What Do Fox and NBC Know That You Should Know?

I’m not sure I’m a real trend watcher, but an article in the NY Times this Sunday got me thinking even more about how the internet is changing marketing–and it’s all good news as long as you’re tuned in.

In the article, the point was made that the television screen still shines. And that HULU (you might have seen their Superbowl ad) is a joint venture between NBC and FOX. Hmmm. Strange bedfellows, you might think.

Not so quickly though.

You see, they know something that every sales organization on the planet should know–and do something about. TV sells. And it’s coming to the internet in such a big way that you can leverage it.

Enter ROKU

Another example of this is ROKU, the little $100 appliance that wirelessly connects the internet to your TV so you can download tens of thousands of TV shows.

And last but not least, Amazon Web Services that is a host for large bandwidth content (like TV).

All of this means that TV production and distribution is becoming easier and easier for the average human.

Here’s my proposition to you.

There will be a time very soon when you will need to produce a TV show for your niche customer base. If you are on the front end of that, you’ll own your market. If you’re on the back end, you’ll forever be playing catch-up.

For Less Than $5000 You Can Have A Production Studio

Now, for some fledgling businesses, $5000 sounds like a lot. And if it’s sounds that way, then STOP READING NOW. This is not for you. (In fact, there might be a reason you’re struggling–because you’re doing nothing different now than you were 10 years ago. But I’ll assume it’s the economy.)

But for you open-minded sorts, hear me out. Create a production studio in an extra room in your office. From there you can do the following:

1. Video and Audio podcasts, where you will interview industry subject matter experts. That way you can be become the ‘educational brand’ of your industry. (By the way, a great strategy for ANY business).
2. Video samples of your product working/demonstrations. Set up a schedule. Do your own short commercials (instead of paying $5000/minute for broadcast commercials). People get a better sense of your products/services by “seeing” them rather than by reading thousands of words of text about them.
3. Video testimonials from happy customers who tell the prospect how they have changed their business as a result of your solution. (No one is better equipped to sell someone new than a current buyer).
4. Video (or audio) of your sales team telling a little about themselves and how they work. (Most websites don’t even have pictures of their business team on their website. Yet, they carry the banner of, “My people are my greatest asset!!”). Do they really think that? No.
5. Video articles from white papers you’re doing to bring sophistication to your market.
6. Video Tutorials, where you educate your prospects/clients as to the new technologies or new ways to solve old problems.

Related posts:

1. Communicate Your Value Carefully
2. Comrades. Thank Your Clients When They Rip You A New One.
3. You Say You’re Different, But Are You?
4. How Social Media Affects Sales People