Web Marketing Videos Introduction
Learning how video marketing can turn casual browsers into eager buyers is a valuable skill. And thanks to the boom in online video sites such as Google Video and Youtube, web videos look like they are here to stay.
But with a subject as huge as this, where do you start? I'm glad you asked!
During the course of this page we will look at all stages of video creation from the original idea right through to completion and upload to the web.
So bookmark this page and hold on tight as we start creating web marketing videos to promote our products or services.
Why Make Your Own Web Marketing Video?
Well, the most obvious answer is that nobody knows and understands your product or service like you do. You are the acknowledged expert in your business. And after all, nobody knows your customers like you do.So why don't more people create their own marketing video? Fear. They don't want to make a mess of it and have people ridicule them.
So they pay an Ad Agency a fortune to make a mess of it for them!
To kick start your idea process, download my free CDROM and check out the different ways that marketing videos can help to boost your business...without costing a fortune. You can download it from the Video Marketing website.
Step 1 - Your Web Marketing Video Script
OK, so you understand WHY your business needs web video marketing, but you're staring at a blank piece of paper wondering where to start.Well, video is only the medium for your message. So your first step is to actually create your message.
Welcome to your script!
The most successful marketing messages for the last hundred years or so have all followed the simple Attention, Interest, Desire & Action or AIDA formula.
First, you grab the viewers Attention with a compelling, benefit packed headline that will lead him straight into your sales message.
Build Interest by focusing on your service or products benefits as seen from your potential customers viewpoint.
Create Desire by convincing your viewer that they absolutely NEED your product and that it is the only solution to their problem.
Finish off with a strong Call To Action such as 'Click below to order now!' or perhaps capture their contact details with a sequential autoresponder by saying 'Enter your details in the box below for a free...' and so on.
Now you have a script that explains why your viewer should buy your product right now AND exactly how to do it, you are ready to capture the video clips that will support your scripts message.
Step 2 - Light Your Marketing Video Right!
The biggest difference between clear, professional looking videos and blocky, grainy, difficult to see clips is down to one small detail.
Lighting.
Make sure that your subject is well lit and your videos will always turn out crisp and clear. The traditional three-point lighting system is favored by many videographers as it is relatively cheap while being simple to achieve out on the shoot.
You need to light your background well in order to separate your subject from the rest of the scene.
Next you highlight your actor or product using a soft light (as illustrated below). Using a softbox diffuses the light and avoids any harsh glare or shiny bald spots.
The third light is a soft fill light to fill any shadows cast on your subject.
Lighting.
Make sure that your subject is well lit and your videos will always turn out crisp and clear. The traditional three-point lighting system is favored by many videographers as it is relatively cheap while being simple to achieve out on the shoot.
You need to light your background well in order to separate your subject from the rest of the scene.
Next you highlight your actor or product using a soft light (as illustrated below). Using a softbox diffuses the light and avoids any harsh glare or shiny bald spots.
The third light is a soft fill light to fill any shadows cast on your subject.
Step 3 - Shoot The Web Video
This is the fun bit! Capturing the video clips or photographs that support your marketing message is fairly simple if you have a clear script.
However, there are a few things that you can do to make the job even easier.
If you intend to put your video on the web then you absolutely need to use a tripod. Holding the camcorder by hand will result in a poorer quality final video that is much larger than it needs to be.
This is because when you compress video for the web, the software takes a look at the complete first frame. For the next frame, the software only records the pixels (or dots) that have changed.
So for example if you filmed a person talking, by using a tripod your software only needs to compress the persons head as it moves. The background will not change. If you hand-held the camera then you will need to compress the entire screen for each frame.
For this same reason, if you can, make sure that your background is static, such as a wall. Filming a tree blowing around in the background will bloat the video file size.
However, there are a few things that you can do to make the job even easier.
If you intend to put your video on the web then you absolutely need to use a tripod. Holding the camcorder by hand will result in a poorer quality final video that is much larger than it needs to be.
This is because when you compress video for the web, the software takes a look at the complete first frame. For the next frame, the software only records the pixels (or dots) that have changed.
So for example if you filmed a person talking, by using a tripod your software only needs to compress the persons head as it moves. The background will not change. If you hand-held the camera then you will need to compress the entire screen for each frame.
For this same reason, if you can, make sure that your background is static, such as a wall. Filming a tree blowing around in the background will bloat the video file size.
Step 4 - Editing Your Marketing Video
In the old film camera days, editing meant splicing clips of film together using a razor blade and lots of sticky stuff.
Then came video capture decks, complete with basic software and a few effects and transitions.
Thankfully, it is a lot easier now with digital video cameras and the latest software.
In fact, any PC that runs Windows already has a free video editing program on their system called Windows Movie Maker. Just go to Start/All Programs/Accessories and there it is!
Mac users have iMovie from Apple. In fact, the whole iLife suite contains all the software you need to get your movies from the drawing board to the web as fast and fun as possible.
However, while the free software will give you a great start to making your own marketing videos, once you get more involved or wish to make something a little more creative then you will need some dedicated video editing software.
Then came video capture decks, complete with basic software and a few effects and transitions.
Thankfully, it is a lot easier now with digital video cameras and the latest software.
In fact, any PC that runs Windows already has a free video editing program on their system called Windows Movie Maker. Just go to Start/All Programs/Accessories and there it is!
Mac users have iMovie from Apple. In fact, the whole iLife suite contains all the software you need to get your movies from the drawing board to the web as fast and fun as possible.
However, while the free software will give you a great start to making your own marketing videos, once you get more involved or wish to make something a little more creative then you will need some dedicated video editing software.
![Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 & Adobe Premiere Elements 4 [OLD VERSION]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51YRJIWKw9L._SL75_.jpg)
![Corel Ulead VideoStudio 11 Plus [OLD VERSION]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/517BeGSqr1L._SL75_.jpg)
![Vegas Movie Studio 8 Platinum Edition [OLD VERSION]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31B9V5tTNUL._SL75_.jpg)
![Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 [OLD VERSION]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41iNaUKrJ1L._SL75_.jpg)
Step 5 - Produce Your Marketing Video For The Web
Once you have edited the video to your exact needs, you should export it from your editing application at the highest possible quality as a WMV, AVI (for windows) or MOV (Mac) file ready to be uploaded to Youtube or Google video.
If you plan to host the movie on your own web server then you will need to convert it to the Flash video or FLV format. Flash is installed on almost every computer out there and so can be viewed by nearly everyone.
To convert your marketing video to FLV format you will need an inexpensive piece of software called Video Web Wizard. You also get a variety of stylish looking video players to match your web page.
If you plan to host the movie on your own web server then you will need to convert it to the Flash video or FLV format. Flash is installed on almost every computer out there and so can be viewed by nearly everyone.
To convert your marketing video to FLV format you will need an inexpensive piece of software called Video Web Wizard. You also get a variety of stylish looking video players to match your web page.
Convert To FLV With Video Web Wizard
Conclusions
You have come a long way in just a short time. So now that you have this exciting new skill under your belt you'll be itching to get started, right?
Well, here's a list of things that you can promote using your new found video marketing skills:
Now get out there and start making movies!
Well, here's a list of things that you can promote using your new found video marketing skills:
- Your business
- Your products
- Your services
- Web Design
- Affiliate products where you earn a commission
- Your church or religion
- Your local school fundraising events
- Hotel Marketing works well with video!
- Local charities
- Your new found skills!
- Use videos as bonuses for your offline leaflets and flyers
- Create viral marketing videos
Now get out there and start making movies!
by MarkHeywood
Creating web marketing videos can be fun, while adding to your bottom line profits! (more)
