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What’s the quickest way to manage your content marketing?

As we are drawing closer and closer to the end of the year, more and more people are looking for new internet marketing strategies to implement into their businesses in 2014.

I was recently invited at Eagle Waves Radio and together with Peter Moriarty and Belinda Luby we broadcasted the last Eagle Tech Genius episode for the year.

A good chance to give away some of my most successful content marketing tips, I thought.

What’s around the corner in 2014?

If you want to stay on top of things in 2014, I can help.

I recorded a presentation at my last Savvy Mastermind Weekend Intensive. I am giving it away for free.

But there is a catch.

You can download the recording by accessing this link and following the instructions.

The 7 pillars of traffic-generating videos:

It only takes you 5-10 minutes to record a video (with blurps and everything) and another 15 minutes to edit your video (but that’s something you can outsource to your team).

But not all video content goes viral. Not all videos bring back traffic to your website.

Why?

Because not all videos obey to the 7 most important rules of video creation:

1. Good Content

When we say “good content” that means that the things you talk about or present in your videos must be relevant to your target audience.

Take into consideration the visual aspect as well, because it is part of the kind of content you are sharing.

For example, if you are not recording yourself while talking but are recording your voice over a slide presentation, make sure your presentation is relevant, eye-appealing, and not overcrowded with details. Keep it clean, simple, relevant.

2. Quality Equipment

Now comes the element which most people consider too costly for video marketing be “worth it”.

Surprisingly though, nowadays you can use a smartphone or a tablet to get the high quality you are aiming for. And that’s cheap, because almost everyone has a smartphone now…

Do you have a smartphone? A tablet?

Then you’re all set to start recording.

If you’re looking for something professional, I suggest using a Canon 60D – it’s the same camera I am using. The thing I like about it most is that it has a monitor that you can turn around and see yourself while recording.

I also have a remote control and a tripod, and all this equipment allows me to record my videos on my own, without anyone else in the room.

3. Good Sound

There’s no point in recording a video if you have no sound, right?

So here are the mics I suggest you use (listed from the cheapest to the most expensive):

– Rode Smartlav

– Repel Mic (you can get it really cheap from eBay)

– Sennheiser Mics – now these are really profi mics, but be careful when you’re buying them; the microphone frequency is soon to be changed. You might end up thinking you got a bargain on price, but in fact buying a useless mic.

Listen to the podcast interview for more details on how to make sure you have the right set of microphone, with the right frequency.

4. Lighting

Another incredibly important factor of video creation, good lighting equipment can also be purchased for a very very good price.

They usually come in packs of 3. I use 2 in front of me and 1 in the back, illuminating the wall behind me – helps to diffuse the light for a soft, smooth look.

Editing:

I prefer to do the editing of my videos myself, only because it takes so much time to upload the raw files in the cloud. On the other hand, it only takes me about 15 minutes to edit the video, compress it and then send it to my team to take care of the rest.

I love the user-friendliness of Camtasia – an editing software which works on both Macs and PCs – but you can also use Screenflow  for MAc or, if you’re on a PC, Windows Movie Maker. These software are not overly-expensive and they are so intuitive you’ll love working with them.

They all have tutorials and customer support, which makes it even easier to work with them.

5. Using a video formula

I learned from my good friend Gideon Shalwick that you need to come up with a formula for your videos to make them more engaging.

Your videos might be educating and informative, but they also have to be entertaining and – why not – fun.

Here are some tips on how you can achieve that:

1. Start with the Z factor

This is nothing but a hook, a pattern interrupt. You want to hook people right at the very beginning, so use something to attract their attention.

They are expecting you to be providing valuable info right from the beginning. You can do that, but make sure you insert an element of surprise: can be something funny, a question that you only give an answer to at the end of the video, etc.

2. Provide interest and examples but don’t forget about the CTA

During the video you can talk about your topic but don’t forget to provide even more value to people. Like, you can suggest a book or a video that they can watch to get extra details on the topic you are discussing.

By the way, this also works great as a Call To Action. By all means, make sure you have a CTA in ALL your videos.

Tip for traffic-generating videos: Traffic videos are usually published on YouTube or Vimeo or other video distribution websites. Their main aim is to provide traffic back to your website (that’s why they are called traffic-generating videos). So make sure you include a LINK to your website in the description of each of these videos.

Use bit.ly links or goo.gl links for a shortened URL, or include the URL as it is. But do include it in the video’s description.

3. Have the X factor at the end

The X factor is again something funny that people don’t expect you to do. Most often it is a sort of blooper, but really anything funny will work.

It is a great tool to connect with people and make them feel good after watching the video.

6. Length

Keep your traffic videos within the 3-5 minutes length.

7. Love for the camera

Imagine you are talking to your best friend or one of your loved ones. Love the camera, because that’s your door to your audience. People who watch your videos don’t see a camera recording on their end; all they see is you being lovely, happy, smiling and looking them in the eyes.

What other pillars of video creation are you using? Are you going to use video as a content creation tool in your online marketing strategy?