Back in the US!

Wheeew baby! Mr Video is BACK! The trip to Baja was simply an amazing, once in a lifetime adventure that I have had the pleasure of doing TWICE! I shot a lot of video and had a ton of fun. I learned a few things too while on the dusty Mexican road. First, Margaritas taste best in Mexico on a beach. Second, broadband internet is not everywhere. Third, bring plenty of batteries. Fourth, dang sand gets in everything. Finally, and most importantly, hang out with like-minded individuals. Some of us work from home, some of us have small companies and most of us are isolated by time, distance, and opportunity.

Having gotten to hang with business owners who are successful in their industries has been the biggest boost to my business and to me personally as a business owner. Make time to find these like minded folks in your neck of the woods. I've just joined the Glasier Kennedy local chapter in my area thanks to Dan Buglio (@danbuglio) and I'm so excited. I'm also going to the Underground Online Seminar in D.C. later this month and it is always a great place to connect and grow. Where ever you are, there are business groups and incubators that will be a huge boost to your business.

Stay Tuned...


Perry Lawrence
Mr Video

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Mr Video Says: This entry to the Underground Online Seminar Ticket giveaway by Kristen Arnold is called 'How Video has Impacted My Business'. Kristen's video is compelling and shows 1) Just do it and 2) Read your Ask Mr Video Newsletters every week so you too can get notices of great goodies like the UG5 tix giveaway. Congratulations Kristen!

FEATURE ARTICLE

Authentic Authority

Here is a great question I was recently asked: What is the number one thing you learned about video marketing that has impacted your bottom line, that thing that makes the difference between succeeding and failing in this business?

Authentic Authority! I am a big fan and student of Robert Cialdini. I follow his principles of influence closely and try to leverage what he teaches in everything I do. His six points of influence are powerful:

Reciprocity - Value exchange

Consistency and Commitment - Consumer engagement and loyalty

Likeability - Do customers know you like them?

Authority - Having credibility in your field

Scarcity - Limited availability

Social Proof - What do others think?

I pay close attention to these six principles. But since you asked about the number one thing I'd have to say it would be Authentic Authority.

Being true to yourself and your brand while letting people know you have authority to speak on your topic is very powerful. I teach this in my classes and encourage anyone doing video to be themselves and promote their authority. I encourage my students to not strive for perfection and to find their "authority bling." By shooting for 70% (or sloppy success) it gives people permission to let go of their perfectionism and just be themselves. By identifying your expertise and promoting that expertise, others will want to learn from you.

I helped one client do this recently and his business increased by 20% in one month. Another client uses Authentic Authority as the basis for their very successful online empire. AND, they have been internet marketing for only a year! You see, the fourth grader is god to the third grader. Sometimes our authority is that we are new and have just navigated the pitfalls. That type of authority is sometimes even more powerful than a guru's authority.

And that's the point...We want to follow people we can relate to. Creating videos that people can relate to is a powerful tool that anyone can and should be doing.

There are some people out there trying to name drop their way to the top. That may work for a little while. But at the end of the day, you have to demonstrate, via social proof, case studies, etc., that what you are offering works for not only you, but for others as well. If you have found the path to riches, clear skin or true love, the path should be easy to follow and repeatable.

So, be your authentic, authoritative self and create some videos to help people navigate the arena or your chosen niche!
 

AS SEEN ON...

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

EZS3.com :: The EASY way to put your videos and media on the web!


TrafficGeyser.com :: Dominate your niche by using the premiere distribution tool! Get one month at no cost!

Got a video question or need a recommendation? Just Ask Mr Video here.

Xtranormal

The video sharing site called Xtranormal is ummm, UNIQUE! Here's the deal. You create videos, in 3D, from scratch, right on their website - No camera, slides, VO, or music needed.

Xtranormal.com is a cross between YouTube, a 3D character animation program, a video editing studio and a text-to-speech synthesizer. Wheeew. In actuality it is quite easy to use and many people are creating series and a backlog of great content. Additionally, you can post your episodes straight to YouTube. Now all you need is a little bit of time to type in your text and boom DONE. Instant video series, nothing needed except a web browser!

Here is my first in a series of videos called Teen Angst - yes, I was once a teenager. Fortunately my 17-year-old is way cooler than I ever was!

Enjoy and send me your next episode. I'd love to feature it here.

ABOUT MR VIDEO

Perry has been in video production for over 20 years and has produced, shot, and/or edited videos for companies like Merck, Maxwell House, Nickelodeon, P&G, Ogilvy & Mather, IBM, and many others. Perry is also the "Go To" video expert for the top names in internet marketing such as Yanik Silver, Carrie Wilkerson, Barry Dunlop, Ryan Lee, Dean Hunt, and many others.

Perry has taken the steps used by professionals and distilled them down to an easy to use formula that guarantees better videos, each and every time.

As "Mr Video," Perry has quickly become the definitive resource for helping business owners and marketers strategically leverage the power of video.
 

Copyright © 2009 | AskMrVideo.com