent of users are more likely to buy a product online
  • 87 percent of online marketers use video content

There are a variety of things you can do to create video content for your website or marketing campaign. Here are a few ideas:

PowerPoint Presentation
Chances are you have a very powerful video production tool on your computer right now — PowerPoint. You can create a presentation, record the presentation with your voiceover and create a video MP4 file for use online.

First, create your PowerPoint presentation with engaging images — don’t overload the slides with lots of text.

Depending on the version of PowerPoint you have, here are the basic steps to create a video:

  1. Create a PowerPoint slide deck
  2. Go to Slide Show tab and select Record Slide Show
  3. Click on Record from the Beginning
  4. A window will pop up that shows your presentation to the left, notes on the right and a red circle record button in the upper left-hand corner. Click this button to record.
  5. When you’re done recording your presentation, click the square Stop button (next to the record button) and close the recording screen
  6. After you’ve recorded the video, click File and then Export > Create a Video
  7. This will create an MP4 video that you can save to your hard drive
  8. You can then upload the video to Facebook, YouTube or even create an automated webinar using your video content

 

Facebook Live
This is live streaming video created on your smartphone. If you have access to Facebook Live on your app, you’ll see an image of a video camera with an eye on it.

When you tap on the Live icon, you’ll see yourself on your smartphone screen and some options. First, decide who you want to see your Facebook Live video – friends, public or private.  Then, tap the Go Live button.

This is your opportunity to provide your Facebook followers with valuable info about your business. Wait a few minutes before you go into your full video presentation to give your followers a chance to respond. It’s best if you promote your Facebook Live session ahead of time so people tune in.

When you’re done, tap the “Finish” button. For basics of Facebook Live, check out  https://live.fb.com/golive.

Software and camera solutions
Here are some helpful products to get started with video:

  • Yeti Professional USB Microphone: This is the microphone that the pros use – but it’s relatively affordable at approximately $129.
  • Logitch Pro Webcam: This camera easily mounts on your computer screen, and the controls allow you to zoom in and position the camera accordingly.
  • Mevo: This live streaming video camera acts like multiple cameras in one so you can show different angles – or even people – using only one Mevo camera. Find out more at www.getmevo.com.
  • Wirecast: You can connect your Facebook Live page to Wirecast and stream live video of you, your screen or both on Facebook Live, YouTube Live and other live streaming platforms. Learn more at www.telestream.net.
  • ManyCam: This free webcam software and video switcher allows you to use your webcam on most applications simultaneously while you live stream or video chat. Find out more at www.manycam.com.

 

Sherry Bonelli, digital marketer and presenter/speaker, has been a digital marketing professional since 1998. She is currently the owner of early bird digital marketing, a full-service digital marketing agency Cedar Rapids. She can be reached at http://earlybirddigitalmarketing.com or (319) 409-3287.