Free Business Promotion Using On-line Video

Here at Perceptant101.com we're always looking for new and innovative ways to promote customers websites. When we started getting in to online videos, 3-4 years ago, we were sceptical because frankly, none of us like to be on camera!

So, if you're like us and you are the type of person who doesn’t enjoy having their photo taken or prefers to be behind the camcorder rather that in front of it, don't despair. You’re not alone and I for one never seem to appear in any family photos!

 So, does that mean as camera shy people we’ll never be able to promote our businesses using video? Not at all.

Appearing in front of the camera is only one method of using video, and it’s probably the very most challenging video mode for anything other than extroverts. With this in mind, here are five alternate ideas for producing video content without disturbing your comfort zone.

1. How-To Videos
Lets assume you’re good with your hands or able to demonstrate a physical skill. Now have someone shoot video of you showing the step-by-step guide to what you know how to do. For example, a video of how to pitch a tent is going to focus on your hands and phyical skills, not your face, which makes the filming far less intimidating. Likewise, when you demonstrate a running style, you naturally focus on your posture and pace, rather than the camera. Keep in mind that you can either describe the steps verbally as you perform them or add your spoken commentary to the video later.

2. Storytelling Videos
With storytelling vidoes, you have an opinion to share or a story to tell, and you illustrate it with video scenes edited together. For example, a friend of mine created a popular 2 1/2 minute YouTube video about his remote-living Internet marketing lifestyle by first writing the script, then having his friend shoot footage illustrating what he was talking about. A scene near the beginning showed him sweeping snow off his satellite dish through which he connected to the Internet. Another pictured him looking around from his front garden overlooking the forest. His friend matched the content to the recorded audio and scene changes. This was painless for him to create because he never had to speak directly to the camera.

3. Slide Shows with Narration
Narrated slide shows mix still photographs, instead of video footage, with voice offers. If you’re a website developer for example, you could use this technique to show photographs of the websites in various stages of production, while you explain your services in the voiceover.

4. Scripted Interviews
I for one feel less self-conscious when answering someone’s questions rather than reciting memorized text or spontaniously talking to a camera. Knowing that you can reshoot an answer where you fluffed it is a huge comfort, too. So consider a Q&A video format in which you explain important points or provide background about yourself or your company. You might decide to leave the questions in the video or edit them out and weave together your answers on their own.

5. Screen Capture or Screencast
A video screen capture or as it’s sometimes called a screencast, shows the viewer what a process looks like on a computer screen as it proceeds step by step, with the accompaniment of a verbal soundtrack. You can also create a screencast by compiling a Powerpoint presentation and merging it with an audio voice recording. For example, some experts read their articles out loud while their Powerpoint illustrates the content.

Summary
Which video format you choose is up to you but please keep it short. Three minutes or less is ideal for video posted online. Edit it so it looks professional, as most people tend to compare video quality to broadcast TV standards. Don’t forget to end your video piece with a call to action – what you want viewers to do next, such as opt into your newsletter or contact you for an introductory meeting.
Finally, post your creation on sites like YouTube as well as your own web site. And give yourself a big pat on the back for completing something many introverts would not dare to do!

================================================================
About Perceptant101
Perceptant101 is an award winning website design, web development, mobile application, e-learning production and SEO company, based between Sheffield and Chesterfield in the UK.
We specialise in mixing unconventional thinking, leading design and ROI when devising how customers can maximise their potential on the World Wide Web.
Active in Joomla, Drupal, Magento and ZenCart amongst others, we also handcraft many of our projects without templates, to provide customers with an unrivalled and fresh web presence or application.
To view our work or contact us, please visit http://www.perceptant101.com
================================================================