One Video: The Steps to Unlimited Content

I know we aren't supposed to choose our favorite child, but Friday is my favorite because it is action day. Today we remove all of the excuses by simplifying the process, breaking it down in such a way that you can find success. 

Now, quick caveat before we start: the step by step process we will go over today for unlimited content is just one way to do it, not the only way. Move the steps around, stretch it over two weeks, batch it all on a Saturday morning, OR the best option - follow it step by step.

You will want to build it around your schedule, as we always tell you: your business is your business, marketing leads to more business, so use your time wisely. The point is that you have a system once I show you what has worked for me. 

Step one, pick your person: Open your A-List and choose one local business owner you genuinely respect, the one you’d happily send a client to tomorrow, and who aligns with your values.

Step two, reach out: keep it short and make it about them; be clear of the Intentional Give and how they will be more successful when you help with their pain point. Something like, “Hey Sarah, I’m spotlighting a few local businesses I really believe in and I’d love to feature you. Ten minutes, three questions, and you get the video to use however you want. Interested?” Tell them up front it’ll go on YouTube, social, and in your email, so nobody’s surprised later.

Step three, record it: If you have been following you know the drill - phone, lapel mics, and tripod. Shoot horizontal for YouTube and keep them centered in the frame so you can crop vertical clips later. Find a quiet spot with decent light, ideally at their business so the background tells part of the story. Then ask your three questions. Why did you start this? What are you most proud of? What do you wish more customers knew? Let them talk make them the hero, you are an active listener and curious about what makes their business great for the community. 

Step four, send it to them first: Before it goes anywhere, text them the video and say thanks. They get to see it, they feel respected, and they’re far more likely to share it with their own audience when it goes live.

Step five, the full version goes on YouTube: Put their business name and your town in the title so locals searching for them find it. That link is now the hub for everything else; it gets the best reach, it is a video playlist, you can access it anytime, and you can re-share content forever. 

Step six, the email: Write one short paragraph about why you picked them and what you learned, then drop the link to the video. Your list gets a story about someone in their community instead of another market update or product drop, and they’ll actually open it.

Step seven, social: Post the full video with a few lines about why you love what they do, and tag them. Then cut two or three short clips, the best answer to each question, and post them as Shorts and Reels over the next week or two. Tag them every single time. You can also vary your call to action every time you post: share with a friend, subscribe to get more local content, join the newsletter to meet more business owners, so many options here. 

Step eight, the follow-up: This is where it pays off, make a short list of clients and business owners who’d genuinely care about this business, then send each one a personal text with the link. “Filmed this with Sarah last week and thought of you.” Keep that link handy for weeks. Every time you need a reason to reach out, you’ve got one that isn’t about you. Likewise, for the business owner, add them to your CRM, they are now someone you want to stay in contact with, continue to add value, send referrals; you are now allies. 

Then next week, go back to step one with the next name on your A-List. That’s the whole system. One conversation, eight steps, and a referral partner who now thinks you’re the best thing that ever happened to their marketing.

Now the honest part, reading eight steps on a Friday afternoon doesn’t do ANYTHING. Doing step one and two before Monday does. So tell me in the comments: who’s the first business owner you’re reaching out to? First name is plenty.

To have a quick chat about how your marketing plan is working, here is my calendar: https://calendly.com/livelocalteam/15-minute-marketing-analysis