Small Business Guide to Getting Started Creating Marketing Videos

Creating engaging video content is an effective way to captivate your audience, boost your online presence, and enhance your branding efforts. As a small business owner, creating videos might seem daunting, but with the right approach, it can be both manageable and impactful. Here’s how you can get started with making your own videos, including when to choose horizontal versus vertical formats and ideas for compelling content.

1. Understanding Video Orientation: Horizontal vs. Vertical

Horizontal Videos (Landscape):

• When to Use: This is ideal for YouTube, Facebook, and traditional TV screens. Horizontal videos work best for longer videos that you might feature on your website, such as testimonials, how-tos, and product demonstrations.
• Why Use: Provides a broad view, making it suitable for capturing more of the environment and is generally preferred for professional and detailed presentations.

Vertical Videos (Portrait):

• When to Use: This is best for social media platforms like Instagram Stories, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Facebook Stories. Vertical videos cater to the way people naturally hold their phones, making them more user-friendly on mobile devices.
• Why Use: Captures the audience’s full screen on mobile, maximizing impact and engagement in a mobile-first world. It’s ideal for quick, engaging clips that are meant to be consumed on the go.

2. Planning Your Content

Before you start filming, plan your content. Consider what messages you want to convey and how video can uniquely tell your story. Effective video content for small businesses might include:

• Product Showcases: Highlight the features and benefits of your products. Show them in action to give potential customers a real-life look at what you’re offering.
• How-To Videos: Teach your audience something new related to your product or industry. Educational content can position your brand as a helpful and knowledgeable authority.
• Behind-the-Scenes Tours: Give your audience a peek into the daily operations of your business. This builds trust and personal connections with your customers.
• Customer Testimonials: Share stories from satisfied customers to provide social proof and build credibility.
• Event Highlights: Capture key moments from events you host or attend to show your business’s active involvement in relevant happenings.

3. Getting Started with Video Production

Equipment: Start with what you have; most smartphones can produce high-quality videos. Ensure you have good lighting and a simple microphone if possible to improve audio quality.

Shooting Tips:

• Stability is Key: Use a tripod or stabilize your device on a solid surface to avoid shaky footage.
• Focus on Audio: Clear audio is crucial. Minimize background noise and consider using an external microphone.
• Good Lighting: Natural light works wonders. If indoors, shoot in well-lit areas or invest in basic lighting equipment.

Editing: If you’re just getting started and short on time, you could choose to upload your unedited videos. However, basic edits like trimming extra parts at the beginning and end, adding text and your logo we’ll go a long way toward making your videos stand out. On computer there are many straightforward editing software options like iMovie for Macs, Windows Movie Maker, or mobile apps like InShot or Adobe Premiere Rush to get you started. Many businesses seek outside help with this step, however.

4. Sharing Your Videos

Upload your videos to the platforms where your audience spends most of their time. Optimize your videos with fun and engaging captions, relevant hashtags, and encourage viewer interaction by asking questions or inviting comments.

Conclusion

Video production can significantly enhance your small business’s engagement and reach. Start simple, be consistent, and continue to refine your process as you learn what works best for your audience and brand. Remember, authenticity often trumps perfection in the digital world, so don’t be afraid to start filming and see where it takes you!

In the digital age, where online presence is as vital as the physical storefront, testimonials stand out as a beacon of trust and quality for small businesses. These personal accounts from satisfied customers not only serve as a badge of honor but significantly influence potential customers’ decisions. Here’s why testimonials are crucial for your small business and how you can effectively gather them.

The Importance of Testimonials

Builds Trust: Testimonials act as a third-party endorsement of your business, product, or service. In an era where consumers are bombarded with choices, a positive word from a fellow customer can be the nudge they need to choose you over a competitor.

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In the dynamic landscape of small service-based businesses, creating and advertising special deals or offers can be a game-changer when it comes to attracting new customers and retaining existing ones. In this article, we’ll guide you through the strategic steps to design and execute an effective special deal, tailored to the unique needs of your small business.

Set Clear Objectives

Before diving into the details, define the goals of your special deal. Whether it’s boosting sales during a specific period, attracting new customers, or promoting a new service, having clear objectives will serve as the foundation for your entire strategy.

Understand Your Target Audience

Identifying your target audience is paramount. Understand their preferences and tailor your special deal to meet their needs. This personalized approach increases the chances of not only attracting customers but also building lasting relationships.

Determine the Offer Type

Select the type of offer that aligns with your business goals. Options include discounts, buy-one-get-one-free promotions, package deals, limited-time offers, or loyalty programs. Choose the one that resonates best with your target audience.

Set Clear Terms and Conditions:

Avoid confusion by clearly defining the terms and conditions of your offer. Specify the duration, eligibility criteria, restrictions, and any other relevant details. This transparency manages customer expectations and ensures a smooth implementation.

Sample Special Offer for a Service-Based Business:

Title: Winter Plumbing Check-Up and Savings

Offer Duration: November 15, 2023 – February 28, 2024

Description: Winter is here, and at Acme Plumbing, we want to ensure that your home stays cozy and worry-free throughout the cold months. Our exclusive “Winter Plumbing Check-Up and Savings” offer will keep your plumbing system in top shape and save you money!

Offer Details: (1) Comprehensive Plumbing Inspection: Our experienced plumbers will perform a thorough inspection of your plumbing system, checking for leaks, potential freezing points, and any other issues that could arise during the winter season. (2) Water Heater Check: We’ll ensure your water heater is operating efficiently, providing you with a steady supply of hot water when you need it most. (3) Pipe Insulation: To prevent freezing and bursting pipes, we’ll insulate vulnerable areas, protecting your plumbing and potentially saving you from costly repairs.

How to Claim the Offer: Contact Acme Plumbing at [phone number] or [email address]. Mention the “Winter Plumbing Check-Up and Savings” offer when scheduling your appointment. Our friendly team will coordinate a convenient time for your plumbing check-up.

Calculate Costs and Margins

Evaluate the financial implications of your offer. Calculate costs, consider potential discounts, and maintain healthy profit margins. This ensures that your special deal is not only attractive to customers but also profitable for your business.

Promote Effectively:

Develop a comprehensive marketing strategy to promote your special deal. Utilize various channels such as social media, email marketing, your website, and local advertising. Clearly communicate the value of the offer and create a sense of urgency to encourage customer action.

Use Eye-Catching Visuals

Design visually appealing graphics and promotional materials that captivate your audience. Ensure the visuals effectively communicate the value of your special deal while staying consistent with your brand.\

Monitor and Adjust

Regularly monitor the performance of your special deal. Collect customer feedback and analyze sales data. Be ready to make adjustments to your offer or marketing strategy based on the results, ensuring continuous improvement.

Create a Sense of Urgency

Encourage customers to take advantage of the special deal by incorporating elements of urgency. This could include limited-time offers or exclusive perks for early adopters, compelling customers to act promptly.

Build Relationships

View the special deal as an opportunity to build long-term relationships with customers. Collect contact information and encourage sign-ups for newsletters or loyalty programs to maintain communication beyond the promotional period.

By following these strategic steps, you can craft and implement a compelling special deal that not only attracts customers but also contributes to the overall success and growth of your small service-based business. Remember, the key lies in understanding your audience, setting clear goals, and delivering value that resonates with both new and existing customers.

Hey there, savvy entrepreneur! So, you’ve got a small service-based business, and you’re ready to conquer the online world. Great! Getting started with your marketing can seem like a daunting task though, since there are so many options available.

So we’ve created a simple, effective internet marketing plan to get you started. This is a simple checklist that your business can follow and refer back to often to help keep you headed in the right direction with your marketing efforts.

Step 1: Define Your Audience

Before you dive into the marketing jungle, figure out who you’re trying to reach. Who are your ideal customers? What are their needs and pain points? Knowing your audience is like having a treasure map to guide your marketing efforts.

Step 2: Build a User-Friendly Website

Think of your website as your digital storefront. Make it clean, easy to navigate, and most importantly, mobile-friendly. It should be easy to locate important info like where you’re located, prices / pricing options, contact info and common service questions and options.

Step 3: Master the Basics of SEO

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is like the secret sauce of online visibility. Use relevant keywords related to your business in your website content. Google loves this, and it’ll help potential customers find you when they search for services like yours. Doing this well can also get your site to rank better than your competitors in search results.

Step 4: Claim Your Google My Business Listing

Picture this: someone Googles a service you offer, and boom, your business pops up on Google Maps. That’s the magic of Google My Business. Claim your listing, fill it out completely, and watch your local visibility soar. You should check your listing often for accuracy and add business updates periodically.

Step 5: Get Social

Don’t be shy – dive into the social media pool! Pick platforms where your audience hangs out. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter – choose wisely. Share valuable content, engage with your audience, and don’t forget to sprinkle in a bit of your business personality.

Step 6: Content is King

Start a blog on your website. Write about things your audience cares about. This not only showcases your expertise but also boosts your SEO. Videos are great too – they don’t need to be Spielberg-level productions; even smartphone clips can work wonders.

Step 7: Email Marketing

Collect those email addresses (with permission, of course) and start an email list. Send out regular updates, promotions, or helpful tips. Email marketing is a direct line to your audience and can turn one-time customers into loyal fans.

Step 8: Ask for Reviews

Encourage happy customers to leave reviews on your website, Google, or other relevant platforms. Positive reviews build trust, and potential customers love hearing about other people’s positive experiences.

Step 9: Paid Advertising

When you’re ready, dip your toes into paid advertising. Platforms like Google Ads or Facebook Ads can help you target your audience precisely. Start small, analyze the results, and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Step 10: Analyze and Adapt

Use tools like Google Analytics to track your website’s performance. See what’s working and what needs tweaking. The digital world moves fast, so be ready to adapt your strategy based on what resonates with your audience.

There you have it – a straightforward internet marketing plan to kickstart your small service-based business into the online spotlight. Remember, consistency is key. Now go out there and conquer the digital landscape! 🚀

Images are an important part of any web site. They grab visitors’ attention, communicate ideas, and can make your pages flow better and look better. But where can you find the photos you want?

Of course there are hundreds of thousands of images to be found on other websites. Is it acceptable to copy someone else’s picture and incorporate it in your website or blog?

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Taking and sharing photos online is an important ingredient for good marketing results. Here are some tips that can help you to plan and organize your photos to match the different social media services.

Photo Sharing Priorities

The first and most important place to focus is your business website. The photos on your main website pages are what potential customers will look at before deciding to contact you. Make sure they are high quality and that they represent your business well. Also, if your website has one or more photo galleries that show off or explain your services, then these are also where you attention should go first.

However, by posting extra photos on a regular basis, you can generate interest in your business, increase search site traffic, and impress potential clients. How should these be shared? We will discuss how to best utilize your website’s blog, Facebook and Instagram, as these are the best places to start.

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Writing good copy for your business website is something that sounds easy. After all, it is your business. But most of us weren’t taught this kind of writing in school, so it’s easy to either get stuck, or worse, to write bad copy.

The good news is that the principles behind writing for the web aren’t hard to grasp. Here are some of the basics:

Don’t Over-Communicate

It’s good to be enthusiastic about your products or services, but remember that your visitor probably has just a few specific questions that they want answered. Long paragraphs with too much information are not likely to be read at all.

The best way to organize the information on your website is to start with only the most basic details on your home page, and then progressively offer visitors more details on sub-pages. Notice the home page examples below, one with full paragraphs of text, and the other using brief teasers:

The best way to organize the information on your website is to start with only the most basic details on your home page, and then progressively offer visitors more details on sub-pages. This way your visitors can see at a glance what you do, and then quickly find out where to get the additional details that they want.

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It’s free to get your business listed on Google Maps. This makes it easier for customers to find you, because your listing can appear in a map search as well as a basic web search. You can include an image, a link to your website, operating hours and contact info. (more…)