I CAN’T SEE YOU

I not only can’t see you, but I would not know who you are if I did see you. Small business owners have to be the face of their businesses. No, you are not the President, or Governor, or the owner of Apple, but your face has to become known in the business community.

Technology has made it possible to achieve recognition and to brand yourself as the expert in your industry. A part of every marketing program should include video blogging. There is one myth that should be dispelled at the onset. You don’t have to hire someone to help you with your video blog nor do you need expensive equipment.

Video blogging allows you to make a connection with a viewer. It enables you to tell your story and to connect with your target market at a much more personal level.

Why is this not a common practice in the small business marketing world? I already mentioned several concerns early in this blog; others include I don’t know how to do it, I don’t have the time, I can’t speak well enough, who is going to watch me, etc. etc. etc.

The secret to video blogging has three parts: content, consistency and distribution.

• Content Marketing is the marketing and business process for creating and distributing valuable and compelling content to attract, acquire, and engage a clearly defined and understood target audience – with the objective of driving profitable customer action. Content Marketing is thinking about the target audience’s needs first. (By the first week in April there will be a new educational offering in BizQuack on content marketing)
• Consistency means that you will not make a one-time effort in the creation of your video. Initially I recommend two video blogs per month. (The content Marketing educational session will help in developing material. In the meantime, start with your own “WHY”.)
• Distribution means that your video blog is posted on every possible media.

Video blogging will allow you to make a much stronger impression than just using print. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then, a video must be worth ten thousand words. Become creative in your video. As you start feeling more comfortable with this process you can change your location and even use some “props”.

The key to business success is called “doing”. Make a commitment to have your first video blog out within the next week.

“If I had nine hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first six sharpening my ax.”  Abraham Lincoln