Tips for Creating Video for your Website

In this age of visual media, more and more companies and individuals are turning to video as a means of informing their audience.

Thanks to social sharing on networks like YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook and Google+, a good video with dynamic, compelling content can engage a great many people.

Here are some tips to help you produce a good quality marketing video:

1. Compelling Content

Tutorials and demos are great video material. Your video should both entertain viewers and help them learn something. For example, if you own a horse stables you could show how to groom a horse correctly or if you have a clothing store, show which garments and accessories can complement each other.

People appreciate ‘behind the scenes’ information so you can show what your employees or offices are like to connect your customers to your culture.

2. Master the Technical basics

You might not be a video pro, but you can make your videos better with a few simple techniques.

• Your primary light source should be facing your subject – if it’s behind them they will appear dark.
• Ensure your sound quality is strong and clear.
• Use a tripod or table stand to limit camera motion.
• Use some video editing software to improve the quality of the finished video – there are plenty of free or inexpensive video software and apps available.

3. Leave Viewers Wanting More

People have short attention spans online, so a video should last between 30 and 60 seconds. Break long videos up into smaller clips and release a new clip daily or weekly. Tell the viewer what’s in the next video to draw them back.

Try ending your video with a question that encourages viewers to leave their thoughts in the comments section.

These responses can give you ideas for new, more targeted video content. See how to add a video to your website and how you can use your videos to help with your search engine ranking.

New Smart File Uploader

350pages has released a new fast, easy to use Smart Photo Uploader that scales photos to a size of 1000pixels as it uploads thus minimizing the upload time and making photos more efficient for use on your web pages.

Simply drag your photos onto the uploader and click ‘Start upload’. Up to 30 photos can be uploaded in a session. Other types of files can also be uploaded for use on your website such as doc, pdf, mp3, etc.

The uploader doesn’t need Java in your web browser

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May 2013 Newsletter

Our May 2013 newsletter is available to view at http://www.350.com/newsletter/nlmay13

Content is King

How often have we heard this true statement? Here’s Tip no. 2 to make your content work for you. (see Tip number 1 in the March newsletter )

• Social media makes sharing content easier than ever, however, social networks are not the place for overt marketing messages, so you need to figure out a way to add value to the conversation without blatently advertising your products or services.
• Social networking can be a great way to get involved in the local community.
• Connect with what people are already talking about or start a new conversation.
• Find out what matters to your customers and get involved.

Tips for using video with your website

Videos can help you with your search engine ranking and viewer reach, but you must optimize them. Here are a few tips:

1. Use Your Keywords

YouTube is the web’s second largest search engine, so tag your videos with keywords to make them more visible in search results. Include your keywords in the: Title Tag, Video Description, Category Listing, Keyword Tags, Subtitles, and Captions. Don’t forget to link the keywords and any annotations back to your website.

2. Create shareable content

Videos tend to be shared and viewed when they entertain or educate viewers. As your video is shared, your search engine rankings across Google, Bing, Yahoo!, and YouTube increase. Your content will appear higher in search results, reach more people, and drive new visitors to your website.

3. Share Socially

Put your videos on your website and share them through Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.

Increase exposure by using all the major, popular, low-cost video platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo, Yahoo! Video, and Google Video.

4. Analyse and Improve

Google Analytics will track how many people come to your website from YouTube. This is a good overall measure of the effectiveness of your video marketing strategy. Most of the major video hosting sites have Analytics that show you how well each of your videos is performing. Use this information to determine what content viewers respond to best.

This will guide your strategy for future videos.

Adding your video to your 350pages website.

Once you have created your video it’s easy to add it onto your website. Simply ‘Add a New object’ and you will see some third party video objects – YouTube, Vimeo, and Dailymotion that lets you display a group of videos on your website. From your published video page you will be able to get a ‘snippet of code’ so that you can ‘embed’ it into your website.

Simply ‘cut and paste’ that snippet in the entry box for your object and select ‘save’. You will see a placeholder on your web page which will contain your video when the web page is saved and published. If you are using another video site, other than YouTube, Vimeo or Dailymotion, then select the object ‘HTML snippet’ in which you can enter your ‘snippet of code’.

Did you know…   72 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute. What are you waiting for… ?

For more interesting and useful tips to create your website go to the350pages library.

Spring Into Action

The power of video on the web is expanding rapidly and unless you're tuned in, you might miss out. Formula 1 starts its new season, the horses race over the hurdles of the Grand National, and the Masters battle it out at golf. If you're off to any of these events and many more besides, it’s time to get the video camera/phone out and get your footage on the web.

Promote it through your website, or use it to promote your website - and350pages website builder has the advice on how to do just that.

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April 2013 Newsletter

Our April 2013 newsletter is available to view at http://www.350.com/newsletter/nlapril13

Site of the Month

"As a photographer I wanted the freedom to update my own website, be it simply uploading images to galleries or totally changing the layout and design of webpages. 350pages has allowed me to do all that and much, much more. 350pageshave given me the tools to create & update a professional looking website without any prior knowledge of HTML.  Any minor problems along the way have been quickly dealt with by the350pages support team, offering great advice and solutions.  The design possibilities are endless which will allow me to change my website with my ever changing photography. Thanks to all the team at 350pages" Andy McDonnell

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