Online video marketing has exploded, with companies large and small using it to cultivate business. From aspiring artists and politicians to authors and tax consultants, anyone interested in revving up their website traffic can easily and affordably make video marketing magic.

If you haven’t used this strategy to promote your products or services, now is the time to get started. YouTube is now more searched by web surfers than Yahoo! While many people seek pure entertainment from online video viewing, there’s also a huge user group seeking how-to information and reviews on everything imaginable.

Might your target customers be in this crowd? You bet! So, how do you create videos that’ll compel people to click through to your site?

Here’s is a nice one for your pleasure by one of our writers, Jay Adams:

It’s actually easy to produce and upload videos online and attract a target audience to your blog or website. If you decide to embark on video marketing, keep these best practices and tips in mind:

• Don’t complicate your production. You don’t need a studio or tons of new equipment. Many video marketers use the webcam that comes with most new computers and a good but inexpensive microphone. Work from a script and be mindful of lighting.

• Keep video marketing pieces to five minutes or less. People have short attention spans, so the faster you make your point, the better.

• Video viewers want to see that you know your stuff, and that you’re passionate about sharing it to their benefit. Provide enough insight to be helpful, but whet the appetite for more. Share industry knowledge, trend information, testimonials, and how-to steps to create credibility.

• Avoid an overtly promotional approach. People dislike heavy-handed selling, so a soft-sell approach works better. Don’t pitch too soon in the piece, but be sure to add an opening and closing slate with your URL and other contact information.

• People are accustomed to videos with high entertainment value, action, drama or animation, so make yours distinctive! Get an engaging friend to participate in your production or find a role for your silly kitten. Incorporate stock footage from online sites for great transitions or backgrounds.

• Give your video the same traffic-building power you give your blog or website. Add it as content on social bookmarking and social networking sites. Optimize it with keywords. Show it on your own site, and be sure to anchor link to it from your other web pages.

There’s no doubt video marketing has proven to be a powerful tool for many marketers. Best of all is their potential to go viral. Like the Energizer Bunny, the most creative of them just keep going and going. Here’s hoping your video gets things hopping in your business!