How To Create A Promo Video For Your Online Course

The marketing campaign that works most effectively for your particular course will be heavily dependent on the subject of your course as well as your intended audience however, regardless of who you're looking to enroll in your course, there's one marketing truth that can boost your efforts that is video marketing. It's one of the best ways to reach and engage people on the internet.

If you're new to video, the idea may be a daunting task, but don't worry! With the right tools, and some direction it is possible to create videos that precisely reflect your course and capture the attention of your target audience. Before we begin, let's examine the essence of video marketing and why it's become such a valuable device.

  What is video marketing?

Video marketing involves using videos in your marketing. That's it! It's super simple and extremely successful. It's extremely simple and highly effective. promo video is a specific video designed for marketing a specific event, product such as an offer or event and, in the case of your the case of an online course. They are typically shorter (ours typically last around 15 seconds) and are designed with only one primary goal in attracting prospective students for instance.

Sincere it's not a new concept to use video in marketing. People have been using video for a long time. The thing that makes the current landscape of marketing different isn't necessarily new technology for video, but it's the social media. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat--these are the social media platforms which give an (relatively) innovative way for people to share thoughts and keep in touch. As all of the social networks are available in apps that can be downloaded on smartphones and tablets, people are able to access them and from any location. That means your course has the potential to maintain a constant connection with your targeted audience.

  How has social media changed the landscape of video marketing?

As well as revolutionizing the ways individuals interact and with each other, social media has altered the way that you can connect with the audience you're trying to reach. Unlike television or radio the social media channel is never completely off. In addition, the quantity of potential customers that video marketing through social media has the potential to get to is immense. Consider this:

• Based on Statista, 78 percent of the people in America has a profile on social networks. United States has a social networking profile.
• At the time of writing, December 31, 2015, more than 59 billion users are on Facebook. Of those 1.59 billion, 1.4 billion are actively using the platform on their mobile devices.
• Instagram boasts 400 million users at the time of writing in September 2015.
• Though less popular in comparison to Facebook and Instagram, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest along with Snapchat all boast over 100 million users.

  Does the value video marketing can bring more than the time and effort to produce it?

The quick answer is an unquestionable yes. For the long answer Let's look first at how your audience may be well-received by your video marketing efforts:

• When you make videos with high-quality content, you can actually make an emotional connection to your class's intended audience members. Videos may bring out the features of the brand that are in tune with your target audience, those who view your videos may feel like they are familiar with your brand more than if they were to go through the same content in written format. This is crucial if your course extends 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 will present your message in an easily comprehendible manner that combines the sound and visual elements, which makes the message more memorable.
• Utilizing video marketing could boost the likelihood of viewers to purchase what you are promoting, which means people are more likely to enrol for your online training.

Although engagement with your target audience members is certainly the goal of all videos but it's also essential to examine the technical aspect of video marketing to see the best way to achieve participation. After all, you can't make a lasting impression on people when they aren't seeing the content you've created. These are some ways that video marketing could add even more value to the promotion of your course by getting your content in front of a larger amount of viewers:

• People are prone to sharing content they like through social media. video content is a simple way for them to share your message. If you make video content for marketing that is beneficial for your audience They will be enticed to share your content with their family, friends, and professional networks--and they will more likely sign up for your online course.
• As video marketing doesn't need costly equipment or a lot of editing It can also be used to market your products in real-time (it's more efficient to produce videos than some blog posts!). Believe it or not, you can create a marketing video and post it in minutes (not hours) This implies that you are able to continuously make video marketing content that is relevant, interesting, and engaging. The result is content that people will share.

  Can video marketing keep your course relevant?

Aside from all of the advantages of using video marketing we've discussed, there's one quite important reason to add the use of video marketing in your promotion strategy is a good concept: relevance.

With the advancement of technology in the past, businesses must keep pace in order to be relevant in the eyes of the people they want to reach. Video marketing is only the latest step in a long string of technological advances and tactics for marketing. In fact, Cisco predicts that video content will comprise 69% of Internet traffic from consumers in 2017, and Nielsen estimates that 64% professionals expect that video will become the mainstay of marketing strategies.

  Below are the steps I take to put together promotional video:  

  STEP ONE: PLAN  

It is essential to establish an idea of what you want to accomplish before investing the time to create the video.

• Determine the purpose that your content will achieve. What actions do you wish viewers to do when they watch your video? Note it down! Make sure you are clear before proceeding any further
• What kind of content will you require for your video? List specific images or video clips that you would like to add.
• What kind of text do you wish to add? Provide specific promotion or event information, coupons codes or calls-to-action.

  STEP TWO PRODUCE  

This is where most people are stuck due to insufficient tech knowledge. You don't need technology skills anymore! We make all of our promo videos on our smartphones.

• Decide where 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 games are Quik, Legend, Stop Motion, Flipagram, Ripl and Boomerang. Some are paid, some are free. Some even provide templates meaning you don't need to "design" everything. If you're not tech-savvy you should try Flipagram initially since it's a easy slideshow.
• Add your pictures as well as text into your application of choice. Only use your own images or images that you own the rights to make use of. Do not steal images from Google!
• Want music? There are apps that have built-in musical beds that create amazing sound effects for your videos. However, keep in mind that the majority of the songs you have in your iTunes library come with copyrights. That means you can face fines if you embed them in your videos with no license to use the clip. (i.e. it is possible to be sued and your sound could be blocked, or your post could be removed on social media, gaaaahhh!) My favorite place to purchase sounds or music is Audio Jungle.
• When you're done when you're done, save the footage to your camera roll or send it out directly from the application.

Remember that, if you plan to upload your video to Instagram you must make sure that it is between three and sixty seconds in length. Be aware that attention spans are limited... so keep your video shorter.

If you wish for your video to look good across all devices, go with a square crop. This way, nobody needs to switch their phones to watch the video.

Here is an example of a video for promoting a course that I shared on Instagram (about 15 second):

  STEP 3: PROMOTE  

• Post your video on your social media platforms by adding a brief text message and an URL. Inform your followers what to do. (i.e. increase the impact of your video's call-to action)
• Include the video on your YouTube channel and embed it in blog articles, guest posts in other blog sites, etc.
• Include the video in your email marketing.

  Ready to make a promo video to promote your online course?  

Promo videos are a proven way to boost enrollment in courses. When using the apps that are listed above, they are easier than you think. Try it out and see the engagement on your social media increase!

If you have any concerns about creating a promo video to promote your online course please leave them in the comments section below. You can also download my Video Plan Worksheet to aid you in planning your next video!

Julie Ball is the Founder of Grow Web Marketing, a marketing company that assists women entrepreneurs build their business, their brand, and their brand. To learn how to create high quality videos for your business without spending money, you can take the course she teaches Easy Video Marketing for Small Businesses.