Stuck in the world of paper marketing materials? With the world wide web and all the technology available, it seems a shame not to venture into more interactive and visual means of advertising. One type of marketing that might work for your home business is the promotion video or CD (or DVD)—this can be a great way to let people know what you are all about in a progressive and technologically advanced way.
Of course there is always the expense. It’s true that production of a promotional video, CD, or DVD can be expensive. You may be able to keep the cost down by doing much of it yourself or working with a friend, student, or intern. Still, it will be more expensive that a simple, three-fold printed brochure.
A promotional video should be relatively short—5-10 minutes long. Some suggest that 8 minutes is really the optimal length. It also needs to be more than a simple slide show. The point of using this technology is to get actually people talking and images moving so you will need to come up with a script and a plan to make the most of your 8 minutes of production. Expect that you will actually “shoot” more than ends up in the actual promotional piece—this will give you plenty to work with.
Like any marketing piece, this needs to have a clear purpose and a strong call to action—not just be an informative story. You can decide if you want to be serious, playful, witty, edgy, or whatever—but you do need to keep the focus on what you are trying to accomplish as you promote your business. How will it be used? Will it be mailed to prospects and customers? Used on your web site? Used as a commercial? Developing a clear plan (and budget) will help you make the most of your endeavor into technological marketing!
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