Garden Diva Explains How to Use Video to Promote Your Landscaping Company

Melissa Allman | January 18, 2011

Online video is huge. It's almost to the point now that when a prospective customer visits a website they expect to see video along with traditional text and images.

Lets face it, video is a great way to sell your company and services.

Previously I've highlighted some progressive Green Industry professionals (Genevieve Schmidt, Steve Griggs and Pamela Dabah) who are incorporating video into their marketing mix.

In this post I'll introduce another: Melissa Allman, also known on YouTube as GardenMagik.

Melissa says she is sold on the idea that video is an innovative way to communicate the products and services you offer. She must--since 2008, she's uploaded hundreds of videos to her YouTube channel that have been viewed more than 300,000 times. Not bad...

Here's the southern diva (had to say it :-) explaining the benefits of online video in her own words...

Engaging employees

Using video on your website can be a very effective way to garner the attention of prospective employees. The applicants you want will probably be creative and resourceful and they want to belong to a company with the same characteristics. By using video you can show potential employees that you are on the leading edge in our industry.

Including employees in company videos is also a creative way to keep them motivated and engaged. It's a fun way for them to express their own ideas and show off their unique personalities.

At my current company we implement in-house video training for employees, teaching them specific techniques and practices in the landscape. Some videos demonstrate pruning techniques while others describe and explain pest management practices.

While directing and filming these five to ten minute videos, I involve employees by including them in the actual videos. Learning becomes easier for the employees when it's hands on and fun.

Our clients can even see the passion our employees have for this industry when they watch our videos. This actually helps us retain customers!

Engaging clients and prospects

Since 2004 I've researched, written, and produced a garden show for our local cable channel called Back to the Garden with Melissa Allman. This show has helped me promote my business to a viewing audience of about 6,000 people. In turn, the show has drawn in potential clients due to the familiarity with my name.

In 2008 I created a YouTube channel to host all of my videos. Now the potential viewership is even larger than on local television. Potential customers and clients can see an array of videos on subjects that they are interested in. Many of my clients are actually in some of the videos!

Quite often my videos are funny, but they are also down to earth and full of valuable and practical information that homeowners can use. Using video is a great way to show potential clients how things are actually done, like the physical labor and equipment involved. It helps them plan their projects.

All of this helpful information leads to trust. Because of this, video marketing has been a wonderful way to promote our business and services. You can do the same!

Be sure to check out Melissa's YouTube Channel. You will get some great ideas for shooting video.

Have you started incorporating video into your marketing mix? How about for training employees or teaching potential clients? Feel free to share below.

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