Businesses today have to make more and more adjustments to our ever-changing world. As nearly all business operations are becoming digitized, one modification that any business can and should make is using online venues to share videos with viewers. Television commercials and advertisements are still effective, but it is becoming common and almost expected that a business will have a social media presence. Facebook and Twitter aren’t enough on their own anymore.

Where to Begin

It can be overwhelming to decide the when, how, what, and where with your videos. There are four very popular video outlets right now: YouTube, Vine, Instagram Video, and Vimeo. Each of these applications has its own pros and cons. YouTube is the most accessible of the four. There isn’t a time limit set for YouTube videos. However, the advertisements can be a distraction to your own marketing strategy. Vine and Instagram Video are most effective if your company has an actively used Twitter account. These apps are fantastic to use for short teasers of new products or ideas that your company is up to. It’s best to keep these shorter and more engaging for your audience. Vimeo is mostly used by businesses to put a video on their website. Unlike the other sites, Vimeo is not free for business use. However, it is a fairly good deal and provides you with storage space, commercial free videos, mobile compatibility, and your own company watermark on the video. Vimeo is less likely to go “viral” but has a more professional feel to it.

Many companies have wisely utilized the use of videos for advertising their product or services without making it seem like just another commercial. Do not use your online videos like you would a television or radio advertisement. Your videos do not have to be a perfectly produced work to put on the Internet. It can be as simple as how to use a product, introducing the CEO, showing bring your dog to work day, etc.  Anything that will engage your audience is going to be successful in some way.  Above all else, remember to respect your audience. They won’t be interested in something that is too juvenile or too sophisticated for them. Make it worth their time to be watching your video.

Inject Humor

One extremely entertaining YouTube channel to spend time on is the Blendtec channel. They have been making videos for 6 years. A marketing technique they often employ is to place different objects (like glow sticks, baseballs, and cell phones) in their blenders to see if it will blend. Of course, they know their product so it always works. Their videos combine entertainment with showing off what their product is capable of doing. Taco Bell also has an impressive online presence. A lot of this comes from the fact that they are willing to be humorous and entertaining but also keep their actual appearance professional. Their twitter feed is full of funny interactions with customers and their YouTube account has plenty of videos about people just having fun at Taco Bell locations. But when you visit either of their accounts, you can see that they have professionally designed their pages so you know that it is really Taco Bell running the account.

Just Do It!

Online videos are a simple way to reach more consumers and make your product known. It can also be a great way to show a different side of your company or your services. Take advantage of social media and networking sites. They are telling you exactly where you can find potential customers, all you have to do is find a way to engage them. Remember to have fun with these videos and make a lasting impression on your viewers.

Our guest post was provided by, Jake Magleby who has written extensively about effective marketing, sales, and financing strategies to help Utah ecommerce website design services. He also has an interest in education and development.