Video production budget does not relate to success. A shocking statistic, I know!
What I mean by that is that the amount of money you spend to make your videos has no bearing on the success of what you are doing. In actual fact, I would go the other way and say the cheaper the video the more likely it’s going to be successful.
So, what’s holding you back? Procrastination is one of my favorites. You won’t believe how long it takes me to do some things. But, once I get going, I’m okay.
Videos, it doesn’t have to be a podcast. It can just be a video on YouTube or Vimeo or Viddler. If you want to see how poor some of the production values are, go to YouTube and search for anything.
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For instance as you will know, I own a fire protection business. So, go search for “how to service a fire extinguisher”. There are lots and lots of short videos.
Most of them look awful. However, they contain the information that the searcher was looking for. And, with the correct logo, branding, channel, consistency, they will enhance your content.
They will bring people to your web site or products (provided you remember to add a call to action or a link).
Now, you may say, “Oh, but if I tell people how to do the things I do, they won’t need me anymore.”
To that common myth, I’ll ask are there still fire extinguisher servicing companies? Yes. Did they tell everyone exactly how to do it? Yes. Did that make them go out and do it? No.
Of course, it might have made someone go and do it, but what about the rest? It enhances your authority. It enhances your expert status. It builds trust. It builds brand.
You should be making videos. It doesn’t matter. Look at what a cheapskate I am. This is recorded with my iPhone. This includes at the moment using a £25 ($40) microphone. You can use, if you got an iPhone5 or iPhone6, one of these. This is a Blu Mikey and it costs a £70 ($100). You just plug it in the end and then fire away.
You can stand as you can see from mine. You can sit in your car. You can sit at home. You can do it at work, in the office, in the warehouse, in a factory, or at the beach.
Make videos, talk to your fans, or make fans. Then promote and build it out with social media, put it in your Tweets with, “Hey, I just made a new video. I have just launched my new podcast. Did you watch yesterday’s episode? Etc., etc.”
Make it a series. Plan it out.
Don’t waste money spending on gadgets. Don’t think, “Oh, I got to get some background scenery. Oh, I’ve got to get a proper camera, I’ve got to get this, and I’ve got to get that.” It’s not important.
Important steps are audio quality and lighting. If you record outside, if you do it in daylight, near a large window, lighting doesn’t really come in to it.
Audio quality is important, along with the act of getting it uploaded. No, it doesn’t have to be in high definition (although that does make it sort of future proof).
There are millions of videos. Get them right but start doing them as soon as you can. If you want to make them better later on, by all means do.
Search for whatever product or service you do or you offer directly in YouTube. I bet you will find loads. Now, you may say, “Oh so, why do mine?” Why not? If there are lots, it means lots of people are looking for that product or service, and lots of people are offering the answers so get in the mix.
Don’t be a stranger to video. Go on, try it.
Drive Time Podcast
When you drive home from work today or while you are making the dinner, how about listening to a podcast? So, today’s Drive Time or Dinner Time Podcast is for The Engaging Brand. This is by a lovely English lady, a marketing expert called Anna Farmery.
The great thing about Anna is, as far as I can figure, she’s been podcasting since somewhere around 2007. She has been around a while and knows a lot. She has great guests and she bases her marketing on using social media.
Anna used to work in the corporate world and comes from a financial background, but she is an expert with social. She is very successful and very popular.
If you are from the USA you’ll probably think she’s got a cute accent. But, she certainly knows what she is talking about. Her blog is good as well and she has quality customers. Anna gets great feedback and has some good ideas in there. Please listen to The Engaging Brand.
Now, for my podcast, Marketing for Owners, go to iTunes, subscribe if you are not already subscribed, but please give a review and a rating. I’d love to know what you think. Same for Anna, give her a rating. Give her a review. That’s all we ask.
