Devoted to women of color in business

Today we're focusing on YouTube as a tool to grow your business.

YouTube.com, the "pionner in online video" is a great destination for fun user-generated content and a place to visit to view more about our world.

Founded in 2005 as a file sharing tool between friends and acquired November 2006 by Google, the company delivers an easy-to-use tool for you to upload and share your videos to websites, mobile devices, blogs and email.

Chad Hurley, Chief Executive Officer and Steve Chen, Chief Technology Officer, have built a team that now broadcasts content in partnership with established companies like CBS, BBC, Universal Music Group, Sony Music Group, Warner Music Group, NBA, and The Sundance Channel, as well as delivering videos from favorite YouTubers across the world.

But the main question for business owners: how do we take advantage of this tool and others for the benefit of our business?

First of all, an infomercial or short video of your business is a way to encourage viewers to learn more about you, your philosophy, and the products and services that your company offers. Invite visitors to your site to "take the tour" or watch the video to keep them on your site. http://www.10kwebdesign.com/problogger.php

Second, your website is "stickier" when your videos become informational resources that provide value to your visitors. Take Freshtopia.net, http://www.freshtopia.net for example, which provides "news and information on food, sustainability, and the environment." By providing a community of users, an entertaining, engaging format, and tons of unique information, visitors continue to return on a weekly basis.

Third, a demo video gives your customers a way to "try before they buy." For example, Laser-Professionals, Inc. http://www.laser-professionals.com offers laser safety training DVD's for purchase, but website visitors get the special treat of a preview... a "teaser trailer," if you will.

Fourth, the viral nature of video on YouTube gives you a way to send your message out to thousands of customers. Experiments such as "Will it Blend?" for Blendtec http://www.willitblend.com, with founder Tom Dickson grinding up a variety of items (think iPods, a DVD camcorder, credit cards, golf balls) or the Eepybird "Mentos and Diet Coke" experiment http://eepybird.com/dcm1.html, or the Evolution of Dance by Judson Laipply http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg all provide incredibly addictive (over a million views each) and memorable commercials for your business.

Fifth, women business owners looking for additional ways to spread their message will do well to take videos of their business and marketing through a variety of channels, including your own website, YouTube.com, Google Video, and your own blogs and videologs.

To keep your business thriving, remember to do the following: Share your infomercial. Keep visitors on your site. Give them "sneak previews" of your content. Create videos that your visitors will want to "send to a friend." Always remember to find multiple channels to broadcast your message.