There are lots of ways to market yourself, for example Bidvine.com is awesome, but for small creatives, video remains one of the most enduringly powerful. You may have never thought about this platform before, but it’s a create way to forge a bond with your audience, while also being quite simple to get started.
Building a Bond of Trust
Getting to know your audience is all about trust - that’s what has the power to make your creative output a commercial success. And luckily for anyone who is more about the art than the business side, the hard sell approach is most definitely not welcome here. Modern creative marketing is all about exchange of information rather than pushing a product, and video is the ideal medium for that process. You provide interesting, relevant information, create connections, join in conversations - and the selling follows on from that. Video is a shortcut to making someone feel like they know you - you only have to look at the monumental success of a new generation of ‘vlogging’ YouTube superstars to see how it can create money, without being sales-focused. They key is adopting a personal, conversational tone that shows your audience something new - and as a creative individual, it's extremely good news that that process comes naturally to you.
Getting Started
The other amazing thing about video content marketing is that there’s such a low barrier to entry - getting started couldn’t be easier. Got a smartphone? Then you have everything you need, right there in your pocket. Don’t worry about fancy set ups with cameras and lighting - research shows that what video audiences are looking for first and foremost is ‘authenticity’. It works in your favor that shaky, slightly imperfect video comes across as more real than some polished production - as long as your message is strong and interesting, people will still connect with what you are doing. Simply download some video editing software onto your phone - most are simple to use - and cut your footage into something that really represents your passion for your subject. Once you get more comfortable, you can find sites where there are royalty free beats to add an extra musical dimension to your output.
Engage the Right People
If you’re still not convinced, the stats are all there to show that people really do respond better to video than almost any other marketing medium. Studies show that 68% of people would prefer watching a video about a product to any other marketing form.- and 76% would also share the video with their friends if it was entertaining! Social shares will increase traffic and boost sales - so you really have nothing to lose. Get experimenting with video today!
Have you or do you vlog? What has been your experience with it?
This inspires me to have a go. Perhaps I should do some Youtube tutorials!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! Don't forget to come back and share your link, I'd love to check it out!
DeleteThis has been my biggest obstacle with blogging so far! Ineed to just dive right in and go for it!
ReplyDeleteIt took me awhile to warm up to it, but it significantly helped with my confidence! Go for it!
DeleteI tried FB live before and found that I really needed a mic - lighting and sound are just not that great on an iPhone. meaning to get back into it though because I agree with you on how important it is!
ReplyDeleteI definitely need better lighting and a mic. I'm no pro but it's so fun!
DeleteI seriously need to get more on top of making and sharing videos! I know I will enjoy it once I do I am just so stuck in my ways.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. I get nervous but try my best!
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