Online Video Bigger than Social Media?

I had the privilege to take part in an online webinar this morning about social media and YouTube. I want to thank Kaila at Missing Link for the opportunity. The speaker on YouTube make a rather interesting comment about the platform and about the medium that I’m passionate about.

80% of US internet users use social networks (Facebook etc) but 86% of internet users in the US watch online video.

I want you to think about that at the moment. I know its only 6% but that 6% is lots of people, and for those of you in New Zealand, where I live, this is very exciting. Why? Because as a nation we have traditionally lagged behind the US online, because of this we can learn trends before they hit the beaches and we can be prepared.

By prepared I mean this, businesses can have a strategy and an understanding of online video, its processes and its winning strategies before the mass market in this country start to match the US.

As part of this seminar series on Social Media there was a panel discussion featuring Best Buy, Whole Foods and Home Depot. They were all using Twitter, Facebook and YouTube but when I checked out the Home Depot YouTube page I found something very interesting, simple, from the heart videos from staff members talking about products in store that you might consider for time of year and home maintenance jobs. These videos were not over produced big budget productions but real, put-a-face-to-a-big-company type videos with honest information.

I think to often people get caught up in the time and cost aspect of online video. It does not need to be expensive. If your willing to do the video yourself the simple solution to getting yourself online today with online video is this.

  1. Start a YouTube account
  2. Buy a Flip Cam
  3. Talk about things you love, what your good at or share something about your industry that I might not know
  4. Post it to YouTube – give is a descriptive title and write a short amount of text to explain your video
  5. If people comment then engage them, talk back and ask their thoughts

Now for most people this might seam daunting but for under $500 you can be talking directly to the entire world, about things you love, in a format that’s gaining more and more momentum.

I would love to hear from you, your comments, your thoughts, on social media and online video, what it means for you and any struggles you might have.

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