When was the last time you watched a video on YouTube through any of your social networking sites? Was it in the last 24 hours, or the last 24 minutes? Authors take note: Paul Colligan has helped many successful authors launch their brands using videos. Paul believes if your online presence does not include videos, here's why it should.
Let's admit it many view YouTube as the home of goofy dances, sneezing pandas and kids getting hit in the head with a brick. What could it possibly have to do with the written word? I will start with two very important facts:
YouTube gets more search than Bing or Yahoo, they are the second largest search engine (Google is #1) They will probably pass Google in search in 2011.
Google considers YouTube to be their engine of search whereas Google proper has moved to the "database of intent." In short, if you know what you want, you head to Google. If you don't know what you want, you head to YouTube.
So how is YouTube the "future" of the written word? Simple ... it's where a good chunk of your readers are coming from now -- and where a bigger chunk of your readers will be coming from in the future.
Between Amazon and Google, it's not hard for someone to find your work when they're already interested in you and your content. So how do new readers get introduced to you online? People "surfing" for new content are looking at video. Will they find you and what you have to offer?
I dare you to name a single news agency known for the written content that doesn't have a video online. It's easier to watch video from the the New York Times than it is to get a copy of the paper. Time magazine even contracts digital filmmakers to "extend their brand."
Stand-alone videos are also introducing audiences to the written word. I've purchased multiple books as a result of watching authors on the popular TED Podcast series. The TED YouTube channel has almost 50 million views.
You're also seeing this in smaller extent in the niche world of the book trailer. Book trailers are getting hundreds of thousands of views at YouTube alone, not counting Amazon and other online retailers. Is it a coincidence that the top viewed trailers are all big sellers?
Perhaps the most fascinating (and potentially most powerful) trend with authors and YouTube is the rise of author "Channels." Extremes from Dr. Laura to David Bach are taking control of their messages to increasing audiences. Their publishers don't control these channels.
Your new audiences are looking for you, the author, in video form. YouTube is providing it better, faster, and to more people than anyone else and you better be there when they look.
How do you respond today? You might not be able to afford a high-end trailer but a channel on YouTube is yours for the taking ...
... as is the audience YouTube wants to bring you.
This is all great news, Paul. Just a few short years ago, who would have ever thought an author could (and should) have their own video channel? Book marketing is changing and putting the power and the responsibility on authors to promote their brand. If you are not sure what your priorities should be in marketing your book, you are not alone. I have assembled some of the best in the business for my 21st Century Book Marketing Event to help teach and guide you in creating a successful book marketing campaign.
About Paul Colligan: Paul helps people reach more readers with less effort for greater profit utilizing New Media. He's helped Mark Victor Hansen, Brendon Burchard and countless others online and hopes you see the same success this year. To learn how to make the most of YouTube today, please visit: www.YouTubeSecretWeapon.com.
Arielle Ford has launched the careers of many NY Times bestselling authors including Deepak Chopra, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Neale Donald Walsch & Debbie Ford. She is a former book publicist, literary agent and the author of seven books. To learn how to get started writing a book please visit: <http://www.HowToWriteMyBook.com>
