Use Video to Help Mobile Viewers Connect to Your Products & Services

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Americans increasingly want content delivered directly into the palms of their hands. In the fourth quarter of 2013, U.S. mobile-data revenue jumped to $24.8 billion, according to Bloomberg Businessweek. That’s a 20 percent increase, which experts are attributing to the ongoing spike of people using smartphones, tablets and in-vehicle infotainment. Meanwhile, the Cisco Visual Networking Index reported that mobile data traffic grew 81 percent overall last year. 

These numbers are difficult to ignore. The technology is in place to provide users with clear, informative and creative video content—and now is the time to update how your business shares its stories on the mobile video platform.

Mobile Video Should Stand Alone

Most smartphones can view videos sent through mobile apps or via Web browsers through Flash technology. What you see on YouTube on your desktop is the same video you’d see on your phone or tablet, for example. However, from a marketing standpoint, mobile video ought to take into consideration the ultra-brevity of the medium and short attention span of the mobile user.

The Mobile Marketing Association lists 10 characteristics of a successful mobile marketing video campaign. The MMA suggests businesses start with a mobile perspective and work from there by connecting mobile video into a company’s primary site and landing pages.

Multi-screen connectivity is another priority. The MMA cites how many smartphone users juggle multiple devices at the same time, viewing a video on one while navigating the Web or an app on another. Understanding user habits from device to device will help tailor video for an iPad or an Android smartphone, knowing how video looks and feels in the different formats. Ask yourself if the video is fit for an app, or does it exist purely inside a website viewed through a mobile browser? There’s a different feel and the ease of navigation varies. So as you create a campaign, never forget to think like each specific type of mobile user.

Strengthen Your YouTube Presence

If your company doesn’t use YouTube, it’s time to launch a channel. There’s a lot to consider, though, before you attempt to tap into an audience that includes one billion unique viewers each month.

Brand messaging should be consistent with your company’s primary media. To reach the most viewers possible, video content needs to be posted regularly, so the audience grows familiar with seeing recurring features or brand messages. Sharing video links through social networks like Facebook and Twitter helps capture mobile viewers’ attention.

Optimizing videos on YouTube is also critical, especially if your company is new to video. The average user must be able to find it based on keywords related to your services or products.

Not every company has a team of videographers to produce original content, however. In this case, use stock video through Shutterstock or a similar service. You'll get colorful, inexpensive visuals to accompany your product descriptions or company stories, and these sites have footage for just about anything you could look for.

SEE ALSO: 5 Cool Things You Can Do With The Leading Video Editing Software Programs

With today’s media consumption habits, video helps spread messages. What ideas do you have? Let us know in the comments.

*by andreascy*

6 Reasons Trade Shows are More Important than Ever

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Entrepreneurs hold trade shows in high esteem because these events are a great way to connect to audiences and interested prospects. 

Whether you are looking to introduce a new product, announce a product development, or float a unique service or network with other business associates in the market; one cannot deny the sheer magnetic pull of a trade show.

Why Trade Shows are Witnessing a Rise

1. Brand Awareness

If there is a trade show that includes products and services that you work with, make it a point to attend. This is the place where all top brands and key players in your field will vie for consumer attention and display their products to the best of their ability. This can provide valuable learning ground for you as a manufacturer or a marketer. If you are participating in the trade show as a business, you can rest assured that you will find great public resonance for your brand if you correctly position what you offer.

2. Create the Right Connection with the Prospect

There will be some people who come to your booth just to check what you are offering while others are seriously interested in your product. You have to establish the right connection with these people. It is not necessary that you have the best eye-catching pamphlets and display boards; what matters is how you explain things to these people and get them interested in what you offer. It is important to create meaningful relationships with your customers and one of the best points of contact to do is the trade show.

3. Work the Sales Aspect

Many companies will offer some freebies, discounts, and promotional offers to interested prospects in a bid to convert them to customers. You can leverage these benefits to the satisfaction of your customer but it is even more important for the sales team to be informative and skillful without being pushy. Let the customers know how your product or service can serve their needs, highlight its best features, and assure them of good customer service.

4. Use the Power of Social Media

Harness the power of social media and gain the competitive advantage even before you showcase your product at a tradeshow. Pre-show marketing can be quite helpful; announce your brand's participation and offers in the trade show on your company's Facebook page, promote interactions on your social media channels, and send out mailers to interested parties. You can also put up a video on your YouTube channel and post live tweets and updates about your brand's presence on Twitter.

5. Better Lead Conversion

The impact of trade shows is such that people tend to have a higher recall value of the event. Your sales and marketing team can follow up on the leads created at the event by making a phone call, sending a promotional gift or subscription offer anything that can connect prospective customers to your brand.

6. Media Mileage

The press and other reporting agencies tend to be on the lookout for these trade shows. As a company, you can network with these agencies and give them marketing material and information which can be fodder for their news material. Their coverage of your brand can pique the curiosity of many people who will be interested in contacting you.

How to Improve Trade Show Exhibits

To improve your trade show exhibit, work on two components: man and material. Get the best sales and marketing team members to represent your product. They should be able to answer every query with total confidence and bring about interesting facets of your product or service to the audience.

The materials that you put on display in your booth should be eye-catching and visually appealing. The logo and the name of your brand should look radiant and stand out, enough to draw people to your booth. The marketing message or offer should be highlighted properly; the product demo, associated display elements, and marketing paraphernalia should be of excellent material. A strategically executed, creative campaign can steal the show for you in a trade show.

*by andreascy*

Best Apps for Music Lovers

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

Technology has come a long way, and the use of tablets and smartphones provide apps for people of any taste, background and talent. There are apps for college students and toddlers, food connoisseurs and members of the military, and there are also plenty of apps out there for the music lover.

Whether you love to perform or simply enjoy the sounds of your favorite artists, the following are four apps that every music lover needs to have.

1. SoundHound

It always seems as if you hear a great song that gets stuck in your head but you have no clue who sings it or even what it’s called. You try to Google the lyrics, but you don’t generate any results, and when you try and sing it for a friend, they stare blankly at you. You don’t have to encounter this scenario any more if you have SoundHound. This app allows you to sing or hum a song into the app, and it will pull up a variety of songs that match the tune or lyrics to your entry.

There is a free and paid-for version of the app, so feel free to download whichever makes more sense for you. It works extremely well, and it can be your new found favorite to help you stock your music library full of good tunes.

2. Top 100s By Year

If you love listening to music from a variety of decades, then you’ll want to make sure your smartphone or tablet contains Top 100s By Year.

This app allows you to choose a year and see the top 100 songs from that year. You can also preview the song to hear what it sounds like, or you can even see the music video through YouTube or purchase the song through iTunes without leaving the app.

3. Songkick Concerts

If you prefer to listen to live music, then Songkick Concerts is a great app for you. It searches through all the performances at a variety of venues in your area and provides you with a list of local concerts that are taking place near you.

The app will also look through your iTunes library to alert you of artists that are coming to your area that you may enjoy. This is a great way to ensure that you don’t miss a show by one (or all) of your favorite performers.

4. Sir Sampleton

If making music is more of your forte, then Sir Sampleton is an app you will need. The app is a simple way to create your own music. Not only can you use the app to record your own tunes, but you can also use it to add vibrato, mix beats, and save all of your work in one convenient location. And even though it can do so much, the app is very simple to use.

If you are trying to create the next best piece of music but you’re always on the go, Sir Sampleton can help you to keep working hard even while you’re traveling.

READ ALSO: CNETTV - Panasonic's $30 Retro Headphones Rock!

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*by andreascy*

TED : Usman Riaz and Preston Reed - A young guitarist meets his hero

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Usman Riaz is a 21-year-old whiz at the percussive guitar, a style he learned to play by watching his heroes on YouTube.

The TED Fellow plays onstage at TEDGlobal 2012 - followed by a jawdropping solo from the master of percussive guitar, Preston Reed. 

Watch these two guitarists take on a very spur-of-the-moment improv. Enjoy the video!

16 minutes, of sheer pleasure, and awe, with an awesome blend of guitar string and percussion. They sure know how to play! Looking forward for an album having them both! :)

Check also other interesting TED Performances. 

*by andreascy*

Build your Personal Infographics With Intel's Digital Tool "What About Me?"

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

"What About Me?" is a new permission-based digital tool that captures a snapshot of your social media life and turns it into a customized, personal infographic. 

Last year, Intel created a Facebook app which dipped in consumers’ data on the Social Network to create online profile exhibitions, the Museum Of Me.

This year it’s still about getting singularly personal for the tech brand, which has launched What About Me? An app which turns Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube feeds into a Me infographic comprising images, ‘likes’, social media habits, posts and sharing behaviour.

“Social media users know that discovery is half the fun,” says Intel. “With What about Me? you can capture a snapshot of your social media life and create your own colorful image, full of clues and facts about one of the most fascinating subjects in the world – you.”

Check out this video to see how the tool captures your social life.

YOU MUST READ: The Evolution of Social Platforms and Their Influence on Daily Life

Feel free to leave your comments. What do you think? 

*by andreascy*

How To Revert Back To The Old YouTube Layout

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 
Oh man, things are so messed up...

Many people are very disappointed with the new YouTube layout. They say it is boring, confusing, laggy, and slow. Actually, they hate it!

If you don't like the latest style and you want to revert back to the old one, it's very simple and easy to do it. Check the video below and follow the provided instructions!

Why frustrated? Let's remain positive! ;)

READ NEXT: Use Video to Help Mobile Viewers Connect to Your Products & Services

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*by andreascy*