Video Ups Your SEO Game

Within the last six months, a high percentage of web retailers have increased efforts to makeover their sites. At the crux of the changes being implemented is good old SEO. Writers are busy coming up with fresh new content that will bring the site up in the rankings; analysis is being feverishly conducted to see what keywords are working and what needs tweaking. In fact, more than 70% of retailers are focusing their efforts on SEO. What they may not know is that putting time into video on their site can actually help those optimization efforts!

At this point, only just over 40% of online retailers are taking steps to add the advanced feature of video to their websites this year. Just behind that is a push to add product reviews and recommendations. This is all very good, because the web is making a change to become more and more interactive. Seeing the amazing success of sites like Facebook and Twitter shows that without a doubt.

Video marketing is in its infancy, with only about 50% of retailers using it on their sites in 2008. With numbers showing that consumers who first viewed a video averaged a higher ticket amount on a sale, you can see the immense benefit of using this type of media for marketing as well as throughout your site. However, it is important to constantly test your video pages to find the best placement. It is a common misconception that any video is a good video. This is simply not the truth.

Placement of a video on your product or service pages should be in a place where it is easily seen (and therefore easily used). It should also be in a position relative to text and images to get more attention. Customers want information, so give it to them through your videos. Tell them everything they need to know that will help them make their purchasing decision. Better yet, let another customer tell them! The emergence of using interactivity on a website has lead to video platforms where consumers can post their own messages or videos to your website. While this may make many etailers uneasy, it must be understood that your satisfied customers can do a much better job of selling your product or service than you can!

If you haven’t put your foot in the video pool just yet, what are you waiting for? Video can contain keywords that are relevant to your site. Video can be used on social sites such as YouTube and contain backlinks to your site. Video can explain and showcase your most popular product or service. Most of all, video can give your company a face and build a reputation that just isn’t attainable through other forms of media. Sure, articles are informative and easy to get done (and can also link to videos, by the way!) – but video speaks to the consumer tenfold. 2009 has yet to see the growth of video usage on websites, but it is coming. The numbers at the end of the year are predicted to be astounding. Be a part of the boom!

People do business with People they Know

A good friend of mine had a wonderful way of describing his understanding of building a successful website; and to me, it all revolved around the aforementioned statement.  He said that he viewed his website as a storefront; which in today’s technologically advanced society, it very much is.  He asked, “If you were to walk into a store which you have never been in before, wouldn’t it be nice to have someone show you around?  Isn’t that great hospitality in general?”  Of course, he had an interesting point.  Having my full attention, he went on, “Well we need to do the same thing with our stores!” 

He was absolutely correct.  See, the downside to internet stores has been that customers, for the most part, can’t tell one site from another.   In the eyes of the customer, most sites are generally the same:  some text here, a banner over there, pictures here and there.  You’ve seen it.  So, to capture the attention of customers, one must find a way to stand apart from the average Joe. 

Enter video marketing.  This application, which works alongside Web 2.0 marketing strategies, gives site building a whole new dimension.   For years, what has been lacking in internet marketing is the face to face interaction that really gives customers and clients a feeling of familiarity with you.  Video marketing is a way to get your message out there, yes, but with your own personality interwoven throughout your site.  And as the quote says, “People do Business with People they Know.”  Want to capture more business?  Make every visitor to your site feel like they know you.  Take them “by the hand” and show them around your well stocked store, and you’ll be pleased with the amount of click-throughs you’ll see!

Video marketing can be used in a number of ways.  It can demonstrate a product, or welcome visitors to your home page.  Most importantly, video puts a face to the site, which enhances the viewers experience on your site.  Enhancing their experience can trigger an emotional response that will increase your chances of making a sale.  It is a well known fact that consumers make emotional purchases.  And video has a much better chance of evoking emotion than simple text.    Additionally, you may have the opportunity to reach more people than you would otherwise, as today’s consumer is busy busy busy!  There aren’t many of us who have time to sit and read all the benefits of a product.  Besides, that can just get boring anyway.  Video – a good video – will tell me everything I need to know quickly and effectively. 

The team at Start Ranking Now has mega experience with creating videos for your own website, or videos to be posted to other sites.  If you want to try your hand at making your own video but feel uncertain about the script, you can turn to them for a script that will get attention.  All that’s left for you to do is film and post!

When you’ve spent countless hours performing research to create a stellar website, chances are you are of the mindset that you want this site to be successful.  Ok, it’s 100% certain that you want your website to stand out and be noticed!  Putting video marketing to work for you may just be the difference maker.