YouTube has exploded and is extremely helpful for small businesses and entrepreneurs who want to get started using video to attract new clients and customers. At this time, it’s the number three most trafficked web site in the world and YouTube itself is used as a search engine for people searching for content. If you create short marketing videos, you can be found when people search!

So why do video to promote your small business? Old time advertising and marketing simply isn’t working anymore. Things such as the Yellow Pages don’t bring in traffic. When was the last time you checked the Yellow Pages? You have to do what is new, what is working and go where the traffic is. Here are three mistakes to avoid when wanting to promote your small business with video.

1. Not creating a channel on YouTube.

When you create your channel on YouTube, create it in your name if possible. Sometimes, people start out in a business that has one topic, but then it begins to attract different customers with different interests. So by getting it in your name, you are not stuck with one niche. You can change as the market sees you and as the market demands different products and services and topics from you.

What to do instead:

Grab your channel immediately on YouTube, even if you don’t think you are going to be using video for another few months, get your real estate now. It’s free to create your own channel.

2. Letting Your Ego Get in the Way.

Another mistake to avoid when starting market your small business with video is to avoid becoming self conscious when you turn the video recorder on. This is just your ego. What to do instead: It’s important when you turn the video recorder on, to get out of your own self-critical head and focus on your message and how you can help and bring value to your market.

3. Being Scared of Technology.

The third mistake to avoid when beginning to use video to market your small business is to let technology, or your fear of it, get in the way. It’s never been easier to create videos quickly and painlessly.

What to do instead:

Get an easy USB video device like a Flip Video and just begin practicing. Most USB video devices now even have YouTube integration, meaning you can simply create your video, film your video, attach the USB to your computer, and with a few clicks of your mouse, upload your video to YouTube. It’s really never been easier to get your business, your message and your services in front of millions of people.