How To Use Video To Power Your Business

​They are watched for entertainment, and education, cooking tips and recipes, you can learn how to put something together (or take it apart), how to change your oil or change a diaper, movie trailers, and so much more. So why wouldn't you use video to promote your business? The answer is, you absolutely should be using video to further and strengthen your brand and company. I don't mean that you have to be in a video and talk about how great your company is, I mean you should utilize video the way you consume video. Here are five different ideas on how to get started using video for your business:

1. Stay out of it. Everyone knows that the best form of advertising is 'word of mouth' (WOM), so why not ask your customers to talk about how wonderful you are? A third party endorsement is better than anything you could say about how great you are. Tip: Hire someone to capture these videos for you since it may be awkward for someone to say how great you are to you. You will be pleasantly surprised what amazing things your fans say about you!
2. You are the pro. I know I just said ‘stay out of it’, but that was just one suggestion. Not only should promote what other 'experts' are saying in your industry, but if you are experienced at what you do, and consider yourself an expert, we recommend you share your knowledge with others. Remember, it's for the greater good of your business. Your goal is to create a reputation about your business as the industry experts. I'm not suggesting giving away trade secrets of course, but sharing answers to questions that you get all the time, or helpful or trending topics you read about in an industry magazine.
3. Promote your cause marketing. Cause marketing is aligning yourself with your favorite non-profit with the goal of positive, mutually beneficial results. This means, helping get the word out about your charity and their event, fundraiser, cause, mission, etc. In your effort to help them, people will inadvertently feel good about your business because they now see you as a business that cares about their community. And if you have a video about the non-profit, they are more likely to post it on their social networks (be sure to ask them to do so) and it will be exposed to their network of followers.
4. Ask fans to share a video of themselves using your product, or how they best utilize your service. Again, what better way to capture third party endorsements? Don’t forget to offer a prize to the most popular video.
5. Highlight your team. Ask select staff to introduce themselves and give a tip to your customers that will help them better utilize your products or services. Fans will enjoy seeing their favorite workers online and getting to know them before they do business with you. You or your team can also record short videos to promote upcoming events and provide a ‘behind the scenes’ look at your business.

​What other ways have you successfully used video to reach out to your fans and potential new customers? We have had success utilizing video for restaurants to promote events, heart-felt customer testimonials for a long-standing heating and air conditioning company, real estate agent branding campaigns and more.