In our current digital world, one of the best ways you can get the attention of potential clients, show them what you can do and even close sales is through the use of video. Video captures emotions and can show what you have to offer in a much more tangible way than simply relying on images and text on your website or talking about what you have to offer yourself in a meeting. Paying for a professional videographer to create beautiful video content for your business is sure to be a worthwhile investment, but if you don’t have the budget for that there are plenty of resources out there that will help you stand out using video with very little outlay.
Dedicated platforms – such as YouTube and Vimeo – also make it very easy to host your video online, while social media is a great tool for getting it seen by your prospective customers. The first step in using video to sell your business is to get hold of some good quality footage of you in action. You can do this in a variety of ways: hire a professional, work with the videographers at your events or bring along your own camera. However you do it, just get that video!
In my opinion, based on my experience, working with the videographers at events is the best way to go. They have already been paid to be there, and will often be happy to let you have the footage in exchange for a credit on the finished video to help with their own marketing efforts. I often collaborate with my videographers on collecting footage. I will give them access to my mixer and audio feeds for their videos.
I contact them afterwards to let them know the music I used throughout the event, so that they can use key songs as part of the soundtrack of the finished edit they create for the client. I also give them a ‘heads up’ every time something is about to happen. By working with them and befriending them they then make me look good, are happy to let me have their professional-quality footage showing me in action and may even refer me to future clients as they know I will make their life easier on the day!
SHOW WHAT YOU CAN DO When you have the raw footage, put it together into a promotional piece for YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and your website. If you really don’t know where to start, your new videographer friend will be happy to do it for you (for a fee) but there are lots of very easy tools around that will allow you to put together something simple but effective yourself. Apps like Magisto and Animoto are very easy to use and create short videos that are perfect for posting on social media.
If you’d prefer to work on your computer, there are plenty of great-looking templates around for iMovie and other desktop software platforms. If you just want to tease prospects, then 30 seconds is great. But even if you want to show what you do in more depth, still keep videos short (1 or 2 minutes). Everyone’s attention spans are short in this fast-paced digital world!
Hit them hard and fast to generate enquiries and consultations. Taking this to the next level, I have also made an interviewstyle video that introduces me to potential clients interspersed with footage from my events. EDUCATE YOUR CLIENTS Another way to use video to promote your business is to create educational ‘how to’ videos that introduce your clients to the type of services you offer in more detail. You could create videos of your lighting setup and show how it will enhance their event, for example different colours of uplighting.
You could create a video that takes a new or potential customer through your planning SELLING YOUR DJ SERVICE USING VIDEO3232 and music curation process. This is a great way of acquainting prospects with your products and services but in a more subtle way than a typical promotional video. Even though this type of video will go into more detail, I still suggest keeping them short, ideally under 5 minutes. There are some great tools out there – such as Soapbox and Loom – which allow you to record your computer screen while you demonstrate carrying out a task.
This works great for instructional videos on how to use your planning forms or music playlist makers. If you use DJ Event Planner, DJ Intelligence or Vibo, this is a great resource. I did a whole instructional ‘how to’ video in the Vibo user forum if you want to learn more. CLOSE THE DEAL The final way I recommend using video is to seal the deal or get the attention of a prospect who has shown interest but not yet confirmed their booking.
Send a short personal video that will keep you at the top of their mind and help you to stand out from the competition. There are some great apps out there that allow you to quickly and easily record and send custom messages that will put a smile on your client’s face. Get creative with these videos and apps to make yourself really stick out. One app I like is Ditty.
You can put in custom text and the app will sing the text to the tune of a variety of different songs. Imagine your client getting a message from you saying “Your wedding with us will be totally epic” sung to the Star Wars theme song! I know it sounds silly, but how unique would that be? Find ways to be different.
Another idea is to use the iPhone app Clips which will create live sub titles as you talk. Imagine sending a message to a potential bride following a consultation meeting telling her how much fun it was to meet and how excited you are to be a part of her special day, with the subtitles she can watch it while at work and not have to turn up the volume! These are just some of the ways you can use video to make your business stand out. Catch peoples’ attention, show what you have to offer and close more sales, but let the video do the work!
I’ve even managed to get guest slots on local morning TV shows as a music ‘expert’ sharing playlists for occasions like Valentine’s Day and Halloween. This not only gives me great exposure, but I can then share recordings of the segments on social media to further cement my standing as a true professional in the eyes of prospective customers.
