Is your business social media fit? Featuring ‘Steve-O’s Art of Training’!

‘You did a bit of this, a bit of that…you’ll get nowhere in the gym without a plan mate!’

Image: Back in the gym after six months out; following the #ArtOfTraining methods to success! 

These were the words of my fitness fanatic friend Tipi, after I had just returned from my first ever gym session back in 2006 at Fitness First, Telford. I’d just come back having done a few exercises, without any set routine or having taken advantage of the free fitness induction!

Image: Having someone with you when you start training helps a lot! (Source: steveoartoftraining.com )

Why do I bring this up? Well having trained with my good friend Stephen Horsefield, who is a Torbay based Personal Trainer, I realised there is a parallel between having  a plan for the progress of both your personal fitness and your businesses social media presence!

Image: Stephen giving a few words of advice to his client (Source: steveoartoftraining.com)

The analogy is relevant as many a business don’t have a social media marketing strategy in plan, mainly due to issues of time constraints and resource. But why should you take the time to take a step back, and create a plan of action?

Image: Taking a step back can help you take two steps forward…as corny as that might sound! 

As in the fitness world, those without a plan have no basis to measure their ongoing progress, and thus to tweak their strategy when things aren’t working. For example, would you do the same exercises over and over again for six months and expect to keep getting results?

Whatever social media site your business is on, there are a wide range of insight features that show you how well your posts and adverts are doing; for example your Facebook Insights show you how many people have engaged with your posts and you can clearly see which types of content work best for you.

Image: A screenshot of my client ‘Steve-O’s Art of Training’ Facebook page insights; a good start!

When creating a social media plan, you set tangible, quantifiable objectives as to what you want to achieve over a set period of time. For example, you may want to increase your Facebook business page following by 20%  over a three month period. By setting this marketing objective, you have a reference point to measure your success in the future.

Image: Just like in the gym, you want to set clear targets to get the results you crave (Source: steveoartoftraining.com )

So, now you know the reason behind why you should have a social media marketing plan for your business..how do you go about setting one up?

Follow my three tips below to help you on your way!:

1.Look at examples of Social Media Marketing plans

There are plenty of resources online, a quick Google search for ‘Social media marketing strategy’ brings up a raft of useful resources to give you an idea of how to structure the document.

Image: Brainstorming ideas is always fun!

Do any of your friends have a strategy for their business? It’s always worth getting inspiration and talking about your business objectives to help brainstorm ideas for great social media posts to help your business stand out outline.

2. State clearly why your business is on a social media site

Different social media sites are used by different types of people; different by age and what they use the platform for. For example, if you want to network with other businesses you need to be on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Image: If you want to network online with business folk…

However, if you are looking to target a younger audience you would be better off using SnapChat and Instagram.

Image: Instagram now has 500 million users worldwide

Within your social media plan, set a marketing mission statement for each social media page that you are on. For example:

‘We are on Instagram to portray our businesses behind the scenes and connect with target customers by showing our personality’

By doing this you have a clear purpose and don’t fall victim to the mistake of using the same approach for each social media platform.

3. Set clear, overall marketing goals

By defining your marketing goals, you establish clearly what your business wants to get out of being on social media…full stop!

Image: Just like in the fitness world; you set your goals and work on them!

Marketing goals are broad aims, for example ‘By using Twitter we want to increase our brand awareness within the local business community’. Don’t set more then three or four and keep them realistic!

Conclusion

By having a focused, clear and structured approach to social media for your business, you stay focused and stay ahead of the competition.

If you want a free social media marketing consultation, please feel free to get in touch!

 

 

2016…where are you going?!

With less then three months to go till Christmas and summer coming to a close, is it just me or is this year going at a breakneck pace?

Last week flew by as I meet several new businesses, doing the networking trail again and delivering a mini workshop on Twitter (at Network Torquay) and thinking about  offering my services in a new way….

The week started off at the Torbay Innovation Centre where I met up with Essential 6 LTD; having met them previously at the Torbay Business Festival it was great to learn more about how they help businesses ‘stay safe’ ; it also made me want to build upon my Basic First Aid certificate!

Next up I met up with my good friend Sarah, a Clinical Hypnotherapist, who specializes in helping people lose weight and feel amazing through her Clinical Hypnotherapy weight loss programme.

It was truly fascinating hearing her share her insights into how she has changed people’s lives for the better, and I am really looking forward to helping her reach out to more people through her social media presence!

Then in the evening (Monday was a busy day! 🙂 ) I went over to the Chelston Manor for our weekly Network Torquay get together. To help us all get more out of the meetings we are each doing a weekly talk/workshop on our area of expertise- I was first up!

I really enjoyed giving a mini ‘Twitter for Business’ workshop; covering the different types of tweets to help businesses stand out and I also some practical tips on how to organise  twitter feeds and search for valuable content online.

Due to the positive feedback I had after the workshop ,it got me thinking about how I could help those who want to learn how to make more use of Twitter for their business . I am now looking at setting up a ‘Twitter for Business’ workshop for beginners new to tweeting! If you are interested please do let me know.

The end of the week soon came, and I rocked up to Pier Point in Torquay for the Torbay Business Network breakfast meet; a hearty morning meal, networking and two fascinating talks given by Shout Devon and Vic Williams on the power of video marketing and leadership qualities.

£200 was raised at the event, as part of the national Macmillan Coffee Morning ,and everyone left Pier Point with a spring in their step.

This week is already becoming ever busy, what have you got planned?

White Rock rocks the bay!: Festival round up

The 2nd annual White Rock Festival of Learning, organised by Torbay Hour King of Social Media Simon Waugh and free to all, was a rocking success with thousands of people attending in the last spell of glorious summer sunshine! ☀ ☀ ☀

The week long event was enjoyed by people of all ages; with a wide range of activities including  scarecrow judging, painting, building and fishing taking place across different locations across the Bay.

The event culminated with the main ‘Festival of Learning’ event on the Saturday; and because of the success of this next year’s event is being planned already!

Organiser Simon Waugh was delighted with the success of the event and said:

“It was absolutely amazing, approximately 3,000 people attended and we were blown away! The community spirit really was amazing and all there for everyone to see.

“We are aiming to set up as a not-for-profit community group to bring people together and promote learning by hosting other events.

“We want to promote learning for all ages; everything has something to offer and there is always so much to learn!’

Simon added that the event is looking for sponsorship, as it ran at a loss last year and he wants to ensure it remains a free event for all in the community.

For more information please contact Simon and Jennie Waugh at whiterockfest@outlook.com.

Brixham means Business!: Brixham Business Show round-up

Less then a week after the Torbay Business Festival I was back ‘on the road’ again to attend the Brixham Business Show, organised by the Brixham Chamber of Commerce,  at the effortlessly  beautiful Berry Head Hotel.

Image: You really can’t beat this view! (Source: Briscoe French Twitter)

38 local businesses and organisations had stands at the afternoon event, with people coming from across Torbay and beyond to network ,mingle and do business!

Image: Mitch Tonks kicks things off! (Source: Liz Pippett Twitter)

Local restaurateur, author and chef Mitch Tonks got proceedings going with a rousing speech about local business, putting everyone in the right entrepreneurial mindset for the afternoon ahead.

Image: James Twigger  with his cartooned portrait, courtesy of Flossy and Jim! (Source: Flossy and Jim Facebook page)

After a rapid fire session of ‘Speed networking’ outside, where participants (including myself) exchanged details through 30 second introductions and exchanges of business cards, proceedings got underway everyone did the rounds and found out about a host of different businesses and the people behind them.

Image: Manning the EWS store! (Source: Vix Twitter page)

It was great to meet some more Torbay Hour folk again; it’s always interesting meeting people you have established relationships with through Twitter in ‘real life’!

Image: The West Country Deli were delighted to be crowned Best Stand for the day! (Source: West Country Deli Facebook page)

I also meet some new faces; ranging from a local chiropractor to a collarless shirt company. I’ve really started to enjoy networking; I get a buzz out of meeting new people , learning about different types of businesses and  hearing the stories behind how people started out.

Image: A busy day with plenty of networking taking place! (Source: Briscoe French Twitter)

I personally found it to be a very worthwhile day; I made some new contacts and got my first ever taste of ‘speed networking’! The venue was fantastic and, having spoken with the event organisers personally, the feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive; there are plans to make next years event bigger and better, so watch this space!

Torbay means business!: Torbay Business Festival round-up

After last weeks busy networking frenzy I was back on the road again, as I attended the Torbay Business Festival, hosted by the Torbay Business Forum,  at the English Riveria Centre.

The day’s proceedings were kicked off by Mayor Gordon Oliver, who spoke about the importance of growing businesses in the Bay and also about the future of the Torbay Air Festival and the opening of the South Devon Highway.

44 different organisations held stands at a busy and vibrant networking day, with over 300 people swapping business cards, making contacts and mingling with friends old and new.

There were four separate seminar talks given throughout the day, with the different speakers sharing their personal experiences on a  diverse range of business topics.

Manuela Grossmann, from SSG’s Employment Law and HR Team, gave the first talk of the day about the importance of Emotional Intelligence and how leaders can be self aware of their own emotions when trying to influence and motivate their staff in the right way. Being personally very interested in psychology myself, I found this very interesting and I feel the need to read up on the theory now!

Next up was Dr Michael Cash, who shared his experience of working in health and safety across different sectors; he gave some fascinating real-life examples and explained why disasters can happen and how we can learn from them. He also spoke about basic risk reduction strategies and how businesses can apply them to prevent such disasters happening- sage advice!

After lunch we had the pleasure of listening to Rob Holmes, who gave a fascinating talk about his own experiences across a lifetime of entrepreneurship. He shared some humorous anecdotes about his time as a Nightclub owner, and also made some more serious points about staying motivated and gave some practical pointers on how to grow your business.

The final talk of the day was given by Sally Cope from Koru Connections. Sally spoke about ‘The Power of LinkedIn’ and how business owners can use the site to connect with decision makers. Sally gave the audience some excellent tips on how use the site for professional business to business networking and fielded several questions at the end.

More new friends made!

On the back of last weeks networking it was personally great to meet some new people and have some great conversations; learning about new businesses and hearing some interesting tales along the way!

At my first networking event (at Torbay Hour’s 2 year birthday celebration event at White Rock School) I was a bag of nerves to be honest! I actually didn’t move from my table; I was lucky enough that Sam Triffitt came over and had a friendly chat with me and helped me come out of my networking shell!

But I’ve actually decided I quite enjoy networking now! I’ve meet some great people along the way and my confidence has risen. It was also a lovely end to the day as we enjoyed a complementary ale- courtesy of Bays Brewery-cheers to the next time!

Networking with a twist: Mugs and business plugs!

On the back of being crowned’Best New Business’ at the 2016 Torbay Hour Social Media Awards, personalised branding specialists Clothing Your Way Ltd marked 12 months in business, and the launch of their new website, by hosting a fun and interactive networking evening event…with a twist!

Image: At the Torbay Hour 2016 Awards Evening; sat next to yours truly!

A wide variety of businesses (including myself!) attended their new premises, based in Torquay high street, to create mugs and network with people from across the Bay and beyond.

Image: Everyone focuses intently for the beginning of the mug prep!

Business co-owners Sam and Dale Triffitt, who set up last September and originally worked from their Paignton based family home, guided the attendees through the process in the printing studio.

Image: I felt like I was back in craft school all over again!

Dale Triffitt explained the design and production process used on the night:

‘We chose to do sublimation mug printing which is where an image or logo is created on the computer, that design is then reversed and then transferred onto sublimation paper.

Image: Setting up the design for the mug

‘Each participant was able to cut out their design and stick it to a mug, using heat resistant tape, and then place it in a specifically designed mug press where it reaches temperatures of around 200c.

Image: Dale patiently guides me through the final step of the process!

‘When the mug is removed from the press the image / logo has been transferred onto it. This process allows for bright, bold and intricate designs that have a fantastic finish and are dish washer safe.’

Image: Voila! The final result-my first piece of marketing merchandise! 

Sam Triffitt explained the inspiration behind the event:

‘We put together ‘Networking With a Twist’ because we wanted to bring something unique and fun to the world of networking, whilst keeping the core value of making great connections at the heart of the evening.

Image:  Flossy and Jim enjoying the creative process!

‘As a new and upcoming business in Torquay, we also  wanted to use the event to help raise our profile locally . We had a fantastic response from everyone that attended, we anticipated 5 or 6 attendees, as it was our first event, but on the night we had 18!

Image: Debbie Phillips was delighted with her new mug!

‘The event was an unprecedented success; we now have a list of over 30 businesses that have approached us to do another event.We are looking forward to hosting the next one at a bigger venue; at the moment this is  currently scheduled for November, we will keep everyone posted!’

The reaction on social media was  very positive too…..

Image: DropCap Copywriting tweeted his thanks after the event

Image: Helen had a great time!

I thoroughly enjoyed the event and can’t wait for the next one; keep an eye on their website and Facebook and Twitter pages to find out when you can attend the next one!

 

 

#THAwards 2016 Round-Up!

After weeks of anticipation, pre-event ‘Twitter banter’ and social media build up, the 2nd Torbay Hour Awards lived up to it’s billing, with an array of  talent from across the Bay and beyond congregating at the beautiful Redcliffe Hotel.

Image: The beautiful Redcliffe Hotel!

For the uninitiated Torbay Hour, run by local business owners James Twigger and Sophie Bower, is a multi-faceted social media and local networking organisation that helps promote local businesses and organisations across Torbay and beyond.

Image: James and Sophie at the 2016 Herald Express business awards

Every Monday evening (between the hours of 8-9pm) they host #TorbayHour, a local ‘Twitter Hour’ that invites businesses, charities, event organisers and individuals  to network and promote themselves and become part of a wider, local online community.

Image: Every Monday 8-9pm; get involved!

This was the 2nd Awards Ceremony; building on the success of last year’s event the event attracted several high profile local sponsors, and tickets sold out within weeks being on sale. Having whittled down hundreds of online nominations , the nominees were shortlisted (including myself!)  and judged by a group of independent and impartial judges.

Image: Who would be King? (Source: Torbay Hour Facebook page)

The scene was truly set with the sun out across the Bay, fantastic music from Holly Morwenna and a real sense of anticipation in the air ahead of the nights festivities.

Image: Enjoying some bucks fizz and a glorious view! (Source: Vix Twitter)

After a delicious three course meal (always squeeze a food reference in somewhere!) came the moment we had all been waiting for….the award ceremony!

Image: This was amazing as it looks!

Presented by Sophie Bower and the award sponsors, the drum rolls came as the awards finalists bit their nails nervously waiting for the winners to be announced!

The first winner of the night was  Emberlense Film Productions, owned and run by my  friend Jon Tomkins, winning the award  ‘Best use of Film, Photo and Design’. The recognition capped off a great summer for Jon, after the success of his 2016 English Riviera Film Festival.

Next up was the announcement of the  ‘Best Business Blog’ award winner. The gracious winners were Flossy and Jim, who have been writing their ‘The Amazing Adventures of Flossy and Jim‘  blog for over 5 years! They kindly sponsored the event by designing the wonderful ‘Out of this world’ themed certificates, and were naturally delighted to be recognised for their blogging efforts.

It was then onto the award for ‘Best Charity/Non Profit Campaign’. The worthy winners were Torbay Holiday Helpers Network, a local charity who provide free, memory making holidays for families affected by serious illness & bereavement. To collect the award on their behalf was freelance translator Roger Matthews, who was full of praise for the recogntion of the charities’ efforts on social media.

We then moved onto the award for ‘Best Integrated Social Media Campaign’. Having used their fantastic Instragram efforts as a case study in my ‘Instagram your business’ blog, I was delighted to see Pier Point Torquay come out on top. With their consistent use of eye-catching imagery I felt they were more then worthy winners.

 

Moving on swiftly to the next award, the winners of the ‘Best Event Campaign’ were announced. This one went to the ‘White Rock Festival’ ;  a community festival  of learning that will take place on the 17th September at White Rock Primary School (Paignton) and has been actively promoted across Twitter by Simon Waugh.

It was then onto the winner for ‘Best New Business Account’. Having previously met Dale and Sam at numerous events, and enjoying their company at our dinner table,  it was fantastic to see  Clothing Your Way  Ltd  win! Trading for just 12 months they have  made their mark locally, with a new website under construction and having recently moved into a new premises the future looks bright for them!

The next category to be decided was the  ‘Love Torbay’ award.  I was delighted to see my good friend Helen Brenton win ; she tirelessly promotes and celebrates Torbay through her photography, blogs and numerous clubs (which include Network Torquay) She has given me a lot of good business advice and support during difficult times; well done Helen!

Up next it was a royal matter to be decided….who would be’Social Media Queen of Torbay?’ It was a case of ‘Double’ triumph as self-confessed lover of Brixham and Twitter, Vix Brix, was victorious for the 2nd year running! She was then left waiting to find out who would be King…

The final award! Who would sit on the throne and be crowned ‘Social Media King of Torbay’? The man behind the White Rock Festival, Simon Waugh, was delighted to be victorious again having already won the Best Event Campaign. Not being able to attend on the night, Simon was still able to express his delight (and get in a cheeky plug for his event 🙂 ) through a pre-recorded video!

So close, yet no cigar!

Image: I didn’t purposely hold the left one up the wrong way around!

I was very proud to be nominated for two awards; ‘Best Business Blog’ and ‘Social Media King of Torbay’. Naturally I was a bit disappointed not to win, however I had to remind myself that I only setup this business at the start of February! So to be nominated twice was a great achievement in itself, and I’m looking forward to growing and developing all that I offer to help businesses win at social media, which is my true passion!

I think I speak for everyone when I say it really was a fantastic event, with lots of happy faces, great music and food and recognition of  our local talented business and charity organisations . So kudos to Torbay Hour for pulling it off! I’m looking forward to next years one already 🙂

Learn from the best; 3 great Facebook business pages!

Needing some creative inspiration to jazz up your  Facebook business profile? Feeling like you’ve got ‘writer’s block’ when it comes to your daily posts?

Then fear no more!

In this blog post, I analyse three fantastic examples of Facebook business pages, from well-known  companies, to help give you ‘food for thought’ (I always manage to get a food reference in somewhere!) and some ideas on how to ‘spice up’ your business page; enjoy!

1.Nutella UK

 

Image: It really does sell itself! (Source: Nutella UK Facebook)

Nutella; with it’s ‘authentic taste of hazelnuts and cocoa and its unique creaminess’ is probably something that isn’t too tricky to sell! However it’s pretty hard not to be impressed with their approach to Facebook marketing.

Image: A saliva inducing, eye-watering image to start your day with!  (Source: Nutella UK Facebook)

Besides the obligatory ‘food porn’ close up shots; designed to alter your brain chemistry in a nano second and get you craving Nutella ‘right now!’ their engagement with their Facebook fans clearly stands out.

Image: Monthly contests show Nutella’s fun side  (Source: Nutella UK Facebook)

As the above image shows, Nutella make an effort to get their followers to take part in ‘Nutella lover of the month’ contests; this shows the customers as ‘Brand ambassadors‘ and helps promote their product in a fun, light and engaging way!

Image: Well…breakfast is the most important meal of the day! ( (Source: Nutella UK Facebook)

Finally, another aspect of Nutella’s page that works well is their ‘Nutella happy is’ posts, which invite people to ‘Tag’ their friends. This regular feature taps into how people ‘feel’ about Nutella and  encourages people to engage and get talking about their product in a positive way.

2.Tough Mudder UK

Image: There’s no hiding place on the toughest of obstacle courses! (Tough Mudder UK Facebook)

Advertised as ‘Probably the toughest event on the planet’ Tough Mudder is not for the faint hearted! Their Facebook page does a fantastic job of showcasing how challenging the events are, and gives potential participants a great insight into what to expect!

Image: A screenshot doesn’t do the video justice; check it for yourself! (Tough Mudder UK Facebook)

Tough Mudder UK are aware of the marketing power of video to catch peoples attention. Their videos are fantastic, because they give people a real taste of the challenges and thrills of their various obstacle courses by showing the action up close.

Image: #HeadbandMonday ! (Tough Mudder UK Facebook)

They also make great use of imaginative hashtags on their page, and by using them repeatedly this helps encourage their followers to use them, through their own personal Facebook profiles. Once again, this is a great example of customers acting as ‘Brand ambassadors’; promoting and talking about a company in a positive light and helping to spread word of mouth online.

3. Yazoo Drinks

Image: Yazoo’ing across the world! (YAZOO Drinks Facebook page)

Milkshake and  yogurt smoothie makers, Yazoo, use a fun and imaginative marketing style to promote their well known products through Facebook.

Image: involving fans in content creation is always a winner! (Yazoo Drinks Facebook page)

Yazoo encourage their followers to get involved in the promotion process, by inviting them to create fun images through their website. They then share the best ones through their Facebook page. This fun style of marketing  is popular; the above image post got over 2,200 likes!

Image: Royally Yazoo! (Yazoo Facebook Drinks Page)

Yazoo also ‘think outside the box’ by using images of their products in humorous settings, of which some of the best include bowling alleys, VIP Rooms and the Loch Ness waters (!) Using humor and visual creativity to promote can really appeal to customers, as long it’s done in the right manner as Yazoo have done here.

Image: For the record, I’d go for Chocolate myself! (Yazoo Drinks Facebook page)

Social media is a great way for companies to do market research, in a subtle way, and Yazoo clearly understand this. By asking questions, through their Facebook page,  they trigger online conversations that help give them a clear insight into what their customers want.

The take home message

Of course a lot of big, well known businesses have PR and Marketing teams that create visually exciting and instantly shareable content like the examples discussed.

But you can still adopt the same tactics, to promote through Facebook, by thinking how you can best use humour, great photos and happy customers to keep your fans interested and engaged in your business page.

Which is the best example of a business Facebook page? Has this given you any ideas for your business? Let me know in the comments below!

 

Lights, Camera…Action your business!

Ever fancied showing off your business through  video?

Then you’re in the right place!

Image: The best way to start is to get practicing at home!

The future of promoting online is through video; research shows that 7 out of 10 people view businesses in a more positive light when they post interesting video content.

Currently 1 in 3 Britons view at least one online video per week; this trend is predicted to accelerate over the next few years.

Image: A captive audience is only a click away

With exciting, interactive video features available across the different social media sites (Facebook Live is a good example) the opportunities are there for you to make the most out of this powerful marketing approach!

Image: Facebook Live allows you to broadcast live to your followers

You don’t have to be the next Steven Spielberg to make one either; you can shoot and edit using a good camera (perhaps your smartphone) and use one of the many free video editing software programs available on the web.

In this blog entry, I will explain why video marketing is so effective and how your business can benefit!

Enjoy!

Why video marketing works so well-when done right

Ever heard the old saying ‘A picture is worth thousand words’? Well it’s certainly true in the social media world; but just think how much more a video could get across to potential customers online!

However; perhaps you may be wary of using video, to promote through social media, for a number of reasons. Concerns vary; but often lack of budget, camera shyness and a concern of creating an ‘amateurish’ video are those most often cited by business owners.

Image: A little help from friends can go a long way!

However, with a little creativity you can create a  video that will capture your customers attention . And that’s the crucial element that makes video worth the effort; as Marketing expert Seth Godin puts it:

‘Marketing is a contest for people’s attention’ 

When starting out; keep it simple! You could start by creating a video of static, glossy product images with upbeat background music to accompany it. The important thing is you are promoting your business in an exciting, visual and engaging way that will make you stand out.

Video is king on Facebook!

Using video to promote is especially advantageous for you on Facebook; when you upload videos directly through your business Facebook page rather then linking direct to a YouTube link.

Image: Facebook is taking on YouTube for video dominance! 

This is because Facebook is competing against YouTube to be the number one provider of video content on the web. Facebook encourages you to upload videos, direct through your business page, by giving them higher ‘organic reach’; which basically means they have a better chance of being seen by your business page fans in comparison to (unpaid) image and text updates.

Local Success Story: Aztec Gym and Studio

Aztec Gym and Studio has fully embraced video marketing to help promote their Torquay based gym and fitness centre.

I spoke with Matt White, Digital Marketing Assistant for TLH Lesuire Resort (which encompasses Aztec Gym and Studio), to find how they have used video to promote through their Facebook business page: 

‘Promoting our new and current services, using video, is a great way to show customers exactly what to expect, which lowers any kind of anxiety of trying something new. Showing off our friendly, knowledgeable staff also allows current and future customers to experience our brand in a more personal way, making them feel more connected to our business on the whole.

Image: Aztec Gym staff are happy to get involved

‘Our staff members are happy to take part; we encourage them to act naturally and enjoy themselves. This helps get their personality across on camera and a basic script also helps prepare them beforehand.

‘Our videos show our business off and allows people to see first hand what we offer and what our current customers think – something a photo will struggle to do to the same effect. Video is also a proven way to engage your audience like no other media and as such does give you a clear advantage when used on social media.

Image: Showing classes in action helps give an insight into what is on offer

‘I would recommend businesses, who are new to video marketing, start off with smaller clips that can be uploaded with little or no editing. A HD camera is a must, 4k and 5k would be even better as this footage becomes more common. Always use a tripod or stabilisation rig to reduce camera shake. Sound quality is also crucial; ensure your device has a directional microphone or the ability to attach an external microphone. 

‘Above all, be authentic and have fun, as this will show in your video! The hardest part of using video for your business is making a start, the first video is always the hardest but ask your staff for help. We found that we already had staff members that were YouTubers; a wealth of knowledge can be right under your nose!  Utilise the skills of your staff, have fun and make video.’

How can I use it for my business?

Ok…so you are probably now more then keen to get started, right?

Well here are some ideas for videos to help get you started!

1.’Behind the scenes’

How does your business work? Sometimes it’s better to ‘show’  rather then ‘tell’ to explain what it is you do!

Perhaps you own a bakery business and want to show your customers how you make those delicious doughnuts? Video marketing is a great way for you to really connect with your customers on a deeper level; using this particular approach can help sell your product or service in a more entertaining way.

Image: Do you know your dough? 

By showing people how your business works you are showing the ‘Human’ side to your business; to get some inspiration take a look at this great video from TOR2.  Working with Nick Ellison, TOR2 created a video that shows the real people, behind the scenes, who do the everyday work and presents the information in a fun and informative way.

Image: Talking Tyres with Mark! (TOR2 Facebook page)

2. Customer video testimonials 

What better way to promote your business then through your current, happy customers?

As I previously alluded to in ‘Three ways social media can help your business’   your customers can often be your best source of endorsement and publicity through your social media presence!

Image: Check out Sue’s Story for a glowing customer testimonial video

Imagine the selling power of showing a happy customer through video on your Facebook page? The marketing term for this is ‘social proof’; and these kind oftestimonials will go a long way to giving people confidence in doing business with you!

3. Helpful tips

How can you share your expertise?

Another great way you can use video is to give your social media followers helpful tips that will benefit their lives. You could ask people to send in questions and answer them through a Facebook Live broadcast on your business page!

Image: Facebook Live gives your business page a more interactive feel

One of my previous clients, Improve Your Health‘s Julie Harrison, shares weekly #HealthTip videos on her Facebook business page. This helps her keep followers up to date with helpful, practical health tips and also gives people a better idea of how she can help them change their lives for the better!

Image: Julie’s weekly tips have proved popular with her followers

The key to success here  is providing helpful information that will make people want to return to your Facebook page on a regular basis.

Another example is…mine! I share short ‘How to’ social media tip and marketing advice videos, every Tuesday and Thursday, through my Facebook business page and my business YouTube channel. This gives a ‘sample’ of the services I offer and gives my followers practical advice they can use to improve how they promote their business online. Check it out!

Image: My #ThursdayThoughts videos help businesses with their social media approach

Conclusion

As you can see, the creative possibilities to use video to promote through social media are only limited by the scope of your imagination!

Many businesses are already embracing the promotional possibilities that video marketing offers; how will your business embrace the trend? Let me know by commenting below!

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the support! #TorbayHourSM Awards 2016

Wow 🙂

What can I say? Having only started this business in February, I am very proud to be listed for two Torbay Hour 2016 Social Media Awards!

A big thank you to those who nominated me for:

– Best Business Blog (for my ‘All Things Social’ blog)

🔱 King of Social Media 🔱

If you feel I’m worthy of being ‘ King’ then please vote for me here!:http://bit.ly/2aWURoC

I love writing the blog ; I always have the local business person in mind when I am thinking of what I write and how I write it.

I like to entertain, inspire and educate in equal measure about the power of social media marketing; I also love learning about how businesses, of all kinds, use social media to promote themselves in various creative ways!

A big congratulations to all my good friends who have been nominated;Helen Brenton, NickEllison.Net, Flossy and Jim Ltd , Clothing Your Way Ltdand John Tomkins !

Big thumbs up to everyone who has been listed for awards and I look forward to seeing you all in September! 🙂