As the world becomes more and more reliable on technical gadgets, almost everybody you know has an iPod or iPhone or some tool to listen to their music or keep them on the web while on the go. More and more people are accessing the internet and your website with these devices. It’s not a bad idea to learn ways to keep this group of people interested in what you have to offer by catering to their choice of electronic devices.
Get Apps
Everybody who owns these iDevices crave apps! Applications are what make iPod users continue using these gadgets for more than just simple music, photo and media enjoyment. You can actually create an application yourself, or you could outsource if you feel you’re incapable. Either way, you can include an app in your small business design that allows visitors to download the application to access your website easily, with just the click of a button. You can also get very creative with apps. They don’t need to lead users to your website alone; they can also include some form of game to engage them. Free apps for your visitors are definitely a great choice for your website. You can search for tutorials to make your own applications or check out a variety of helpful videos on YouTube.
Podcasts
If you have something to say, say it with a podcast. It could be a great attribute to your small business. You could make one weekly, monthly or anytime you’d like. The great thing about a podcast is that it’s incredibly easy to create and requires very little equipment. If you have a computer, a microphone and a website, you’re set. Consider publishing your podcast to your website’s blog. When you’re done creating it, list it in the iTunes Directory and search engines like Yahoo! Audio Search. You may be surprised just how many listeners you have. You can also do video podcasts. These would be great if you want to create a “Vodcast” for new products you may be showcasing on your site.
According to Apple, 220 million iPods have been sold worldwide. That’s a lot of potential clients. By applying the techniques to your small business, your business will become more accommodating to those who wish to use their iPods to access information that you have to share.
If you’ve never considered video marketing, you’re missing out on an entire world of opportunity. Providing videos for your customers is a great way to share information while personalizing your business at the same time. One of the difficulties of an Internet business is that you may never meet your customers in person; videos are a great way to make the personal connection that builds customer trust and loyalty. One of the easiest and best ways to use video for your small business is to take advantage of YouTube’s free services.
Why?
You can certainly host videos on your own small business website, but there are some great advantages to hosting your videos on YouTube instead. Here are a few you should consider:
- YouTube is the world’s most popular online video community, with millions of users. The site’s features make it easy for users to search and browse by topics, view their friends’ favorite videos, and subscribe to their favorite channels–all things that can attract viewers who have never before heard of your company or your website.
- Hosting your own videos takes up your server’s limited storage space and bandwidth. Bandwidth becomes particularly important if you have a terrific video that goes viral. If you host with YouTube, they will be responsible for dealing with the increased traffic load as people flock to see your video, so you won’t have to worry about overloading your own server.
How?
Registering with YouTube and creating your own channel is a simple process, and they have a pretty comprehensive help center if you get stuck. Making your videos doesn’t have to be complicated, either. You need a digital camera, but it doesn’t have to be professional quality–your video will most likely be viewed in a small 320×240 pixel window, so an expensive high-definition camcorder isn’t necessary. Depending on the type of videos you decide to make, your computer’s webcam may be all you need.
Once you have created and uploaded your videos, you can easily embed them in your website and link to them from all over the Internet. Great places to include them might be your social networking profiles, emails, forums, and other Internet video communities.
A few important tips:
- Include your business name, website, and other contact info in the video itself as well as in the description.
- Keep basic SEO principles in mind when writing your video’s title, description, and tags. Using the right keywords will help customers find you and get your video listed on related searches.
- Be an active member of the YouTube community. In addition to posting your own videos, comment on those posted by other users and add ones you like to your favorites.
What?
There are many different types of videos, and you can try whatever approach seems to be the best fit for your business. Here are a few kinds of videos you might consider:
- Create a video blog that you regularly update with short videos, usually under 5 minutes long. This isn’t much different than a written blog, but feels more personal and is more interesting for some website viewers. Check out my article on what blogging is for more info on why you should blog–it’s specific to written blogs, but the same principles still apply.
- Make demos of your product or services. Customers will feel more confident in the product they’re purchasing if they can see it in action, and they’ll be able to see that you know a lot about the products or services you’re providing.
- Offer tutorials or mini-lectures on topics related to your business. Just like with article marketing, these videos will provide your viewers with useful information or skills while also establishing you as an expert in your area. They’re a great opportunity for product placement, as well–for example, if you sell scrapbooking supplies, you can use your products in a how-to-scrapbook video.
- Post video answers to frequently asked questions, or even respond to general customer inquiries with video messages.
- Provide videos of customer testimonials to prove that the testimonials are authentic and show off your satisfied customers.
As the world becomes more and more reliable on technical gadgets, almost everybody you know has an iPod or iPhone or some tool to listen to their music or keep them on the web while on the go. More and more people are accessing the internet and your website with these devices. It’s not a bad idea to learn ways to keep this group of people interested in what you have to offer by catering to their choice of electronic devices.
Business, Website Content | Yiana Palacios | 
August 31, 2010 6:56 am | 
Comments (0) 
Subscribe