Using Youtube for business promotion?

[Deleted member 70659]

In an effort to get the word out, I've created a short youtube clip about my business. It's nothing ground breaking, more of a slideshow with music. But It gives off a good, gentle vibe, which I think is relatively important in my niche. As much as I wanted to bust out the heavy metal music, I don't think Maureen, 69 would appreciate it!

Do any of you use Youtube for promotional material?

(Also I'd like a bit of input on my video. I would post a link, but I know how we are with those link posting free-members , PM me for a link if you're interested, or search 'colourmemories')

 

[Newcott]

I'll happily take a look at it for you

Yes we are - but then again filming is our business - we've been working on a web series, a few sketchs and 2 videos which I'm 98% certain will be going viral. Been testing the water and ready to launch them out very soon

Out latest one managed to get 120,000 views in a weekend (but slowed down after that) so more work needed.

 

[boylovell]

yeah i've used youtube loads and done quite well, but you need to combine it with your overall marketing, so spread to your email list, add to twitter, facebook etc. Make sure web url is in the opening part of the description so it catches the user's eye and use annotations if appropriate for more call to action.

Start a series and get people coming back for more. Make sure you use keywords in the headline of the video and put in proper tags etc.

All the best, toodlepip

Si

 

[eshopwiz]

yeah youtube introduces you to a whole new audience so it can be very powerful

 

[zensc]

Every business must have at least a few videos these days, its how things work. If you are lucky you might get extra visitors as well.

 

[eventdomain]

Success with Youtube so depends on how you use it, and if the vids are either interesting or entertaining. Most people use it as a blog, a video diary and its all I use it for really.

Problem is its a video blog service, so targeting will be difficult and you'll get a lot of 'views' but few sales and no great way of measuring its success.

Youtube needs some way of measuring clickthroughs to websites. Most video bloggers think that by wacking up a few vids, this will force sales, which is dangerous thinking, but an all too common trap - its an entertainment blog service.....

 

[cheekychums]

oh yes if you know your niche inside out the topics you can make videos on is endless make a really ctachy line that everyone thinks whats that all about like ours about babies who dont make to to delivery my baby died in my womb on you tube we have 6 altogether and make one a week senstive topic on such a taboo subject baby bereavement

 

[Agent_Dan]

What software would you guys recommend using for creating a short video ?

I'm planning to create a series of short videos (8-10 mins in length) to run alongside a new online magazine i'm launching. I want my videos to have a raw, guerilla feel to them but obviously not amateurish !

 

[cheekychums]

at first our videos were amatuer but now i pay for the slideroll and photos from bigstockphotos so they are professional and create the illusion you want with real emotion for professional photos dont use your own. £30.00 a year i think it was and photos 50p each 10/10 recommended then add a you tube music free

 

[Agent_Dan]

at first our videos were amatuer but now i pay for the slideroll and photos from bigstockphotos so they are professional and create the illusion you want with real emotion for professional photos dont use your own. £30.00 a year i think it was and photos 50p each 10/10 recommended then add a you tube music free

I've used bigstockphotos before actually and would happily use them again.

But this sounds more like an image slideshow with music added ? I'm looking for some (user-friendly) software to stitch together various short video clips.

 

[cheekychums]

first its a slideshow the you use the video convertor it comes with to transfer it into video

 

[Olliver]

We have used videos a lot for clients of us. What we do with the video apart from distributing it over twitter facebook and the usual means is ranking it in google. This way the companies have more than just 1 or 2 spaces on the front page of google and hence get even more traffic and clients.

 

[gotreatme]

Is there any way on YouTube that you can make the video more noticable, YT have thousands of uploads every minute...

 

[Newcott]

Is there any way on YouTube that you can make the video more noticable, YT have thousands of uploads every minute...

Affraid not.

You'll need to seed your video well either on blogs (high profile) or pages thats relevant to your video

or have a huge subscription base but that takes alot of work.

Give you an example of a video one of the guys in my team did. He uploaded it and within a couple of days had around 300/350 views. I spent a few hours sending it around and managed to get it up on Kotaku - within 3 days it got 120,000 hits.

I'd look at getting it embedded on external sites and/or pointing to the YouTube vid to get the most exposure.

 

[gotreatme]

Affraid not.

You'll need to seed your video well either on blogs (high profile) or pages thats relevant to your video

or have a huge subscription base but that takes alot of work.

Give you an example of a video one of the guys in my team did. He uploaded it and within a couple of days had around 300/350 views. I spent a few hours sending it around and managed to get it up on Kotaku - within 3 days it got 120,000 hits.

I'd look at getting it embedded on external sites and/or pointing to the YouTube vid to get the most exposure.

I think theres also some viral advertising companies that can distribute youtube videos, of course theres a charge like all advertising, but on one of my websites Im a publisher of a company that does this & we get some great videos and get paid for it.

 

[Newcott]

I think theres also some viral advertising companies that can distribute youtube videos, of course theres a charge like all advertising, but on one of my websites Im a publisher of a company that does this & we get some great videos and get paid for it.

Just making sure I read this right (sorry lacking sleep to random night photography project)

You help promote videos ? if so can you PM me your details?

Last one I looked at wanted £10,000 for a "Trial run" then £100,000 for 100,000 views :S

 

[gotreatme]

Just making sure I read this right (sorry lacking sleep to random night photography project)

You help promote videos ? if so can you PM me your details?

Last one I looked at wanted £10,000 for a "Trial run" then £100,000 for 100,000 views :S

We display viral ads from a viral ad company on one of our websites, yes.

I will PM you the address, but I dont think its truthful for me to say "I help promote videos" as with one website I promote one video at a time, getting a few pennies per click.

 

[David White]

We got a professional video done from Fresh Business Thinking and they do videos for hundreds of others using Youtube and I have seen plenty of others doing it too. It is really easy to also copy the code and embed it on your own website too which makes it a great business produce for websites in my eyes.

 

[gotreatme]

We got a professional video done from Fresh Business Thinking and they do videos for hundreds of others using Youtube and I have seen plenty of others doing it too. It is really easy to also copy the code and embed it on your own website too which makes it a great business produce for websites in my eyes.

Sounds like a great service.

The only thing is, they dont distribute the video or run campaigns.

 

[David White]

Sounds like a great service.

The only thing is, they dont distribute the video or run campaigns.

Maybe not but they do post the video in their video section and this drives in a few new leads into my site every week, I mainly paid them for the production, not the marketing of the video.

 

[RevolutionProductions]

Youtube is going to be just as important as google in the coming years so its definitely important. The key is focus on get your content, tag words and title right to get maximum views. You also need to combine video creation with promotion otherwise no one will really watch it. We've received just over 5000 views in a matter of weeks:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mA0i1IYA0w

 

[Newcott]

Youtube is going to be just as important as google in the coming years so its definitely important. The key is focus on get your content, tag words and title right to get maximum views. You also need to combine video creation with promotion otherwise no one will really watch it. We've received just over 5000 views in a matter of weeks:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mA0i1IYA0w

Quick question - how do you go about seeding the video?

I've been speaking to a few people- some just rely on luck of the video being found, some post externally and some just have a base already who are subscribed...

Ta.

 

[Penny Haywood]

Windows comes with free movie software to stitch together video clips. If you need more, Pinnacle Studios gives you almost as much as more expensive pro systems.
The difference between amateur-appearing videos and pro videos is a bit strange: it's often down to poor audio. I'd opt for a music overlay rather than settle for not very good audio.

 

[RevolutionProductions]

Quick question - how do you go about seeding the video?

I've been speaking to a few people- some just rely on luck of the video being found, some post externally and some just have a base already who are subscribed...

Ta.

We use a combination of the above plus a lot of social media exposure. Twitter is quite powerful for this. We also use email marketing and embedding in relevant blogs.

 

[JohnGeek]

It's better to create 1 quality clip instead of 10 not good video.

 

[nathan58]

Everyone can take same step to promote their music, videos.

 

[spader]

Likewise here, I am using videos too in promoting my products and etc. here online and it's quite effective and it really generate more traffic in my websites.

 

[oliverhall]

We use a combination of the above plus a lot of social media exposure. Twitter is quite powerful for this. We also use email marketing and embedding in relevant blogs.

How do you get so many followers on Twitter? I'm up to 500 but you're in a different league!

 

[eventdomain]

Video will be massive! - but only for the few who use it in the right way. Sadly, many just dont get this and use it in the wrong way - I'll explain.

Youtube is actually a blog - a video blog. It was originally designed for people to make social-type blogs, and still is, but like everything, people jumped on it for commercial promotion, but few can make it work.

Case in point - take a look at the top youtube users - they are kids, teenagers with silly videos of themselves 'following them over a week' - talking crap, acting silly, play fighting with pretend weapons like their Starsky & Hutch or Dirk Diggler - its insane. Youtube has got better, with vids professionally mixed, edited - but the channel is still far too social/personal for biz use.

IF you look at the vids that went viral - their huge, mostly personal about some kid who made it big doing something - NOT about the average biz.

Like all big stories, the video must have something very special about it to go viral or land on a half decent website as a result. The latest video to go viral wasn't some average business, it was by Rebecca Black for her music hit 'Friday' - it had 29 million views , except this was mostly from people SLATING her, NOT all rushing to buy what she has. I admit, she has guts doing what she did, and bcos of her age, probably thinks its cool and that she's talented, but everyone thinks their a star on youtube dont they, and this is the whole point of Youtube, hense the name - YOUtube

Now, there are some very good videos on Youtube, no doubt, some great jobs - but honestly, for this to work for business, the biz needs to be a very cool idea itself for any viral effect - its like how all news works - well, you wont get into the press if you act like a nutter!!!! They wouldn't touch your business with a barge pole - but they will if the story/video is a personal one by some kid.

Reasons why some videos sell:

1. Sexual content eg: Eric Prydz - Call On Me 15,092,662

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_fCqg92qks


2. Teenagers eg: Wii Fit Girl 10,584,832

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v31qxrXsxv0



3. Unusual/Unexpected content -- Rebecca Black - "Friday" 42,586,620

thee above have a few things in common - Youth and Sex or plain old crazyiness - things that are very unexpected - not some ordinary boring business blog ok.


Mind you saying that, one of my 'naff' videos made it onto a huge News portal, but that's bcos of my ideas - not bcos I sing and dance in tight fitting costumes or attempt to break boards with my head. I could demonstrate my martial arts training without breaking boards, and I actually do know what I'm doing, unlike some youtubers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB4BQDbGQ38

Youtube and the web works well for crazy ideas or really useful ideas.

The newsworthy stuff gets attention - the boring stuff doesn't, so your average biz vid blog/personal video wont go viral. It must be special and biz blogs are perhaps too professional looking to catch attention on Youtube, its too much of a personal video website.

 

[Newcott]

Very nice post EventDomain.

One thing that I'd say is this view is very focus on the one off videos - don't get me wrong if one of my videos hit the mill mark I'd be laughing but I'm at a early stage in my YT career.

But what I'd like to add is about shows - one thing YT will be pushing the next few years is consitancy. Weekly shows either around a theme or style that deliver week in week out. Like the Revision3 or Next New networks (up untill being recently brought) one of my fav shows is "Film Riot" (aimed at indie filmmakers) that on average delivers around 20k per show. Typically sponsered by NetFlix or SquarSpace they have got a very loyal following.

YT's plan from what I've been told is to move towards a more traditional style of TV programming - having shows on at set times, every week with dedicated sponsers.

I;m currently working on a film trailer show - we've just gotten permission and signed up to the EPK of most the major studio's - just working out the basics on style and should be releasing once weekly soon

 

[eventdomain]

this view is very focus on the one off videos

Yeah, but that's why they get the views that they do.. Most youtube videos are either personal or company produced - and company vids on a social platform is just very untargeted as I feel most youtubers want to retrace old TV shows, TV adverts, music and crazy type stunts - perhaps news videos as well.

I dont think users hit youtube looking to click on sales pitch videos (as a first search thing) - but their more likely to use it as a further search tool after they've already read about something off other websites or the main site for the story/sales pitch. If you watch Dragons Den, you'll see the repeats on Youtube - most have already seen the show, but want to learn more about the pitching entrepreneurs, and check for other videos by the company - you know that kind of stuff.

People have websites for a reason, and your probably better off plonking your vids on that, you'll get more visitors I feel. Trouble is, if you wack them straight to youtube, it takes far more time to gain traction, as your website will get more traffic than your youtube account.

 

[Newcott]

True but look at the Carphone warehouse - they are using it very well at the moment by providing "How To" videos for their phones - a couple of day's back they where on the most viewed for several days for showing people how to email several photos from a iPhone.

Whilst the one of vids and sales pitchs wont work - shows on topics that entertain will and as mention YT is moving closer to this.

My vid's will be straight on YT - our new accounts growing since Christmas and its going steadily but we've still managed to 130k between 6 videos. I know that my audience is male, between 18-34 and our videos reflect that.

Our Film show will be a bit broader and more entertaining - we're hoping to get a wider audience in providing insight into the latest trailers and know straight away they won't be making tons of views but we want a stead 20k per week by the end of the year which is achievable.

All I'm saying is if you are going for the YT side - unless you've got £10k plus (more like £50k to seed the video) it would be better in going for long term shows.

 

[eventdomain]

shows on topics that entertain will and as mention YT is moving closer to this.

All sound great - but will it work though.. Just hope they seperate it from the other youtube stuff - so it at least stands out and is searchable all in one place.

You wouldnt want your show lost in a bunch of personal naff videos... I assume this will be free to begin with? then monetised most likely, and for that, you'd want some exclusivity or good exposure.

 

[Newcott]

Well they arleady do at the moment - look at the bigger creators like Revision3, Next New Network (before YT got hold of them) CollageHumour, Break, Machinma ect.... dedicated shows that are getting preference in the search terms and custom channels.

We already get our videos moetised for being a YT partner - the Film review show will be built around this (for example if a show is more then 10 mins we can allow for adverts to be inserted at certain times like the pre-rolls do)

I think they want to contact certain advertisers and for a higher rate produce specific ad's for the videos audiences

With IPTV more and more online content being availble on TV's YouTube want to make sure they are at the front of this.