Some Internet users prefer to experience a subject, product or service using video, as opposed to just reading it. Used wisely, online video can increase profits both directly and indirectly.

A Business has many options when presenting its capabilities online.  The first thing that comes to mind is a business’ website.  This means that when someone wants information about the business, or they want to see images or get telephone numbers, they can look to the business’ website.  More recently, companies have also been able to employ their Facebook fan page to serve the same purpose.  Both of these ways of communicating with customers online revolve around a website of some kind.

But a website is not the only effective way to communicate and interact with customers and prospective buyers.  An effective but often overlooked method is to use online video.   Some Internet users prefer to experience a subject, product or service using video, as opposed to just reading it. Not only is it ideal for the sake of your business to make sure that you are using video, but it will soon be a necessity for top companies to use.    Used wisely, online video can increase profits both directly and indirectly.

One of the best ways to leverage the use of video online is to use the free video sharing site, YouTube.com.  YouTube has become the standard for online video; more YouTube videos are watched than Google searches are conducted.   So while there are many ways to use video and many websites that use video, YouTube as the video tool is expected by customers, prospects and suppliers.  Most important to a small business is the fact that it does not cost anything to use the site to share video across the Internet.  As a result, YouTube is the most powerful medium for online video sharing on the Internet.

Small businesses can tap into YouTube’s power in a number of ways.  If you think about with whom a business must communicate—customers, prospects and suppliers—you will see some simple yet effective ways that video can be leveraged to increase profits.

Increased profits are often a function of getting more prospective buyers to see your product or service in a manner that is most comfortable for them to get all of the information they want.  Online video is an excellent way to show prospective buyers:

1)      From whom they are buying

2)      Product or service demos

3)      Testimonials from satisfied buyers or users

4)      The direct benefits they receive, communicated in a compelling way

There is a growing method of reaching prospective buyers and customers that merits more explanation.  Some businesses have been successful in having their YouTube videos found when Internet users are searching for a particular product or service.  This is a very smart and advanced way of using online video and search engine optimization to get a message in front of buyers who are at the point of decision making.

Beyond prospective buyers are the actual customers who purchase a product or service.  Routinely, these customers have questions about how to properly use that for which they have paid.  Online video is extremely effective when used this way because, again, in the case of YouTube, the service is free.  But secondly, it gives the buyer a sense of care and concern and can breed more loyalty for repeat sales.  Making sure that a customer knows how to use a product is vital in establishing a positive link to customers.

But positive links must also be forged with partners and suppliers, and these links can be enhanced when a company is successful in using online video.  As a small business owner, you can demonstrate exactly what your expectations are in terms of getting your supplies; as can your supplier.  There is no need for anything to be lost in the translation.

Providing ‘roadmaps’, ‘mind maps’ and ‘FAQs’ using video are extremely important in this sense.  This increases product and service quality. While it does not always have a direct bearing on bringing in more revenue, it does increase the likelihood that the buyer will have a positive experience with your company.   While all of these things can be done with written memos, the statistics indicate that people want to experience them in video.