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Seminar teaches business owners how to increase sales with video

November 10, 2016   ·   0 Comments

Successful business owners understand the power of the Internet when it comes to marketing their products and services. Using online tools to promote the business increases its reach and results in greater visibility and higher sales. Today, a website is an essential business tool, but is not the only online presence required. Static websites have been eclipsed by more dynamic and interactive social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more but even these tools can lose their effectiveness if not continuously refreshed and made relevant for today’s demanding and easily distracted consumer.

One of the most effective strategies that entrepreneurs can use to ensure traffic to their sites is the inclusion of video. The use of engaging and entertaining film has become increasingly popular. From quick recipe demonstrations to perfectly-timed, real life moments caught on camera, online videos have changed the way we connect with the Internet. According to Clickz.com, a web-based company that specializes in market research and analysis, video content on Facebook increased by a whopping 75 percent from 2014 to 2015. By 2017, online video is expected to account for almost three-quarters of all Internet traffic.

These online videos do more than entertain. Research shows that videos lead to longer viewing sessions with 88 percent of visitors staying longer on sites that showcase the right video.  Moreover, the use of video in email marketing has proven to lead to a 50 percent increase in CTR or ‘click through rate’. This means that a reader is much more likely to open the email and absorb the message when it is accompanied by an engaging clip. It’s also suggested that the use of video significantly increases customer loyalty.

Armed with this data, many entrepreneurs are taking advantage of this trend and creating their own videos for sharing. Videos are a powerful way to introduce the business, spread its message, and boost engagement. Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat are all popular social media platforms heavily populated with video content and available for use by business owners.

To help entrepreneurs join the video revolution, the Orangeville & Area Small Business Enterprise Centre will be presenting a two-part seminar series to help business owners create their own marketing videos at affordable rates.  TV producers Mag Ruffman and Daniel Hunter of Ruffman Entertainment will lead these interactive sessions and will demonstrate how to create high quality video using an iPhone or Android device.

In part one, participants will learn to shoot and edit video with their own phone. They will be instructed on the simple steps to creating crisp, inspiring clips for websites, newsletters and social platforms. Topics covered include shooting protocol, must-have apps, optional accessories, and the six basic shots needed to tell a great story.

Part two will show entrepreneurs how to edit, assemble and publish short marketing pieces, how to construct story formats, record voiceovers, create titles, combine video with stills, select square vs. horizontal format, and how to optimize videos for different social platforms.

Part one will take place on Tuesday, November 15, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and part two will be held Tuesday, November 22, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.  To take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to take your business marketing to the next level, contact the Orangeville & Area Small Business Enterprise Centre at 519-941-0440 Ext. 2286 or email sbec@orangeville.ca. Pre-registration is required.

Ellen Sinclair is the Co-ordinator of the Orangeville & Area Small Business Enterprise Centre. She can be reached at esinclair@orangeville.ca  or 519-941-0440 Ext. 2270.

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