Using videos for marketing

I've just started using Go Animate to make videos, discussing social media, training and etiquette, a fun way of trying out video and deciding how to use videos professionally.

What I enjoy the most making about making videos on this platform, is that you can export them to YouTube, share on social media and embed on websites or blogs, so  the developers and designers are welll aware that people search for video content and 1 in 4 people in the US are watching/accessing videos daily.

Videos are the fastest growing out of all social media tools, they're often easy to make and YouTube has just made it incredibly easy to edit videos making it easy for you to search for and view anything you like.

Have a look at the Online Video Rankings and consider video marketing. 

You can do guerilla ads, montages, how tos, training sessions, guides, words, launches, festivals, glimpses, sneak peaks, vlogging ... you name it.

As you can tell from the rankings above Google Sites, driven primarily by video viewing at YouTube.com, ranked as the top online video content property in May with 147.2 million unique viewers.

So if you choose to use animations or stick figures like me (to start) or a hire/use a professional team with access to excellent music, voice and sound - which ever way you to go, export to YouTube or use YouTube, make use of tags and labels and set up your channel.

Here's my latest animated videos  - http://www.youtube.com/user/ebbyeryan

Make use of videos for social media, people like to view content and share/send to friends.

My basic guide to Social Media

A basic guide ... social media

Here is the free eBook.

Being social ...

Meet with clients and networking.

Social Media is about being social and making contacts.

I explained to a new client today that using social media is about reach. You never know who will be interested in your business and why.

It could be a work at home mum, a graphic designer, a CEO of a huge business, a person who wants to start their own small business and any of these people (and thousands of others!)  who just like what you do or the kind of business you have.

It could be anyone from anywhere and if someone asks them, do you know a business who makes cards or does social media for small businesses or does PR, then you can say yes I am a fan of theirs on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, I read their blog posts and I really like what they do. Or I like their blog posts, their Tweets, what they say, their passion for their work ... it is surprising why people follow each other.

Social Media is about communicating and making connections. It is about building up a profile and making contacts. Some businesses use social media to attract new customers and consumers and others use it to reach as many people as they can.

The money will come, it's more about being authentic and genuine and building up fans and followers. You will learn how to write updates, how to submit links to social media sites, how to add photos and do all the networking, promoting and marketing under the social media platform.

You become the master of your business, the captain of your business's soul.

And the reach of social media is extraordinary.

Market, market, market your business ...

Google Maps is an excellent way to market and promote a business, you can send all sorts of information to your customers and clients.

I have used my listing to promote my services, added opening hours, which areas I serve (Eastern Suburbs, Inner West and the City) and included my contact number, website and blog.

When you sign up and make an initial listing, Google sends a postcard to you with a number to verify your listing and once you have decided how to market and promote your listing online and add payment details, opening hours, contact information and other relevant details for your company; clients and consumers can find your business on Google Maps.

It's a free listing which can be seen world wide and it opens up other alternatives; which other sites can you use to list your business for free and drive more clients to your website, business or blog?

I am going to be spending the next few days finding the best business directories and alternatives to list my business. It's another way to keep your business active and build up a brand for your company or business.

Make sure that all the information you submit online compliments each other and helps drive clients to your website, business or blog. Check carefully that your important details such as your contact number and email address can click directly to your email address and site. The more interactive your listings are the better because people who are generally time poor do not want to waste their time trying to find a way to contact you.

Any way you can market and promote your business will help clients and consumers find you and contact you. Keep on marketing, listing, adding to directories and promoting your business but try not to overwhelm people with unnecessary information.

Find ways to make yourself seen online; have a few business cards handy when you make contact with someone who might be interested in either using your services or recommending your services to someone else.

Market both online and socially by talking about your business and the services you offer to people who are curious about or interested in what kind of work you do. Like real estate agents with their location, location, location spiel, we as social media people can learn to love the words, market, connect, publicise, promote and communicate.

Now say that last line three times.