Chad Nilsson

How to Use YouTube To Market Your Business
Web 2.0 has revolutionized the way marketing is done. Instead of faceless radio and print advertisements aimed at a large section of the public, the new marketing campaigns are highly targeted and highly personal. Video marketing is one of the most viral methods of spreading the word about your products and services.
But some marketers worry that video campaigns have lost their edge. How can you make a video marketing campaign that stands out from the rest – one that people actually want to watch?
Think back to when video marketing was new. YouTube was the hot new web site, and anyone with a web camera could broadcast their message to the world. It wasn’t long before television commercials and movies capitalized on the fame of video marketing. The new marketing campaigns proliferated very quickly, showing up in blogs and inboxes around the world. And they were convenient to boot. Give a man a radio spot, and he will talk to you whether you want to listen or not. Give a man a web cam, and you can listen to him whenever you feel like it.
Is it too late to get in on the video marketing action? Not at all. But it’s no longer enough to have an amateurish video full of generic information. Viewers are sophisticated, and they will quickly click away from any video that rehashes things they already know. To keep people watching (and converting into sales), you’ll need to have an original approach and excellent content.
What do viewers want? They want to know that you’re not wasting their valuable time. They want to know that you’re not going to insult their intelligence. They want to know that you will go to the effort to groom yourself, clean up your surroundings, and shoot a video that reflects your professionalism. If you can’t take the time to make a good presentation, why should the viewer take the time to listen to your pitch?
That brings us to the next thing viewers look for: quality content. Come up with your own facts and information rather than reheating the same old content you saw on other people’s videos. Then add your unique spin to it. People are more inclined to listen to what you’re saying when you seem like a real person to them. Do you have an accent? Are you charismatic and funny? Do you have a commanding presence in front of the camera? Use these unique characteristics to your advantage. They make you memorable.
Finally, viewers want specific information rather than generic advice. If you’re shooting a video to market a money-making plan, you’d better be prepared to lay out five or six specific ways that the plan will work for your viewers. Throw in a free how-to guide to add value and entice them to buy in. Anything that sets you apart from your thousands of competitors is a smart move.
There are millions of amateur videos on the Internet. If you make yours smooth, good-looking and informative, you’ve already given yourself an edge over the competition. Your viewers will become your customers, so give them what they want – a unique and professional presentation, valuable content, helpful information, and specific solutions.