There is a lot of talk about video marketing and viral videos today. While I have no problem with video, there is far too much emphasis on viral videos. At least as far as marketing your information and training products goes.

You'd be better off with a podcast than a viral video!

Okay, that's a lot more controversial than I usually get. It's almost as bad as my statement that self-help gurus really need to learn how to create products first before they teach it! So I guess I better explain. The first one, not the second... I'll leave the latter to other articles.

So why is a podcast just as good as a viral video?

First off, what's so great about a viral video? And more importantly what is a viral video? To answer the last question first -- a viral video is a video that has gone viral, Duh! Okay, let's explain a little further. To go viral means that the product (video, audio, blog, eBook, whatever) has so touched the audience that they start forwarding it to their friends. Who, in turn, forward it to their friends. Like a virus it spreads out exponentially.

So what's so great about them? The answer is simple. It's seen by a lot of people. Some of whom might click through and check out your site, where you can collect their emails and engage them in a conversation. Hey, you might even be able to sell to them someday!

However, that's also why a viral video isn't as good as a podcast. A viral video is seen by a lot of people -- once! And only once! It's a fad that will in time burn down. Think of the last viral video that you viewed. Who was it by? Unless you just watched it just before you started reading this article, chances are you've already forgotten. Viral videos have no staying power. Without repetition, little is gained by each viewing.

Viral videos focus on quantity over quality. Be seen by a large number of people and at least a few will click through to your site. You hope.

Podcasts on the other hand are repeating products. Not only do they show up but they repeatedly put your name and voice in front of your customer. This repetition improves retention and makes a click through far more likely.

Podcasts also provide repeated exposures to your customer. Bluntly the customer learns to like you long before they bother to click through. As a result your sales percentage and opt-in percentages will both exceed that of a viral video. Podcasts are more than just a traffic tool. They are a sales tool.

Of course, nothing is preventing your podcasts from going viral. Although in reality, it is a lot less likely it will. In which case, you'll see some of the same issues arising. Although because a podcast is repeating by nature, you will see less of a loss in your sales and opt-in percentages.

Finally, there is one big advantage to a podcast. Most videos are limited in length. YouTube only allows a maximum ten minutes of video. But podcasts can be as long (or as short) as you wish! So you can say more, inform more and sell more.

Do you want to learn how to create information products (learning content)? Check out my new free eBook "7 Myths and Seven Tricks in Nine Steps": http://www.learningcreators.com/myths.htm

Do you want to read more free information like this? Go to my blog: http://www.learningcreators.com/blog/

Glen Ford is an accomplished consultant, trainer and writer. He has far too many years experience as a trainer and facilitator to willingly admit.

View the original article here

A completely revised and updated edition of the BusinessWeek bestseller on effective, modern marketing and PR best practices

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• New case studies and current examples are included to illustrate the very latest in marketing and PR trends.
  
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• Includes a step-by-step action plan for harnessing the power of the Internet to communicate directly with buyers, increase sales, and raise online visibility
  
• David Meerman Scott is a renowned online marketing strategist, keynote speaker and the author of World Wide Rave, from Wiley

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Social Media Marketing Top Seven
Amazon-exclusive content from author David Meerman Scott

Establishing a social media marketing strategy and creating effective Web content that is indexed by search engines is critical for any business. When people are looking for answers to problems, they go online first!

People and organizations that participate in social media (creating YouTube videos, participating on sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, starting a blog and the like) become part of a vibrant online community and show that market that they are worthy of doing business with.

Unlike non-targeted, in-your-face, interruption-based advertising, social media is content that people actually want to see. How cool is that? Rather than forcing you to convince people to pay attention to your products and services by dreaming up messages and ad campaigns, search engines deliver interested buyers right to your companyâ??s virtual doorstep. This is a marketerâ??s dream-come-true.

However, most marketers donâ??t know how to harness this exciting form of marketing. Their most common mistake is to spend way too much time talking about your companyâ??s products and services and worrying too much about being â??on message.â? In addition, many companies are fearful of jumping into the social media waters because it seems scary to put yourself out there.

Top Seven Ways to Get the Most Out of Social Networking Sites:
1. Target a specific audience. Create a page that reaches an audience that is important to your organization. It is usually better to reach a small niche market than try to go large.

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3. Create lots of links. Link to your own sites and blog, and those of others in your industry and network. Everybody loves linksâ??it makes the Web what it is. You should certainly link to your own stuff from a social networking site (like your blog), but also link to other peopleâ??s sites and content in your own market.

4. Encourage people to contact you. Make it easy for people to reach you online, and be sure to follow up personally on your fan mail.

5. Participate. Create groups and participate in online discussions. Become an online leader and organizer.

6. Make it easy to find you. Tag your page and add your page into the subject directories. Encourage others to bookmark your page with del.icio.us and DIGG.

7. Experiment. These sites are great because you can try new things. If it isnâ??t working, tweak it. Or abandon the effort and try something new. There is no such thing as an expert in social networkingâ??weâ??re all learning as we go!

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What is a Podcast and how can it help me get people to my website?

A podcast is basically a recording of you talking to yourself or another person about your specific topic that your website is centered on. I think of a podcast like a shorter version on an audio book. It is informative, it tells me what I want it too but it is much shorter.

How can this help you and your website? Well, first you have to make a podcast. To do this you need a microphone and some recording software. There is some good free recording software if you go to Google and type in "free recording software" you will find several really good ones to pick from.

Once you have your microphone and your free recording software you are ready to go. You can record anything you like about the subject that your site is focused on. So, just start recording and start talking about your subject. Take things off the top of your head about the subject and talk like you would talk to your best friend.

When you are starting to make podcasts make sure that you speak on a subject that you know well if you choose a subject that you are unsure of you are very likely to have pauses and say "err" or "aaggghhhh" of other very embarrassing situations. Practice makes this easier but speaking about a topic you understand will make the process more fluid.

You do not need to be stiff and boring with the information. Play with it, make it fun and crack some jokes if appropriate as well. Granted, if it does not fit the subject then keep the humour to yourself. But you can still be interesting to listen too without being boring.

Have you ever seen on TV infomercials Anthony Robbins the self-help guru? He's been doing them for at least the last 20 or 30 years. Well, he talks the way you want to sound on your recordings. He is just dripping with sincerity, passion and conviction for his subject.

He sounds totally believable and you should as well. This guy makes other people want to listen to him. Do you think if he was boring and monotone people would listen to him? This guy is exciting and his voice is all over the place.

So, go ahead and give it a try. After all, people can't see you so be as wild and crazy as you like and sound like you actually have something to say to the people.

This is going to get more and more people to listen to you and get them to your website because they like what you have to say. So, get out there and spread your message because no one is going to do it for you.

Just make sure you have a good microphone and some free recording software and you will be good to go. Do not underestimate the power of a good microphone, make sure you use digital and not analogue, the difference has to be heard to be believed!

View the original article here

There is a lot of talk about video marketing and viral videos today. While I have no problem with video, there is far too much emphasis on viral videos. At least as far as marketing your information and training products goes.

You'd be better off with a podcast than a viral video!

Okay, that's a lot more controversial than I usually get. It's almost as bad as my statement that self-help gurus really need to learn how to create products first before they teach it! So I guess I better explain. The first one, not the second... I'll leave the latter to other articles.

So why is a podcast just as good as a viral video?

First off, what's so great about a viral video? And more importantly what is a viral video? To answer the last question first -- a viral video is a video that has gone viral, Duh! Okay, let's explain a little further. To go viral means that the product (video, audio, blog, eBook, whatever) has so touched the audience that they start forwarding it to their friends. Who, in turn, forward it to their friends. Like a virus it spreads out exponentially.

So what's so great about them? The answer is simple. It's seen by a lot of people. Some of whom might click through and check out your site, where you can collect their emails and engage them in a conversation. Hey, you might even be able to sell to them someday!

However, that's also why a viral video isn't as good as a podcast. A viral video is seen by a lot of people -- once! And only once! It's a fad that will in time burn down. Think of the last viral video that you viewed. Who was it by? Unless you just watched it just before you started reading this article, chances are you've already forgotten. Viral videos have no staying power. Without repetition, little is gained by each viewing.

Viral videos focus on quantity over quality. Be seen by a large number of people and at least a few will click through to your site. You hope.

Podcasts on the other hand are repeating products. Not only do they show up but they repeatedly put your name and voice in front of your customer. This repetition improves retention and makes a click through far more likely.

Podcasts also provide repeated exposures to your customer. Bluntly the customer learns to like you long before they bother to click through. As a result your sales percentage and opt-in percentages will both exceed that of a viral video. Podcasts are more than just a traffic tool. They are a sales tool.

Of course, nothing is preventing your podcasts from going viral. Although in reality, it is a lot less likely it will. In which case, you'll see some of the same issues arising. Although because a podcast is repeating by nature, you will see less of a loss in your sales and opt-in percentages.

Finally, there is one big advantage to a podcast. Most videos are limited in length. YouTube only allows a maximum ten minutes of video. But podcasts can be as long (or as short) as you wish! So you can say more, inform more and sell more.

View the original article here

What is a Podcast and how can it help me get people to my website?

A podcast is basically a recording of you talking to yourself or another person about your specific topic that your website is centered on. I think of a podcast like a shorter version on an audio book. It is informative, it tells me what I want it too but it is much shorter.

How can this help you and your website? Well, first you have to make a podcast. To do this you need a microphone and some recording software. There is some good free recording software if you go to Google and type in "free recording software" you will find several really good ones to pick from.

Once you have your microphone and your free recording software you are ready to go. You can record anything you like about the subject that your site is focused on. So, just start recording and start talking about your subject. Take things off the top of your head about the subject and talk like you would talk to your best friend.

When you are starting to make podcasts make sure that you speak on a subject that you know well if you choose a subject that you are unsure of you are very likely to have pauses and say "err" or "aaggghhhh" of other very embarrassing situations. Practice makes this easier but speaking about a topic you understand will make the process more fluid.

You do not need to be stiff and boring with the information. Play with it, make it fun and crack some jokes if appropriate as well. Granted, if it does not fit the subject then keep the humour to yourself. But you can still be interesting to listen too without being boring.

Have you ever seen on TV infomercials Anthony Robbins the self-help guru? He's been doing them for at least the last 20 or 30 years. Well, he talks the way you want to sound on your recordings. He is just dripping with sincerity, passion and conviction for his subject.

He sounds totally believable and you should as well. This guy makes other people want to listen to him. Do you think if he was boring and monotone people would listen to him? This guy is exciting and his voice is all over the place.

So, go ahead and give it a try. After all, people can't see you so be as wild and crazy as you like and sound like you actually have something to say to the people.

This is going to get more and more people to listen to you and get them to your website because they like what you have to say. So, get out there and spread your message because no one is going to do it for you.

Just make sure you have a good microphone and some free recording software and you will be good to go. Do not underestimate the power of a good microphone, make sure you use digital and not analogue, the difference has to be heard to be believed!

View the original article here

There is a lot of talk about video marketing and viral videos today. While I have no problem with video, there is far too much emphasis on viral videos. At least as far as marketing your information and training products goes.

You'd be better off with a podcast than a viral video!

Okay, that's a lot more controversial than I usually get. It's almost as bad as my statement that self-help gurus really need to learn how to create products first before they teach it! So I guess I better explain. The first one, not the second... I'll leave the latter to other articles.

So why is a podcast just as good as a viral video?

First off, what's so great about a viral video? And more importantly what is a viral video? To answer the last question first -- a viral video is a video that has gone viral, Duh! Okay, let's explain a little further. To go viral means that the product (video, audio, blog, eBook, whatever) has so touched the audience that they start forwarding it to their friends. Who, in turn, forward it to their friends. Like a virus it spreads out exponentially.

So what's so great about them? The answer is simple. It's seen by a lot of people. Some of whom might click through and check out your site, where you can collect their emails and engage them in a conversation. Hey, you might even be able to sell to them someday!

However, that's also why a viral video isn't as good as a podcast. A viral video is seen by a lot of people -- once! And only once! It's a fad that will in time burn down. Think of the last viral video that you viewed. Who was it by? Unless you just watched it just before you started reading this article, chances are you've already forgotten. Viral videos have no staying power. Without repetition, little is gained by each viewing.

Viral videos focus on quantity over quality. Be seen by a large number of people and at least a few will click through to your site. You hope.

Podcasts on the other hand are repeating products. Not only do they show up but they repeatedly put your name and voice in front of your customer. This repetition improves retention and makes a click through far more likely.

Podcasts also provide repeated exposures to your customer. Bluntly the customer learns to like you long before they bother to click through. As a result your sales percentage and opt-in percentages will both exceed that of a viral video. Podcasts are more than just a traffic tool. They are a sales tool.

Of course, nothing is preventing your podcasts from going viral. Although in reality, it is a lot less likely it will. In which case, you'll see some of the same issues arising. Although because a podcast is repeating by nature, you will see less of a loss in your sales and opt-in percentages.

Finally, there is one big advantage to a podcast. Most videos are limited in length. YouTube only allows a maximum ten minutes of video. But podcasts can be as long (or as short) as you wish! So you can say more, inform more and sell more.

View the original article here