Videos come in many different formats, with some of them better for specific objectives. In general, the best formats for solopreneurs are those that are relatively easy to create, while still looking professional and having a strong impact.

But before you create any video, you must know your target market and their common interests, issues and problems. The more you know, understand and listen to your target market, the more easily you will be able to speak their language and appeal to their interests in your video.

You will also want to think of the visual effects of your video. Our eyes are drawn to bright colors, beautiful images and motion. See how you can incorporate these elements in your video, especially in the intro and closing, regardless of the format you choose.

Here five different formats to choose from:

Whiteboard with Text

Stand in front of a whiteboard. Present your material, then write out notes on the whiteboard as you talk. You can use speed acceleration to speed through some of the more complex or drawn-out drawings.

YouTube and other video sites continue to explode in usage, making video a great way for solopreneurs and client-based professionals to market themselves.

But as with any marketing tool, you want to try to wring the maximum effectiveness out of your efforts to create and use videos. Below are 7 ways to make sure you are getting the most out of your video marketing.

First, why video? For starters, many people are visual learners, and they prefer to learn new information by watching a video rather than by reading pages of information, so you reach those people more effectively.

Additionally, videotaping yourself can make you seem more personable and approachable. Your viewers hear your tone and see your expression, which can make your message more compelling.

You've heard that using video to market your business can bring incredible results. But do the benefits outweigh the effort it takes to create a video and put it online?

In a word, YES! Shooting a video, editing and formatting it, uploading it to the Internet with the right title and description takes a bit of time. But the payoff for video marketing can be tremendous.

Here are seven real benefits of marketing with video:

1. Personal connection. Especially for Internet-based businesses, the personal connection with your potential market is a huge selling factor. With video, your audience can truly get to know you, eye-to-eye. They get to see that you are indeed a real, live person. They start building a deeper relationship with you and feel as if they actually have met you.

2. Trust. There's an old proverb: "Believe nothing of what you hear, and only half of what you see." On the Internet, it's so easy to be a fake and a fraud. People are skeptical about claims they read online—and rightfully so. But video puts a face to your words and makes you more believable and trustworthy. And people will only buy from businesses and individuals that they trust.

To be competitive in today's online market, your marketing strategy must contain video. It's a powerful form of content, which is rapidly becoming the primary marketing tool of choice for many small businesses.

That's because videos showcase your and your company's personality. They convey, in images, what you and your mission/vision are all about. They demonstrate both authenticity and authority online. They communicate valuable content in a format that engages your prospects. They let people in, they connect, so that people get to know you.

Business owners who use video for marketing purposes have cited an increase in sales, lead generation, website use, improved customer relations and more. It definitely pays to take advantage of video to spread your marketing message.

Here are 8 ways you can use videos to promote your business and take advantage of this powerful tool.

Education

Use video to educate your market on the use of your products. Lead them towards the sale by answering their most frequently asked questions and objections.

Content is the foundation of the Internet. A few years ago, that meant writing content like articles, blog posts, reports and case studies.

Today, video content is growing by leaps and bounds. In fact, it's expected that by 2017, video will account for more than 75% of all Internet traffic.

With an estimated 65% of viewers watching more than ¾ of a video, it's also considered by many marketing professionals as the type of content with the most ROI (return on investment).

So it's more important than ever for you as a business owner to capitalize on the power of this ever-growing video content phenomenon.

Here are some important tips on how to create memorable and professional videos so that you can take advantage of this visual medium to grow your business.

Lighting

The lighting in your video is important. If your viewers cannot see you clearly, they won't watch. To avoid shadows and a too-dark video, don't sit directly in the light of a window. Instead, have a soft light directed toward your face.