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Have you been on the bubble about buying one of those super cool video cameras The Flip? Here’s something you might not have thought of yet, The Flip and it’s cousins could actually help you with your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) strategy. Go ahead and order one and I’ll tell you how. You can order it from the links in this post or the Sponsors area of the sidebar, I could use the commission to help keep to keep this site going.

Social Videos

Once you become acclimated to social media, you’re going to find yourself watching a lot of videos. YouTube is the most popular of video websites and everyone has been there or seen a video from YouTube embedded on another website. There are a lot of websites that attempt to emulate YouTube, but none reach it’s audience share. Not to be left in the cold, social networks like Facebook, Myspace and others have added a video section that allows users to upload their own videos. For the sake of demonstration I’m going to stay mainly YouTube.

Adding Movement to Your Social Media Marketing

If you are using social networks and media to promote your business or have started practicing some The Lunch Money Challenge exercises, then you already had a few photographs to your profile. Those photos may have used to show what you sell or what your service does, but wouldn’t moving pictures and sound go a long ways towards making you look like a three dimensional living being and not a flat object on a computer screen.

You have a website and social media profile on the Internet in hopes that you can draw customers in to hear your best sales pitch. Nothing is stopping you from giving it to them before they even darken your doors or visit your website. In fact you can refine and deliver your sales pitch without interruptions or other distractions thanks to video editing software that come with The Flip. Your potential customers are also able to view and listen on their own time – rewinding if needed – to understand everything in your video and becoming an educated customer in the process.

The Great Video Search Factor

Once you’ve have recorded and edited your video, it’s time to uploaded to YouTube. There are some factors to help you get your video discovered and improve your in position in SEPR (Search Engine Page Results).

The algorithm for YouTube is based mainly on five elements:

1. Title
2. Description
3. Tags
4. Number of views
5. Rating

These factors also become mixed in to Google’s algorithm and SERPs because YouTube is a part of the Google universe. Knowing this you should take the extra time to make sure your entries in the first three factors are on point to help the second factors.  Let’s take a look at each the five factors.

Title

When you title your video use the keywords you want to associate your video and your website with. Be selective and don’t cram keywords, stuffing will stick out like a sore thumb and will only hurt you in the long run. Pick one keyword and sculpt an easy to remember sentence with it.

Description

The is self explanatory, but you do need keep to things in mind while filling it out. Again include keywords that you want your video and website associated with when someone is searching for it. Be honest in your description don’t try to get listed with something that isn’t closely related to the video. Try to stay with the one keyword your picked for the title.

Try to include the main keyword in the first 27 letters of the description as this will be returned with the search results. If you can include your website address in the first 27 characters (i.e. Beggars.us This car rocks.). Then use the rest of the description for when they come to the video.

Remember the viewers will be rating the video, so if you’re were less than truthful with your description you are going to taking a beating. They can also write in the comments that description was a lie to warn others not to bother watching it.

Tags

You now need to tag your your video, which is simply assigning keywords that fit the video and your website. Be fair and honest. Don’t stuff the tags with something that is far reach for the subject matter. Five tags at best should serve you well.

Number of Views

You may think you have little control over the number views on the YouTube, but that is not necessarily true. YouTube is a social network and you can add friends. You can build them by taking the time to view other videos on the site, leaving comments and adding the submitter and other commentators as friends. Then when you submit a video they will get a notification about it. You might every so often send messages to a few friends asking to check the new video, just don’t do it constantly.

Consider promoting the video on social bookmark sites like Digg and Reddit. Remember that the narrative you use to link to the video is going to be an extension of what you want your website to be associated with. Don’t cram to many keywords or mislead people about the subject matter of the video.

You can also use Twitter to promote your videos. You can use your RSS feed from your profile to send like we did with RSS to Twitter post.

Rating

You have more control over the rating of the video than you give yourself credit. If you are honest by not misleading people to view your video you should receive high marks. Also there is nothing in the terms of service that says you can’t ask for people to rate it high in the description. You will find it’s easier to get viewers, even if they a marginally interested in your subject matter, as long they know going in to it what the video is going to be about.

Now that we have been over the five biggies of the YouTube search it’s time to turn to other ways to turn your video to attract traffic to your website. I’ll just throw out a few, because I will adding another post about YouTube/SERP at a later date.

YouTube Video Overlay

You see the “Bugs” on television and YouTube videos all the time. The “Bug” is the graphic overlay on the video that list the website. A bug or overly is easy to add with The Flip software or other video editing software. Use a easy to read font with a color that complements the video.If possible fade it a little so that the overlay doesn’t take over the message of the video.

Putting the Best Light on the Subject

When you are shooting the videos keep and eye on the quality of light you are filming under. If the light is dim the colors will be muted and won’t be as sharp. If you stand in noon day sun, you are going to get deep shadows and a contrasty scene that will be hard to see important details.

Family Friendly Video

Expect that some of your viewers are children and they don’t need to see or hear any vulgar language or see sexy shots. While the children aren’t going to the purchasers their parents will and Mom & Dad may have to bring their children with them. If they see or hear something on the video they don’t want their children around they aren’t going to come to you if you’re cussing constantly on video.

Mash and Grab

YouTube videos can be embedded into web pages and other social media networks. Grab the embed code and place the videos on your website and social network page. You can’t have too much exposure for your marketing materials.

Enhance Your Blog

Adding a video of an event you attended or an activity you blog is the perfect way to capture the reader’s attention. Using video is also a chance to build a stronger personal relationship with your reader base and having them stopping by your blog even more.

Now that you have a good understanding on how The Flip can improve your SERP and raise your bottom line you now longer have an excuse not to buy one, plus it’s always handy to have around when the dog is stuck in you golf bag or the kids decide to turn flower pots into a fortress. If you do plan on purchasing one please consider doing so through one the links in the post or the banner on middle sidebar.

If anyone is using The Flip to promote their business on YouTube, I’d love to have you post a link to it in the comments section.

You can find the original post at Tweet For Bucks, be sure to check and bookmark Tweet For Bucks.

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