An article in the NY Times tells us How to Start a Company (and Kiss Like Angelina). It's well written by Julie Creswell, but it wasn't what I expected.
It's all about a media company called Howcast.com. They have a library of over 10,000 videos on how to do anything - put on suntan lotion, kiss like Angelina, how to survive a bear attack - you name it, they've video cast it.
Big companies place ads or products into these clips that can be posted on YouTube, or all over the Net. This translates into a good media marketing service on many levels. But there's a big lesson here for everyone who wants to do business online.
Here's the content marketing take-away: the number one reason people use the Internet is to get information. Second reason is to be entertained. If you want to start a company, really, figure out what problems you can solve.
Then go onto the Web and produce content everywhere designed to help people. It doesn't matter how you do it, but do it several ways in several places: blog posts, website pages, articles, e-newsletters, Facebook, Twitter, podcasts, AND video clips.
But the first thing to do is discover the need that you can fulfill for your customers. Next would be to brand it, find a clever name that is clear. Then go online to build massive visibility. Become findable.
The biggest item on my to-do list this week is to do 3 video clips explaining how to write content that markets your services and products on the Web. Not how to write copy that sells. How to write copy that helps readers and viewers solve their customers' problems.
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Exactly, Patsi. If people are coming to the Web looking for how-to information and/or entertainment, then the question is not "How do I SELL to them?" but, "How do I INTERCEPT them by offering info/entertainment they want?" The sale evolves from that starting point.
Posted by: Jonathan Kranz | July 13, 2009 at 08:41 AM
I think people are still overlooking the great advantages that videos possess. Many people don't want to trawl through paragraphs of text, they want it already done for them in a form they can just sit back and absorb the information. Thanks for the link Patsi I'll be sure to take a look at this.
Posted by: Jenny Pilley | July 14, 2009 at 02:26 AM
Found you via AllTop and glad I did, since HOW TO is a topic I think more need to use.
Posted by: JNFerree | July 17, 2009 at 10:37 AM