Friday, August 28, 2009

Video Know How To Generate Traffic

Today, I’m bringing you Part-2 of Article - Generating Website Traffic With Automated Video Submissions by
Willie Crawford


In Part 2 Willie, covers how to format and submit your videos in a way that gives you a strong competitive edge.

If you missed Part- 1 of the article, you can find it at: Generating Website Traffic With Automated Video Submissions
(Part 1)


Generating Website Traffic With Automated Video Submissions
(Part 2)
Copyright 2009 by Willie Crawford


In part-1 of this article we looked at the fact that you
begin a video by identifying it's purpose and then by
identifying the proper keywords to target.

Let's continue by looking at the format. Video sharing
sites accept many different video formats but some are
accepted more than others. For example, many of the
more popular sites won't allow you to upload flash files.

You are relatively safe if you go with .avi, .mpeg or
.wmv although it's also fairly easy to convert your
videos to multiple formats with most video editing
software.

Also many video sharing sites limit you to uploading
files no larger than 100meg. So, convert your file to
the different formats, and see which gives you the
best quality compression, and also confirm that the
sound quality is not distorted.

I use, and encourage using automated video submission
software. I upload a video once to Easy Push Button
Traffic, select the sites that I want to submit to, and
let the server-based software do the tedious part. If the
video is in the most commonly accepted format, it will be
accepted by practically all of the sites.

Note: You should only submit your videos to sites that
are appropriate, and in the categories that are
appropriate. Doing otherwise is very likely to just get
your account canceled by the video sharing sites.

You also want to keep your videos relatively short.
Sites like YouTube limit a video to 10 minutes in
length. Your viewers also often have very short attention
spans - another reason keeping your video short is a
good idea. You need to learn to keep your message succinct
and then issue a call to action.

At the end of the video, you always want to tell your
viewer what to do next. You can do that with a final
screen that has the url to your target site, along
with instructions telling them to visit now.

Flash videos actually allow you to physically,
automatically redirect your viewers, but sites such
as YouTube won't accept flash videos.

Let's back up for a minute and look at your video's
title. It must promise a benefit for watching, contain
your target keywords, and be enticing. If your title
doesn't grab the viewers' attention and get them to
watch the video, nothing else really matters. So do
spend a lot of time crafting your titles.

Also spend a lot of time crafting your descriptions
that you will enter at the video sharing sites. The
description should contain your url at the very
beginning, to include the http:// This will make
your link clickable, and many people will click
through to your site right from the description. That
IS what you want isn't it?

That description should contain your target, long-tail
keywords. You also will enter these long-tail keywords
in as "tags" at sites that use tags. Tags are essentially
the same as keywords. Someone entering a tag or keyword
term into a search box at a video sharing site are more
likely to find your video if you target the proper
keywords.

I'm assuming that you already know how to record your
videos. However, you can use anything from Camtasia
(screen capture video), to PowerPoint presentations,
to simple videos recorded with your Flip camera. It
depends upon your purpose in making the video.

As an example, many of the videos that I create are
intended to sell a piece of software. When selling
software, one of the objections that you have to
overcome is the fear the customer has that he won't
be able to use the software.

Your customer may believe that the software does all
of the things mentioned on your webpage, and that
it's easy for more technical people. However, they
may not believe that they can do it. That's where a
Camtasia video of you actually using the software
comes it. It proves beyond a shadow of a doubt how
easy the software is to use, shows how the software
actually works, and even shows how fast using the
software is.

Remember, you need to keep that video to 10 minutes
or less. If you need more than 10 minutes to do your
demonstration video, break it up into 10-minutes or
less segments.

After you've created the videos, you need to decide
where to submit them. The reality is that fewer than
two dozen video sharing sites get the majority of
the traffic, so those are the ones that you need to
submit to. I mentioned in Part-1 of this article
that I use http://EasyPushButtonTraffic.com They
submit to all of the most significant sites, and
they submit in a fashion that gets the videos
accepted and displayed. They are also very
inexpensive and allow you to submit an unlimited
number of videos each month.

Most of the other sites that I've looked at allow you
to submit up to a certain limit each month, and if
you are in a very competitive niche, you may need
to submit more.

I also like to post my videos to my blogs. My blogs
are configured to automatically notify Twitter when
I post, so my Twitter followers instantly come to
check out my latest video.

My Twitter account is configured to automatically
post to FaceBook and Squidoo, so my audience on
those very popular sites are also notified whenever
I post a new video.

The popular video sharing sites get millions of
visitors and your properly submitted, search engine
optimized videos will be found by these people if
you followed the tips already covered in parts 1
and 2 of this article.

Now, it's time to get busy creating and submitting
those videos. Before you know it, submitting videos
using an automated video submission service such
as Easy Push Button Traffic will be one of your
favorite, very effective ways of generating free
website traffic.

------------------

Willie Crawford is a website traffic generation expert.
He often distributes content (articles, videos, podcasts,
and press releases) to generate highly targeted website
traffic. To do that efficiently he uses the automated
submission service at http://EasyPushButtonTraffic.com

-------------------

Much success to creating and submitting your articles to generate free website traffic!

Christine Range

Thursday, August 27, 2009

How To Use Video Marketing To Generate Traffic

If you are into video and viral marketing, heres a terrific article by Willie Crawford that focuses on how to use videos and submit them to multiple video sharing sites, in your marketing.


Generating Website Traffic With Automated Video Submissions
(Part 1)
Copyright 2009 by Willie Crawford

It's no secret that the right videos, submitted to the right
places, can generate millions of views.

It's no secret that the search engines love video and are
constantly crawling video sharing sites. You can often get
a top 10 ranking for a keyword, using video, in under an
hour.

Let's look at some of the keys to getting some of that
great traffic using videos.

One of the first things that you'll notice is that in a
lot of niches, tons of people are discovering video.
That means that you need to create and submit more videos,
and you need to submit them to more places. If you don't
used an automated submission service, that can be very
tedious, and tie up your computer for hours on end.

As you prepare to create your videos, you need to begin
by asking what is it that you want to accomplish. More
specifically, what do you want your viewers to do after
they finish watching a given video?

After you identify the goal of the video, you need to
actually map it out on a "storyboard." What will be in
each frame, and what will the audio say?

If your video is being created using a tool such as
Camtasia (screen capture software) then you also want to
script it. You don't want to leave any element of your
video to chance. You don't want any little thing
detracting from accomplishing your goal.

If you practice the script and are very familiar with it,
even if you read it, it will sound natural to many viewers.

Speaking of sound, having high-quality audio is one of
the most important elements of a good video. Having
understandable audio, recorded at the right level is
actually more important than the quality of the picture.

The way to get great sounding audio is to 1) use a quality
microphone, and 2) don't put the mike too close to your
mouth. You also need to be in a quiet place when you make
the recording.


Those are some technical tips for creating a good video that
will generate lots of traffic and perhaps even go viral.

Let's look at one other slightly technical issue that you
absolutely must consider. Your video must target the
right keywords. That is, the title and description that
you enter at the video sharing sites must use terms that
your ideal customers are using when searching for your
topic.

It would probably be worthwhile to spend some time using
a tool such as the Google AdWords External Tool to
confirm EXACTLY what terms people are searching on
related to your product or service. You'll find that
free tool at:
https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

While researching using the Google External Keyword
Tool, look not only at the number of searches done each
month on a term, but also at the competition. Often you
can get an instant number-1 ranking for less competitive
terms that can still send you a worthwhile amount of
traffic - and these people are buyers actually looking
for very specific brands, etc. Those "long-tail
keywords" are worth their weight in gold when you notice
ones that your competitors haven't.

In part-2 of this article, we'll look at formatting and
submitting your videos in a way that runs circles around
your competitors. For now, start jotting down notes for
a few videos that you will make and use in your website
traffic generation efforts.

--------------

Willie Crawford is a website traffic generation expert.
He often distributes content (articles, videos, podcasts,
and press releases) to generate highly targeted website
traffic. To do that efficiently he uses the automated
submission service at http://EasyPushButtonTraffic.com

--------------
Tomorrow you can find Part-2 of Willie's article here. So check back in!

Christine Range

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Business Funding Network Helps Entrepreneurs Raise Money

Funding Universe is just one of the latest methods many entrepreneurs are using to help raise money for their business during these tough economic times.

Business credit services and business lines of credit which traditionally assisted prospective entrepreneurs with their financing needs for start-up – seed money; or existing small businesses in need of infusion capital for strategic growth continues to be difficult to access in today’s financial market.

Where Are Small Business Entrepreneurs Turning To Raise Money For Business?
Lack of accessible business financing from banks seems to have given rise to more Funding Networks cropping up to fill this gap and entrepreneurs, small and medium sized businesses appear to be lining up to tap into this funding source.

Funding Networks are comprised of private, high net-worth individual investors who generally invest anywhere from $50,000 to $2 million in various sized businesses.
In the past, these investors (often referred to as Angel or Venture Capital “VC” investors) primarily infused their funds into existing companies, seeking to raise money who had products and services currently in the marketplace.

Recently, some Funding Networks are encouraging and steering more start-up businesses to seek money raising through Angel and Venture Capital avenues. Gauging whether this direction is being taken due to increased investor philanthropic interest is yet to be determined.

However what is known is many, if not most of the private investors found in Funding Network databases were formerly entrepreneurs themselves who had groundbreaking business ideas coupled with sound business management strategies and solid business plans. These investors are in the position to not only offer financing options but also valuable business expertise.

Adding to philanthropic interest for making more funds available through angel and venture capital investors is understanding the need to stimulate the economy by pumping money into the business marketplace. One of the fastest ways to fulfill that need is by supporting and facilitating small businesses with the capability to start buying more products and services from one another.

What Makes Funding Networks Appealing To Business Entrepreneurs?
While Angel and VC business financing is being more apparently advocated, make no mistake about it – this is not guaranteed financing and it is not easy to come by. Some industry experts even say it is easier to hit the mega-million lottery than to get funds from these sources.
Yet with that said, this same funding source is being made available to business entrepreneurs. Groups of private investors meet regularly to hear brief presentations, referred to as “speed pitches” from entrepreneurs seeking money and then, often, give money jointly to companies.

Herein lies the problem of why more businesses are not raising money utilizing Angel and Venture Capital funding sources-- most business entrepreneurs are ill-equipped on their own to meet the rigorous standards and degree of excellence required to tap into and receive the funds. Also, lack of knowledge of where to find these private investors presents a problem as well.

How To Find Angel and Venture Investors? Through Funding Networks and Angel Clubs...

One that is gaining high popularity is Funding Universe


Angel InvestorsAccording to their website, 98% of entrepreneurs fail to find funding and Angel Investors only fund 14% of the businesses they investigate.
—Center for Venture Research

3 Reasons Getting Funding Is Difficult For Most Entrepreners
1)Seek the wrong type of capital
2)Don't meet the specific requirements for that capital
3)have an inferior business plan, pro-forma financial statements, pitch, and investor contacts

Funding Network is appealing to entrepreneurs because they are designed to help entrepreneursunderstand the world of investing and how to best finance their ventures.

FundingUniverse connects qualified entrepreneurs with active VC's, angel investors and lending sources. In addition, FundingUniverse provides services to help entrepreneurs prepare for investment, such as helping them create compelling business plans and pitches, advising them on strategic business direction, and preparing them for investor scrutiny.

Entrepreneurs are introduced into a network of active investors who rely on FundingUniverse to bring them qualified investment opportunities. FundingUniverse enables investors to view and listen from the comfort of their home as qualified entrepreneurs pitch their ideas in written, video, and live formats. Funding Universe also provides live SpeedPitching events where entrepreneurs pitch investors in a fast-paced, high-energy format. These events provide the perfect opportunity to cultivate business opportunities between multiple investors and entrepreneurs.

While Angel and VC investor financing can be difficult to obtain - it is definitely worth the effort in raising money for businesses when you can take advantage of the resources ogffered by networks like Funding Universe.

Learn How Funding Universe Can Help Business Raise Money Here