What does that mean for you as a startup or small company? Your presence on YouTube matters. In fact, it matters quite a bit from a marketing and sales perspective. According to the site’s own statistics, viewers collectively watch more than a billion video hours daily. These are people hungry for information about a variety of topics, including those related to your products, services, and industry.

To sate the appetite of watchers and seekers on YouTube, you’ll need more than a business-focused channel. You’ll also need a plan to attract eyes and potentially become a top performer in your niche. Fortunately, getting an initial promotional bump shouldn’t take more than a few months if you follow these strategies.

1. Stay brand-true.

When first-time visitors land on your YouTube channel and videos, they deserve a taste of your brand. Be sure that everything from your thumbnail logo to your Canva-created banner to your graphics are brand-consistent. Delivering an unmistakable brand concept from the get-go helps you appeal to your target audience. It also differentiates you in whatever categories you belong.

2. Budget for YouTube advertising.

It’s tempting to reduce costs by trying to beef up your views and subscribers organically, particularly if you’re bootstrapping a corporate venture. Nonetheless, don’t discount the value and ROI of YouTube ads. As AdOutreach’s Aleric Heck notes, you’re best served putting your budget towards the advertising itself as opposed to fancy equipment. He recommends simplifying your ad videography and putting your dollars into highly targeted YouTube ad campaigns. You’ll get a lift and make your budget stretch much further by investing in what can produce real results.

3. Develop a welcoming intro trailer.

Never miss an opportunity to make an impression on your viewers, right down to the intro trailer on your brand channel. The best trailers are short and sweet. They’re meant to educate the viewer on your company, giving a 30,000-foot viewpoint. Save the nitty-gritty stuff for your video content. Users only need a palate-pleasing taste of what you do from your trailer, not the full-fledged buffet.

4. Brainstorm simplified content based on customer FAQs.

You know the biggest questions your customers ask. “How does this work?” “Can I do this at home?” “Is this a good fit for my family’s needs?” Use those FAQs as springboards to create content for your initial videos. Don’t worry whether or not the topic seems too basic. A straightforward 30-second “how to” video shot with your smartphone could drive far more interest than a clever, but unnecessarily convoluted, commercial.

5. Lay out a content management calendar.

Ideally, you’ll want to populate your YouTube channel with as much video content as possible. But the reality is that you might find it hard to film some weeks. To ensure your videos drop on a regular basis, construct a content calendar. Then, shoot numerous videos ahead of time. For instance, you could take a Wednesday afternoon, film 10 videos, and call it a day. They’ll be ready for you to use (after a round of editing, of course.)

6. Remember all that SEO 101 stuff.

Guess what? SEO isn’t just for your website. It’s also vital to getting visitors to your YouTube channel. Tag your videos, use keyword-rich descriptions, enable transcriptions, and take advantage of any opportunities to construct unique content. Double check the way you name your videos, too. Each video needs to be keyword specific so bots and humans know how to categorize it.

7. Make your voice heard.

If you allow viewers to comment on your videos, set aside time every few days to respond to their feedback. This type of monitoring isn’t just good manners. It’s also a way to communicate with users. Even if someone writes a negative comment, answer it with compassion, humor, or—at the very least—professionalism. 

8. Remind viewers to become subscribers.

How many times have you enjoyed a YouTube video only to click out without subscribing to the channel? It happens frequently. Yet it doesn’t have to be inevitable. Instead of allowing users to just go on their merry way, remind them to subscribe with a YouTube card or other effective device. Asking for them to support your channel will boost subscription rates, which will in turn increase your brand authority.

9. Leverage the power of playlists. 

As you begin to amass plenty of videos, you’ll want to organize them into groups. Those groups are essentially playlists that viewers can use to navigate your channel. It’s not uncommon for viewers to watch every video in a playlist devoted to a special topic. Over time, you may want to rearrange your playlists to stay up with trends.

10. Link to your videos obsessively.

Want viewership to skyrocket? Here are two words to keep in mind: embed and spread. Embed videos on relevant pages throughout your website, such as within a blog post or on a product page. You may also want to embed your latest YouTube content in a MailChimp email as part of a messaging blast. In addition, plan to spread the word on all your social channels whenever you release another video.

Now’s not the time to get camera shy or think you need to go to filmmaking school to own a piece of the YouTube pie. Any small business can build a brand presence fast on YouTube. The sooner you hit “record,” the sooner you’ll reap the rewards.

The post Break Into YouTube: 10 First Steps for Small Businesses appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

However, there’s no point in making a video just for the sake of it. Here are six common video marketing mistakes to avoid when exploring this opportunity.

Lack of Quality or Professionalism

One of the benefits of modern technology is that almost anyone can create a great looking piece of video content. However, it’s important not to make the mistake of sacrificing quality for simplicity.

Ensure that your video has the basic professional qualities: good lighting, decent sound, and decent editing. You can create great corporate promo video ads with pre-set templates and simple editing software. While businesses no longer have to spend thousands of dollars to create great videos, they should still look professionally made.

Lack of Brand Alignment

Every piece of content produced by your business should be in congruence with your brand. While hopping aboard viral trends is an effective way to expand your reach and build engagement, there’s no point in doing so if it doesn’t appeal to your target audience. Having a follower base of more than one million people doesn’t matter if none of them are interested in your products.

Ensure that each video you publish is in alignment with your brand. This approach will give you a better return on investment when creating video content.

Start by taking some time to understand your target demographic’s expectations from your brand. For example, Budweiser customers expect to see something comedic and engaging when they view a Budweiser ad. The advertisements are crafted to appeal to a specific demographic: men aged 45 and over that make less than $65,000 per year. Does this segmentation mean their video marketing doesn’t appeal to anyone else? No, but it makes it more likely that the content resonates with the people they’ve determined are most likely to consume their product.

Don’t be afraid to niche down and segment your larger customer base to create videos that appeal to subgroups as well. This exercise helps identify the potential for market expansion (as Budweiser has since attempted to do with Millennial-centric offerings). Outline the customer journey to determine how they learn about your product and how you can use a video to navigate them to a conversion.

Creating a Long Video

Long videos have a time and place in your business’ marketing plan. Video webinars and live information sessions are fantastic ways to connect with warm leads and mid-funnel prospects. However, long, drawn-out advertisements and clips aren’t practical for daily marketing efforts.

When creating a video advertisement, the quicker you can get your message across, the better. Facebook recommends videos of five to 15 seconds in length for in-stream ads and 15 seconds maximum for stand-alone promotional videos. Aim to cap your videos at 15 seconds when looking for shareability and audience reach. 

Considering the video length often leads to another question: how short is too short? If you’ve spent time scrolling through YouTube or other social media platforms, you’ve likely seen quick car advertisements that last under five seconds. These quick spots are relatively new.

The “Get a Load of Milk” campaign of 2009 revolutionized commercial length during an era where air time was still paid for in 15-second, 30-second, and 60-second segments. These ads were designed to span a mere five seconds, with eye-catching visuals and a clear, concise message. This allowed the Dairy Farmers of Canada marketing team to triple their number of video advertisements on television without tripling the cost.

There’s no clear answer for how short your video should be. Some companies may be capable of conveying an effective message in three seconds, while others need five. The key is finding the balance between duration and message quality.

Keep in mind that longer one-minute videos are a great way to showcase visually compelling product profiles and behind-the-scenes looks at your business. However, it can be a fine line between an exciting video and an infomercial. Walk that line carefully. 

Convoluting the Messaging

Keep your messaging short and precise. Know what you’re trying to convey in the limited time available, and say it clearly. Many businesses will erroneously try to pack too much information into one clip. This approach leads to information overload and leaves viewers feeling confused and overwhelmed. 

Keep in mind that a piece of video content will rarely lead to a sales conversion; they’re meant to build awareness and attract people into the sales funnel. Create a quick video that makes people want to learn more, then provide information in a more appropriate setting, such as a webinar or landing page.

Forgetting the CTA

Don’t forget to tell your audience what to do at the end of the video; otherwise, the next clip will load, and you’ll be lost in the noise. A CTA (call to action) closes the clip and tells viewers what they should do next. 

The CTA could invite them to “buy now” or “click to learn more” or “follow us on Instagram.” The message ultimately depends on your goals with the content. The important part is clarifying and communicating that goal effectively at the end of your video. Remember to make the action as simple as possible. Include a live link or button to take your viewers to the goal destination.

Not Adding a Hook

Finally, don’t forget to add a hook at the start of your video. You have two seconds to stop someone from scrolling and convince them that you’re worthy of their time. A hook could be a visually compelling opening or thumbnail or a brief preview of what’s to come later in the video. Think of this as your live-action headline. 

Learn from the mistakes of other companies who have forayed into video marketing. Avoiding these mistakes will save your business time and money.

The post 6 Common Video Marketing Mistakes to Avoid appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

New Business Has Slowed? Here’s Why

The key to business growth is acquiring new customers, so if you’ve noticed that things have slowed down, it’s time to take notice. While slow business growth can happen for reasons like an economic downturn, there are often business missteps that are to blame. In this article, sales guru Adrian Miller is sharing five reasons why you might not be seeing the new business you’d like. Figure out which are applicable to your situation, then use her advice to fix it.

Click to read 5 Reasons Why You Might Not Be Winning New Business

Connecting with Customers via Facebook Live

Video marketing is a hot trend right now, but do you know what is even hotter? Live video. The thought of appearing live and unscripted on camera in front of your customers might sound daunting. However, when you understand the benefits of live video (and the fact that your fears are largely exaggerated!), you’ll be ready to take the first step into this promising area of marketing. In this Smart Hustle interview, social media expert Kim Garst shares the benefits of Facebook Live and five tips that will calm your fears and get you prepared for your first live video.

Click to read 5 Tips for Using Facebook Live to Get Closer to Your Customers

Enhance Your IT Security Today

A sobering statistic for you: in a recent survey of 500 IT professionals, 30 percent said they believe there is nothing they can do to protect the security of their company. If you’ve ever felt the same way, it’s time to eradicate that self-defeating thought and take charge because you definitely CAN improve IT security at your business! In this article, cloud service LogMeIn is sharing four simple things you can do to greatly enhance the security of your company.

Click to read How to Improve IT Security in Four Simple Steps

So what is troubling you these days? Winning new business and sales? Forming better relationships with your customers? The security of your business data? These articles are sure to help, and for more tips and advice, catch new content over at SmartHustle.com.

The post Smart Hustle Recap: Winning New Business, Facebook Live & IT Security appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Businesses large and small love free marketing, where customers are willing and eager to sing your praises based on the positive experiences they’ve had with your company. But besides just providing great products and services, how do you drum up word-of-mouth marketing? This article explores five actionable things you can do to get more people talking about your business.

Click to read 5 Ways to Get People to Talk about Your Business

Instagram for Business

As a newer social media platform, Instagram still has many business owners scratching their heads. How exactly do you use a platform that focuses on pictures and hashtags to grow customers and awareness? The launch of “Instagram Stories” is actually opening up new marketing potential for small businesses, provided you know how to use it. This article explains what Instagram Stories is and how you can leverage it for your biz.

Click to read How to Market Your Business with Instagram Stories

Small Business Video Marketing Ideas

If you follow marketing tips, advice and news, then chances are that you run into the subject of video marketing all the time. Unfortunately, many small businesses aren’t sure where to get started. We’ve covered basic tips in other articles, but this one gives you specific videos you could create to promote your business, including new product teasers, customer feedback, and more. It is sure to give you some great ideas to help create your first marketing video.

Click to read 6 Engaging Video Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses

Bonus Article: Must-Have Financial Roles

As promised, we also wanted to share an informative article for business owners who feel like they already have control over their marketing – and who couldn’t use a finance lesson now and again? This article, written by finance expert Jonathan Ankney, covers the three financial roles that you must have for your small business – and what happens if one of these crucial roles is missing.

Click to read 3 Financial Roles Every Business Needs to Maximize Success

Smart Hustle readers asked for more marketing articles, and we have been happy to deliver pieces on word-of-mouth marketing, Instagram, videos and more. What other topics would you like to see us cover on Smart Hustle? See what’s available on SmartHustle.com then share your opinion over at the Smart Hustle Community.

The post Smart Hustle Recap: Marketing via Word-Of-Mouth, Instagram Stories, and Videos appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Using Google Analytics to Track Social Campaigns

Even though there are several social media management tools, the richness of Google Analytics reports make it ideal for tracking your social campaigns. Did you know that you can use Google Analytics to track network referrals, conversions, landing pages, and social plugins? This article tells you how to get started with Google Analytics, set up goals, and five top Google Analytics reports to look at to understand how your social media campaigns are going.

Click to read How to Track Social Media Analytics with Google Analytics

Recovering from a Sales Slump

Unfortunately, everyone will experience a sales slump at some point in his or her career. Biz expert Adrian Miller says the first important thing is to understand why the slump happened so you can address the cause! However, if you find yourself in a slump, there are plenty of things you can do to recover. Adrian reviews four of the best things you can do to get the sales ball rolling again.

Click to read How to Revamp Your Business in a “Sales Slump”

Small Biz Owner: Don’t Focus on Going Viral

The gold standard in content marketing is a phenomenon known as “going viral” – when your content (whether it is a blog post, video, social media message, or something else) gets the attention of mass audiences who flood to your site and “discover” your company, making you an overnight sensation. While going viral is definitely a good thing, there are many reasons why small business owners should not focus on going viral. This article explores the reasons and what small business owners should do instead to make sure their content is a hit among the target market.

Click to read Content Marketing 2016: Why Small Businesses Shouldn’t Focus on Going Viral

Smart Hustle Magazine is committed to helping small business owners through all the twists and turns of running a business – the high points (like going viral), the low points (like experiencing a sales slump), and all of the experimentation that goes on in between (including tracking campaign analytics on platforms like Google Analytics). For more advice – no matter what stage of the game you’re at – check out SmartHustle.com or join the discussion in the Smart Hustle Community.

The post Smart Hustle Recap: Google Analytics How-To, Recovering from a Sales Slump, and More! appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

There’s a lot of places to host and share your videos. As a business owner, you want to create videos as it is the most engaging you to bring your brand to your audience, increase their engagement and make your brand more personal.

Facebook is adding more and more features to Facebook Live, SnapChat is growing and of course YouTube is the “original” video network.

Twitter has been behind, but is releasing an app to help you create and share videos on Twitter.

The Wall Street Journal writes: “Video is becoming increasingly central to the real-time conversations happening on Twitter,” said Twitter CEO and co-founderJack Dorsey, in a statement. ”We’re investing heavily in videos and creators. We want to be the best place for creators and influencers to build an audience and make it easier for creators to make money on Twitter, and soon, Vine.”

If you’re just starting out, overall, it really doesn’t matter where you host your video. What’s MOST important is that your video is informative, engaging and useful to your audience. Having said that, do take some time to know about your audience and where your AUDIENCE lives is where you should host your video.

The post Where Will You Host Your Videos? Twitter? Facebook? Snapchat? YouTube? appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.