Video Email: Marketing More Pro-Actively

Reel SEO recently had an interesting article on “The Three Types of Online Video for Business” that got me thinking about why sending video in email makes so much sense.  Author Daniel Sevitt takes us back to 1999 when people used to pay for internet service by the minute (remember that?!?) and video was considered a nuisance because of the long download time and large file sizes.  Now fast forward to 2009 and in just under 10 years video has  become a central part of most marketing campaigns.

According to Sevitt, the three types of online video for business are 1) Viral Video, 2) Conversion Video, and 3) Educational Video.  Each aims to accomplish a goal with customers or potential customers such as driving traffic, sales, or building a relationship or loyalty.  Each of these three types of video are also either found on your website or posted on a video site such as YouTube where you hope it will be found.  Which brings up the question- Why are we just waiting  for these videos to be FOUND?

If you are using video on your website and have received positive feedback about then you know how powerful a video message can be.  And after spending the time and resources to create such an effective marketing tool… why are you passively waiting for current/potential customers to visit the company website to watch them?  Moreover, if you’re already using email to notify a customer database about video on your site…why not just make it easy and send the video to them directly using Open My Video?  Sending video email with OMV allows you to be proactive, whether its a personal message for one customer or a campaign of viral/conversion/educational videos.

Internet Marketing Overload- Feeling Overwhelmed Yet?

I don’t know about you but I’ve started to feel slightly overwhelmed with all of the internet marketing options that are available.  Its become increasingly clear that without a Facebook page, Twitter account, YouTube channel, blog, and [insert new social media site/tool that I don't know about yet but most definitely should] it’s entirely possible your business might not even really exist.

Alright maybe that’s a little dramatic.  But lets be honest, the task of mastering how to use these social media sites turned marketing tools to help your business can seem daunting.  And we can’t leave out the more traditional internet marketing tools like email campaigns, online ads, and your company website.  So much to do and so little time.

As marketing trends evolve, the use of video in all marketing efforts has become increasingly popular and effective.  This MediaWeek article, reveals that video advertisements on social media sites are no longer as effective as sending video in email.  No, this does mean we can stop updating statuses or twittering.  It does however, reinforce the importance of finding the best combination of marketing tactics and tools in order to achieve the intended results of your marketing strategy.

Green AND guiltfree way to get that new iphone

The new iphone 3GS has been tempting you with all of its apps and cool features like video messaging hasn’t it?  I wrestled for weeks trying to justify letting go of my perfectly good blackberry (we’d been together for years), paying the fee to cancel mid-contract with my service provider, and then biting the $199 bullet (complete with obligatory 2 year AT&T contract of course) to get my hands on that shiny, perfect phone.  When all was said and done, it was worth it.   I LOVE my new iphone.

Whether you’re having a similar internal struggle or have already gone through an iphone upgrade chances are you’ve probably got an old phone or other electronics at home that aren’t being used.  Recently CNN Money highlighted Gazelle, a company with a mission to help consumers get rid of their old stuff AND here’s the best part- get paid for them.   Gazelle.com keeps things green by recycling your old phone, camera, laptop, etc. to other consumers who will put it back to good use and rewards you with cash.  Sounds like a win-win to me- saving the earth AND getting paid for my old  blackberry?  The tiny bit of residing guilt over my iphone purchase is officially non-existent.  After all, it practically paid for itself and it is our duty to recycle right?   Here’s to keeping things green!

You Could Almost Taste It…

So here’s another example of how effectively social media can help promote an established consumer brand.

On November fifth, the parent company of Outback Steakhouse started giving away coupons for a Bloomin’ Onion appetizer (a $6.25 value) to the first 500,000 people who signed up as fans on Outback’s Facebook page. To claim the free appetizer, people needed to buy one entree.

Since the Facebook promotion launched, more than 300,000 people have signed up as Outback fans on Facebook, according to this story in the Tampa (Florida) Tribune. Inside Facebook, a blog that tracks traffic on Facebook, ranked Outback’s page as one of the top fan gainers that week.

Now: What if the company had added video to the mix? When you’re selling a product with visual and sensory appeal, we at OMV claim there’s no more effective tool than video.

What do you think—is the appeal of free food enough, or would an almost-first-hand look at the product have sweetened the deal?

Holiday Gifts for High-Tech Fans

More tips on using social media to make the most of year-end promotions and holiday-gift giving, this time with a focus on technology and small businesses. Remember that Open My Video lets you quickly and easily harness the power of video messaging in your social media work.

That article caught the eye of Guy Kawasaki’s Holy Kaw! blog, too.

Building your Personal Brand in a New Media Reality

Even if you love your corporate job, you should build your personal brand. That’s the advice of Gary Vaynerchuk, the multi-million dollar businessman, uber-popular video star and now New York Times bestselling author. In his latest book “Crush It,” Gary evangelizes his philosophy on how to build your own brand equity. But how can you “crush it” when you work for a TV network, advertising agency or media firm? New Media Minute host Daisy Whitney asked Gary at a recent book event and he shared his thoughts on how employees can get executive buy-in to the “crush it” philosophy.

http://www.reelseo.com/crush-it/

Using Video to Market your Small Business

The production and distribution of video has long been a mainstay in the marketing campaigns of global brands, governments, and NGOs. Now, thanks to the Internet, small businesses can also benefit from the power of video to reach their customers and drive their brand recognition. Here are a few tips on how to maximize your video campaigns:

Open My Video

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Dawson Roark

OpenMyVideo

919.400.4050

dawson@decodesolutions.com

www.openmyvideo.com

Deliver Crystal-clear, Engaging Video Messages Instantly With OpenMyVideo

If a well written email is worth a thousand words, then how much is a video message worth?

At OpenMyVideo, we think it’s priceless when it comes to business communications—whether you’re describing a complex service, showing a tour of a beautiful property, or simply wishing your clients and customers happy holidays.

OpenMyVideo is the premier business application for sending video messages.  OpenMyVideo allows business users to create a video message and send it by email, using only a few clicks. This is the ideal communication tool for today’s high-speed, high-distraction business climate. It’s also an easy, fun way to communicate with friends and family.

OpenMyVideo offers three simple ways to craft and deliver a video message:

• Visit www.openmyvideo.com to record your message using the webcam on your PC or laptop.

• Install the OpenMyVideo mobile application on your 3GS iPhone. It’s available from Apple’s AppStore.

“OpenMyVideo’s new iPhone application takes our successful web service and untethers the process of recording a video message,” says Dusty Field, founder of OpenMyVideo. “The iPhone application allows for on-demand, real-time video upload and email.”

Business transactions and  communications can continue seamlessly while users are traveling outside the office and boardroom, adds Field. “With the OpenMyVideo iPhone application, you can speak to your sales team as if you were in the office, you can show the special features of your product from the trade show floor, or you can just send a family update when it’s too late to call home,” Field says.

OpenMyVideo is today’s true on-the-go application that conveys your face, tone, clarity, and urgency of message as clearly as if you were right in front of your client or business partner. The service is simple to use:

Step One: Sign up at www.openmyvideo.com.

Step Two: Download Open My Video Express for your computer. Alternatively, download the mobile application for either iPhone or Blackberry.

Step Three: Record your message on either mobile or webcam, which will instantly upload your video to OpenMyVideo.com and allow you to send the message as an email.

Step Four: Select recipient(s), write text to accompany your video message, select a branded theme for your message background—done!

“Everyone who wants to communicate quickly and effectively should give OpenMyVideo a try,” says marketing contact Dawson Roark. “Your customers will appreciate the personalized touch, your employees will understand your directions, and your competitors will want to know how you did it.”

About OpenMyVideo:

Communication with friends, family, colleagues, clients, and employees is now faster and more engaging than ever before.

OpenMyVideo is tailored to busy people who are looking for a more personal, more powerful alternative to typical text emails. OpenMyVideo allows you to craft your own video message using your computer’s video Web camera and then send your message to any email recipients you choose.

Unlike regular text-based email, your video email will engage recipients like never before. They’ll see and hear you delivering your message directly to them, and they will appreciate the personal touch.

You’ll also save valuable time. Imagine being able to record a quick, personal video message within a matter of minutes rather than poring over punctuation and grammar for hours. And our OMVExpress desktop application puts it all at your fingertips.

Be direct.

Be understood.

Be remembered.

Contact OMV by webform at openmyvideo.com/contact, or call 919.400.4050 to learn more and arrange interviews.

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