There was a time when having a business did not equate to being “camera ready”. But today’s virtual world requires going beyond the traditional approaches.

Consider the following:

• One study noted that it takes 1/10th of second for someone to form an opinion of you online. So yes, First impressions are made in a snap.
• Hubspot found that 54% of consumers want to see more video content from a brand or business they support. Meaning, showing up on camera is more important for your business than ever before.

Here are tips on video marketing for your business from entrepreneur Sharon Haver, founder of FocusOnStyle.com:

1. Be authentic

“What sets you apart from anyone else is your own personality. To stand out as a go-to authority, lead with authenticity,” Haver said.
The less “professional” and more “real” a video is the more it converts these days as it removes the friction between you and the viewer, thus more revenue from doing less.

2. Do it fast

The longer you take to make video, the more momentum you lose. The “same day” approach works like gangbusters to get out of your own way and get it done.

3. Pay attention to visual messages

The setting and background of your video, along with what you wear (and what not to wear) will complete the story of your visual message. Make sure they are saying the right message. Aim for a natural, yet styled setting.

4. Avoid sounding sales-y and scripted

Keep the video more conversational and allow your personality to shine.

5. Use available tech

Creating photos and videos today is simple, as your smartphone or webcam are both your production studio and personal broadcasting center.

From January-March 2020, Kaspersky blocked 269,204 ransomware attempts against businesses with a total of 20-250 employees in Southeast Asia.

The good news: There are ways to protect your data from getting kidnapped.

Here are some tips from Kaspersky EVEN BEFORE a ransomware attack happens.

1. Back-up

Have fresh back-up copies of your files. And be sure to store them on physical object and in cloud storage.

2. Educate your employees

Build a shared sense of responsibility inside your company.

3. Layered security in everything

Safeguard all data touchpoints within your network.

4. Update – always

Update your operating system and software to eliminate recent vulnerabilities.

5. Use a ransomware tool

Antivirus companies abound. But be sure you’re downloading programs from reputable sites.

With many tools and resources now readily available, it is easy for entrepreneurs to build successful businesses. 

Not surprisingly, in the US as an example, somewhere around 27 million are entrepreneurs, and 69% of them started their businesses at home, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report from researchers at Babson College and Baruch College. 

In the Philippines, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, “6.2% of the adult population are established business owners and 18.4% are engaged in early-stage entrepreneurship (TEA). The country’s TEA rate is far higher than the average for Asia and Oceania (13%).”

That this is a career path worth considering goes without saying.

However, according to “Medium”, 90% of new startups fail, with 20% failing in their first year and 34% closing within their first two years. Just over 50% of businesses make it to their fifth year.

So if you’re considering becoming your own boss, follow some biz tips to put your entrepreneurial dreams in motion.

From entrepreneur Russell Brunson – who started his first online company while he was still in college; co-founder of ClickFunnels, a software company that helps entrepreneurs get their messages out to the marketplace; and author of “Traffic Secrets” – here are some tips.

1. Find a Proven Business Model

There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Many entrepreneurs have already blazed trails, run tests and figured out what kind of business models work. If you can find someone who’s succeeding at doing what you want to do, then put a fresh spin on their methods.

2. Identify Your Dream Customer

After you’ve chosen your business model, work to identify your dream customers. The better you understand your potential customers, the easier it can be to find where your customers congregate (off- or online), understand their wants and needs, and attract them to your product or service with organic and paid campaigns.

3. Build Your Sales Funnel

Using his success with ClickFunnels as evidence, Brunson advocates using online sales funnels to build business and revenue. The basic sales funnel begins with a low-risk offer, captures shipping and payment information, offers an upsell and concludes with a simple confirmation.

“Every year, tens of thousands of businesses start and fail because the entrepreneurs don’t understand one essential skill: the art and science of getting people to find you,” Brunson said.

4. Grow Traffic and Collaborate

Build relationships with people – e.g. influencers – with the goal of pitching collaborative opportunities that benefit both of your businesses.

Particularly if you are selling anything online, or trying to generate leads online, no matter what industry you’re in, these can help attract more eyeballs, Brunson said.

Visit grabtrafficsecrets.com for similar tips.