With online video viewership growing more and more each day, creating an online marketing video for your business is more important than ever. As a service based entrepreneur a marketing video is an excellent opportunity to talk directly to your target market. Even though online video viewership is growing and many entrepreneurs do see the benefit of having an online marketing video, they still aren’t using this awesome technology.

Perhaps it is because they feel as though...Click here to read the rest of this post at the Your True Harmony Blog.

The Your True Harmony Blog is authored by VAF member Darlene of D. Victoria / Your True Harmony.


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I've seen more and more videos on VA websites lately - I think it's a great way to give your website visitors a clear vision of who you are, your confidence, and having that human element helps them make an immediate connection. And studies have shown that people tend to buy from and trust websites that have a photograph of a human face on them - I'd be curious to know how videos play into that.

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If a VA is going to be offer multi media, social media, or marketing services then it's important to use these tools in your own business. What's interesting is trying to find time to get work done for clients and keep up with your own website, social media, etc.

I would like to hear how some of you VA's are managing these processes.

Dawn Beauvais

Great advice. I do see the benefit of have a video on your website. The major issue I have is not know how to set one up. Do you have any suggestions or resources where we can learn to do this ourselves.

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Shawn Reynolds- Transaction Coordinator
www.worldclasstransactions.com

Great post guys...umh...gals!

It's pretty well accepted now that video on your website or blog enhances the user experience. A static website doesn't work anymore. A site should have different modes of engagement -- articles, video, photos, audio and the latest bells and whistles to stimulate the senses and the mind. Don't overdo it though; moderation is key.

A great point was made in another post that if the work you do includes making videos and posting them to client sites...well then you better have video on your site as well. What better way to showcase your capability and experience by referring a potential client to your business website for a look-see as to how it's done. Make your website a showcase example of the services you're selling to the extent you can.

I wouldn't create a video that sounds like a resume for your site. A great way to use video would be to create a "How-To" about subject matter you're expert in or a skill you'd like to showcase that makes you stand out.

Most online marketers use a video editing software called Camtasia Studio by TechSmith. You can find it at http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.asp. They also put out two other tools; ones a screen capture tool that allows you to turn screen captures into graphics, called SnagIt and the other I use to capture audio/video of how-to demonstrations I'm talking thru on my computer screen called Jing; they have a free version you can use.

As far as how you get video on your website, well, the easiest way is to first create your video in a format compatible with YouTube (like .mp4), upload it to YouTube, and then copy the embed code (learn how here http://www.google.com/support/youtube/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=57788). Once you got the embed code, go to the web page where you want the video to be, open up your HTML editor and paste the embed code you copied from YouTube. Now when you go to normal view and refresh the page you should see your video. The only possible perceived draw back to this is that the YouTube logo appears on the bottom right of the video player. The bonus benefit to this is that you now get a backlink to your site. If you have a Wordpress blog, embedding a YouTube video is even easier...all you need to do is put the video link in the location where you want the video to go instead of the code. While you're at it you might as well get your own YouTube channel for the videos you're going to create. Then start promoting it like your other social channels. Always look for ways to increase your exposure and presence on the web because you never know where folks are going to find you.

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Steve, aka. HubBubMonitor
HubBubMonitor.com

Great article Darlene, I have a video on my site. Will probably rework it but it gives the basics and some navigation tips for those looking around.

I also offer a video tip of the month for download. Since I put it up I have been surprised by the number of hits it has gotten.

I use Camtasia for the production and editing and have the video rendered to my Screencast account(another Techsmith product) then I embed to my page, they provide all the code. Camtasia has a free trial period for those who are interested but not quite ready to make the investment.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant