Get Your Marketing Moving....Seriously Moving

         Video marketing is on the rise. It has been on my radar for quite some time now. But I always look to how effective any trend might be before I jump on the bandwagon teetering out of control. Looking at the research from Stephanie Frasco on Social Media Today, here's why I think we should pay more attention to video marketing now than ever before.

• About 46% of people say they’d be more likely to seek out information about a product or service after seeing it in an online video. (Source: Eloqua)
• The average user spends 88% more time on a website with video. (Source: Mist Media)
• Video and e-mail marketing can increase click-through rates by more than 90%.(Source: Mist Media)
• Video equals higher viewer retention. The information retained in one minute of online video is equal to about 1.8 million written words. (Source: Brainshark)
• Video attracts two to three times as many monthly visitors, doubles their time spent on the site and has a 157% increase in organic traffic from search engines. (Source: MarketingSherpa)
• Of the 80% of internet users who watched a video ad, 46% took some sort of action after viewing the ad. (Source: Video Brewery)

                                                                            http://socialmediatoday.com/

       With Facebook acquiring Instagram many in the social media game wondered if they could maintain the edge Instagram built in their rise to the top. Adding the Instagram video feature again added concern that Facebook would ruin the features that made Instagram so unique. Well the critics have been silenced with what the social media savvy are calling this video feature an out of the park hit for Facebook and its millions of users. How are the Instagram savvy using this new feature to promote their business? Let's take a peek behind the scenes, Instagram style.

1. Use Instagram to humanize your business....Our business lends itself particularly well to this. Good news is if you already have an Instagram account, you're good to go. If you don't..what the heck are you waiting for. This medium lends itself especially well to our industry, it is so very visual.
2. Introduce new products, services or specials. These short burst videos are perfect for introducing a new service including a few seconds of each step with a beautiful finished result. A quick how to use a new product demo can entice clients or visitors for that matter, to check them out in person.
3. Testimonials are a great way to use the new Instagram video feature. Put a face with all those nails. Of course clear it with your clients, but what a better way to build your brand and loyal following than to feature some of your nail stars.

     Instagram videos are limited to 15 seconds and also have 13 filters to choose from, which by the way..are not the same as the photography filters. They are unique to their video feature. You can stop and start as many times as you like. Unfortunately the application kept crashing on my Galaxy so hopefully they will be on this Android fix soon.
Maisie Dunbar of Maise Dunbar Spa Lounge posted several Instavideos from an event she hosted at her salon. Perfect use of this new social media app.

 



Maisie On Instagram Video

Stylize Your Guests!

 
      With all the hype of last night's Grammys the nails did not disappoint. I believe they were front and center, as well they should be. You didn't hear Ryan Seacrest asking the celebs about their hair and what product they were wearing. Yes nails really rocked the Grammy's. I had a client text me to turn on E! during the Mani-off. Thanks to Lisa Marie Santos Facebook status update, I was already tuned in. She texted "This can not be bad for biz." With nails being front and center many have taken notice. Women's Wear Daily reports nail polish sales hit a record 768 million in the US in 2012 a 32% over 2011. And there is no sign of it slowing down. As more treatments emerge including pattern nail stickers and textured polishes, gel products continue to be on the rise. Nail polish is the new economic indicator replacing lipstick. The theory goes that as the economy struggles, sales of these small luxury items rise. You may not be able to get that new Mercedes this spring but wow look at all the cool polish you can buy. Social media has also driven the upsurge with sites like Instagram. E! online introduced a "Mani Cam" at the 2012 Emmy awards inviting celebs to walk their manicures down the red carpet and while the gimmick was panned at the time they had two Mani Cams at this years Grammys and a Mani off during the Red carpet countdown. I have to say I was a bit disappointed some of the celeb nail stylists used retail products as opposed to professional. I guess in the end it still is all about moving the industry forward. Don't hate the player hate the game?

      So how do we capitalize on this exposure? Ironically enough as it usually happens I got an email with Seth Godin's blog update. Seth Godin is a brilliant marketer and change alchemist having written 14 books The Purple Cow among his most popular. Godins blog talks about Humanizing our work. In the land of cookie cutter, imitator nail styles you must break free and create your own voice in your own unique work. Godin suggests "To create something that only you could have made, or said, or conceived of." To set yourself apart. With so many new companies emerging and offering so many new opportunities you must still put your creative trademark on your work. The Internet is crammed full of ideas, between Pinterest and YouTube. Let these sights be the spark for creativity and push out your own boundaries. Practice something new, fail if you can and start over creating smarter because of it. Then post, post and post some more. Create Pinterest boards showcasing your work with links back to your website. Tag photos on your Facebook wall so all your clients friends see your work. Send your work into Nailit Magazine, another industry game changer. The nail universe is doing all it can to get this industry exposure, Tap in and enjoy the ride.
The Grammys Beauty Breakdown: Nail Art Edition