Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/363800
ompetition in the skin care industry is not slowing down. It is more important than ever to stand out, especially online where potential clients are searching. Adding videos is an incredibly effective— and surprisingly easy—way to boost your marketing efforts. Videos add the human effect to your website, making a potential client feel like he or she really knows you. We all know people do business with people they like and trust. Videos are also easy to share. Create a video once, and it will be out there working for you forever (or until you remove it). Estheticians, like many other small business owners, often think video marketing will be too expensive or too difficult. You may be surprised at how simple it can be. One member of Associated Skin Care Professionals, Gloria Goodman of GG Skin Therapy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has received more than 18,000 views on the videos she recorded using her iPhone, and gained new clients as a result. Here's how to start creating videos that will be seen and acted upon— bringing in new clients and inspiring your current ones. Do It Yourself Don't get hung up on making your videos look perfect. Minor mess-ups make you come across as a real person and can increase the viewer's trust compared to an obviously professional, studio-produced video. I recommend starting with short videos (1–3 minutes). This is not only easier for you, but planning a video around this time limit will also motivate you to get to the point fast. In today's attention-deficit society, short videos are the ones that hold viewers' attention long enough to make an impression and get them to take action. Things You'll Need There's no need to purchase a video camera. Smartphone cameras take high quality videos, so use your phone (or borrow a friend's). Several also have a front camera that allows you to see yourself on the screen so you can check your background, lighting, and position. The second essential item is a tripod. This eliminates the shakiness of a handheld camera, creating a much better quality video. Large or small tripods designed for smartphones are available, or buy a phone holder that will attach to any camera tripod. You may also want earbuds that come with a microphone and volume control. Did you know you can use the volume control on your phone's earbuds to take photos in camera mode, or to start/stop the video in video mode? This will make the recording process easier, and the earbud microphone will make you sound better. 1. Before recording your video, check YouTube's search feature to help you decide on a good title. Go to YouTube, type in a few keywords related to your topic, and let YouTube suggest what videos you might be looking for. That's what others are looking for when they search with those keywords. Does it accurately describe the video you're planning? 2. Using keywords from your title within your video will help you move up in the Google search rankings. If the title is "How Microdermabrasion Works," then you should say those words multiple times in your video (in a natural way, of course). "I'm going to show you how microdermabrasion works." "Microdermabrasion works really well for clients who …" "Now that you know how microdermabrasion works …" 3. Use the video's title as the file name when you save it. This helps your video rank well in the search engines. 4. Put your website link into the YouTube video description field. Also include a description of the video (using keywords from the title), your business name and address, and any other contact details you want to include. 5. YouTube's tags help users find your video. Add tags based on your keywords, and tag each video with your business name, too. 6. When you embed the video on your website, include a written description of what's in the video. This helps both your website users and your search engine ranking. 7. Share the video on your social media sites. 8. Share a link to the video in your email marketing. 9. Anywhere you post your video, encourage your viewers to share it! 10. Pay attention to what you click and watch online, and what others are sharing. This will help you learn what sort of titles and topics are the most eye-catching.