Screen Capture Video Puts Your Business In Spotlight
Nobody can deny that video now plays a huge role on the Internet. In fact, Youtube now rates as the Web’s second largest search engine right behind Google. Most people think online video requires a video camera, special skills and a face made for TV. However, with “screen capture” video, any small business can put the power of online video to work with nothing more than a mouse, computer, microphone, and a good idea.
Screen capture video does just what the name implies: it captures whatever shows on your screen along with narration. It doesn’t require a video camera, fancy set, lighting, or Hollywood special effects. If you can point, click, and talk, you can create video to use in your business. Typical uses include showing PowerPoint presentations, software demos, pictures, diagrams, flow-charts, and more.
Sales Letter Videos
You can use PowerPoint to create your best “pitch” for your products and services and then turn the video into your 24/7 online sales person. This cuts down massively on the time it takes to prepare web-based sales copy. In fact, any existing PowerPoint presentations used in your business can go online to start building your business.
Software Demos
If you sell software, you can create videos that demonstrate exactly how to use software. However, even more useful to most businesses, you can show people how to use any software to get a specific result. For example: a local printer could show customers how to get Word documents ready for 4-color print submission.
Internal Company Training Videos
Use screen capture video to create videos to train your staff on procedures, software, and any other topic. Not just related to computer activities like how to back up the company database, you can create an entire suite of training videos on topics ranging from human resources procedures to effective employee relationships.
Video Marketing
Unless you reside under a rock, you’ve heard of online video marketing. Screen capture video enables you to create videos to post on YouTube and other popular video sharing sites. In fact, you can even post these videos on your company Facebook page to share (and spread) the word with your followers.
Customer Support
Create a library of support videos that include FAQ (frequently asked questions), demos, procedures and processes your customers can use. Anything you find yourself explaining repeatedly, you can do it or demo it once, capture it, and then use it forever through the web. This creates a huge time saver for everyone.
One company has dominated the screen capture software market for the last 10 years, and with good reason. Techsmith.com offers two products for users of all skill levels to immediately start using screen capture video. The entry level “Jing” software found at techsmith.com/jing/ enables users to capture video and post it with minimal technical skills. The “pro” level (less than $15 a year) even enables you to post to YouTube.
Techsmith’s other software option, Camtasia, really is the Rolls Royce of screen capture software, with features, options and an editing suite to do virtually anything you can imagine with video.
Aside from the screen capture software, you’ll need a computer and a decent microphone. I recommend either a good headset microphone or a USB studio mic, which you can find on Amazon for under $100. You’ll also need a place to post your videos, but that’s really the easy part. You can post your videos to YouTube and then just grab the code to paste into your website or blog. If you need to keep your videos private or keep more control over your content, a basic hosting account should do the trick in most cases.
Screen capture video really does open up a whole new world of content creation, sales and marketing, and customer service options. If you want to take your small business videos to the next level, grab the software, make some videos, and open your mind to the possibilities!
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14 Responses
Good information, Jim.
Another popular screen capture service is Screenr – http://www.screenr.com. Really easy to use and you can post straight to Twitter. Plus it’s free.
It’s also a good idea to go through your opt-in and sales process and use screen captures at strategic points to help subscribers and customers.
For example, after someone signs up for your newsletter, you can show a quick video on your thank you page on how to confirm their email address. Getting more people to confirm helps to build a bigger list of active subscribers.
You can also use a short screen capture video to show subscribers, and customers, how to add you to their address book or contacts (a.k.a. whitelisting) so your emails don’t end up in their junk folders. WhitelistNow is a new service that provides videos for popular email clients you can put on your site so you don’t have to create them yourself – http://www.whitelistnow.com. It’s a huge time saver and it works.
Using videos is a proven and effective way to sell and also to show people how to do something. Plus, if you’re a little camera-shy (like me 
) then it’s perfect since you don’t have to get infront of a camera!
Still getting used to seeing you in a suit and tie, Jim. ;o)
All the best.
Mickey
This is great! An opportunity to be just like the big guys! Thanks for making this available to us!
Very nice to know…to read and valuable from many viewpoints.
Thank you for enriching the business of video producers.
Johan
I agree, I use screen captures in my businesses.
One way we use it, is when trying to explain a procedure on a given software for clients, much quicker to post a short Jing video which can be viewed over and over again, saving both us and the client time.
Another way is product marketing for placement on websites and video hosting sites.
I’m a firm believer in creating things once, that can be used multiple times, without anymore effort on our part.
Great Stuff Jim!
Hi Mickey,
Those are excellent examples… thanks 
Jim
Hi Terrie,
Thank you
You’re a pretty darn wonderful person yourself!
Are you going to Big?
Jim
Hi Mike,
Glad you liked it
Jim
I use Jing and recommend it to everyone. Great for short presentations. I also post on my You Tube channel and I link them to several social media sites. Any product that makes me look good is a great product.
Thanks for the article.
You mentioned the benefits of combining screen-capture and PowerPoint for creating Sales Letter Videos — and I have your tutorials on how to do this and am learning heaps.
The tutorials are highly recommended . . .
http://easyhowtovideos.com/powerpoint-video-sales-letters/
Great info Jim there are several good Free Screen Capture programs out there. SnagIt,Cam Studio,etc. Do a search on Google and you will find tons of them. Also on youtube, there is a little box right below the video on the right, that will allow you to record from a web cam right to YouTube.
Have a great weekend, Gary.
Re: Gary
Yes, there are free ones out there… NONE of them are as good or versatile as Camtasia. I’ve tried them “all” and have always come back to Camtasia. If you’re serious about using Screen Capture video, Camtasia is the way to go… bar none 
Jim
Hi Michael,
Thanks
Jim
Hi Steve,
Jing is good (made by the same people who make Camtasia), but Camtasia gives the ultimate flexibility without limitation.
Jim
This is your typical detailed helpful article for us Jim.
There is no one who does more for the communities around him than you do (and not just the internet marketing community)
Thanks
Terrie