What started out as a consumer phenomenon turned into a growing corporate trend: Blogs provide opportunities for organizations to interact; share their stories; and thoughts online. As of 2007, there were a reported 100 million blogs; and as of July 2008, some 15% of Fortune 500 companies maintained a blog.
However, many marketers are now trying to create an even more dynamic content and "stickiness" through this medium. Meanwhile, the next level has already started to emerge---via video blogs, or vlogs.
Vlogs provide business owners a way to foster a greater connection with their visitors when all words tend to fail. These outlets offer opportunity for customers to put faces, voices, and personality to the content. More importantly, vlogs are a successful marketing tool that can increase online traffic and repeat business while also raising brand awareness and affinity even more so than text blogs.
Some companies looking to take the video plunge feel that by doing so is too expensive or time consuming. In fact, organizations of all shapes and sizes can launch a vlog for very little cost, because the quality of personal video production equipment has increased significantly over the past several years without similar rise in prices. Some may also look toward outside firms for help.
Regardless of how a company goes about it, here are five rules that should be followed in order to create a successful vlog.
- Be Honest: Business leaders are expected to uphold the highest level of integrity. Any type of posting or claim that a company makes in a vlog must be accurate; Once posted, there's no turning back.
- Update Regularly: To maintain continuous communication with customers, you should update your vlog as often as possible: Monthly at minimum. Long lapses in communication can cause your customers to drift away, forget about the organization, and never return.
- Allow Commentary: One of the most worrisome aspects of communicating with an audience online is the fear that negative comments will be posted in response. No company wants to be criticized, especially when the entire world can see, but allowing customers to formulate an opinion and speak their mind is essential. By allowing commentary you are opening up the lines of communication and creating a stronger sense of trust by asking visitors to contribute their thoughts.
- Take Risks: Often, business owners are worried about throwing in humor or divulging personal information. However, both approaches have proven to be effective. They allow businesses to build relationships with their audience on a more intimate level, revealing that they are "real" everyday people too. Using other approaches may keep them coming back for more.
- To Thine Own Self Be True: Not only is it imperative that an organization be factual in its vlog, but also remain true to the "soul" of the company. Adhering to an organization's core value proposition is essential.