www.remodeling.hw.net/marketing/how-to-create-a-youtube-channel-for-your-business.aspxYou’ve had your company’s website up and running for years, and maybe you have a blog, a Facebook page, and you even tweet from time to time. But if you aren’t actively filming videos and putting them online, you’re missing a unique, personal way to engage with clients and prospects.
Last year the Internet video channel YouTube had 48 hours of video loaded per minute and a total of 3 billion views a day, and among those videos are quite a few from remodeling pros.
Whether it’s a customer testimonial, an instructional video, a slide show of various projects, or even just the owner and staff showing a little of their personality, remodelers have decided that they are indeed ready for their close-up.
Meadowview Construction, in Georgetown, Mass., has its own presence on YouTube with almost 60 videos. “I’ve maintained a YouTube channel for about five years,” says company president David West. “I can’t determine if it has made me money or not. It hasn’t hurt though.”
West says that he typically uses his iPhone to record videos when he’s out in the field; Tony Szak, owner of Empire Development & Construction, in Onalaska, Wis., uses an inexpensive flip camera. “The only thing it’s cost me is my time,” Szak says, adding that YouTube has been a great marketing tool for his company. “If people are looking at my channel, they’re going to see my commercial that explains what my company does, and that’s what it’s all about.”
What Works
Empire Development’s most popular video, with more than 9,000 views, is a concrete bar top that was part of a commercial remodel of an Irish pub. However, Szak says he’s gone back to adjust the videos’ labels and tags so he could easily be found by his potential customers. “Four months ago I started tweaking my channel so the video names were legitimate and would show up in Web searches,” he says, adding that he thinks YouTube is underused in the remodeling arena. “I guess I could make a video of how to use YouTube better!” he says.
With more than 90,000 views, a slide show showing the construction of a tree house has proven to be the most popular on Meadowview’s channel. “We get the most hits on things that are more instructional,” he says. “Having the words ‘how to’ seems to do pretty well, but I can’t say that it has helped me build my brand. I have to believe that eventually these types of things will pay off and lead to referrals.”
According to a report sponsored by online magazine Social Media Examiner, 76% of companies surveyed plan to increase their video marketing efforts in 2012. Though you may not generate the half a billion views of a Justin Bieber video, your potential audience is endless — and you’ll have fun in the process.
—Mark A. Newman, senior editor, REMODELING.
More REMODELING articles about YouTube and marketing:
How to Create a YouTube Channel for Your Business — A step-by-step guide
Boost Video Search Rankings Using YouTube Keywords
Creating a Video for Your Business in Three Easy Steps
