If you’re trying to figure out how to do video marketing from your home office, you’re not alone. Many of us are still getting used to the idea of doing everything from home, including video. But the good news is that it's easier than you think to create quality video content while working at home.
You can use video to fill the gaps that are being created due to social distancing. Maybe you were going to show off your product at an upcoming trade show. Or you’re afraid of all the prospective client meetings you might miss. There are ways you can use video as a replacement for these types of events and meetings.
So let’s take a look at some of the ways to use video marketing to get results, even while working at home.
An easy way to get yourself in front of a large audience (like at that trade show you were going to attend) is to host a webinar.
A webinar is a web-based seminar or presentation. You can take all of the information you were hoping to share at the conference or trade show and present it online.
To host a webinar you’ll need a webinar platform, a computer, tablet or mobile device, good internet connection, a webcam and an audio microphone.
Now you might be thinking “Dave, you said you were going to give me video options. Aren’t webinars live?” Yes, webinars are typically live, but they don’t have to be. And there are a few advantages to taping versus going live:
But if you can go live, you should try it because that will give you the chance to engage with your audience by answering questions. And don’t forget that live webinars can be recorded, either by the viewer or the dispatcher (platform). Recorded versions of live webinars can then be distributed through the same means as pre-recorded webinars.
A virtual event is an online event that involves people interacting in a virtual environment on the web, rather than meeting in a physical location. They can range from small question-and-answer sessions to large-scale conferences with thousands of attendees and are often used by companies to do things like:
And recording a virtual event has it’s advantages:
And after your virtual event concludes, you can use the recording as part of your video marketing campaign to continue building your business. You can add it to landing pages or emails to improve your open rates because emails are opened 7% more when they have the word “video” in the subject line.
Just because you’re working at home, it doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice thought-leadership as a video marketing strategy.
Thought leadership marketing positions your company as an authority in your industry. Keynote speeches, vlogs and interviews with industry experts are all examples of thought leadership videos.
A successful thought leadership marketing campaign will answer the big questions affecting your industry while conveying these values to your prospects, so when the time comes to purchase a product or service like yours, you are the first company they think of.
You can easily record a thought leadership video in your home office with your phone or webcam. Set up facing a window and use all the natural light that is coming in. In the end, what’s being said is what really matters, so make sure to pay special attention to the quality of your audio recording. Stay close to your phone, or pick up a smartphone external microphone.
You can also add some simple things like the speaker’s name in a lower-third, musical cues, or a company logo watermark with some free editing software. It can add a great deal of professionalism to any video.
If your sales team is working from home, video marketing can be a critical part of their plan. Video conferencing is a great way to get one-on-one meetings done when you can’t meet in person.
The other thing you can do is create some pre-produced videos that can be used to move sales along. Again, using only a phone and some good lighting, you can create a how-to or explainer video to send to prospects about your product or service.
You can speak directly to the camera and explain who you are and what your business is about. You can also make short videos that answer common questions about your company. These types of videos can be very helpful and can be easily sent to your prospects in an email.
If your file is too big to share in an email, upload it to YouTube, but don’t make it public. Instead, keep it unlisted. This way the only people who will see it are the people who get your link.
It’s about the message that you’re sending. That’s what’s most important. The information you’re sharing is the same information you’d be presenting in-person, only this time, you’re alone, in a room, in your home, with your phone or a video camera.
It doesn’t take a lot of time and effort to create great video content while working at home. Our smartphones have cameras that rival most standard cameras and with your free editing software and a filter, your video can look like it was done in a video production house.
Creating video for your marketing efforts doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Remember, don’t overthink it and be sure to focus on your message. You may even surprise yourself.
Another thing you can do is film what I call the “nuts and bolts” and turn your video over to a digital marketing agency that produces video. The agency can edit, add color correction and graphics. You provide the holiday tree and the agency will handle the decorations.
That same agency can also help you with getting your video in front of your target audience. They’ll provide call-to-actions and keywords for search engine optimization.
To learn more about how an agency that does digital marketing can help you with your video efforts, visit our video marketing page.
