Beyond Youtube – Getting Your Web Video Seen

By Author: david bryan
Total Articles: 18
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YouTube is sometimes regarded as the second most used search engine, and it is essential that companies that use web video as part of their online video marketing strategy upload video to their websites. However, uploading a video is not enough by itself to make sure the video gets seen, and there are other submission strategies that will promote your web video – and therefore your business:

Video marketing tip 1 - Video sharing websites

There are literally hundreds of web video sharing sites, although none currently comes anywhere close to YouTube in terms of their audience. However, almost all allow you to submit for free and should be given consideration. Remember, you are trying to build links, establish your website as a quality location of regularly updated, original and relevant content so the more opportunities you have to do this
the better – and if they are free then better still. Nobody is suggesting you submit to them all, but that you go ‘beyond YouTube’ and submit your web video to a select number of “other” quality video sharing ...
... websites. Well known services like Vimeo and PhotoBucket have a high Google PageRank and an increasing number of users – and you, your colleagues and customers may have other favourites that are worth considering.

Video marketing tip 2 – Blogging

In almost all business sectors, blogs and bloggers play an important role often wielding great influence within the sector and with potential customers. Obvious examples are in fashion or music, but almost any sector will have evangelists and experts that can blog regularly. These blogs are then often linked to other blogs and spread ‘virally’ so will help you to gain great exposure.

What bloggers often need is content, and the content they rarely receive is web video. So the chances are, with the right video sent to the right blogger, it will be used. What is ‘the right video’? It’s likely to be informative rather than promotional, a ‘how-to- guide’ not a ‘buy from me’ video. With carefully crafted content and correct tagging it can drive traffic to the website. Who is ‘the right blogger’? It will be someone who blogs regularly on the relevant topics, whose demonstrates expertise and whose blogs generate responses.

You’ll need to spend time researching and reading, and take more time to build up relationships by responding to posts etc. Don’t ask out of the blue to link to your video, but get to know the blogger, build up a rapport – you’ll then be in a position to develop a longer-term relationship.

Video marketing tip 3 - Social media marketing

It may seem obvious but online video marketing means using social media channels as much as or more than traditional media. Make sure you link your web video to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and any other sites that you (and your customers) use. Make sure the video can be Bookmarked, StumbledUpon, Digged etc to maximise its ability to be referenced by others.

Video marketing tip 4 - Forums

The way in which potential customers are doing business has changed because the World Wide Web – and it is changing the Web in return. Plenty of buyers visit review sites and forums to gather information and find out about others’ experiences. Whatever your sector, there will active forums about the area your business is involved in. Becoming part of these forums, responding and advising using your

expertise is a great way to build your brand and will open another avenue to distribute your web video. As with blogs, this is about building up trust and relations. Most blogs won’t let you post links straight away – they want you to contribute.

All four of the channels discussed will require time – to research, to upload and to contribute. However, they do offer excellent opportunities for increasing the effectiveness of your online video marketing – and that will mean improved recognition and sales for your business.