Hi Video Superstars! I hope your Spring is shaping up nicely and you’ve been practicing your online video marketing techniques as much as possible. Today I’d like to share with you a ‘best practice’ of online video production that I was reminded of just recently. If you’ll take it to heart, it’ll give your online marketing videos a competitive edge as you build your video empire or produce videos for your clients.

First of all here’s an interesting article that I saw over on the always excellent site, www.reelSEO.com . Christopher Rick did an analysis of info from another excellent site, www.seomoz.com. Whereas I’ve talked to you about the on-page techniques of optimizing videos, Rick was focusing on the often overlooked aspect of how video effects getting other people to link to your site because of the quality videos on it.

Rick points out that video always helps boost the tendency of an article or website to get linked to (he calls the ‘inlinks’…I suppose meaning ‘inbound’ links). In general, video will get you 3 X the ‘inlinks’ that plain text does.

Furthermore, you’ll notice in this graphic from Rick’s article that you get some very interesting relative rankings when you mix the components of video, images and lists.

First of course were videos, images, and lists. Next in descending order was ‘only images and videos’, next down the totem pole was ‘images and lists’ and next was ‘video and anything’. So what does that mean if you’re using video either for yourself or for your clients?

It means that it’s perfectly alright to use video slide presentations. Don’t think, or let your clients think, that somebody has to be up there yabbering all the time because that’s definitely not the case. It also means that viewers find lists not only an acceptable way but also a very good way to absorb information.

How would you put lists on a video?

Simple…..you’d use such tools as PowerPoint or SlideRocket.

But the optimal thing to do would be to be sure and include both images and lists in your videos. It’s easy to do in the YouTube Editor nowadays, right? One you get the slides produced, just drag and drop to assemble your video, add some narrative and/or music, upload and….wait for results.

Images of course are great for showing ‘products’ and lists are great for listing benefits and features or other points about the product, service or idea being presented.

Actually, being able to present information via something other than pure video gives you options for making attention-getting videos that your competition most probably isn’t aware of or isn’t doing. You can get a winning-edge here.

And don’t forget that even when you are using images and lists along with video, you can still use them for that all-important personal connection with video that I’ve been stressing is so important. The examples should be obvious.

That’s my tip for today.

Until next time….

Be BOP,

Thom

Hi Video Superstars….I’ve got a reminder and a tip for you today and I’m going to get right into it.
I’ve been mentioning it a lot but I think it’s important to say it again so you don’t forget how important it is.
Everyone pretty well agrees that online video and proper video SEO is becoming more important and more valuable. One of the reasons video SEO is becoming more valuable is because certain other methods of on-page optimization(OPSEO) that have been very popular for a long time are now becoming less important in the Google algorithm.

I’m speaking specifically of backlinking. Backlinks are still valuable but Google has caught on that there’s a lot of ways backlinks can be artificially built. They know that there are backlinking services that do it (and very cheaply too).

So….. Google is adjusting their algorithm to look at other things. First of all, they still love video content. Any time you can embed a video into a web page that page has a lot better chance of being highly ranked on Google. The Google organic SERP pages now give you what they refer to as ‘blended’ search results….meaning that the regular search results show sites with videos as well as sites without videos.

Your optimization of the video is the only way Google/YouTube can determine what kind of information it has and when to display it to a searcher. Google doesn’t ‘read’ pictures (i.e. not like ‘alt tags or ‘text anchors’ in HTML coding) but people do…. so don’t forget that when you produce a video, Google will take one frame from it and use that frame as the ‘thumbnail’. It’s like the ‘book cover’ for that video.

Your video thumbnail, along with the video title, is what people see first therefore it has the most bearing on whether people click on your video or not. What I want to remind you of is that you can, with some specificity, determine what your thumbnail will be.

Google will select a frame from somewhere around the ¼, ½, and ¾ points of your video and give you the choice of which one of those to use as your thumbnail. Later, if you become a YouTube Partner, you can pick any thumbnail you want).

For non-YouTube Partners however, even though it’s not an exact science, at least you can get close….depending on your video’s content. So……try to plan your video so that at those points of it you’ve got something that’s likely to catch somebody’s eye.

Optimally you want your thumbnail to look like something specific and interesting..….i.e. try not to let it be just an elbow or a picture of the hood of a car or a spoon on a table. Rather it should be a person’s face, something funny, an animal, an interesting object, perhaps some attention-getting action shot…..you get the idea, right?
If you Google, “video SEO” you’ll find lots of other valuable information about how it works and how to do video SEO effectively. Get as good at it as you can because it’ll be valuable to you and/or to any clients that you do video work for.

That’s what I’ve got for you today. I hope it’s useful to you. Until next time….

Be BOP,

Thom

(How Do You Eat An Elephant?)

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to find out that some people get really, really nervous about doing recorded video interviews. You might even be such a person. If you are, I’ve got a tip that tip guaranteed to make it a lot easier.

You’ll remember that I’ve emphasized how valuable it is for your prospects and customers to know you as an individual, right? Well, video interviews are a great way to do that. It’s a technique that will work for you and/or you video marketing clients.

You’ve heard the illustration that uses the question, “How do you eat an elephant?” And the answer is “One bite at a time!” right? Well, that’s how you make video interviews easier. You break them down into little segments and do them one part at a time.

Haven’t you noticed some video interviews where suddenly you’ll notice that the camera angle changed?

Sure you have. One minute it’ll be looking head on at the interviewee and then suddenly you’ll notice that that the camera angle is a little bit to the side.

Well, if you haven’t realized it yet, what actually happened in that interview was that there was a ‘cut’ in the filming. There might have been just a few seconds or as much as several minutes between those segments. But it didn’t make any difference in the finished product, did it?

That’s what I’d suggest you do. This technique is especially useful for clients you might be video recording who feel nervous about being recorded on video. If you’ll let them do the interview one part at a time it’s not only easier for them but it also enables them to develop their confidence as they go. After doing a few video segments they’ll find that they don’t even need to ‘break’ as much…. or maybe not at all.

Hollywood ‘shoots’ have always been done that way. You don’t think we always remember our lines perfectly, do you? Heck no. We flub-up all the time.

All movies are filmed in brief segments like that. The film editors then put it all together and make it look continuous.

You can basically learn to do the same thing. You’ll also find that doing it this way allows the person(s) being video recorded to relax for another reason. They’ll be more at ease because they know they don’t have to memorize everything. They can just have an outline of ‘talking points’ with them and simply refer to it between video recording segments.

This is also a great way for you to ensure that the promotional videos you do for your own YouTube Local Video Consultant business on your YouTube Channel look good. If you’ll write down some impressive, key phrases, and deliver them segment-by-segment in your best Hollywood style until you get them all sounding and looking good….I guarantee you’ll have a promotional video that will have prospective clients thinking you’re a trained actor.

Remember………..don’t over prepare. Just do your video, whether it’s an interview, a how-to, or a monolog of some sort…just do it piece by piece. Just the way you eat an elephant…one bite at a time. It works every time!

Till next time…Be BOP,

Thom

Hi Video Lovers. I hope you’ve been well. I’m taking a slightly different tack in today’s post. What I’m going to do is draw some news from another source and just make some expanded comments on it.

First of all, you’ll remember that I’ve made the comment that you’d be very wise to learn how to create video content. I made that suggestion because it’s obvious that as YouTube evolves they’re going to need more and better content. Now, the market for video content shows signs of getting even bigger with the addition of a new player getting into the video content business.

Ever heard of Amazon?

Check out this article from one of my favorite video marketing info sources, ReelSEO.com.

Matter of fact, just today I noticed that the very first thing you see when you log into your own YouTube Channel, right below the YouTube logo, is the “Browse Channel” button….a nice, pretty, blue button with white letters. When you click on it, it lists all your YouTube channels right there so they’re really easy to scan and pick what you want to watch. It really is very similar to having satellite TV at your house and that’s exactly the feeling that YouTube wants you to have.

Now, let’s fast forward in time a little bit. We understand that video targeting has the potential, if you understand video tagging well, to literally get down to the ‘neighborhood’ level, don’t you? I predict that as more and more local video content becomes available, there will be video content creators who specialize in neighborhood video content.

Remember I’ve been talking about being the YouTube Local Business Consultant? That’s what I’m talking about. You can bet that the big video platforms, like YouTube and Amazon will, at some point, be competing for video content.

And that’s not even to mention the very real possibility that local news media is going to have to get more seriously into locally produced video content. I mean….really local…..down to the neighborhood level. I fully expect them to be very open to syndicating content from citizen videographers if the content is good enough. Why couldn’t that be you?

For the time being though, YouTube is plenty big enough to give you all the opportunity you need to start producing local video news. Just one example topic I can suggest is……politics. You can’t deny that we live in a very politically polarized time so why couldn’t you come up with some way to give competing political figures and views a platform to be seen and heard?

I think you could. If you don’t have the stomach to touch a controversial subject as politics (although I think a little controversy is good for business!), you could pick something else. Maybe something very practical like…..

Why not develop a program for making videos about products that local grocery stores have on special. In your videos you could somehow feature recipes that use those items the supermarkets have on sale. Your site could become a combination video sales letter, video info source or maybe you could work some video coupons in there somehow.

For sure, it’s a brave new age of video and you’re only limited by your imagination.

Until we meet again….

Be BOP,

Thom

In this post we are going to continue discussing Online Time Management….How’s Yours?

Remember what I said in a recent article. Most people just don’t take enough action. They don’t need more technical information. They need more action. They need better control of their own potential and thereby their own destiny. They’re like a powerful engine that needs a starter.

The better you can know yourself and control and harness your passions and your creativity the better off you’ll be. You may need more technical knowledge, you may need more ideas and creative knowledge or you may need more of the kind of attitudes and habits that I teach people how to develop in my recent book (it’s in ebook format), “Personality, Personality, Personality”. In that ebook I teach you how to develop personality traits that attract success. You can get more information about that book on my website, www.lifestand.com.

You can always hire (read ‘outsource’) people who know ‘how to do stuff’ but that’s not the lifetime skill that pays the most. So don’t waste too much time on it. Find out how to stay fired up and highly motivated and you’ll be amazed at the good luck that comes your way.

That’s all I’ve got to say about that!

Till next time…Be BOP,

Thom

Hi Video marketers! I hope ya’ll are doing well. I’ve got some advice for you today. No special techniques or anything. But just some advice that might make some decisions easier for you.

If you’ve been on the internet for any length of time at all you know how much information there is. It seems every page is full of distractions. I’m sure you’ve sometimes asked yourself the question, “Where did all the time go?!!!”, right?

Well, my advice is to keep in mind at all times what exactly it is you need, in the way of information, from the net. I think there are three kinds of information you can get from the net. Some of them might be valuable to you but other types of information is less so.

First is technical information. That’s what you see more of than anything else. There’s not only information on every imaginable subject but every item of information is presented as the one thing that’s absolutely critical and that you just can’t live without if you don’t look at it or buy it or understand it immediately.

The second type of information is more what I would call more creative information. It’s information, in the form of discussions, tips and sometimes software which is designed to help you understand the creative side of marketing.
This is information that I think actually does have some value because a big part of problem solving and seizing opportunities revolves around how perceptive you are to them.

The third type of information you can get from the internet is information that helps you develop your personality and your confidence. That’s what I think is really the most important kind of information yet the hardest to find kind of information to find on the internet.

The reason it’s so rare on the net is because, quite frankly, very few people understand it or can explain it well enough to teach something about it.

That kind of training is what I’ve been doing for a long time with aspiring young actors and also for the last several years in my executive coaching and life training work. Some of what I teach revolves around specific techniques for leadership, sales training, public speaking and acting but a larger part of it revolves around helping people develop that all-important attitude (attitudes are ‘habits of thought’, right?) that allows them to maximize you’re their potential.

So…I want to remind you that it’s up to you’ve to figure out what it is that you need as a highest priority to move you forward toward your life’s goals. If and when you find yourself not doing something that’s moving you toward your goals in life you’ve got to say to yourself, “Stoppit…stoppit…stoppit!!!”
Frequently ask yourself, “Is this the most valuable thing I could be doing right now?” If the answer is ‘no’ or ‘maybe not’ then you’ve got some decisions to make, right?

What you need isn’t necessarily what somebody else needs but you can’t blame the information purveyors on the web for trying to make you think it is, can you? It’s up to YOU to set your own course on the net and monitor it yourself. Don’t waste time with information you don’t need.

Read More about Online Time Management….How’s Yours?

In this post we will continue discussing 5 Tips To Introduce Video To Your Warm Market.

4. Remind them that ‘a picture is worth 1000 words, really……I’d say it just like that. I’d say, “Sure Mr.Jones, I understand exactly what you mean. But your time is worth money isn’t it? (WFA). When he/she says, “Yeah, it sure is” you need to say “Well, online video marketing saves the customers time, it’s a good deal cheaper and it’s a heck of a lot more entertaining.” You can then elaborate as necessary to impress upon them that potential customers are much more likely, nowadays, to look at a video than to read something in print

5. A general hesitation you’ll find is that many business owners don’t know where to start. Just remember that you might have to dig a little bit in the conversation to get them to say that. You and I know that’s just a ‘stall’ and not a real objection but don’t fall for it. You’ll not only lose a potential sale but also cheat the potential client out of an opportunity to improve his/her business.

6. Do you remember the idea of aggregating videos that I mentioned recently? Nowadays, in the blogging community that’s called ‘video curation’…As in what a museum or art gallery does. Odds are there are plenty of excellent videos already on the web that they could put on their YouTube Channel to beef it up really quickly (and impress their viewers and visitors with how “helpful and knowledgeable” they are).

Remember this: People always appreciate good advice no matter where it came from. If you’re the person who gives it to them, then you share the credit for it. Your client doesn’t have to spend one dime and hardly any time getting that content. I think video curation is a great idea and probably one of the best ways for your client (or you if you’re doing it for them) to get into internet video marketing quickly.

I think it’s always a good idea if you know what to expect when you make a presentation, and I hope these ideas will help you. You’ve got to “do it” of course, but I know you can!

Till next time, Be BOP,

Thom

Hi Online Video Producers. I’m back today with something that I hope will give you a better understanding of what it’s like out there in the field when you’re marketing your online video services. I think if you’ll take it to heart you’ll have better luck in your face-to-face encounters with potential customers. And after I give you that information I want to elaborate a little bit on something I told you recently.

1. Once you get good at opening up conversations with potential customers (AKA: business owners), you’ll no doubt notice that of those people who don’t seem too interested at first their hesitation generally boils down to two main areas. First: they don’t see how online video is worthwhile to them and secondly: they really don’t know where to start. You’re especially liable to hear this if talking to a business that’s doing OK already.

2.Try the idea of ROI (Return on Investment) into the conversation. Business people understand that term, and it usually hits home and gets their attention pretty well. What I’d tell them about video marketing is that the ROI is very good because all the tools are cheap or free. We’ve talked about that factor previously so I won’t go into it.

3. ROI is greater on properly done online marketing videos than most other forms of business promotion but I’d be sure to illustrate that with some examples first. You can bet that they’re highly disappointed with The Yellow Pages already, and you can also bet they’ve tried coupon packs, local newspaper ads, probably some radio and maybe even some TV, and i can bet you they’re not happy with the ROI of any of them. See if you can get an idea of what some of those things cost in your area so you can use realistic figures.

Click here for even more tips

In this post we are going to continue discussing In Video Marketing and Acting for Real. Action is the lifeblood of success. …. Action Rules

Let’s carry that strategy forward and integrate it into what I’ve previously discussed with you about being a Local YouTube Marketing Consultant.

I’ll bet you that you’ll find lots of videos already exist that concern some aspect of life and/or business in your local area. In the case of the larger towns you’ll find lots of truly ‘local’ YouTube videos whereas in the case of the smaller communities you might have to include the whole county in your search.

But in both cases my point is that you can find video content that somebody else has already made that you can talk about comment on.

You can assemble this video content on a regular website or blog and/or on your YouTube Channel and then make you own videos summarizing it(e.g. “Jacksonville This Week!”). Jacksonville, Texas is where I grew up.

If you decided to present it in the Drudge Report style you could simply add one ‘video preface’ to summarize or preview all the subsequent content. The Drudge Report style is really very successful and really masterful.

Here’s a commentary on why his format is so effective and here’s the story, from Wikipedia, about how he actually got started (a very meager beginning).

My point is that he just dealt in aggregation. I’m suggestion that with video aggregation you can further refine that model by adding commentary. In the model I’m suggesting you actually won’t have the obligation to produce a lot of video or video all the time because you’re dealing in video content already available. In many instances, a brief video headline and summary or few lines of commentary would be adequate.

This would be a great way to get started, again, as a ‘local video’ entrepreneur. If you doubt that pretty soon you wouldn’t have local businesses begging you to ‘comment’ on their videos…..I beg to differ.

Yes, you’d be wise to do as much local public relations as possible to let people know what you’re doing but I think most businesses and local professionals would consider it a great opportunity to have their video content featured or mentioned on your site.

And that’s not even to mention the opportunity this presents you be meet local movers and shakers and position yourself as a video marketing expert.

Remember……this is ‘action’ and ‘taking action’ is the ONLY way you’re ever going to accomplish anything. Doing something like this, a very simple concept that’s totally UN-reliant on high-tech wizardry, is the only way anything is going to happen in your video marketing career.

Why don’t you try it. If you do, send me the link to your local video aggregate site(s) and I’ll give you my comments. I might even give you a link.

If you try this, or any of the other ideas that I’ve suggested, that doesn’t mean you’re committed to it the rest of your life. But it does mean you’re taking action. And it means you’ve got a much better chance of making something positive happen rather than if you just sit around and read and surf all the time.

And it also means that you’re accumulating valuable experience that I know, sooner or later, will add up to something big for you. Action trumps knowledge so…just do it!

That’s what I’ve got for you today.

Till next time Be BOP,

Thom

Hey, video marketers.  Thom here……with a bit of motivation and some more creative thinking today that I think will help your career as an online video marketing specialist.

I was reading something about internet marketing today and this particular author specializes in web publishing.  One of the salient points he made was that ‘action’ will win out over knowledge each and every time.  He was referring to the fact that no matter how much you know in the way of facts and formulas, it won’t do you any good unless you do something with it.

I couldn’t agree more. Throughout history, the great men and women haven’t always been the ones with the fancy degrees but rather the people with a burning believe in a cause or mission, even if it was self-serving, and a commitment to accomplish a goal.

So, keeping that in mind, I’d like to suggest another way that you can ‘take action’ with your existing knowledge about video and YouTube.  I’d like you to think about being, at least to some extent, a ‘video commentator’.

By ‘video commentator’ I mean that you can collect and present YouTube videos that were made by other people and just add your comments.   Your comments could be textual, video or a combination.  Be careful though!  You’ve got to have something meaningful or at least thought-provoking to say.  You can’t just babble.

If you simply present YouTube videos with little or no commentary then you’d be more closely resembling the Matt Drudge style.   On the other hand, if you leaned more toward making video and/or textual comments on the videos you were presenting, your model would more closely resemble a traditional newscast.

Continue reading about Video Marketing and Acting for Real facts…