Build Trust with a Great Corporate Video Marketing Message

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Ron Strobel in Blog

The use of video marketing for selling and persuasion purposes has been proven to work. But with all that’s going on in this digital age, it can be hard to know where to start.

Do I join this group, do I join that group? Do I go to this networking meeting, do I offer to speak to that organization? The 21^st century demands a new science of selling and persuasion and social networking. But first decide if the members of the group are your target market, if not, don’t join for new business, because it’s not there. If they are your market, join and do what you have to get them to your website. There, have a no risk offer to capture their email address. Then educate them about what you do, how it relates to them and how you can solve a continuing problem they have. Build trust with a video, because today trust is more essential than ever to the sale.

Tips from the Video Marketing Experts

We are all bombarded with marketing messages and advertising to the point that we believe none of it. It’s more crowded, mature and competitive out there. Today you have to earn someone’s business. How do you do that? By removing the clutter on the landscape. Buyers are looking for business experts and buying decisions are being made by higher and higher levels. Purchasing has become “consensus oriented”. Speed up the decision process by putting your offer in a consolidated form. The so called elevator pitch. Or, make a movie to match your message and grab your prospects by the eyes and ears.

Corporate Video Can Help Change Minds

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Ron Strobel in Blog

A great corporate video can change the way people think. What is the number one headache of most people in business today? Not enough time they say, what they really mean is that things have gotten very complex. Nothing is simple anymore. At least that what’s we’ve convinced ourselves is happening. Face it, unless you’re huge, global company, it’s increasingly hard to win at this game for very long.

So, get more strategic. This will bring with it a sense of calm. Continually upgrade your organization by operating in a more strategic fashion. Put predictable systems in place that simplify things and can be measured and analyzed. Make complexity disappear. And while you’re at it, make your business simpler by conveying a simple message. Package an idea easily understood and grow your company by solving some challenge your prospects continually have.

Still Confused about the Importance of Corporate Video?

Here’s another way to look at it. Every good play you’ve ever seen has had the action in front, that’s what you see, and the action back stage which you never see. You know it’s happening, but it’s invisible…on purpose. Video can show your clients and prospects exactly what you want them to see of your “back stage” operations. Show your clients and prospects only what you want them to see. Focus on demonstrating your unique process. For the first time they will clearly understand exactly what you do and how well you do it. And, more importantly, how you differ from the competition. Make everything understandable.

Your story is worth telling and a great corporate video will help convince them you are the logical company to do business with. And if not, at least it gets you to a decision faster. Call us if you need some help.

9.5 Things You Need to Know Before Considering Corporate Video Production

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Ron Strobel in Blog

When it comes to corporate video production, choosing the right producer can make all the difference in the world. In order for people to really understand your business, you need a producer that knows how to bring video to life. Take a look at our list of important things to consider when considering corporate video production for your business.

1. Get Focused

Realize that we live in a visual world. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a moving picture is worth a million. Once you’ve decided to explore the concept of video, be as focused as possible as to what you want to accomplish with it. What’s missing that you feel a video will help resolve? Who is your audience? In other words, who will view this and, once they’ve seen it, what do you want them to think or do? If the producer you are considering hiring does not ask these questions, you have the wrong person. Look elsewhere. Corporate video production doesn’t have to be difficult!

2. Choosing a Producer

Who do you get to help you with producing the video? We suggest someone with the following three credentials. First, someone with samples of videos they have produced that have the look and feel you are expecting. Second, someone whose personality is in sync with your own. He or she should be knowledgeable about the process but also be nice to work with. It’s a chemistry thing. After all, this is movie-making, the number one fun profession in our culture. Third, choose someone who has a proven track record of working within your time frame and budget by talking to their recent clients.

3. Budgeting

We suggest you tell your producer up front how much you would like to spend. Why? Because there are many tricks to this trade, many “guerrilla” ways to achieve the same basic result without spending a fortune. Just be careful that your production values match the image of your company you wish to convey. It all comes down to shooting days and editing time. Our shows normally cost between $1,000 and $4,000 per running minute.

4. The Pre-Production Process

For those of you who have never made a real video, this is the daunting yet exciting part. Basically it comes down to three steps: Pre-production, production and post production. Pre-production is when you decide on concept, style, pacing, what and who will be included. It is where all the brainstorming occurs, and it is a good idea to allow anyone involved in the final approval process to give input from the very beginning. Also, you will need to address issues such as whether to have on-camera narration or just voice-over. A great producer will walk you through these many other checklist options while keeping it exciting.

5- Production

This is when it really beings to feel like you are actually making a movie. Shooting locations are picked and the crew and directors show up with all of the cool equipment. It’s always best to work with someone who has broadcast television experience as opposed to, for example, a wedding videographer. These experienced individuals will always have the best gear and the kind of sophistication that makes a day of technical decisions go smoothly. Most importantly, they will make your on-camera people feel at ease. They will get the right camera angles and exciting footage that people will WANT to watch.

6. Post Production

This is where the magic happens and normally you are not even there! The reason you are not there is two-fold: first, the process of logging and digitizing all of the footage into a computer software system is time-consuming and boring; second, if you’ve hired the right people…ALL GREAT EDITORS LIKE TO EDIT ALONE. Why? Because the creative aspect of story-telling is a personal one and best done in a solo artistic environment. If the producer you’ve chosen clearly understood your expectations and goals during the pre-production process, you need not worry. Rely on the fact that he or she will use this knowledge, coupled with a plethora of filmmaking techniques, to communicate your vision in a way that will inform, inspire and influence your audience.

7. Timing issues

These vary greatly depending upon projects currently in the works. But generally speaking, pre-production, script writing, and production take about a week each; for post production, allow two weeks. Then the approval process and further tweaking is entirely up to you. Make certain the Producer understands your timeline and get in writing that these requirements will be met. We send out V-Mails at specific steps in our unique process which keep our clients fully informed along the way. We usually ask for payment in instalments as the project progresses, with final payment being due upon your satisfaction with the final approved show.

8. Flexibility

Once the show has been through what we call a “rough edit”, you will get to see it. At this point we recommend you live with it for a couple of days, and show it to anyone whose opinion you value. Then, create a complete list of changes, suggestions and questions so you can sit down with the editor and further craft the show to become the best it can be. From this point we would put it in any format you wish and deliver a master to you, as well as keep a master for any future improvements or versions. This saves time and money and we always check back with our clients in six months to see what the actual results were.

9. Expectations

There’s just no substitute for on-the-job experience. You want a Producer who understands cameras and people, who’s able to perform under the worst conditions to get you beautifully framed, in-focus shots. These individuals always seem to have the right gadgets at their disposal, knowing many tricks of the trade that can only be learned through time. A video crew is expected to be fast and mobile, so a crew’s “lighting package” needs to be of the minimum size to still be effective. They will use a light to achieve the correct depth of field focus to produce an attractive shot. After all, they paint with light to make certain that the mood or style you desire is achieved. A great camera person understands that they are just a link in the chain of the complete story-telling process.

9.5 Sound

What’s the most overlooked aspect of hiring a video crew? Sound. Sound is just as important as picture. Horrible sound automatically means unusable video. You want to make certain the Producer brings along someone proficient at this craft, not a neighbor or production assistant who simply holds the microphone. Since, just like cameras, microphones come in all quality ranges, a great crew will have the best ones…and plenty of ‘em, because you never know when one will stop performing.

The most important thing to remember is, just because someone can record images in a camera, does not necessarily mean they can tell a real story. Someone has to have the expertise to arrange hundreds of images, along with visual and sound effects, motion and narration, coordinates sound and musical perfection, in such a way that your audience has a compelling, predictable reaction. This takes true talent and is remarkable when it happens! It is the distinction that separates the true professionals from the rest of the pack.

A good Producer and video crew are the right combination of talented, business-like professionals with artistic sensitivity for great story-telling. Couple this with the right attitude and everyone wins.

We hope this information was helpful. It was brought to you by Ron Strobel, Founder and Executive Producer of VideoNet, Inc. Contact VideoNet if you’d like Ron or one of his highly qualified associates to oversee your next video project.