Really Broke Entrepreneurs TV?

It was suggested to me, so I've been really bouncing around the idea of Really Broke Entrepreneurs Television, but since an actual television show would cost me several thousand dollars, even on public access, the natural choice would be none other than YouTube. It would be so easy - and free. I already have the ideas and format laid out, and as usual, I've developed the whole program in my mind, but the reality is that right now, I just can't make the time commitment. However, YouTube is a excellent tool for all entrepreneurs to use for their business, especially broke ones - because its free! I think its time we start harnessing the power of this fabulous service and use it for good.

Think about how many times each week or even each day you are either emailed a link to a You Tube video you just "must see", or how many websites you visit where they have highlighted a particular Video of the Day to share with their visitors. It could be a funny video or a clip of an actual newsworthy event, but videos tend to spread as fast as email chain letters. And with YouTube serving at least 100 million videos per day, I can't even imagine what that translates into in terms of actual visitors. You only need a small percentage of that to view your offering, and like it, and then share it with their friends.

Everything is popping up on YouTube these days and I'm really interested in how its gone from just a fun, social site to a serious business tool. Major companies are using it to promote their own products by uploading videos or commercials targeted to the YouTube crowd. What's been most exciting to me is the way bloggers have taken to creating video blogs to accompany their entries so you can share a more personal audience with your favorite blogger. One great example is low carb diet expert Jimmy Moore, who now does regular videos of himself (and wife Christine) preparing low carb meals or conducting an interview with another person of interest to his readers. It adds yet another dimension to the entire blogging experience and broadens your overall exposure and reach!

Did I mention that YouTube is free? Of course, they're not the only free video sharing site around, but right now they've got a lead over the others because they're the first and the most well known, and they currently have the largest number of users. I've seen some video sites where you can't comment or vote on the videos, so the experience is pretty much one-sided, but at YouTube, not only can you get feedback from the viewers but you can include links to your site and other information about yourself and your business that will help drive viewers from YouTube to your own website.

I suggested to a cake decorating friend that she set up a YouTube channel and show videos of herself creating some of her artistry, then discuss techniques and interesting stories from behind the scenes of this growing industry. I thought it would be a great way to build an audience and get exposure for her business, especially since she plans to ship her fake cakes all over the world. She hasn't put my idea into action yet, but a quick search on YouTube uncovered many others who had the same idea, and one in particular has had over 45,000 views of their cake decorating tips.

So how can you use this in your business? The same way you would use a blog. If you're selling a product, create some videos that show you demonstrating the product, or put together your own mini infomercial of others using your product and giving testimonials. Dress up your video with background music, graphics, and opening and closing credits. If you need help with this, don't hesitate to enlist the aid of the nearest teenager with a video camera - which, these days, should be just a stone's throw away! You can easily edit your video with Windows Movie Maker, a free program included with Windows.

You can also make video commercials for your service business, or create a commercial to drive traffic to your website. Have fun with it and come up with some creative ways to use this in your business. Think of it as having the keys to your local television station - and you can go on the air and do whatever you want to do without worrying about how much this is going to eat into your budget.

I'm really liking the idea of Broke Entrepreneur TV. I can just see myself interviewing local successful entrepreneurs for their backstory on how they started with next to nothing, and having them give tips to my viewing audience. Maybe even take some questions ahead of time by email. It could be a lot of fun as well!

If video doesn't interest you, next time, we'll look at how you can use podcasts to effectively market your business.