New Content Checklist

New Content Checklist

Making a habit out of promoting your new content

A helpful guide to keep on hand the next time you publish a new page, create a new blog post or publish a new video.

• Is it ready to be published? (Double check it for spelling and other errors.)

A basic guide to things you should be doing when you publish new content.

The Basics

• Copy the published URL (get it ready to start sharing it!)

• Submit to Google Webmaster
• Submit to Bing Webmaster
• Add it to your Sitemap (if you do that manually)

Social Promotion

• Pinterest - if it has something visual and ties with one of your boards publish it here and tag it.
• Twitter - be sure to post with an image and keep the description short.
• Twitter Bonus - if it’s something about a customer or just for a customer be sure to tag that customer.
• Facebook - if this fits in an album be sure to place it there otherwise a general post will do. Remember to post the link with an image and a description (doesn’t need to be as short as Twitter).
• Facebook Bonus - if it’s something about a customer (like a case study) be sure to tag that customer’s Facebook account.
• Google+ - if you use blogger you can automatically post to Google+ otherwise use a similar format to what you do for Facebook.
• LinkedIN - only post things that others in your field will find useful. You don’t want to spam your LinkedIN colleagues.
• Blog - if this ISN’T a blog post would it be worth making a small blurb on your blog about it?
• Email Marketing - don’t send it if you don’t think your customers will want to read it. You don’t want to be reported as spamming so make sure you send it only to people you think will care.

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We hope this basic new content checklist is helpful and that you can customize it to meet your company needs.

For more Social media and Content tips check out our collection here: http://www.pinterest.com/bizideo/social-media-content/

Small Business Video Creation Tips : Part I

Helpful Tips for Creating Videos for your Small Business Part I

Like any form of content creation things can seem overwhelming at first. Video creation often makes people nervous because they believe they need to appear in it (don’t fret you can do presentation videos as well). Here are tips we hope will take the edge off of your content creation nerves.

Engage your customers on a new level by building a better relationship even when you can't be in person.

Getting Ready

What is your Goal?

Identify what you want to accomplish, it may sound simple but skipping this step can leave you feeling unorganized and conflicted.

Examples would be: I want to introduce my business, I want to introduce my staff, I want to explain our policies, I want to demonstrate a product

Write a Script

It doesn't have to be a novel but jot down what you want to say. This can help guide you as you start planning what you want to show and revising it can help you remember your changes. Even better your final script can be adapted into a transcript, or Closed Caption material.

Tip: Keep your vocabulary simple. Try to minimize the amount of technical and marketing terms used.

Be sure to take breaks in between revisions!

Should it be Split?

Sometimes it takes you more than one page on a website or more than one video to fully cover your goal. There isn't anything wrong with that and it actually will make the video more appealing if it’s kept in bite sized pieces. Normally promotional videos are kept short to get to the point. Offering smaller videos also helps viewers select exactly what they want to see.

Example:

Goal = Introduce my business

Video 1 = What we do/make

Video 2 = How we started

Video 3 = Our beliefs / community responsibility

Video 4 = Our team

Video 5 = Our CEO / owner

Splitting videos into parts is like splitting a book into chapters, it makes it easier to use.

Practice

Now this doesn't mean you have to recite your script for weeks, but read it through a couple times until you feel comfortable. Not only will you be more familiar with what you are reading but you can listen and find anything that might not come off clearly. Remember there is nothing wrong with revising your script.

Tip: Before you start think of something that makes you happy and try to smile when you talk. If you listen to yourself you’ll notice when we smile our voice is actually brighter and more welcoming.

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Click here for Part II

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Other Tips

A collection of advice from others on video production.

• 10 Tips for Being Awesome on Camera : http://mashable.com/2013/07/27/camera-tips/
• Tips for Taking Product Photos : http://121clicks.com/tutorials/product-photography-tips-tutorials-and-videos
• How to Do an Infomercial for a Small Business: http://www.wikihow.com/Do-an-Infomercial-for-a-Small-Business
• How to Make Your Videos Professional : http://bizideo.blogspot.com/2012/06/how-to-make-your-videos-professional.html
• Delivering Customized Video Playlists : http://bizideo.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-to-create-custom-video-training.html
• How to Create Effective Training Videos : http://bizideo.blogspot.com/2013/10/using-video-when-creating-lesson-or.html

Stuck at home? Take this chance to see how AAA Minneapolis, ILostMyJob and TeamKLIPZ all are using video to keep offering their clients / customers solutions even when they can't get out.

Online learning and video is a great way
to still be productive when you can't get into the office.

Working from home today? Take a moment to see how online video helps: AAA Minneapolis teach safety to their members, IlostMyJob inspire job hunters and TeamKLIPZ deliver a new solution to fund-raising through video sharing.

Stay warm!

• http://www.bizideo.tv/showcase-aaa
• http://www.bizideo.tv/showcase-ilmj
• http://www.bizideo.tv/showcase-teamklipz

How to Create Custom Video Training Playlists & Lesson Plans

Delivering Customized Training Playlists

Build and deliver custom lesson plans using multimedia

When it comes to a lesson plan or training plan composing all the content can be a big investment. The nice thing about using the BizideoEnterprise system is you can reuse elements, combining the ones you need to fulfill a customized playlist.

How Does This Work?

·         You create a video, audio, image or document of part of a lesson plan. Be sure to set up your content like you would chapters in a book so that you can combine things later.   

·         Once you have a library of content created you can start using it to create customized playlists.

·         As you need more content be sure whatever you create is something you can reuse.               

An Example

You don't have to be a big business
to have access to the same tools they do.

Sandra is a personal trainer, she wants to help her clients get in shape but they don't always have time to come into her office. She wants to make sure that they have access to the exercises they need while at home or on the go.

To start off Sandra has picked 10 videos she'd like to make that she feels most of her clients will benefit from.            

1.       Arm Stretches

2.       Basic Back Exercises   

3.       Calming Breathing

4.       Cardio 101   

5.       Good Posture                              

6.       Lower Body Stretching              

7.       Meditation Basics

8.       Tips for Drinking Enough Water               

9.       Walking Correctly       

10.    Yoga 101

Next Sandra uploads the videos to her account, and starts planning out customized Playlists.

She can either upload all her basic videos to 1 general public playlist, she can use these items to create custom playlists for each client or she can use keywords to tag each item and generate a playlist for users based on that.

Let's say she does the second option and starts making customized playlists. She can reuse all the content she's uploaded by just republishing it and creating separate subscriptions for her clients to log into.  Now Sandra can use those 10 videos to start an unlimited number of playlists as she needs. 

An example of how those videos can be used across multiple client playlists. Each playlist is still personalized to meet that client’s needs.

See how often Sandra can reuse the Meditation Basics Video? She could easily add it to unlimited playlists depending on the needs of her company and her clients.

What’s Next?

Once you have your foundation library down you can keep producing content, and expanding based on what feedback you get from your clients. Maybe your system needs more videos about Blackfoot Cultural Practices, Setting up Outlook on Windows 8 or How to Stretch Safely While Pregnant… This is what you want to happen; you want to get feedback so you know what content your users need.

Once you have a need fulfill it.

You can start off producing most videos on your own and hire professionals as funds permit. Remember plan out your videos and in the outline split complicated items down into chapters. You want your videos to be relatively short and easily labeled so users can jump exactly to what they need.

What If I Have Required Content?

Like many lesson plans in school many times you need to make sure that users complete something before you can allow them to advance to more complicated content. This isn’t an issue, we have helped set up required steps in lesson plans before and would be happy to discuss your needs. We can easily require that a user complete viewing content, or downloads an item, submits an item or completes a quiz before they are allowed further access. You can even receive notification as users complete certain media items, allowing you to follow up as you see fit.

Questions? Would Like to Discuss Setting Up a Learning Portal?

Please feel free to contact us at info@bizideo.tv or give us a call at (507) 382-2054, you can also contact us through our website if you prefer.

How Others Make Money Using YouTube - How You CAN

How Other Businesses use YouTube to Make Money

Just posting a video on YouTube doesn't
 make your company any richer
than if you posted on Facebook.

(It’s not magic)

Video is everywhere, and it makes sense. Users not only can see what you are selling but see it demonstrated which can help drive conversions. The problem for most businesses is how to make that video pay for its production (and hopefully for more). They take the time to either create a video themselves or pay to have a professional create it, plop it on YouTube and wham it’s lost to the world. The only way anyone is going to notice it is if you promote YouTube on your website by implanting the embed code there (complete with a link back to YouTube and advertisements that YouTube makes money off). Ok well I think we have uncovered how YouTube makes money (off you) so how to do you make money using YouTube?

Let’s be honest the majority of people who use YouTube aren't covering production costs.

That’s right not only are they not making money  but if you take into account the time used to create said video they are now sitting negative.

Why use YouTube?

Many companies may have already spent a lot of time and money building a following, and Google does index YouTube videos but aside from that people generally use it because they don’t realize there are better options. Heck if you haven’t built up a following on YouTube but do have a following on Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn or Facebook you can actually skip YouTube.

How You SHOULD Use YouTube (if you want to make money that is)

Promotion.

YouTube should be like Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or Google+ for you, scratch that it should be lower on the totem because the other social networking sites are more likely to get reposted and lead to conversations and conversions. YouTube is where you should post the most basic of videos such as: Company History, Product Introduction, copies of commercials. Items that you can block comments from and that you don’t need absolute control over.

To make money off YouTube you will need a different video management and delivery company. (Heck we’d love to suggest ourselves foryour consideration.) A private video management & delivery system will allow you to brand control and sell your content.

Correct Formula for Making Money with Video

The biggest step is that middle one that turns it into income.

 You’ll notice we grouped all the big Social sites in there, they are all free publicity, but to make money you need the middle step. Your content is worth something, same as your knowledge. It’s just a matter of figuring out how best to use it:

Trainers, Coaches, Speakers, Teachers, Specialists

Sell your knowledge, like you would traditionally by making a book or DVD. You just don’t have to worry about making something physical anymore, now you can sell subscriptions or learning courses easily online or on your mobile device.

Plumbers, Bakers, Artists, Florists

Display your capability. Set yourself apart by showing your knowledge and demonstrating your skills. You could still sell some videos about the best techniques to do it yourself, but really the selling point for you will be WHY you are better than the competition.

Now that we've illustrated how companies make money off YouTube (and honestly any other Social Site) we’d love to help answer your questions or help you craft the best use of media to help your business.

www.Bizideo.tv | (507) 382-2054

Use Video to Improve Conversion Rates

How Video Can Improve Conversion Rates

You’ve probably seen the different studies and claims that video has a significant impact on conversion and it makes sense. Video gives you the opportunity to experience how a product or service can help you in a different way than just an image or text can. Not only can you see something, but you can hear it and video can be enhanced with informational images and text to help explain it even better. It gives you the chance to mix an in person experience with a professional presentation.

Let’s look at this example and you’ll see why.

Just a Title

Pug in need of adoption – call us

Title with description

Pug in need of adoption – call us
Small Pug breed dog up for adoption, up to date on all shots and approximately 3 years of age.

 Words with a picture

Oh wow, that's a cute dog.

Pug in need of adoption – call us
Small Pug breed dog up for adoption, up to date on all shots and approximately 3 years of age.

Now with Video

Loading player...

Oh wow, that's a cute dog.

Pug in need of adoption – call us
Small Pug breed dog up for adoption, up to date on all shots and approximately 3 years of age.

You can see that video reaches an entirely new level; just watching the dog move will move more people to consider adoption and increases his chances of finding a home. You’ll notice the same for other items, more companies offer videos describing products and services. The more information you have the more comfortable you feel making that decision or at least considering it. 

Learn More:

• Wharton Research Center Reports: http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/faculty/research-centers-and-initiativ.cfm
• How Video Can Work For Video Producers
• How to Use Video to Promote Your Business
• Tips and Tricks for Making Training Videos
• Learn about Bizideo's Video Solutions
• Contact Bizideo to Learn More

How Bizideo can work for video producers

Bizideo for Video Production Companies

How you can use one account to deliver content to your clients

For a little more than half a decade Bizideo has been working with a number of content producers to help complete the life cycle of their creations. They specialize in creating the best video and audio content and we specialize and making sure it’s delivered the best way for their clients. It’s because of our strong history working with different Videographers that we have developed a variety of delivery solutions.

Screen Captures of some Content
Management screens in a standard Enterprise

Enterprise Solution for Video Producers

Our Enterprise is definitely the preferred tool of choice for Videographers to learn more about the Enterprise click here.

Your Enterprise Includes

• Mobile Uploading & Mobile Content Management (including view reports)
• Member Manager so you can use a subscription to grant your customers accounts but maintains control
• Ability for Users to download video
• Easy ability to embed playlists or videos for your clients
• Ability to track views
• Secure control over all your media
• Ability to place a watermark, pre or post roll image or thumbnail

If you wish to manage all your client content you won’t need a subscription system and can use a basic Enterprise Solution delivering the embed codes to your client.

Wizard Website Solution for Video Producers

This is a less powerful but still fully functional solution for Videographers with a tight budget, with a basic Wizard costing just $99 for set up and $25 a month after that with unlimited video uploads. There are 2 ways to use the Website Wizard to help keep your video secure.

•        Password Protected Pages, using the default video website wizard account you can add video to a page and enable the password protection. Only users who know the password can view the video. The only downside is you can’t allow downloads of the video this way.
•         Media Viewer + Password Protected Pages is the ideal way to use the Wizard as a videographer, with the difference in price just being $15/month. The Media viewer not only lets your clients view content, but they can leave comments and download media as well.

A Screen Capture of the Media Viewer Published through the Bizideo Website Wizard

If you are interested to learn more please contact us at Info@Bizideo.tv, we’d be happy to work with you and consultation is always free.

Learn More About

• Video Website Wizard
• Enterprise Solution
• How ILostMyJob uses Bizideo.tv
• How Impression Management uses Bizideo.tv
• How AAA Minneapolis uses Bizideo.tv
• How Bizideo created a custom Enterprise Solution for A+ Aspire University
• How TeamKLIPZ uses Bizideo.tv

3 Places to Head for Free Images

Some Wonderful Sites that Offer Free Images / Icons

As a content creator one of the biggest frustrations is finding a image that matches your message, especially for a good price. The good news is there are reputable sites out there that provide images and icons free of charge. (Of course they wouldn't mind if you bought something too.)

To get you started here are 3 websites you should visit weekly to get any freebies released.

• http://www.istockphoto.com/ : You will need to register, but once you do you can download free images, audio tracks, video files and illustrations. 
• http://us.fotolia.com/Info/Images/FreePicsOfTheWeek : Fotolia offers some more affordable stock media and allows you to download free images weekly, like with IStockPhoto you will need to register.
• http://www.smashingmagazine.com/tag/freebies/ : Smashing Magazine not only has some great articles but they have free wallpapers (monthly) and free icons. You do not need to register to make downloads here.

IStockPhoto Example from this week

Fotolia Example from this week

Good luck creating content, for more helpful hints check out the following:

• How to Get the Most Out of Your Content 
• How to Create Effective Educational / Training Videos
• How to Promote Your Business - Showing What You Know