The following questions are some critical questions that you, as small business web site owner should ask your web development guy.

If you do NOT have some of these items, they are easy, but necessary, fixes to your business web site. These are the basic building blocks upon which search engine optimization occurs (in other words – the basic building blocks that will help potential customers find YOUR web site when they search the Web – and they WILL search the Web first).

• Do I have unique, keyword rich page titles on each and every page? (View example)
• Do I have unique page descriptions written in common vernacular and keyword rich on each page? (View example)
• Do I have unique, relevant keywords and keyword phrases (meta tags) in the HTML code for each page? (View example)
• Do I have an XML site map? (View example)

If you don’t have these bases covered and your web guy argues with you about them, I’d say it’s time to move on.

So, you’ve gotten in touch with your inner producer by shooting some video footage of your business, downtown district, restaurant or hotel experience… Now what?

Hopefully, you’re using an easy-to-use camera that makes digital editing quick and easy. (We use the Flip HD.) There are lots of fancy editing, add-ons and other things you can do to make your video more and more professional… However, that is definitely NOT required to bring a positive impact to your brand. In fact, there’s a fair amount of evidence that shows that the more amateurish the video, the more authentic and interesting it is to customers.

Once your video is “produced” – you’ll want to get it out there on the web, so folks can watch it. More importantly, like other content suitable for the web, if you post your video in only one place, you’ll be leaving potential buzz (and resulting dollars) on the table. You’ll notice that these five places build upon each other, and can be accomplished quickly for each video you desire to post. Leverage your content in multiple places for maximum impact.

Here are my top five quick recommendations for placing video content through your new media marketing channels:

1. YouTube. Google owns YouTube, and they love their own content. When you post on YouTube, you’re posting right into the Google universe.

2. Facebook Page. Your business should have a Facebook Page (not a personal profile). When you post video to YouTube, they give you a link to that video. Post that LINK on your Facebook Page along with any comments that you wish to add. I also recommend that once posted on your Page that you go back to your personal profile and give your personal friends the tip that you’ve just updated your Page with a video to start the ball rolling with more intensity.

3. Twitter. Tweet out the topic and put a bit.ly link to your video in the tweet. Here’s what it might look like: “Great video inspiring viewers to Buy Main Street http://bit.ly/8k2Al” Or “We blush at the feedback http://bit.ly/1xYTHR (video)”. Either way, make sure the tweet let’s folks know it’s going to a video and describe what they will learn when they watch.

4. Your Web Site or Blog. Embed the video on your web site and/or blog. YouTube gives you a snippet of code that will allow you to embed the video right onto your web site. Do this in a video section, as a supplement to any individual section or as an aptly worded, keyword rich blog post. There are many creative ways to USE video on a web site…the most important part is to USE the video on your web site period.

5. E-Mail Newsletter. Link to the video from your e-mail newsletter. Let your e-mail newsletter subscribers know that they can watch and learn more. List titles, descriptions that are linked to the video on your web site.

What about you? What are your favorite places to place video content?

Photo Credit: wwworks