Are You Using YouTube Yet?

Did you know that YouTube is second most used search engine, behind Google?

I was surprised when I heard this recently. It turns out that more and more people are searching for what they need, or the answer to their problem, by hunting through the video clips on YouTube, instead of looking through the words on search engines like Google. We don't have to rely on what we can read – now we can watch and listen to the solution we’re looking for.

Some people learn and absorb information by reading text. Others prefer to watch video, or listen to what someone else has to say. This is one of the reasons that the use of videos in business is on the increase.

There are many ways you can use videos in your business:

Don't just take my word for it. Testimonials from happy clients have been used as a marketing tool for a very long time. A few words about how pleased someone is with your service can go a long way to help persuade others to work with you. However, it's very easy to write your own testimonials and just put names to them. Can you prove that someone else really said that? Did a client really say such lovely things about you?

Asking a client to talk about your business on film is real proof of what they think of you. While you could write a script for your client to say, if they don't believe what they're saying, it will show in their face and their voice.

Talk about your business. If you provide a service, or high cost products, you know that people really do buy people. Someone has to trust you before they will spend their money with you. Face to face networking is a great way to build up this trust, but you can't spend all your time networking and you can only reach so many people. Instead, you can use videos on your website, to add the personal touch and to reach out to a national or even international audience.

How do I ... ? The internet is the best place to find out how to do something – how to use a tool, how to prune a tree, how to service your car – you can learn almost anything. You don't need to read the manual anymore – you can watch a short video and get the job done much quicker.

Speaking out. If you speak in public or give presentations to promote your business, or as a paid speaker, you need to show people what you can do. The next time you're in front of an audience, make sure there's a camera pointing at you. You can put snippets of your talk online to show event promoters and organisers just how great you are and why they should book you.

Has that given you enough food for thought? Are you ready to have a go at using videos to promote your business?