True Life Stories

I read the blog post below earlier today, and it sums up exactly how I feel -- and what I KNOW to be true -- about videos and marketing. In fact, you don't even need to hire a professional to make a good story video. What you do need is this: 


Be authentic. 
Tell a story. 
Offer something compelling (NOT a sale or a deal or a promotion but INFORMATION!). 
Be emotional. 
Make relational connections. 
Connect the dots/explain something. 
Show your expertise in whatever it is that you do. 


I am so excited about the potential of video in marketing, because it helps you bear the heart and soul of what you do. It helps you explain what motivates you. It helps you tell the stories of your clients. It helps you gain more supporters to your cause. It helps you BE REAL. And right now it's still unique.


Just one case study about how well videos work: Our church showed a video tour of an orphanage in Africa the week before our special Easter offering to build a new orphanage. The goal was to raise $5,000. The video showed how small the space was, the mattresses crammed onto the floors with small bags of clothing for "dressers," no kitchen, one very small common living space for dining/Bible study/living area and crude outdoor toilets. The offering came in at $9,000! Praise God for video! Amen!


I just finished my first real video projects for Lifegate International. Afterward, I realized right away what I could and will do better next time. But they definitely help tell a story. Let me know what you think. There are four videos posted right now at lifegateinafrica.org. 


And here's more about videos and why they're useful: http://info.storytellermn.com/blog/bid/142141/inside-video-production-why-real-video-stories-work?source=Blog_Email_[Inside%20Video%20Product]. Read this if you want insight to a fast-growing segment of online marketing and how you can do it the right way!

Social Marketing Etiquette

I get frustrated when I see small businesses exclusively using social media and even email marketing to announce sales, offer coupons, boast of deals, etc. 


The 80/20 rule is that social media should be 80 percent non-promotional. What you post -- the type of content -- should be consistent with your brand. So if all you ever do is desperately ask your audience, friends and clientele to spend money that's ALL you're known for. Congratulations, you've just branded yourself. Sadly, you might brand yourself right out of your business, because that's NOT why people tune in on social media.  (Unless your small business is a coupon blog!)


Guess what else? People will tune you out and turn you off if everything you do appears self-promoting. Congratulations, you just lost fans and potential business. Because if it looks or smells like an ad, it just went in the garbage. And because you sound like a broken record. Desperate. Uncaring about the relationship, which is really what matters when it comes to connecting on social media. 


What else can turn off people from your social media posts and email newsletters? Stock photos and graphics and flashy images that look like....ads. 


Marketing isn't advertising. Marketing is relationship-building and storytelling. Marketing is editorial. 


Keep tuning in! I'll be publishing tips on how you can tell stories, build relationships and keep your clients and potential customers tuned in!