Today on Leading Matters my guest is Amy Schmittauer, the host of the YouTube show Savvy Sexy Social. With over 10 million video views under her belt, Amy is perhaps the best person to turn to when we decide to start using video to connect, engage, entertain, and educate our marketplace.

This conversation with Amy Schmittauer may be the most important and valuable episode of Leading Matters yet. In the past 18 months video has taken over our social media choices, and if we want to communicate with our audience at any level at all, we are going to have to make a decision on video. That is where we are in 2016. The clock has run out on whether or not we should be using video, and instead we must now make a decision over how to use it effectively. You are going to need help sorting it out, and Amy Schmittauer is, without a doubt, the best resource to help you learn how you ought to get started with video.

HIGHLIGHTS

BE SOMEONE’S FAVORITE  
Video is different. It is personal, it is engaging, it delivers both breadth and depth not to mention an opportunity to entertain. But more than any other of our media options today video demands that we must earn the attention of our audience. How do you do this? Be someone’s favorite option.

WHY DO SO MANY COMPANIES SUCK AT VIDEO?
Perhaps decades of polished prestigious marketing communication materials have lulled businesses to sleep over the years because when faced with an opportunity to create a more personal and intimate connection they automatically opt for prestigious and polished. Sadly, this is not what someone wants to see in a video they choose to give two minutes of their time to watch.

BRAND CAN’T STOP AT THE COLOR PALLET
Brand is important we all get that, but failing to propagate the essence of your brand beyond the basics is unfortunate. The very personality of our brand comes through loudly and clearly in video.

POSSIBILITIES CONSTRAINED ONLY BY OUR FEARLESSNESS
You know that iconic brand that is answering all of your customer service issues over Twitter with video? No neither does Amy because no one does it. Video has so many applications, but we won’t figure that out if we don’t get a little brave and bold.

BE DOWN WITH SRP – YEAH YOU KNOW ME (sorry my 90s is showing)
Amy explains how she’s honed her craft, allows her personality to shine through. You can do the same. But you gotta be down with SRP (Specialize – Read – Practice).

MASTERING THE INBOX WITH VIDEO
Amy’s new addition to her channel is a Q&A series. It not only has helped her address all the questions she receives more efficiently (minimizing the volume in her inbox) but it delivers to her audience a very practical way to get started with video by using video to ask the questions. Look re-read that one and listen to this section in the episode ore than one. You’ll be glad you did.

BEST WAY TO START WITH VIDEO 
Listen to your customers. No really that is it. Listen to your customers.

Snapchat, Facebook Live, Youtube Live, Periscope, etc, etc, etc.
Newsflash: VIDEO AIN’T GOING AWAY. The multiple options out there make it seemingly more daunting, but each platform has strength. Snapchat: – automated jump cuts and naturally raw. Live video: Engaging, educating, intimate. You won’t sort out these nuances if you are not creating.

SHOW NOTES
Amy’s Youtube Channel
Amy’s “How to embed a YouTube video in a Powerpoint Presentation” video.
Amy’s “Top five ways to get more twitter followers” video
Amy’s Schmittauer Social Video Marketing
Hire Amy Schmittauer to Speak (includes her speaker trailer)