If a picture is worth a thousand words, what’s a video worth? A whole lot when it comes to your company’s website! Adding video content to your local business’s site can actually make a big difference in the effectiveness of your Internet presence, helping you convert more site visitors into paying customers. The simple truth is that most people don’t want to do business with a website—they want to do business with a real person. And adding a short video to your site is the best way to let prospective customers know a little about yourself, your company, and why you love doing what you do. It’s essentially a way for website visitors to meet you… The video establishes a more personal relationship between you and the potential client and can actually encourage them to pick up the phone and give you call! Isn’t Video Hard? Making a video may have been hard back in the day, but today almost anyone with a digital camera or web cam can make a short video perfect for uploading to your website. The best place to start is by filming a brief introduction to you and your company. Keep it short—around 30 seconds—and just say a little about who you are as a business. This helps put a face on your company, adding in that personal touch that will convince more site visitors to contact you. Keep in mind that when you’re making a video clip for your website most people don’t actually want a polished-looking commercial. The more amateur your video looks, the more authentic and personal it will feel. That said, you do need to be able to convey your message clearly, so don’t make these mistakes that can make your video virtually unwatchable:

• Shaky filming. A tripod will quickly eliminate this issue.
• Too many distractions. Keep the background and setting, as well as your outfit, relatively neutral. This will help viewers focus on your message not on everything going on behind you or on what you’re wearing.
• Poor lighting. Excessive light will wash you out, while backlighting will make it impossible to actually see you. Opt for good light from above and from the front and you should be fine.

Video Helps Your Local Business Get Ahead A few minutes of your time is all it takes to create a short video, and you’ll be amazed at the response you’ll get when you add the clip to your website. An easy way to convert more site visitors into callers and then customers, video can help your local business get a leg up on the competition. Learn more about effective Internet advertising for local companies and how video can help by calling Prospect Genius today. We’re here to help small, local businesses utilize the web to the utmost advantage, and we want to help you get ahead. Contact us now for more information!