So, you want to get into video marketing. Getting a good camera is easy enough. Setting up a YouTube channel is not too difficult and there are many free themes and layouts available. Making your presence known by commenting on the videos of others, subscribing to other channels and finding favorites just takes time. But what to shoot? What about guidelines? What about getting a pro to do it? Well, here are seven tips of video marketing.

Know Your Audience

For whom are you making the video? What would they expect to see and hear? This is the first step. Do your homework on your audience. It will guide your content, attire, mood, tone and style.

Appropriate Location and Attire

If you ware making a video on how to rule the sand in beach volleyball, clearly wearing a three piece suit and white-boarding plays and techniques in a conference room will not be appropriate. On the other hand, if you are providing business advice or opportunity, an office space and business clothing will be expected. Choose wisely and keep your audience in mind.

Plan Your Words and Actions

Just hitting record and starting to talk over your topic will not get the response you want. You will tend to ramble and forget information. Plan what you want to say. Think about your topic and write an outline. Is the topic too large? Do you need to do more than one? Knowing your topic and what you want to say will help you determine flow and keep your audience’s interest. While writing every word may not be necessary, it can help. Practice your monologue. This will help your delivery, especially if you are nervous about being on camera.

Have Subdued Enthusiasm

Sitting there speaking as though you are a robot will not work well. Neither will speaking with so much enthusiasm that you come across as phoney. No puking into the microphone. Understand and practice the appropriate level of enthusiasm for your topic and audience. A video about new cheer leading moves should probably have more enthusiasm as a business opportunity, but keep it real. Boring your audience will turn them away just as quickly as lack of authenticity.

Be Yourself

Another layer to acceptance and belief by your audience is being yourself. You want to connect with them on your level, so don’t fake it. Don’t say you are an expert on a subject when you are not. Don’t make claims about yourself that are not true and don’t try to take on someone else’s personality. Light on a subject? Study up. Seek some advice and learn. After all, this is YOUR video, so own it.

Uniqueness

Unless your video is over some absolutely new discovery, chances are someone else (or many such) has do a video on the same or very similar topic. To be seen in all the noise, find a way to make yours unique. This can be done in the location, your delivery, appearance or approach. If appropriate, perhaps be silly: wear a brightly colored wig, film sideways, do it all handheld in first person, shoot in black and white, etc. See what others have done and let it inspire you into new directions.

Own It

Most importantly, take all the tips and own your interpretations. Make the video yours and yours alone. Own the results. Apply your stamp and let the world hear you.

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