Managed Services: Using Video for Marketing
If you’re a managed service provider seeking to leverage low-cost video marketing, blogs and other social media, steal some ideas from Scott Spiro (pictured), president of Computer Solutions Group Inc. Spiro and I met during the Ingram Micro Seismic Partner Conference, and his simple — but effective — approach to video-driven PR impressed me. Here’s a look at his strategy so far.
Let’s start with Spiro’s blog. It features a clean design and strong branding (promoting his personal views and CSG’s expertise). Notice that Spiro doesn’t blog five times a day. Instead, he has a handful of posts in April and May 2009. That’s fine. Sometimes, less is more — especially since Spiro’s entries tend to be a little longer than a traditional blog.
Picture This
Now, check out some of the videos Spiro has embedded in his blog. One of them, posted on Earth Day, describes CSG’s green data center strategy:
Simple but effective.
I also like Spiro’s approach to telling readers about himself. Instead of writing a massive diatribe filled with grand achievements, he offers eight short tips about his personal and professional focus. Refreshing.
Is Spiro running a profitable, fast-growing MSP? I can’t say that for sure since CSG — like many MSPs out there — is privately held. However, Spiro is using social media to successfully brand himself, and his company.
MSPmentor is updated multiple times daily. Don’t miss a single post. Subscribe to our Enewsletter, RSS, Webcast and Twitter feeds.
xlint idea –
Internal Branding(sales and selling) is a great idea when implementing projects that directly effect end-users.
Greg and readers:
One note of caution to everyone: Spiro makes social media look easy because he’s naturally social in the real world.
As his own blog points out, he was a professional Puppeteer at the Disneyland Hotel. And he’s auditioned for commercials. So he’s used to being in front of the camera and engaging audiences…
Joe –
good point…I guess I need to go through my sock drawer…wait for it…wait for it…..there ya go! 🙂
I love it, we have just started some video initiatives and having fun as we try to use this medium to expand the brand. A simple video using Mac tools have allowed us to drive traffic to our website from our newsletters and email blasts. We have been shocked by the number of click-through’s we are getting and the buzz from our customers.
I am including the link to our first use of video in our marketing efforts. Joe- If I am breaching any rules of blogging etiquette, please feel free to remove the link.
http://www.fandotech.com/ManagedIT/BoomerangRecoverySolutions/tabid/1018/Default.aspx
Brian Doyle
http://www.fandotech.com
Scott, awesome job..just watching your videos have provided me with some valuable insight to how we approach our marketing and social networking at Bulletproof InfoTech, I think it is time I start carrying my camera around with me all the time.
Joe brings up a great point, we have to have the social skills in the real world for it to work on the web. I thought I had it Scott, but man, you just brought me back down to earth.
Cheers
Stuart Crawford
Calgary, AB
http://blog.itsuccessmentor.com
Stuart et al, thank you very much for the positive feedback. I think it’s important to focus on good content, and of course much practice! More MSP’s (and non-MSP businesses) will need to take a look at how they utilize social media in future. It’s really the most cost-effective way for them to market.
Thanks!
-Scott Spiro
[…] of Nine Lives Media Inc.#8217;s MSPMentor.com for featuring my blog this week in his article #8220;Managed Services: Using Video for Marketing#8221;. Joe#8217;s research and commentary is well respected within the IT/Managed Services industry. Not […]