With news print declining and more and more news content moving online, it’s no surprise that online video is becoming more and more popular these days. So how can you use video to market your business? Robert Grossman of Focus Creative shares his tips:

If you’re not using videos on your website to market your business, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity.
The statistics related to video say it all:

• By 2011, 90% of all web traffic will be video
• 13 million people watch more than 3 hours of video (many of them on their mobile devices)
• YouTube is the second largest search engine.

Video helps businesses of all sizes to promote their products and their services in a way that informs but also entertains. Video allows you to catch your prospects’ attention in a way that text just can’t compete with. Videos allow you to say more in less time, which is especially important since online users have such a short attention span.

You’ve probably heard why you should use video to market your business online, but exactly HOW can you effectively use the power of video in your business? Here’s some simple ways you could use video marketing in your online efforts.

1. Product Demos
Create a video that demonstrates how to use your product. Not only can you use this as an additional feature to offer your customers, but you can also show it to prospects. By showing them what they can do with your product, prospects are much more likely to purchase your product. Think of the value you could add to your product with a video your customer gets showing them exactly how to use that product. This not only creates value, but will also cut down on the time you spend answering questions/phone calls/emails about how to use your product or service.

2. Product Launches
Create a video about your new product or service, playing up the benefits your clients or customers will receive. You can use the video in your emails, on your sales page, on Twitter, on Facebook – whatever channels you’re using to talk about your new product. And because video engages people much quicker than text, you can catch more attention faster than you would with just copy alone.

3. Customer Testimonials
Start gathering video testimonials from your clients and customers. Engage a professional production company to capture your clients testimonials, or you can try using a Flip camera or the video option on your regular camera (quality might suffer, but better to get the testimonial), and start asking your customers for a quick testimonial. If you’re a local business, when your customers come in to pick up their product or if you go to your customer’s home to provide your service – take your camera with you and get that testimonial while your excellent service is fresh in their mind. Then use these testimonials just like you would a written one. Post it on your website. Send it out in your online newsletter. Send it out in your next customer email. Put those videos on Youtube to show potential customers why they would want to use your product or service.

4. Informational Videos
Educate your prospects and current customers on topics related to your business, related to the product or service that you offer. For example, if you are a weight loss coach, you could create a series of videos on weight loss tips, or low-fat recipes. Then, make sure you link back to your website in the video’s description. One of the best ways to do this is to link back to your website’s opt-in offer or your blog.

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