What about YouTube?

[Ashley_Price]

We get loads (and loads and loads, etc.) of questions on whether using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. are any good for getting business, but I've been thinking about YouTube.

Of course no one is going to watch videos that are nothing more than a sales pitch, so I was thinking of something different.

I plan to video "re-enactiments" of the silliest, weirdest and just plain wrong phone calls we receive. Of course, I won't be mentioning our clients' (or the callers') names.

So for example, those people who ring up and who don't believe what they've read on our client's website, so are ringing to check it all; or the people who don't listen to the name of the client we answer in and just automatically launch into a tirade about something that has absolutely nothing to do with our client etc.

Now, I know writing it like that above sounds like it could be boring, but I think actual videos would be quite amusing.

Has anyone used YouTube in this way to get business?

[I would of course be lax in linking to my YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/Razieluk There's not much on there at the moment, but I plan to do some videoing and uploading in the coming weeks.]

 

[gemd89]

I think if you had some funny pictures it might help, something like phonejacker?? is a good idea, so long as its funny.

I was thinking of something along these lines myself

Gemma

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Do you get that many calls to justify this and keep the content fresh ?

 

[Ashley_Price]

Gemma: Yep, we'll have photos - where appropriate. I plan to rope one of my staff in to help with the re-enactments, I'll be the caller and they'll be the telephonist.

VM: I think so, we get unique calls on an almost daily basis.

At least, if nothing else, UKBF people will get to see/hear what I look/sound like, mind you that might not be a good thing.

 

[Jeff FV]

I think its a great idea - I love YouTube and waste far too much time watching all sorts of clips on it - both funny & serious.

I think the hard part is getting people to go from YouTube to your site - I (& I expect many others) just hop from one video to the next and never actually leave YouTube.

Jeff

 

[Matt1959]

I think YouTube is a great tool for advertising and underused by many imo. But I think I would be careful about anything that is tantamount to poking fun at customers or users of a service. Everytime I watch films about web design clients from hell I cringe....

 

[Ashley_Price]

I agree Jeff and it could take a long time before YouTube delivers any results - but then I was on UKBF for year before I got any business from members; not UKBF is one our biggest sources.

But I enjoyed doing the videos yesterday - you may not believe that if you watch the Supernote Oops one - and so am happy to put that time in.

I think if people enjoy a particular person's channel then they are going to do as that person says. I follow WilsonTech1/Lamarr and he mentioned WheezyWaiter who I now also follow. I've looked at their sites, etc.

Having a link to BananaOffice in the videos and description has to help raise the profile.

 

[Ashley_Price]

But I think I would be careful about anything that is tantamount to poking fun at customers or users of a service

While I agree with this, we have a certain level of anonymity. So we won't be mentioning our client's names in the videos, nor will we be using the real names of the callers. Besides, callers don't know they are talking to a call answering service.

Compare this to if we were a website design firm (for example) doing the same thing. Then people would know we are poking fun at our own (prospective) clients and I agree I think this is completely wrong.

 

[Newcott]

Just make sure its not pitchy at all then I can't see why not. getting terms like Fail or similar could help it get spread round.

I can't think of the name right now but on the BBC there is a guy who does fun Documentorys - last one I saw was about the Healthy drinks market. When they are phoning somone they will put a cheap picture up with a giant Smillie face talking always make's me chuckle.

Doing alot of work at the moment with YouTube, (but then again Video's our main work ) can provide an huge ammount of traffic if done well.

 

[Ashley_Price]

Just make sure its not pitchy at all then I can't see why not. getting terms like Fail or similar could help it get spread round.

Yep, the video will "FAIL" come up at the end of them.

 

[Ashley_Price]

Okay, all, have a look at the first video uploaded last night.

Later ones will improve on presentation, etc., but this was my first proper go.

This first one is I Don't Know My Name

Thank you

 

[TotallySport]

something like this:

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

 

[S-Marketing]

If i'm being really honest its terrible.

If anything it would stop me considering using your services. The bloke in the video can barely string a sentence together, even when he knows what he's supposed to be saying. The fact that you are deliberately taking the pee out of client's clients doesn't inspire confidence either. We all find ourselves talking to idiots sometimes, but dont make vidoes about it.

I think generally anyone watching the video may be laughing at you, not with you.

I guess you get the impression that I dont think much of it.
I hope you appreciate my honesty. I genuinely think it will do more harm than good.

And, it not even funny.

 

[debbidoo]

Love the video Ashley, it's really funny If you want to use it to promote your business, stick your URL right at the front of the description so it's the first thing people see (links in your video descriptions are clickable, too )

I've made a few little videos over the past couple of years and stuck them on YouTube under my company account. Only one of them has anything to do with my business, strictly speaking, but still - it's linkage, and there's always the hope that someone might like them enough to share. I have loads of ideas for more videos to add, but never seem to get round to adding them

My YouTube channel is here, if you're curious

 

[newsvend]

This first one is I Don't Know My Name

It's funny, though probably not 'virally' funny.

 

[Ashley_Price]

Thanks for the comments, everyone. Replies in the following order:

The bloke in the video can barely string a sentence together, even when he knows what he's supposed to be saying

Well, that's me! I wouldn't expect anyone else to be stupid enough to do this. In my defence it's the first time I've done this "properly" and so it is a bit amateurish, no doubt I will get better as time goes on.

The fact that you are deliberately taking the pee out of client's clients doesn't inspire confidence either

While I understand your point, I never use real names for the clients or callers, and if you notice my username on YouTube is "Razieluk", not "BananaOffice", so only those that know my face will know this is me (after all, you didn't). So there is no real connection to my clients or their callers.

I think generally anyone watching the video may be laughing at you, not with you.

Well, if you see some of the photos of me elsewhere (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) then you'll know people laughing at me has never been a problem. (There's a picture of me wearing an "Alice Band".)

I hope you appreciate my honesty.

Of course - if I didn't want people's honest opinions I'd never have asked the question.

And, it not even funny.

Humour of course is matter of taste. There's a chap on YouTube called "Wheezy Waiter" (see here: http://www.youtube.com/user/wheezywaiter) he's got over 200,000 subscribers, yet my wife can't see what's funny.

To the others who have said it's funny "Thank you!"

 

[S-Marketing]

I realise you and your company cant be identified, but I thought judging by previous posts, you were to use it for promotional purposes.

Apologies, I didn't know it was you. However, again if i'm honest, I dont think you are the best person to do it. No offence, i'd be rubbish at it too.

Maybe with a few more under your belt you may get in touch with your inner comedy genius.

 

[Ashley_Price]

I realise you and your company cant be identified, but I thought judging by previous posts, you were to use it for promotional purposes.

Yes, in a sort of roundabout way - I don't want it too obvious otherwise it will look just like advertising. Maybe later on I'll bring the business name into it bit more - but it will never be blaring out.

Apologies, I didn't know it was you. However, again if i'm honest, I dont think you are the best person to do it. No offence, i'd be rubbish at it too.

You could be right, but on the other hand, I can't afford to pay someone else to do it professionally. And looking at some of the videos from people that have done hundreds over the years the early ones are terrible, compared to the current ones.

Maybe with a few more under your belt you may get in touch with your inner comedy genius.

Oh yes, I'll keep working at them.

 

[Ashley_Price]

Wow!

I would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to all those who have viewed my "I don't know my name" video. It's had 142 views and some great comments.

I will get better as I understand how to do this more, and give myself more time for filming and editing, so further videos will look more professional.

 

[14A]

Ashley,

Whilst I agree that YouTube could be better used for business's I cant help but agree with Stretchy - I think your right to try and utilise YouTube but not in that way, it would certainly make me, at best, 'neutral' is I was using your services.

But the one thing I think it misses entirely is - You've missed the big picture, how does this help your business? As you say there are no names, links, pics etc other than you in the video.

The video should have connections with your business without a lengthy sales pitch, the idea you had was 'different' but I'm not entirely sure the right kind of different.

*Goes to search YouTube*

One of the best business/YT uses I have seen are for a company called BlendTec, they have LOADS of videos that not only promotes how good their product is, demonstrates it but also is of interest to 'most' people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAl28d6tbko

Brilliant viral

 

[Ashley_Price]

But the one thing I think it misses entirely is - You've missed the big picture, how does this help your business? As you say there are no names, links, pics etc other than you in the video.

At the moment, I want to build up a following - so I don't want to make it pushing the business too much right now, I'll slowly introduce the name as time goes on (it's a long-term thing, not meant to get business immediately).

I think your right to try and utilise YouTube but not in that way, it would certainly make me, at best, 'neutral' is I was using your services.

The clients that have seen it so far think it's hilarious.

Like for humour, different tastes for different people. Believe it or not some people like the "Go Compare" chap!

 

[Fuzzy]

For what's it's worth I thought it was brill - and they will get better as time goes on and you are more confident in that situation.

PS - where's the bananas?

 

[Ashley_Price]

Bananas will be added. I might do one where I'm holding a banana instead of the headset.

 

[debbidoo]

Bananas will be added. I might do one where I'm holding a banana instead of the headset.

Ooh, I *love* that idea! Do it, do it!

 

[Ashley_Price]

Ooh, I *love* that idea! Do it, do it!

We'll see!

 

[Chicharito]

If i'm being really honest its terrible.

If anything it would stop me considering using your services. The bloke in the video can barely string a sentence together, even when he knows what he's supposed to be saying. The fact that you are deliberately taking the pee out of client's clients doesn't inspire confidence either. We all find ourselves talking to idiots sometimes, but dont make vidoes about it.

I think generally anyone watching the video may be laughing at you, not with you.

I guess you get the impression that I dont think much of it.
I hope you appreciate my honesty. I genuinely think it will do more harm than good.

And, it not even funny.

I agree.

Surely the caller just getting the number rather than his name?

 

[Ashley_Price]

Well, if you think my video is bad, see this picture:

 

[debbidoo]

Haha - classic

Well, if you think my video is bad, see this picture:

 

[Fuzzy]

tis Brill

 

[Ashley_Price]

Okay, this will be the last time I put a link to my latest video. From now on, if you want to know when I've put a new video up, why not subscribe to my YouTube channel.

ORDER IMPOSSIBLE!

Please let me know what you think.

 

[Ashley_Price]

In case anyone should care, I've now started a new channel on YouTube, where all videos will be from now on. So go to ManTheHeadset1.

 

[Ashley_Price]

Grrr. Looks like the above link has the wrong address and I took too long before noticing. The correct one is: http://www.youtube.com/ManTheHeadset1

 

[jules]

To get them to your site you need a call to action and put your http address right at the start of description (it's clickable to your site) and at the end too (if it's long) for people who actually read it.

I am now seeing Businesses using the 'promoted videos' service to get more exposure, you can use annotations to link direct to your site not just inside Youtube - but it costs.

jules

pocketvideopower.com

 

[ava_camen]

i did. as long as you have good video content to keep them watching until the end of the video, its a good way of advertising

 

[Ashley_Price]

Thanks for the comments. I am not too keen on make a big thing of advertising my service on the videos at the moment, as I'm sure they are still rather amateurish. Once I have a proper video camera and get better at doing videos (and have more viewers) I will start to mention BananaOffice, put better links, etc.

 

[jules]

@ Ashley you can do great with an inexpensive camera, check out my video training for people in biz

jules

 

[Ashley_Price]

Thanks, Jules. Currently I use a digital (photograh) camera that has some basic video capability. Unfortunately the memory card it uses (512MB) only allows 8mins of recording, which means, rather than just having long recordings and edit them down, I have to keep doing little snippets so that if I don't like it I can delete and start again. The memory card is now almost obsolete and hard to get larger capacity ones. The camera also doesn't have software that allows it to connect and record directly to a PC.

I am looking at getting this CAMCORDER to do my videoing. It's quite cheap but has plenty of good reviews. I don't need HD or anything like that. It's also very small and so can fit in the pocket for when I do "away from the headset" (see my YouTube channel) videos.

 

[jules]

ashley,

that camcorder looks ok but it seems it doesn't have an audio input jack,
audio is in some ways more important than vision, especially if you film at meetings,
conferences etc with high background noise.

My view is set a budget and buy a few things extra within the budget so for example

kodak zi8 pocket cam (£90)
Audio technica clip mic (£25)
lightweight tripod (£25)


This would take you to the cost of the camcorder you refer to. The zi8 though doesnt have the flip screen and optical zoom, does have the mic in socket.

You could also add a basic light (either on a stand or to mount on camera) for £30.


It depends on what type of videos you plan, the kodak and mic will work great for vlogging and interviews but is no good if you need to zoom (eg sports day, play etc)

So of course establish the purpose first, and then think about the kit rather than just the camera.

jules

 

[truereddevil]

Ashlu I think it's a great idea and you should fully push it forward. I for one am also looking to do something similar with my own business setting up our own channel now making it popular and then a year or so down the line hitting them with my business

 

[KennyRussell]

Video is the No.1 way to build your business contacts
Business and Youtube do not match but video for business is very important. I have been producing video streaming for over 10yrs and in the old days it took 20-30 mins to download 5 mins but I had 2 million downloads a month. If you are running a business then you have to look to adding video but using Youtube is a BIG NO NO! As youtube is where people go for fun not business.
Today video advertising for your business will increase the impact of your website over 60% as an online video can CREATE FAR MORE TRUST AND DESIRE. But how do you do this when your website host is not video friendly?
I suggest moving to our platform were we offer full plug in video production and unlimited streaming. Doing your video the self-branded way not youtube will get the respect of your customers. I try different systems of effectiveness and have even found simple home-made video’s like what I do here at Making Money Blogs DOTcoDOTuk is building my email marketing lists. If you are going to be successful in business it is all about your e-marketing list size. Video will help you do this.
Any questions please email me through Gottalife Business Solutions gottalifeDOTnet Kenny