I was working with a client that is a local golf course. Each month, I drop by and record video golf tips for the golf course with their golf instructor who’s reluctantly the star of the videos. It just so happens, he lives a double life as a web content creator, too.
Since he’s the star of these videos and I’m not a golf expert, I always ask him to come up with 8 video ideas we can post weekly. And each time I’ve shown up over the past 2 years he’s stump as to what he should talk about.
Did I mention he’s a web content writer?
A couple months ago I put it into terms he could understand… If you were a content writer for the golf course, what content would you write for the website? Video is just another way to get the information out there.
When I went back last month, he had ideas for days because he switched how he was thinking about it.
In the past, we’ve talked about using the CITES method to come up with any form of content you need whether that’s for your website or social media. Thinking about the intention behind the content is key whether that’s connecting, inspiring, teaching, entertaining or selling to your audience.
Another way of looking at it is to think of your marketing as a house with rooms. There should be several marketing strategies you’re implementing, NOT just social media. Your marketing home may include marketing activities around your website, public relations, networking, word-of-mouth, and social media.
Think of content as the electricity that lights up your house. If you don’t have that dialed in, none of the lights in your house will work. Your marketing should consist of a web content plan that is then repurposed for email marketing, blog posts, and social media.
When it comes to social media, there are several content types that can be repurposed from web content: photos, graphics, & videos.
With the changes happening with Instagram I talked about recently about video is dominating social media but not many are doing it so the iron is hot for striking.
Consumers trust people, not brands. Therefore, business owners need to think of themselves as personal brands and as a marketing tool. You can thank social media for that evolution.
Where is a good place to start when it comes to video content?
Here are a few starting points:
1) What are you frequently getting asked by customers? Website development best practices suggest an FAQ page always. If you already have this, this is great video content. If you don’t have this, take time and write down around 6-12
2) Record a day in the life video and show how your personal and work-life collide.
3) Tell a customer stories and the positive outcome brand provider. Make sure you get permission from the customer.
4) Product or service demos showing what it’s like to work with your brand
5) Point of view video or POV. This type of video is used to signify that the video that's being uploaded is from a particular person's point of view such as your view of a customer or interaction your brand had. Acting more than likely will be involved
6) Record a time lapse of working on your products and services. Most smartphones have this feature.
Back to the CITES method, you can also group your video content ideas in weekly social media categories Connect, Inspire, Teach, Entertain and Sell.
Here are the suggestions above in their proper CITES:
Connect: Day in the life
Inspire: Record a time
Teach: Product or service demos OR FAQs
Entertain: Point of View
Sell: Product or service demos with a call-to-action
Ready to take the next step and start thinking like a creator? On September 12, join me for a 3 day training “think like a creator” to get your head in the game and baby step you into short-form video creation.
The challenge is FREE but if you need an extra push? Join my VIP experience. The VIP experience receives a seat in the Zoom call and an extra hour of help each day to ask me anything plus a bonus training on September 19 at 3 pm Pacific. The cost is $19.