Using a YouTube Channel for Market Research

By Robin A. Brown

One of the advantages of social video sharing sites is the feedback you can get from your niche market. An easy way to get feedback is to first do some keyword research just as you would for your website or ppc campaign. Make some videos based around those keywords, especially the "how-to" sorts, upload them to your dedicated YouTube channel, and post them to your video blog.

Feedback from channel viewers often includes requests for another topic for a new video. Keep note of these in a spreadsheet or notepad, and watch what happens when you upload a video of content that's been requested. Remember, if one person asked specifically, chances are good that there are other visitors that are interested in the same, but more shy about posting comments.
Classic direct marketing tactics include market research. This is accomplished often by a poll, where you ask your niche market what they want, how hard it is to find it, how much they'd pay for it, and how original they perceive it. The feedback you get on a YouTube channel will often give you exactly that information!

For instance, you'll get comments telling you whether your content is interesting, helpful, and whether it's perceived as better than your competition. You should watch videos that rank well for your niche or keyword set. By favoriting those videos, you increase the value of you channel for your channel viewers. Your favorites become a value added part of your channel, and your visitors can even subscribe to your favorites.

When you get a request for new content, do a quick keyword search to look at the best way of incorporating the keywords into your title and tags. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly your views will rise when you provide content that viewers have told you they want. In direct marketing it's called "shooting fish in a barrel".

Be sure to brand your video with your logo, your site URL, and some good stock music or an intro music bite. As you provide content that is in demand, each view will build your brand with your target audience. This is a great way to build a relationship with your target niche audience.
There are so many ways of using video marketing today. The social sharing aspect of YouTube is just one of them. Use it to find out more about what people in your niche want to see!

Robin Brown is a Singer sewing machine fan. She sews regularly for her family and for fun.
Visit http://www.SewSing.com for video tutorials on using a mechanical Singer sewing machine.

Beth has co-authored an ebook on Video Marketing that targets marketers rather than the viral goal. Afterall, it's not the size of your traffic, but what you do with it that counts.

Visit her blog at http://www.creativesolutionspress.com/ for creative solutions, plus plenty of entries on video marketing.

Her Video Marketing ebook is available on http://www.videomarketingsuccessbook.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_A._Brown

Do Your Research Before You Buy a Franchise

By Katherine Fein

Although I get calls DAILY for information about Subway and Quiznos franchise purchases, I never recommend that type of franchise. In fact I try and persuade my clients away from this life altering decision. There are much betters ways of investing money, time, and work.

A sandwich shop (or ANY franchise) needs to be researched thoroughly BEFORE you buy one, and my job is to teach you how. Let’s do the numbers:
If a sandwich store earns $40,000 for the month:

7% royalty = $2,800
1% local advertising = $400
3% national advertising = $1,200
20% labor = $8,000
29% food = $11,600
3% paper = $1,200.
3% accounting / payroll = $ 300
10% rent / CAM = $4,0002.
75% insurance / misc. = 1,100
5% repay SBA loan = 2,0004.
5% misc. bills (utilities, etc) = $1,800.
5% spoilage = $200
1% supplies = $400
1% promo food = $400
1% comp food = $400
2.9% credit card fee = $1,160.
4% coupons = $160.
5 food waste = $200

IF a store earns $480,000 annually, the franchise owner can expect to walk away with a profit of 9.4%. That equals approximately $45,120. If you live in an area with cheaper rent, there will be a higher profit margin.

These figures are real. These figures are why I NEVER advise a sandwich shop as an investment. I ask my clients if they want to make $45,000 a year after investing all that money, and doing all that work. Some secretaries make more than that. You invest all that money, do all that work, and you make less than a secretary? There are MANY other franchises that cost MUCH less and make a MUCH larger R.I.O. (Return on your Investment)

If you would like more information about better returns on your investments there are two great websites: www.masterfranchisingandareadeveloperopportunity.com
or www.franmartconnection.com

I have experienced success in the franchise business as the owner of multiple types of franchise units. I have extensive knowledge of starting, growing, operating, and selling franchises. Like Fran Mart Connection, I believe strongly that a business should facilitate the dreams of its owner.

In 1983 I completed my MBA in small business management and entrepreneurial studies, then purchased her first franchise. I won numerous awards for quality management, and became a key “go to” business owner upon whom the Franchisor depended on to train new franchise owners.

In 1998, I successfully sold all of my franchises. Today I continue to consult in business development and work force training. I am excited about my relationship with Fran Mart Connection as an independent consultant, as it affords me the opportunity to use my knowledge first hand about franchising and business ownership. I have become is an expert in advising and coaching others in decision matrix development, and execution.