Creating a video and publishing it online is an excellent method to differentiate yourself from the competition. Thanks to rapidly improving technology, it’s now easier than ever to add that warm face to face element to your website. This offers your visitors an opportunity to check you out before picking up the phone. With video, you can present an interview that addresses all the questions and concerns of potential clients while keeping visitors on-site longer.
1. Make sure your video is professionally done.
The first step and possibly the most important is to ensure your video looks professional. If your video looks like a home movie then it will fail to establish credibility and ultimately trust from viewers. While many video sharing websites such as YouTube are filled with low quality poorly produced videos, this is actually changing rapidly. As more and more companies begin to realise the full potential of online video as a tool for promoting themselves more are directing marketing spend toward this activity.
2. Submit your video to as many video sharing websites as possible
While YouTube is by far the clear market leader and website of choice for many, there are other video sharing websites you should consider. These websites include:
• Google Video
• Yahoo! Video
• Daily Motion
• MySpaceTV
• MetaCafe
• Revver
• Veoh
• Blinkx
• Break
3. Feature your video on the home page of your website
You have taken the time to produce your video masterpiece, you should be proud of what you have produced and give it the exposure it deserves. An excellent way to do this is by placing it on the homepage of your website. This will display it to almost all visitors to your website and most importantly the search engines will reward you for this key placement.
4. Ensure your video title contains the keywords you would like it to be found on
Identify the keywords which you would like your video to be found on. Once you have identified these keywords, perform keyword analyse and identify the keywords which could deliver the highest traffic volumes.
5. Ensure Your META tags are SEO-friendly
Most video sharing websites allow you to tag videos with keywords and post a short descriptive piece of text. Ensure you get the most from these attributes by ensuring they are keyword rich.
6. Upload a thumbnail
A thumbnail is typically a still shot from your video that appears along side your video within search results. Choose a key moment in the video to present yourself in the best possible light. Preferably a headshot and a smiling face.
7. Link back to your site
Ensure there is a link back to your website contained within the video’s description. This will potentially benefit your search engine ranking and allow prospective clients to quickly learn more information.
8. Interact with your viewers
Most video sharing websites now allow viewer comments to be added by users. Ensure you take this opportunity to answer questions, respond to comments, and further promote your business wherever possible.
