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Lazy Man's Video Review (Brilliant)

by Vincenzo Oliva
14 replies
I don't want to take credit for this as I got the idea from Tim Castleman.

Subject: Video about your website...

Find a site that needs your services. Send them an email with a broken link.

"I am so and so in ____, and I do ______. I recently did a video review of your site and found several issues that I can correct that should catapult you to the 1st page of Google so you can beat your competition and get more customers to your business.

Click here to watch the video
(Any problems viewing the video please reply to this email and let me know)

Point is you send out 10-20 of these emails, those who reply and say "the link doesn't work" are the ones really interested. Jump on your camtasia or jing and whip a 3-5 minute video for them.

Brilliant! What do you think?

Weed out the tire kickers. Build curiosity. So you don't waste 20 hours on 20 videos.


Bonus idea-screen capture their website and create a thumbnail image of their site to put in the email (html only). How can they resist?
#brilliant #lazy #man #review #video
  • Profile picture of the author Ryan Shaw
    This is an awesome idea

    It's all about qualifying your prospect. hah, this is great stuff!
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  • Profile picture of the author Chad Heffelfinger
    That would definately save you the time and effort for the ones who don't care or never open the email. Not a bad way to do it.

    Thanks for posting the idea.
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  • Profile picture of the author Vincenzo Oliva
    Incidentally, the preferred way to do this (even if you own top level Camtasia) is FREE Jing/Screencast. You have it all for speed. Video & screen capture/Jing, free storage/screencast (both are techsmith and connect I believe). Camtasia is more production/conversion work.

    To break link just take a real link under your account on screencast and remove a couple characters. ;-)
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    • Profile picture of the author Defunct
      Pretty clever, though you could just call, find the decision maker and ask him if he wants a video of all the issues.

      It's less automated but for any company with multiple people you really need that e-mail to get to the right person.
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      • Profile picture of the author Bronwyn and Keith
        Hi Defunct

        Yeah we are more inclined to follow your idea as it is more open and honest.

        If you know your stuff you can "find" something wrong with almost any business profile or presence on the web.

        As long as you get to talk to the "key person" it makes good sense.

        Regards

        Bronwyn and Keith
        Originally Posted by Defunct View Post

        Pretty clever, though you could just call, find the decision maker and ask him if he wants a video of all the issues.

        It's less automated but for any company with multiple people you really need that e-mail to get to the right person.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rocketguy
    What about when the potential client says "WOW you want to do my Internet marketing, but you don't even know how to correctly set up a link in an email?" Just saying I could definitely see some people saying this back to you in an email.
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  • Profile picture of the author www_retireonme_com
    Rocketguy, good point. I could see people saying that. You will always have people saying negative ****.

    Atleast if you add a screencapture of the 1st page of google and they can see their business not listed with their competitors, they will atleast think you took the time to make a video, link in the html must be wrong.
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  • Profile picture of the author kdvwest
    You can still make a dynamic page of their company name, which wouldn't take long. Could also include a video that doesn't play, like a screenshot of maybe a vimeo video UI, but it just wont load. With a noticeable link under saying something along the lines of, "if you're having difficulties playing this movie, please contact me with your company name". A lot of ways to spin it without looking incompetent for issuing a broken link to someone. Then again the above way would still seem pretty incompetent as well, unless you're stating the issue is in regards to their browser. Which you can easily correct by them emailing you back on the issue.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rus Sells
    I think this tactic is deceptive just like the Guru's who send the email and make a supposed mistake in the links so they have an excuse for mailing you again or whatever.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jill Carpenter
      Me too. I think it would be better to make the video and just have it ready.

      There are ways to edit so that some of the content found in a video could be repurposed and made to be "lazy man's video" while being ethical.

      For instance,

      1. Intro - Make the personal message like "Hi [insert business name", My name is so and so, and I just wanted to let you know I think your site can do much better. I also think I can help" or what ever.

      2. Insert a general clip(s) here about the issues - for example, these can be clips done once and used when needed. Let's say the issues are:

      a. site is not SEO optimized
      b. no video on the site
      c. no optin list

      So, I'd grab my canned videos about these particular topics and drop them onto the edit line with screen titles to separate. Each of these videos would not show the potential clients site, but would show examples of businesses with things done properly, and how it has benefited the site. It would also discuss statistics.

      Then, I'd do a quick summary at the end and done!

      It could take a few days to make the canned edits, but once done they could be stored on a drive and mixed and matched how ever is needed.

      This would also require you to go look for their issues first - but I think this should be done anyway before approaching people you are trying to help.

      You have to survey someone to see if it is even worth your time to try and help them. Some will have things already in place. I'd rather look for those who really need me as they will be much easier to sell to.
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  • Profile picture of the author alanborcic
    If I am business owner and I got email from you with broken link, I would never call you because I would understand your broken link as your lack of skills, knowledge and professionalism.
    I am using this tactic because it take me 10-15 minutes to record video, it give me opportunity to learn about that particular niche, so if one person is not interested, there are others from same niche who are.
    Just my two cents
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  • Profile picture of the author xlfutur1
    I'm not sure about the broken link idea, since you are trying to position yourself as an internet expert, and sending a broken link is not the greatest first impression.

    I am testing a one page short letter, with a personalized screen shot with annotations, much like Vagabond includes in his videos in another post here.

    The text will be very short and the screen shot will do most of the heavy lifting.

    When they call back, I have a few questions I'll ask them first, then try to set an appt, or I can just tell them "It's pretty hard to explain over the phone, but here's what I can do because I know you are busy...let me do a short 10 minute video that outlines a few key points for you. I'll send you the link, watch it in the next couple days and then get back to me with any questions you have, and we can go from there. Fair enough?."

    It seems to me that getting a business owner to trust you enough to pay you $XXX per month will take a little time to educate them enough to see what you can do and that you know what you are talking about and you know how to get results.

    I don't want to spend all day making videos for people who aren't interested though. Screen shots take a few minutes and if you do good research, you should never run out of interested prospects.

    So it really is a 2, maybe 3 step process to sign them up for a service. Get them to raise their hand first though.

    I'll let you know how the test goes, I'm tracking everything.
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