How To Create A Promo Video For Your Online Course

The strategy that will work most effectively for your particular course will be heavily dependent on the subject of your course and the target market you're targeting, however, regardless of who you're trying to enrol in your class, there's a fact that will help the effectiveness of your marketing campaign that is video marketing. It's one of the best ways to reach and engage with online users.

If you are new to video, this might seem out of reach--but don't worry! With the right tools, and an ounce of guidance it is possible to create videos that accurately represent your course and capture the interest of your targeted audience. Let's explore the essence of video marketing and how it has become useful device.

  What exactly is video marketing?

Video marketing is using videos as part of your marketing. That's it! It's incredibly easy and successful. It's extremely simple and highly effective. promotional video is a type of video that has been designed for marketing a specific event, product, offer and, in the case of your - an online course. Promo videos are usually short (ours are usually around 15 seconds in length) and have only one primary goal on registering fresh students, as an example.

To be honest it's not a new concept to use video in marketing. People have been using video for years. What makes today's market different isn't necessarily new video technology, it's social media. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat--these are all social media sites that give a (relatively) innovative means for people to exchange thoughts and keep in touch. Because all of the social networks are available in apps that can be downloaded on phones and tablets, users are able to access them at any time and anywhere. This means that your program has the possibility to maintain a constant connection to your intended group.

  How has social media changed the landscape of video marketing?

In addition to revolutionizing how people communicate with each other, social media has changed the way that you can communicate with members of the audience you're trying to reach. In contrast to radio or television the social media channel is never inactive. Furthermore, the amount of users that video advertising through social media has the capacity to be able to reach is astounding. Think about it:

• According to Statista Statista, 78 percent of people living in the United States has a social network profile.
• At the time of writing, December 31, the year 2015 has seen 59 billion people are active on Facebook. From the 1.59 billion users, 1.4 billion are actively making use of the platform via their smartphones.
• Instagram boasts 400 million active users at the time of writing in September 2015.
• While smaller than Facebook and Instagram, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest along with Snapchat each boast at least 100 million active users.

  Is the value that video marketing brings worth the energy it takes to make it?

The short answer is an unquestionable yes. To get the full answer we'll first consider why your course's target audience may be well-received by the video marketing strategies you employ:

• When you make videos with high-quality content they can build a connection that is emotional with your course's target participants. Videos can bring out brand attributes that really resonate with your target audience, and people who watch your video may think that they have a better understanding of your brand than they would if they take the information in written format. This is crucial when your course is an extension of the business you run.
• Video is easier for people to consume than text. Because it provides a visual element that people can focus at, video advertising can communicate your message in an easily digestible way that incorporates both audio and sight, making the message more memorable.
• Utilizing video marketing could boost the likelihood of viewers to purchase what is promoted. This means that they are more likely to enrol for your online course.

In the event that engagement with targeted audience members is certainly the goal of all video marketing campaigns but it's also essential to examine the technical aspect of marketing via video to determine the best way to achieve participation. It's true that you won't create a relationship with your audience if they don't see your content. Here are some of the ways video marketing can add even more value to the promotion of your course by getting your content to a greater quantity of individuals:

• People are prone to sharing content that they find interesting via social media. video content is a simple means for them to spread your message. If you produce video marketing content that provides value to the people who are your customers and they'll be eager to share the videos with their friends, family, and professional networks--and they will be more likely to sign up for your online training course.
• Because video marketing doesn't require expensive equipment or extensive editing It can also be used to promote your business in real time (it's much faster to make videos than certain blog posts!). Believe it or not, it's possible to create a promotional video that you can post within minutes (not hours) which means that you can continually create video marketing content which is interesting, relevant, and engaging. This results in content users will want to take to social media and share.

  Can video marketing keep your course relevant?

Apart from the advantages of using video marketing we've mentioned, there's another essential reason for why incorporating videos to your school's promotion strategy is a good concept: relevance.

With the advancement of technology throughout the years, companies are required to stay on top of the latest developments in order to stay relevant in the eyes of the people they want to reach. Video marketing is one more stage in the long line of technology advancements and marketing tactics. Actually, Cisco predicts that video will account for 69% of consumer internet traffic by 2017, and Nielsen estimates that 64% experts expect video to be a fundamental aspect of marketing strategies.

  Here are the steps I follow when putting together promotional videos:  

  STEP ONE: PLAN  

It's important to have a plan in place before you spend any time producing the video.

• Choose the objective that your content will achieve. What actions do you wish your viewers to take when they watch your video? Make a note of it! Make sure you are clear before proceeding further
• What is the content you'll need to include in your video? Include specific photos or video videos you'd like to incorporate.
• What text do you want to include? Provide specific promotion or event information, coupons codes, or call-to-action.

  STEP TWO: PRODUCE  

It's where the majority of people get stuck because of insufficient tech knowledge. You don't need tech skills anymore! We make all of our promo videos on smartphones.

• Select the best place to create the video. Make use of one of our top apps to make a stunning video in 5 minutes or less. The top five iPhone video apps are Quik, Legend, Stop Motion, Flipagram, Ripl and Boomerang. Certain are free, while others are completely free. Most even have templates which means you do not have to "design" any thing. If you're not tech-savvy Try Flipagram at first, as it's easy slideshow.
• Upload your photos and text in your app that you prefer. Only use your own images or images that you own the right to use. Don't steal images off of Google!
• Want music? Some apps have built-in music beds that can transform your video into a stunning sound. But just remember that most of the songs you have in your iTunes library have copyrights. This means that you could face penalties if you use the songs in your video without a permit to use the clip. (i.e. you could get sued and your sound could be censored, and your music may be banned from social media - gaaaahhh!) My top place to purchase audio or sound effects is the Audio Jungle.
• After you've finished, save the video to your camera roll, or upload it to directly via the app.

Remember that if you are planning to share your video on Instagram, it must be between three and sixty seconds in length. Remember though that attention spans can be short... thus ensure that your video is brief.

Also, if you want your video to look good across all devices, go to a square-cut crop. This way, nobody is required to flip their phone to watch the video.

Here's an example of a video for promoting a course which I posted on Instagram (about fifteen seconds):

  STEP 3 STEP THREE: PROMOTE  

• Share your video on your social media platforms by adding a brief text message and an URL. Inform your followers what to do. (i.e. to reinforce the video's call-to-action)
• Include the video on your YouTube channel and incorporate it into blog posts, guest post in other blog sites, or in guest posts.
• Make use of the video when you are email marketing.

  Are you ready to create a promo video to advertise your course online?  

Promo videos are an effective way to grow course enrolment. Utilizing the applications mentioned above, they are easier than you think. Give it a try and watch your social media engagement skyrocket!

If you have any questions about creating a promo video to promote your online course you can leave them in the comment section below. Download my Video Planning Worksheet to aid you in planning your next video!

Julie Ball is the Founder of Grow Web Marketing, a marketing firm that aids female entrepreneurs grow their business as well as their image and brand themselves. If you want to learn how to produce video content of high-quality for your business without spending a fortune, check out the course she teaches Easy Video Marketing for Small Businesses.