If you do business on the Internet, then you’ve seen the emergence of Online Video as a powerful marketing tool. But did you know that Online Video can also be your “secret weapon” in the battle to buck the recession?

Using video to build your brand and promote your business – whether on the now ubiquitous YouTube or on your own website – actually attracts new customers and accelerates the sales process. There are several strong arguments for adding video to your marketing mix, but none more important than the simple fact that video boosts your business.

When you share a video with your potential customer, you instantly increase your “know, like and trust” factor. Projecting your personality and authenticity cane take months or years with text or email, but video is immediate and personal. Your prospects can see and hear the real you and, the sooner they feel they know you, the sooner they’ll buy from you!

Video creates an immediate connection with your customer far more effectively than print alone. Whether you use a webcam or the oh-so-simple Flip Video camera, by sharing your video message online you are creating a compelling and engaging presence that will resonate with the people you’re meant to serve.

Even better is the potential for your video to “go viral,” and have your message spread like wildfire. However, there’s no viral without the video – so tape your message and get it uploaded to YouTube and/or some of the other popular video hosting sites like Viddler, Vimeo or Blip.tv.

The process is easier than you might imagine. No need for a big Hollywood production – Just keep it simple and be yourself. Follow the simple upload instructions, and you’ll have your video posted on YouTube in no time! From there, you can easily share and spread your video to Facebook, MySpace and other sites with one click.

Online Video is also a potent tool for building your brand and increasing your visibility. Especially in tough economic times, customers crave the familiar – And video will accelerate that process for you.

These are just a few of the ways Online Video can help your business in unpredictable times. Start using video and you’ll see both your visibility and credibility increase fast. The cost for all this exposure is very reasonable: $50 to $100 for a webcam or under $200 for the popular Flip camera. So what’s keeping you from adding online video to your marketing mix! Star using video as your secret weapon to reject the recession and keep your business buzzing.

Related Posts

• How Can Entrepreneurs Use Web Video to Promote and Grow Their Business
• Online Marketing Tip – Extend Your Reach with Video and Audio
• Why Online Video is Your Recession Buster (and How to Profit From It!)
• Accelerate Your Sales Process with Video!
• 5 Fast Ways to Get Video on YouTube

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 31st, 2009 at 5:00 pm and is filed under Computers/Technology, Internet Marketing, Web 2.0. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Lou Bortone is a long-time marketing and branding consultant who helps entrepreneurs build breakthrough brands on the Internet, with services such as copywriting, online video production, coaching and creative support. Lou is a former television executive who worked for E! Entertainment Television and later served as the Senior Vice President of Marketing & Advertising for Fox Family Worldwide, a division of Fox in Los Angeles. Lou is an author and ghostwriter of six business books, a Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach and a Book Yourself Solid Certified Coach. For more information, please visit Lou's website at http://www.OnlineVideoBranding.com