So you’ve decided to get into online video, maybe after watching a few YouTube videos that really inspired you. And you want to do more than just create funny memes and play with your DSLR. You want to become a major player in your industry, right?

Well, you’re in the right place. We’re going to teach you everything you need to know about online video marketing, including the dos and don’ts of video creation, SEO, and much more.

The Basics Of Video Creation

If you’ve ever made a film or put together a television commercial, you’ll have an idea of what online video marketing is all about. But even if you haven’t, you can still dive in and engage with the audience without worrying about technical jargon.

When it comes to creating online video content for marketing purposes, there are three things you need to focus on; story, story, story.

The first thing you need to establish is a compelling story. Unlike a television commercial or film, which is usually comprised of a series of random scenes that come together to form a coherent narrative, online video content is often completely devoid of any narrative. This makes it much more difficult to engage viewers, but it also means you have a greater degree of control over what you’re presenting. If the content isn’t interesting enough, no one will want to watch it.

The second consideration is the production value. If you’re producing a series of short films for distribution via social media, you’ll want to keep the production value as high as possible. This means investing in quality gear and hiring experienced crew members. Don’t skimp out; spending a little money now can save you a lot of time and money down the line.

The final consideration is story arc. Once you’ve got your story and production values sorted, you need to consider how you want the content to flow. Are you going to introduce your product or service in the first episode and then reveal more about it as the series progresses? Or do you want to hit your audience with a wave of exciting, new information from the beginning? A story arc can be used to great effect in an episodic series, and it makes the content more engaging.

The story, story, story mantra applies to all areas of video creation, from the script to the editing. This means that everything must contribute to the big picture and serve a purpose. Sometimes, this can mean sacrificing short-term entertainment for the greater good of your channel.

SEO Basics

SEO (search engine optimization) is all about getting your video content in front of search engines so that when people are searching for products or services related to your niche, you show up on the first page of search results.

There are a few basic SEO principles you must follow to ensure that your videos provide value and are relevant to searchers. First, make sure that all of your video content fits within the Google Video Rating guidelines. This means that all videos must be under three minutes in length, and they must have a relevant and consistent title, description, and tagline. In addition, make sure that your video content is relevant to the keywords you’re targeting.

Another important SEO principle is to create video content that’s shareable. This means that your content should have unique and compelling stories that will make your audience want to pass your content on to their friends. People love to share stuff that’s useful or entertaining. And who knows – maybe they’ll even put your name in there for good measure.

The final SEO principle is to make sure that your video content responds to common questions or concerns regarding your niche. If you have a video series about digital marketing, you would want to make sure that your video content answers the questions or concerns of prospective or existing customers in your niche. There are a few tools that can help you establish these video questions and determine which ones to use. For example, you can use Google’s Keyword Planner to find the keywords associated with your video content. You can then use SEO tools like Google’s Data Studio to determine which keywords to optimize for.

Distribution Channels And Platforms

Once you’ve got your video content in some shape or form, the next step is to decide where you’re going to distribute it. Are you going to post it to your own blog? Are you going to upload it to a content sharing platform like YouTube or Vimeo?

The answer to this question will determine the type of camera and microphone you need to use to shoot the video, as well as the software you’ll need to compress and edit it with. If you decide to post it to your own blog, you’ll need to look into purchasing a standalone DVD authoring machine, rather than relying on free blogging software such as WordPress to do it for you.

If you decide to upload it to a content sharing platform, you’ll have several options to choose from. You can use the software that comes with your DSLR to shoot and edit your video, then use a service like YouTube to distribute it. Or, you can use a content management system like WordPress to build a custom-designed website and then upload your video there. The choice is yours.

The Role Of Online Video In A Marketing Plan

With the basics of video creation out of the way, it’s time to tie everything together. What role does online video play in your overall marketing and business plan?

You must consider what role video will play within your company. Will you use it as a branding tool? Will you use it to attract new customers? Will you use it to educate your audience about your industry?

To answer these questions, you’ll need to sit down and map out the key objectives you have for using video within your company.

This is especially important if your video content is going to be used for marketing purposes. Think of the video you just watched. Did you feel like the content was useful? Did you learn something new? If so, great! But if not, maybe you should have chosen a different video.

If you can find a way to answer these questions with a yes, then you’ve got yourself a video marketing plan that will serve a variety of purposes. And who knows – maybe you’ll even discover a new role for video in your business.

But if the answers are slightly more nuanced, then it’s time to put pen to paper and write a plan of action. This step is important because it will serve as a road map for your entire video marketing strategy. And if you want to be prepared when the time comes to execute on your plan, you’ll need to follow up with detailed action items.

Creating A Successful Marketing Plan

If you keep all of this in mind and follow the right steps, you’ll be able to create a video marketing plan that will serve your needs and goals. And who knows – maybe even become a successful video marketer.