Social Media Boot Camp: Video Rules

It's time to update your social media strategy to include video!

That message was loud and clear at a Social Media Boot Camp for CEOS, presented by a Splash Media. The Dallas-based firm provides one-stop shopping for firms who want to outsource their marketing through social networks. According to presenter John Larsen, search engines favor sites with videos. "People would rather watch the internet than read the internet," he declared.
About half of the 60 business owners in the room got that "deer in the headlights" look as they realized that they will have to appear in front of a camera. The Splash social media package includes the use of a five million dollar production facility in Dallas, with the goal of producing at least one video a month for the company's website. The on-camera talent is generally the CEO of the business. "This is not the amateur hour," Larson said.

So, in theory, everyone who is marketing a product on the web is going to need a talent coach like me! If you are going to spend upwards of $60,000 a year on social media marketing, doesn't it make sense to spend just a little more to make sure you deliver a power performance in front of the camera?
The free workshop included some awesome examples of power performance and storytelling, but my favorite was this one from a company called Blendtec. Check it out on their site, http://www.willitblend.com/, or on YouTube, where it has gotten millions of hits. These guys will throw anything into a blender, including a brand new iPad!