Marketing your products and services with videos has become much more popular.  Video is proving to be an effective marketing tool and one you should consider implementing.

The problem with video is two-fold:  too many videos being watch will bog down your webhost’s server and you need to get your video in front of your target audience.

Enter the social video site.

Social video sites, like YouTube, allow their members to post videos to be shared with anyone who wishes to watch.  Your videos are loaded on their servers, but they still belong to you.  Considering there are millions of people watching user-submitted videos, chances are you’ll be able to find your ideal prospects.

Additionally, social video sites allow all of their members to comment on videos that have been uploaded.  This is extremely powerful to you as a business owner.  You get immediate feedback on your content, the ability to connect with people in your target market, and many times, they’ll tell you what else they want!

When you join a social video site, you create a profile that tells others about you and your company.  Then follow these simple guidelines to make a great video that gets your tons of traffic:

1.    Planning

Decide the topic of your video and create an outline for it.  Improvisation is great for the kids who put up fun videos for their friends, but pay attention to the impression you’re leaving on your clients and prospects.  Put together a clear plan for what you want to cover in your video.

2.    Equipment

To create great videos, you don’t have to go out and invest in a high-tech, super duper video camera.  You can use a simple web cam or one of those cool little usb cameras that you simply hook up to your computer to upload your videos.

In fact, you don’t need a camera at all.  You can create a series of text and images and use movie making software to put them together with your voice to deliver your message.

3.    Keep it short, simple and to the point

Most internet users don’t want to sit and watch a long, drawn out video.  Keep your videos to under five minutes.  Use the time to get your point across and avoid using hype.  You don’t want to come across as the stereotypical used car salesman, or people won’t watch your videos.

4.    Call to action

Put a link to your website at the end of every video you post.  Even better, set up your video so your url is shown throughout the entire message.  Then tell them to visit your site.

Use one sentence that’s related to your video’s message, and make it enticing.  “For more information, go to” works, but it doesn’t make you stand out.  How about this:  “Find out how I got 3,000 new subscribers on my list in 3 hours by going to.”  Isn’t that a little bit more compelling?

5.    Keywords

When you add your video, you’re able to attach keyword tags so other people can find it when they search or select a category.  Use as many keywords as possible.  Keywords are one of the most important parts of using video submission sites, so invest the time in putting together a good keyword list.

Your keywords must be relevant to your video.  Period.

Social video networking does a very important job for the information marketer who uses it correctly.  You gain name recognition, traffic, and immediate input from your potential and existing clients.