How to make the most of video marketing

Anny Havland, a mortgage professional with a commercial acting background, shares her tips on making video marketing work for your business

Improvisation class training, stints in music videos and castings in commercials with Big Fat Fish Company and SSK Insurance sparkle her resume.

Anny Havland, of Seattle, is a mortgage professional with a commercial acting background. She is cofounder of Neighborhood Mortgage and Executive Producer and Host on Talk It Up TV. In both roles infuses her newest love of video marketing.

The Whatcom Women In Business organization out of Washington this October is officially awarding Havland the Professional Woman of the Year Award at its banquet.

The 37-year-old mom says you don’t have to know everything about tech just to get started.
She says to jump into Internet marketing, first put together some type of social media web presence. While blogs help, she said, they only go so far. She sees video marketing as the next big thing and said she has seen it make money in her own mortgage business.

Because more senses are involved through video, it is more personable than most internet marketing, she said.

“Not everyone is going to like you, yet the ones you do connect with, you most likely wouldn't have otherwise,” Havland said. “There are only so many in-person connections that you can do to build relationships due to time constraints. That isn't the case with video because it has an endless audience reach.”

She advises mortgage professionals getting started with technology to start with social media sites and explore video in that format first.

“There is a huge population of people now online in some type of format,” said Havland, who says she rarely saves business cards. “What I recommend is connecting with them so the relationship forms or grows. Be selective of what you post because your audience will be watching you. It's an easy way to stay connected and relate. My secret to business is simple: people do business with who they know, like and trust. Through social media, you can establish and maintain this easily. People no longer use phonebooks. That's a thing of the past. They ask their connections for recommendations, so stay connected.

#pb#“At minimum get yourself online, especially in a few of the top social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linked In,” she said. “I'd even say consider a YouTube channel to place your videos. If you're not ready for that step you can always post videos straight to Facebook and Instagram than share on your other sites.”

While she studied communication at Whatcom Community College in Washington, she said at first she was a fish out of water when it came to video.

“Attempt video and remember you must start somewhere so anything is better than nothing. I used to use a Velcro green screen behind my painting in my office and would have my assistant shoot me on a flip camera. I honestly had no clue what I was doing yet I wouldn't learn unless I tried. Have fun with it!

Her tips:
• “Most people have a computer or a cell phone that can take video, use that and make it short, simple and to the point. People don't want to hear you ramble plus it will save you so much time.”

• “What people do love is helpful tips and information so give that to them and make it your own. What I mean by, make it your own, is add your own personality into it.”