Marketing & Distributing Your Video (page 3)

And Don't Forget...

Up-close-and-personal marketing techniques are great for gaining attention. Attending a trade show or expo in the industry that your video covers is a great way to meet and greet your target audience. Have plenty of promotional postcards, posters, sample DVDs and other swag to distribute to attendees.

Staging a premiere literally puts your video "up in lights," always draws a huge crowd and is a sure-fire way to attract media coverage. By making it similar to a glitzy Hollywood premiere, and sending special invites to the Who's Whos of your town, you will seal the press coverage. Hold the premiere in a place that is fitting for the project: a college auditorium for an edgy independent movie, local library for a nature documentary, health club for an exercise instructional tape. For educational or child-themed projects, hold a "traveling" premiere with matinee screenings at area schools. The choices for a premiere venue are virtually limitless.

Mark Bosko is a freelance writer and an independent video and film producer.

Sidebar: Marketing on the Web

Check out these video-based Web sites for free marketing opportunities:
AtomFilms
Bebo
Blip
Bolt.com
Brightcove
ClipShack
Cruxy
CurrentTV
CustomFlix
Del.icio.us
Dig/All
DivX Stage6
DoveTail
eefoof
ExpertVillage
Fabchannel
Flickr
Google Video
GrapeFlix
GreenCine
Grouper
GUBA
HungryFlix
iKlipz
inDplay
LuLu
Mandy
MatchFlick
MetaCafe
Metacritic
MySpace
NetFlix
Panjea
Revver
Si-Mi
Technorati
TurnHere
Vimeo
VOD
VodPod
vSocial
YouTube