Providing Video Links
Although we have discussed producing your own videos in previous tips (see #25, Making Videos), if you don’t have either the time, technology or equipment required to do this, videos can still be an integral part of your website.
If your business retails hard stock, and it’s a brand named product, the chances are that there will be various videos discussing, reviewing or advertising it on YouTube. Find the videos, ensure that they are of an acceptable quality and have applicable content, and email the user personally to ask if you can use them on your own business website.
If the user agrees, then in the top left hand corner of the page where the video resides, you’ll find the embed code within the grey box. An example of embedding a YouTube video can be found here: http://www.carpbaitsonline.co.uk/vision-baits-hydro-ocean-protein-freezer-boilies-16mm-1kg-vision-baits-p-1261.html
If your business retails technology, such as computers, mobile phones and such like, you’ll find a wealth of videos of people reviewing the products from the privacy of their own homes, and surprisingly, these are not always negative as one would imagine- simply type in ‘I love my Ipod’ on YouTube to realise how many people are happy to chat on camera about all of the wonderful capabilities and features their latest gadget has to offer.
As with all material that is not produced by yourself, always ask permission before embedding and ensure that the video is relevant to your website. Also don’t feel tempted to use competitors’ videos in a negative way, or discuss videos in a negative sense- you are using this medium to talk about how good these products are and their uses- let the customers form their own opinions.