Get found online – how to create a professional online video for your business

With more than 12 million Australians online, Australians are regularly turning to the internet to find information and answers to their problems. Interestingly more than 60 percent of these 12 million internet users are turning to online videos to find these answers.

So what is a business to do? Start creating compelling online content in the form of YouTube videos, online news releases, blogs, podcasts and online media to reach your target audience directly. This is your chance to tell your businesses story and maybe even go viral!

Video carries a lot more impact than text – yes video is linear and your audience has to sit through it – but video gives you the chance to create an impact, guide your audience through things and give your audience the chance to really get to know you. Most importantly it helps you stand out from the crowd and get found on the internet.

Jim Stewart from Stew Art Media has provided some tips to help you create a successful and professional video for your business:

Be unique
It is important to offer something different that no other business is doing. Try to stand out from the crowd and offer something your target audience actually needs. Make sure you inject personality into your video, but most importantly make sure you are yourself.

Timing is everything
Generally speaking people have short attention spans, but the most important thing to keep in mind is that people are busy. Your audience rarely will watch a video longer than ten minutes so aim to keep your video within this time frame.

Live Vs pre-recorded video
You will need to make a decision whether to offer your videos live or pre-recorded. Don’t just offer your video live because you think it is a good idea. You need to have a legitimate reason. If you don’t need to go live, then don’t.

Statistics show that pre-recorded videos have roughly double the amount of viewers than live videos. When live, you need to comply with global time zones and compete with people’s busy schedules. Pre-recorded videos give people the flexibility to watch the video in their own time.

Content
Make sure you use your video to tell your businesses story. Sometimes we are so close to what we do, we don’t realise people are interested. You might think everyone already knows this, but they don’t and it is worth talking about and sharing. However, make sure there is a point to the story.

If you know the story and your material it will help you look more professional and credible as you will not need to read from a script. Pretend the camera is your audience and speak directly to the camera. Your audience will feel more engaged.

Equipment
You don’t need a lot of money, a lot of equipment or a lot of people to produce a video. The higher quality your equipment is the better in the long run, however a video camera, three $20 flood lights and a microphone are the basics to get you started.

Lighting
Invest in three flood lights and use these to light your personal studio. Set up a light in front of you and behind you. The most important is to set a light shining on you from above. This will eliminate shadows and help your video look professional.

Microphone
Invest in a directional microphone and use this instead of a microphone included in a web cam. This will make sure people focus on what you are saying rather than the echoes of your voice.

Camera
The better quality the camera, the better quality your final product will be. A better quality camera will allow you to re-purpose content if needed. The larger the camera, the more light will be let into the video.

Format
If your video is being produced purely for online, than you don’t need to worry too much about the format as long as you are using popular software. When you publish to a site such as You Tube, they will take control of the format for you. Video editing software such as Windows Movie Maker which comes free with PC’s or iMovie free with a Mac can help you in your video making process.

Set
Think about where you are going to film your video, chose a quite location, with no distractions. Wear professional clothing appropriate for your area of business and chose a stable non-swivel chair to sit on. Remember, you want the audience to focus on what you are saying, not you swinging back and forth in your chair.

Use key words
You Tube is now number one in search engines, so it is important to think about your video’s keywords and use these in your descriptions to make sure your video is found. It is a good idea to look for the number one video on a similar topic and use some of their keywords – be careful not to copy.

 

Sydney Public Relations Agency, CP Communications provides specialist media, traditional and online PR strategies that get amazing results. Contact us today. For more great tips visit our website www.cpcommunications.com.au. 

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