Choosing the Right Video Type for Your Goal

by | May 13, 2020 | Video Marketing

There are a number of different types of video to choose from. Matching the right type to your subject matter and the needs of your audience can make all the difference between success and failure.

Setting Your Goal

Whenever you decide to make a video, be clear about what goal you wish to accomplish. Once you have set your goal, you can choose the format.

Why a Video?

Decide upon a video versus other format based on what you wish to accomplish. For example, you could write a blog post or create a vlog post – especially if you wanted to show your audience what you are talking about.

It is also important to note that around 70% of the population are visual learners, which means that even if the content is exactly the same in the blog and the vlog, the vlog will have more impact as long as it is accompanied by useful supporting visuals.

Types of Videos

Once you set your goal and have determined that video is the best medium to use, decide on the format of the video. It could be a:

  • Product demonstration
  • Screen capture video
  • Webinar
  • Review or testimonial
  • Entertainment video
  • Educational video
  • …and so on. 

Video Demos

Seeing is believing, so a video demonstration of how a product works is ideal. Think of the infomercials you see on TV and you will understand the power of a demo video.

Screen Capture

Similarly, screen capture videos, such as those created using Camtasia, can demonstrate software in a way that no description ever can. This type of video is also ideal for teaching people how to do certain skills on the computer, such as create a great PowerPoint presentation.

Webinars / Online Lessons and Courses

A webinar can educate, entertain and drive sales as the audience makes a purchase related to the topic of the webinar in order to learn more. These videos are easy to create using PowerPoint. You can get as much as possible of the content pre-organized and pre-recorded, so all you have to do live during each webinar is the introduction and conclusion, and answer any questions from the audience.

Online lessons and courses give you the chance to build an audience as people start to follow your video series.

Reviews and Testimonials

Reviews and testimonials are always popular because they help people make smart decisions about what to buy. They might demonstrate the product, and/or show the wonderful results they have gotten from the product and how it has transformed their lives or their business.

These days, “unboxing” videos are very popular, in which video makers actually open a package from Amazon or wherever and go through the whole process of opening the box, taking the item out, and starting to use it. They might also unbox for monthly subscriptions like Loot Crate or Geek Fuel to show off the wonderful goodies they are getting in each month’s surprise package.

Entertainment

Unboxing is like a product review, but it can also be entertaining. So too can infomercials, original content such as comedy programs, and so on.

Educational Videos

Online education is booming, as are videos. Put the two together and you have a powerful recipe for marketing your business and boosting sales. Lectures, interviews, and TED talks are all growing in popularity. Why write a book when you can share what you know via video?

These are just a few of the top video formats. The only other issue is style – funny, serious, live versus prepared PowerPoint slides, and so on.

Match your goal to video format and style, and see how much you can grow your business.

Build Your Confidence with Small Goals

by | May 13, 2020 | Building Confidence

Being confident is not something that you’re born with, or that you can learn from a book. It is something you can learn from experiencing success, though. And the best way to do that is to set yourself up for success by setting smaller goals. When you achieve those small goals, you’ll start building your confidence. Here’s how to do it. 

  • Break Down Bigger Goals – When you have a big goal, instead of getting overwhelmed by it, break it down into smaller goals. Work backward from the due date to today, writing down small steps to achieve each day. Each day of success will build your confidence as you move forward to reach bigger goals.
  • Practice Positive Thinking – Each day, start and end your day with positive thoughts. A good way to accomplish this is by writing in a gratitude journal every night before you go to bed. Then, start your day by reading what you wrote. 
  • Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses – It’s very important to not only know your own strengths and weaknesses but also to accept them. When you identify where you’re strong, you can lead with strength and you can improve upon most of your weaknesses if you know they exist. 
  • Improve Your Skills – When you know that you’re weak in an area that you can learn, that’s a good thing. You can always improve your skills. Take a course, go to seminars, hire a coach or whatever you need to do to improve the skill set that is needed to accomplish your goals. 
  • Network with Others – Having a group of friends and acquaintances that you can learn from, share with, and commiserate with is a great way to build confidence. When you hang around other people who value you and your contributions, you’ll start to believe in yourself more. 
  • Accept and Learn from Critics – It can be difficult to listen to critics. But, if you allow the criticism to help you, it can be a very good thing. Try to de-personalize the criticism so that you can look at it differently, learn from it and improve. 
  • Learn Time Management – One problem with achieving goals is time management. Remember that every little thing you do toward the goal matters. Even if you only do one small part of the work each day, eventually you’ll reach your goal. Allow yourself to feel successful each day that you do at least part of your list.
  • Write Everything Down – Don’t try to reach goals just by remembering them. You’ll trick yourself either by not doing enough or by doing too much and not feeling good about it. Write down each step for each day so that you know when you’ve succeeded on a day-to-day basis. 

Being confident starts from the inside, but is the result of taking steps to do the hard work that you need to do each day to build the good feeling inside. That good feeling is known as self-esteem. When you have high self-esteem, you can accept constructive criticism, small changes of direction, and work in a positive direction of your bigger goals.