The Evolution of Video Search Engine Optimization

Evolution… Darwin explained it best when he came up with his theory of Natural Selection. That is what life on this planet is about… Evolution.  We are all in a state of evolution. Even if some of us fight it kicking and screaming along the way. There is so much opportunity to make money in your special finance department but sometimes it is hard to find the “Magic Formula”

Video Search Engine Optimization is by far the MOST powerful form of online marketing. Traditional Search Engine Optimization or Search Engine Marketing just does not yield the same type of results. But a lot of people do NOT understand VSEO or even what it truly is. They confuse uploading videos on YouTube or MySpace as Video search Engine Optimization. That is simply NOT the case. Any person can upload a video; as a matter of fact there are very inexpensive video cameras on the market that you can purchase that come loaded with YouTube software that makes it easier to post videos on that site. Again, this does NOT mean that you have a Video Search Engine Optimization campaign in effect.  Another common misconception is the way the video is viewed. A lot of people think that when they hear about Video Search Engine Optimization that it has to do with people going to sites like YouTube, MySpace, AOL Video etc… and looking for a video. Again, this is simply not the case. When I say Video Search Engine Optimization, I am speaking about REGUALR Search Engines like Google, MSN, AOL etc… When a person goes to a REGULAR search engine and types in ANYTHING that they want to find or get information on. There are now videos popping up on the first page, in the TOP 10 results. That means even if people weren’t looking for a video. If there was a video created and OPTIMIZED the right way it can show up in the organic results. As a matter of fact, that is EXACTLY what the search engines are trying to haveoccur more and more. The search engines are trying to create an easier, faster and more powerful Internet Platform. Its called Internet 2.0 and its driven by video content. More and more people prefer to watch videos over reading a magazine, book or website. You can get so much more information, faster with a video. Internet 2.0 is like 24 / 7 Video on Demand Broadcast television, cable and satellite all in one spot.

It is important that you understand that VSEO is traditional SEO on steroids. Traditional SEO is having your website show up In the TOP 10 results on the FIRST page of sites like Google and Yahoo! So, not only are you going to show up in the EXACT same spots that you have been trying to show up in but you are going to show up faster and with videos rather than a static site.

Video Search Engine Optimization (VSEO) is the creation, management and distribution of multi media including, Videos, Pictures, Audio,  Titles, Descriptions, Meta data and keywords on ALL of the video search engines as well as traditional search engines for the purpose of achieving first page placement.

VSEO is more powerful than traditional SEO & SEM because:

• You can achieve Top 10 rankings on ALL ORGANIC search engines like Google, MSN, AOL and Yahoo! Within 7-14 days. Unlike traditional SEO, that takes four to six months to “Kick In”. This is the ideal scenario… Instant turnaround time.
• Video Content is more valuable to the search engines. Video content is like Diamond or Platinum where as traditional, static content is like Bronze or Silver. Internet 2.0 is primarily driven by video content. This means that a properly optimized video can and will get MORE visibility and higher rankings on a search engine.
• With traditional SEO you have one website, one URL. That means that you can ONLY show up once on the top 10 list or once on the first page (And that is a BIG IF… you show up at all). However with VSEO, there are multiples upon multiples of videos online. Meaning that you can show up numerous times on the first page! You can literally dominate your competition and lock them out of the coveted premium spots on that TOP 10 list.
• Video is a HUGE differentiator on the Internet. It is a great way to set your dealership apart from the competition.
• The science of communication states that ONLY seven percent of communication is from text or the words we use, 38 percent is from sound and inflection and 55 percent is visual perception and body language. So, scientifically and mathematically speaking. Video communication is a more powerful medium in getting your message across.
• Special Finance is a VERY profitable sector in the automotive industry. You want to make sure that you can properly convey your message to your prospects and you can and will with video communication.
• The strongest form of advertising is word of mouth. Testimonials, Testimonials and MORE testimonials. We all know that, but we rarely maximize that opportunity.  Video Testimonials of your customers, video success stories of  customers that really, really needed a car loan and you got it for them, video testimonials of difficult situations and scenarios that you and your dealership overcame for your customers to make sure that not only did you get them that car loan but you got them an incredible vehicle and assisted them on the path of rehabilitating their credit.
• It is the cutting edge of the future. Most dealerships and Special Finance departments still don’t understand traditional SEO or SEM never mind something like Video Search Engine Optimization. So, you can have a HUGE competitive advantage. If you create and perpetuate a Video Search Engine Optimization strategy you will truly CRUSH your competition.

There are two ways that you can engage this awesome opportunity. Like everything else in your life you can either do it yourself or you can outsource it. Lets say you want to try to do it in house…

• First, you want to create MULTIPLE accounts on ALL of the Video Search Engine sites like YouTube, MySpace etc… It is NOT simply enough to have just one account on YouTube to create and distribute all of your videos.
• Make sure that you keep track of all of the accounts that you are going to create. Logins / Passwords etc…
• The Biggie is CONTENT… you are going to need LOTS and LOTS of video. You want to create different types of videos too. The easiest videos to create would be video testimonials of how you got someone’s credit approved. Have testimonials from 10 – 20 different people. ALL with different credit situations that you helped with. Credit Infomercials, Credit Commercials, Videos from the GM or Special Finance manager explaining your dealership, system or process. But, you DO NOT want to just use basic testimonials or simple video cinematography.  You want to diversify your video library. You want to have some awesome videos, OEM style, computer animations, Serious ones, funny ones, specific ones etc… Remember what you put into it is what you are going to get out of it. If you take a look at the Badger commercials you will see that a lot of work went into it but the return is profound. Millions and Millions of views on their videos. However, there have been a lot of imitation badger commercials. People trying to hijack a great idea but with poor execution and ALL of these other wannabee badger commercials have failed miserably, non of which had achieved the viewership or buzz of the original badger commercials.
• You must understand that the Search Engines are VERY Sophisticated. Search Engines have facial recognition, pixel recognition and speech recognition software. This is to ensure that the videos that are live are actually relevant. Think about it… can you imagine a little old lady typing into Google “Church Services” and getting a video of hardcore porn.  What this means is that the “Subject Line, Descriptions & Keywords” have got to be RELEVANT to whatever the content of the video is. You can NOT just upload random video and tag it with whatever keywords you think you need. So, this means that you are going to need to think of what your campaign is going to be about. Then acquire that specific video first, or create it then you are going to take the time and mapped out the subject title, the full body description as well as identify the keywords or meta data that is directly relevant to that specific video.

You are going to create a standard operating procedure, or a habit for creating and uploading videos. That is the secret of this whole phenomenon… MORE & MORE videos. You have to understand. The Internet has NOT been around very long BUT there are a lot of websites pages, however there are not as many videos yet. Videos are new, so for you to take advantage of this you are going to have to keep creating and uploading videos. By the time your competition wakes up from the hibernation and realizes WOW! OMG… how are they dominating ALL over the Internet… Google??? They too will scramble to get their videos up but you will have so much more.

The problem is that most dealers will never execute properly.  There are so many tools in a Special Finance department, never mind the dealership. Between the DMS, Inventory, Dealertrack or ProMax (Or tools like it), You have CRMs or Desking tools, Inventory tools etc… The problem is that dealers and Special Finance departments have way too much going on to try to become VSEO specialists. So, that creates  three possible scenarios:

• First, they try to do VSEO themselves in house without someone that knows what they are really doing. They don’t do it the right way. Then in turn doesn’t work properly or at all and then you think that this technology sucks or is useless but that isn’t the case at all is it?
• You take it in house and do a fairly good job at it but it is going to take time and the right person that is in charge of the initiative. That means dedicating the person, the training and education as well as the budget for the project.
• The other option is outsourcing the technology to trained specialists that have the proper skills and TECHNOLOGY to execute the program effectively and manage it effectively as well. It is important that you understand that there is patented software out there that can do in 20 minutes what it takes a team of 20 FULL TIME employees over 40 hours each to do!

Bottom line is I highly suggest that you create a VSEO strategy for your Special Finance department as soon as possible. Sell with it or sell against it.