The only way for people to learn about your business is to do everything you can to reach them wherever they are. One of the best ways to do this is to unleash your creativity and embrace new marketing tools. Thankfully these tools don’t require special know-how. They have been designed in simple, plug-and-play formats for the not-so-tech-savvy. I’m going to share some of my favorite tips and tools with you here. However, before you start blasting out information about your business, there is one important first step and it has to do with your story.
Tip No. 1: What is your story? It’s essential to think about the message and feeling you wish to convey to your audience. We often spend a tremendous amount of time thinking about the products and services that we offer without spending enough time thinking about our brand story and what emotion we wish to evoke when people see our brand. Exercise: Look at your story for multiple angles: personal story (why you started the business?), brand story (what is the meaning of the brand?) and your “media” story (this is usually a combination of the personal and brand story). (Note: If you’re trying to figure out how to convey “emotion” with your brand, think about how the following brands make you feel at just seeing their logos: Harley Davidson (Gritty, tough lifestyle), Nike (“Just Do It!” inspires action, health and athletic lifestyle), APPLE (cool, innovative, “in”) and TOMS Shoes (Giving, helping others, collective social action).
Tip No. 2: Make your brand an invitation. People love to feel like they are part of something special, fun or important. Think about how you can invite people to engage with you and your brand of products and services (e.g., create a contest, ask for feedback, or invite them to become a member of your own community).
Tip No. 3: As you well know, YouTube, the world’s second largest search engine, is where it’s happening. Your customers, fans and competitors are there. And, one of the best ways to engage with your tribe is through video. Direct-to-Camera (talking head videos) are one of the quickest ways for people to get to know who you are and what your brand is all about. Don’t be afraid to take the leap. You can use your smartphone, web cam or video camera to easily produce videos to post on you YouTube. YouTube is now offering something fantastic – an opportunity for you to post a video trailer on your YouTube Channel (yes, you should create a channel so that all of your videos are organized in one place) so that people will understand what your videos are about and encourage them to subscribe.
Tip No. 4: Use a teleprompter. When I film direct-to-camera videos, I use a teleprompter to help me stay on track. You can find a variety of inexpensive teleprompter apps at the App Store. I purchased the Teleprompt app for $24 dollars and uploaded it to my iPad. (Helpful hints: 1) know your script well. Use your teleprompter as a guide not a crutch. 2) When you look at the teleprompter, keep your eyes at the top of the screen – don’t look down because then it looks like you are reading. Like anything else, it just takes practice).
Tip No. 5: Have fun with VideoStir. One way to grab attention is to walk out onto the front of your website and welcome people. This is called a “floating” video. Be sure to tell visitors what your site is about and how they can get involved. In other words, invite them to do something by offering a clear call-to-action (e.g., Opt-in to get the “free XYZ”). You can also use this tool to announce new products, services or special events.
Tip No. 6: Scared stiff to go on camera? No worries! Photo montages to the rescue. A great resource is Animoto.com. You simply convey your message in text and photos, select music from their robust collection, and Animoto does its magic to create an engaging video.
Tips No. 7: White Board Videos are another great “off-camera” option. You can use these tools to convey your branding message with a sense of fun and humor. These types of animated videos tend to capture our attention. Check out Video Scribe and Easy Sketch Pro to get started. Another fun resource to check out is GoAnimate.com.
Bonus Tip: Create your own Ads for Free. Over the years, I have spent a lot of money on graphic designers to create my ads for my book launches, free workshops, and Power Mentoring Programs. Now, I’m thrilled to have found Canva.com. You do not need any graphic design skills to create beautiful, engaging ads, banners, logos and more.
By Tamara Monosoff
Photo by Bikerider London| Shutterstock
Tamara Monosoff is an award-winning inventor, educator, media contributor, speaker and author of six bestselling business books for entrepreneurs.
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