As people who know me know, I’m a passionate fan and supporter of the great city of New Orleans.
For the last six months, I’ve spent a week per month down there talking with local rebuilding groups.
One of the groups that really stood out for me is Levees.org, a grassroots organization founded on a kitchen table by New Orleans resident Sandy Rosenthal.
We started advising Sandy on web promotion in December, showed her how to rework her site to maximize opt-ins, and encouraged her to harness the magic of Interner video.
One strategy I suggested was making a "double duty" video: a single video for use on the web site (and YouTube) and for TV. Non-Profits have the advantage of getting free PSA (public service announcement) time on TV.
The trick is to make the video compelling. One way to do that: enroll a celebrity. Hollywood and TV star John Goodman stood up and here’s the result on YouTube..
Click here to see the video
P.S. What can YOU do with your Internet skills to help a cause that you believe in?
Ken
Ever since Internet video began its ascent, I’ve been looking for a source…
…a single destination I can send readers to – with confidence – that will give you all the Internet video tools and services and education you need a from one single, reliable source at an affordable price.
I’m glad to say that finally that day has arrived.
Click here and crack the Internet video code
Last night, we started a new series of calls especially for Internet marketing beginners.
It’s a chance for people who are just getting started to call in and get answers to those pesky and sometimes embarrassing "A B C" questions that are often hard to nail down.
If you’re a beginner and you want to be notified the next time we do a call like this (they cost nothing and are hype-free), go here to register: http://www.thesystemseminar.com/nextstep
The reason I bring thing up is that last night someone asked a question about how to profit from Internet video and it gave me a chance to share a business model that no one else seems to be talking about.
Not exactly beginner’s material, but because Internet video is so new it’s an opportunity that has not occured to many people – yet…
Read more…
Video is the ultimate "selling at a distance" tool.
It beats text (much as I hate to admit this as a writer) and it creams audio.
Why?
Three reasons:
Internet video: 1) activates ALL the senses, 2) prospects don’t have to work so hard to follow your story, and – if you can get them to watch your video – 3) you get a level of attention that’s not available any other way.
Video, like all "selling at a distance" mediums, also makes your sales message consistent so that when you find a message that "works", you can work it over and over again for consistent results.
Here’s an example of a sharp company with a great service that after testing all kinds of messages and mediums over the years has discovered that Internet video tells their story better than anything else:
How to sell a complex service with Internet video
Enjoy!
Ken
P.S. I’m not only impressed by this video ad, I also endorse this company’s service. They’re one of the best kept secrets in Internet marketing.
I found this example of selling via Internet video in the New York Times.
Not in an article about Internet video, but in a paid advertisement. An ad that took up one third of a full page of the newspaper .
I have no idea what a third of a page in the New York Times costs, but I know it ain’t cheap, but this company can afford to run one regularly because they’ve got a winning formula…
Read more…
How do you get to the top of VIDEO search listings for specific keywords?
Well, if you Google the keyword "marketing" on Google Video right now, I come up #1 out of 1,406 listed videos.
A second video I posted recently called "Internet Marketing – The System Way" comes up as #10.
I better get a screen shot for posterity!
So how did this happen?
Read more…
I’ve decided to remove the word "infomercial" from my vocabulary when it comes to Internet video. (I’ll explain why in future posts.)
Instead I’m using the phrase "long form Internet videos." This is to contrast them with the webcam "talking heads" videos and short demonstration and testimonial reels.
Is it worth it to invest the time and money necessary to make a 20 to 30 minute video?
I think so especially for mature companies. It’s not the first thing I’d recommend that a new company do, but if you’ve been around for a while and you’ve already got a strong lead generation and sales system, the long form video makes sense for three reasons:
1. It can strengthen your connection with existing customers. ALWAYS a good idea.
2. It can help you convert prospects who are "on the fence" and have not made the intial buying decision yet.
3. It can help you reach folks who don’t read. Fact of life: The majority of today’s prospects and customers are NOT readers. The ONLY way you’re going to reach them is through video.
Here’s a video I made recently which explains the System Seminar to people who’ve never been to one.
In future posts, I’ll talk about what went into making it and why I made it the way I did. Meanwhile, let me know what you think. (I hate this still picture, but it’s the one Google picked.)
Ken McCarthy
P.S. Do you want to be notified when new articles like this one are posted to the blog?
It’s easy. Just go to this page and we’ll add your name to our bulletin list:
http://www.internetvideomarketingletter.com/
If you’re looking for a way to get started with video on your web site – or even if you’ve been at it for a while – I’ve got something simple and powerful to recommend for you to focus on:
Get testimonials.
Testimonials are a way to let *other* people demonstrate your product by telling their story of how it helped them.
Printed testimonials are powerful. Audio testimonials are even stronger. But nothing beats video testimonials.
How do you get them?
Read more…
People who attend the System Seminar often ask me how I come up with so many great speakers for the event.
It’s no secret.
I’m constantly researching new trends and that often includes attending industry conferences. It’s a huge investment of time and money. Sometimes it pays off, but I’d say on the average I’ve got to kiss 50 to 100 frogs to find one prince (or princess.)
Eleven days ago (June 16), I attended a one-day event called the Online Video Advertising Forum sponsored by ClickZ. (ClickZ is an online publication for Internet marketers – corporate Internet marketers.)
Read more…
You’ve got video content. How do you turn it into cash?
You need video content. Where do you find it?
In the first of what is likely to be a flood of services, a company called ClipSyndicate has come up with a solution.
The system is simplicity itself…
Video publishers post their material. Web site owners search for it. When the owner finds something he was to put on this site, he contacts ClipSyndicate for the rights.
Currently, two kinds of deals are available:
1. Pay per view. The web site owner pays a pre-determined fee each time the video is downloaded.
2. Revenue share. The video comes with an advertisement. Web site owner gets 65% of the revenue, video owner gets 30%, and ClipSyndicate gets 5%.
More details about the company here: ClipSyndicate
Ken McCarthy
P.S. Do you want to be notified when new articles like this one are posted to the blog?
It’s easy. Just go to this page and we’ll add your name to our bulletin list:
http://www.internetvideomarketingletter.com/
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