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How to Create a Successful Marketing Video For Your Business

When it comes to creating videos for a small business, I typically find there are a couple of common thoughts going through the minds of most company owners.

1) Is video marketing really going to produce the results I want for my business?

2) How much time and money am I going to have to invest into creating a marketing video?

These are both very good questions and before getting into something like video marketing, you as a business owner should have a thorough understanding of exactly what you are going to get out of the process.

These uncertainties also boil down to a series of sub-questions. For instance:

  • How much money is this going to cost me?
  • Will I have to appear on camera?
  • How do I know I’m not getting ripped off?
  • How much time will this take and how much of my day is going to be interrupted?
  • Will anybody actually watch my marketing video?

With all of this in mind, it’s no wonder that just about anybody would have to think twice before deciding to go forth with something as uncertain as video marketing! What it also means is that you should be as informed as possible about the video production process and know what competencies to look for when hiring a video marketer.

Here are a few things to consider.

First, successful video marketing is about a lot more than just putting together a nice flashy final product. In fact, having something that looks nice and flashy shouldn’t even be one of your primary concerns. Yes, having a professional looking final product is important but there are certainly other things you should be more concerned about. After all, if you have the absolute best looking video in the world but nobody watches it past the first ten seconds, how much value is it really delivering?

An excellent marketing video follows this process:

1) The video marketer(s) learn everything they can about your company.
2) The highly engaging script for the video is written.
3) The actual marketing video is created using visuals, voice-overs, animations and/or live footage.

Here is a summary of the process.

Learning about your business
In order to be effective, the video marketer must learn as much as they can about your business. Starting with questions like, who will the video actually be selling to? Who makes up your target market? What terminology does this demographic understand? The video script must be written in a way so that it speaks directly to these prospective customers.

Next, the video marketer must learn about your business entirely. What makes you unique? What problems do your customers come to you with? How do help them?

In order for the marketing video to be effective, it must be relevant to you and your company. This valuable information can only be obtained through in-person or phone meetings. Simply filling out a questionnaire cannot provide the video marketer with enough information to do a good job.

Writing your video script
Next, before any filming, animations or other work is done – the most important part of your video has to be created.

The sales script.

And yes that’s right – not just ‘the video script’. This highly engaging script must be designed to do two things specifically.

  • Grab the viewers attention and hold it for the duration of the video.
  • Convince them to take some sort of action after watching the video.

    • One without the other simply isn’t good enough. This is where many marketing videos fall apart and where business owners start to wonder if investing their time and money into a marketing video really was a good idea, because their video is not achieving either of these.

    Make sure your video marketer knows how to do both of these things when inquiring about script writing.

    Producing your marketing video
    Finally, after a satisfactory script is agreed upon by both parties, your marketing video can start being created. The great thing about technology in today’s age is that your entire video can be created without a camera ever having to be pointed in yours, or anyone’s direction.

    In fact, your entire marketing video can be created using screen capture software such as Camtasia with the image part of the video being nothing more than a colourful PowerPoint or Keynote presentation.

    Of course, your video can also be a combination of this and live footage.

    Overall, as long as you follow these three things, your marketing video is much more likely to be successful. The most important item to remember, is that you do not want your video to be a commercial all about you and your company. Make it about your customer instead. After all, they are coming to you because they want help solving their own problems. So let them know exactly how that is going to happen.

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    Las Vegas Shopping – THE Place to Shop

    Many things come to mind when thinking of Las Vegas. Sprawling casinos, world-class shows, a hotel strip like no other in the world – and lots and lots of fabulous shopping. From the glamorous Forum shops with top designer names to the open-air Premium Outlets with great deals on brand-name merchandise, shopping in Las Vegas is as fun and unique as the city itself.

    Some of the hotel shopping on Las Vegas Boulevard is an absolute must, as much for the surroundings as for the boutiques themselves. A great place to start on the strip is the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace (3500 Las Vegas Blvd S.) Even if you don’t spend a dime you will enjoy the architectural details of this famous shopping venue. Designed to reflect the grandness of a Roman street, this shopping arcade features marble statues, a massive atrium with a domed skylight, and the much-copied sky painted ceilings that make it feel like you’re outside even though you aren’t. The shopping is also pretty remarkable. There are over 160 stores including mall favourites such as Gap, Victoria’s Secret and Abercrombie & Fitch, alongside top international luxury brands like Gianni Versace, Louis Vuitton and Roberto Cavalli. Notable boutiques include the chic fashions in Nanette Lepore, the incredible bags by Balenciaga, and the trendy pieces in Intermix. You will find fashions for your home as well, from the handcrafted crystal at Baccarat to the sleek designs at Nambé. If you hit the jackpot, the Forum Shops are the place to splurge – and so is the extraordinary collection of boutiques at the Wynn Esplanade in the Wynn Las Vegas (3131 Las Vegas Blvd S.) Oscar de la Renta features classic couture and shoe lovers particularly will enjoy the sexy styles on display at Manolo Blahnik. If you REALLY hit the jackpot you could even treat yourself to a shiny new car at the Penske Wynn Ferrari Maserati dealership.

    For more great shopping and opulent settings, head to the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian Resort & Casino (3355 Las Vegas Blvd S.) It has a canal complete with crooning gondoliers, cobblestone walkways and a re-creation of Venice’s famous St. Mark’s Square. Shoppers are serenaded by musicians, jugglers and various entertainers as they stroll along the canal. There are plenty of luxe labels to browse including Burberry, Jimmy Choo and the stylish and sexy designs at bebe. If you want to pamper your skin, the luxurious soaps, lotions and fragrances at Acca Kappa are simply divine. Other highlights include the one-of-a-kind porcelain designs in the Lladro boutique, and the acclaimed panoramic photography in the Peter Lik Gallery. Other notable shopping on the strip can be found at the bustling Miracle Mile Shops at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino (3663 Las Vegas Blvd S.) which offers hip stores like H&M, Marciano and Ben Sherman.

    There are some gigantic malls in Vegas and shopaholics should prepare themselves for a shopping extravaganza at Fashion Show (3200 Las Vegas Blvd S.) At nearly 2-million-square-feet with more than 200 stores, this shopping centre is one of the biggest in the US. Located in the heart of the strip, this mall features an 80-foot retractable runway for the fashion shows that run regularly. You’ll find renowned department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, and Bloomingdales, and cutting edge shops like Zara, Betsey Johnson and Ed Hardy. And there are plenty of popular chains like Hollister, J. Crew, and Ann Taylor. More in the mood for Old Navy than Emporio Armani? Then check out The Boulevard (3528 South Maryland Parkway.) Just minutes from the strip and downtown, it is the second largest mall in the city after Fashion Show, and features a Sears, JC Penney, and many other mall favourites.

    Off the strip, head downtown to the Las Vegas Premium Outlets (875 South Grand Central Parkway.) This open-air shopping venue has over 150 stores with a mix of brands, many of which are unexpected for an outlet. The uber-trendy on a budget will love browsing through the fashions at Dolce & Gabbana, Michael Kors and A|X Armani Exchange. Need to accessorize? Head to Kate Spade, Coach or Cole Haan. From sportswear at Adidas to crystal at Swarovski, this is outlet shopping that really delivers the designer goods. There are also lots of upscale finds at the Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas (32100 Las Vegas Blvd S.) located about 40 miles south in Primm, Nevada. Shuttles are available from the MGM Grand Hotel, the Miracle Mile and Fashion Show (round-trip fare is $15.00 and includes a coupon book.) Highlights include Neiman Marcus Last Call and the Williams Sonoma Marketplace, which is worth the trip itself for deep discounts on high-end kitchenware.

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    5 Insightful Travel Tips for Your Holiday Break

    The year has caught on already, so thinking about your annual leave, however far off that may be, is completely justified. The pressures of career work and domestic responsibilities are draining, and holiday breaks help us rediscover whatever energies we might have lost.Travelling is perhaps the best thing you can do when you have a couple of weeks off from work. There are significant emotional and psychological benefits gained from it. You learn more about yourself, and you are able to appreciate the immensity of the planet.Travel has evolved with the times, and now it’s much more convenient. The interconnectivity of the globe is to thank for this expediency. There are of course some less desirable changes that will occur this year- such as the elevated air fair prices and the increased costs of hotel accommodation. But the gains made far outweigh these trivial disadvantages. Here are 5 travel tips that will make your traveling more enjoyable and comfortable.Plan Ahead
    The better you plan, the greater the chances of your vacation going well. Planning enables you to have an objective look at your finances, and this helps you know what you can afford and what you cannot. It doesn’t matter how many months precede your travel; start making the plans on paper right away.Use Technology
    Unless you plan on travelling off the grid, make use of technology to serve you. There are many travel apps to help you plan an itinerary, and many applications that can help you overcome the challenges of travel such as currency exchange rates, local languages, points of interest, accommodation and so on.Use Low Cost Carriers
    Unless your flight is across continents, opt for low cost carriers. They have their shortcomings and inconveniences, but the savings they make you are significant enough to offset these other concerns.Don’t Go It Alone
    A sunset is never quite as beautiful when you watch it alone. For travel, you need someone to share the adventures with. Besides, you’ll find awesome deals for couples, so there really isn’t any good reason to go it alone.Remember the Stills
    Every moment you experience in your travel is a moment you will want to hold on to. Most mid-segment to high end phones offer enough in terms of photography and should suffice for quick snaps. But for the best photos, consider a DSLR. The resolution achieved by these is always more desirable.Stick to these tips and your 2014 holiday travel plans should unfold nicely.