This is not your fathers Internet.
Video used to be high-end and out of reach; something that only the the big boys with the biggest budgets were able to capitalize on. Fortunately, this is no longer the case. With the emergence of online video sharing sites such as YouTube and Viddler, many online entrepreneurs now have access to immediate and far reaching exposure. These days all it takes to create and distribute a viral video is a willingness to work, a little imagination and perhaps a little luck.
A viral video can be a remarkable way to generate buzz for the products and services of your business. The problem is, simply shooting and releasing a video and then hoping for the best is an anemic way to aim for optimum results.
The key to a viral video lies in the consistent creation of compelling content. If you don’t have something people are willing to watch, even if it’s less than 30 seconds, you’ll never gain the traction you need.
Should you hire a professional?
If you can afford a pro, then you should absolutely use one. Professionals cut video for a living. That means they are better at what they do then you could ever hope to be, minus their years of experience behind you. A professional can help you with all the small details that will get you the results your business needs.
If budget is an issue, there are still many options that will help you to get a video cut and published for little or no cost. You will need a basic video camera to shoot footage as well as some high quality royalty free music as background, uptempo is often best.
If you have your own website, then you’ll want to post the video there of course, but you will want to publish on a site that hosts videos as well. The difficulty with video sharing sites is that there are just too many videos and your video may wind up lost in the crowd, though you can always send your video to a news outlet, such as television, radio, web or print media to help combat this essential truth.
By far, the most important thing to focus on in getting your video to go viral is the quality of the video itself. Truly viral videos are rare. Of the thousands released each day, only a few truly gain traction. This doesn’t mean your video has to be shot in high definition, but it does mean your video has to be compelling. Concentrate on creating something that is funny, emotional or real and your video will have a far better chance of attracting viewers.
Don’t be afraid to experiment, but do remember the videos you release are a reflection of you and your business. Make sure they are saying what you want them to.
