For some businesses it’s a question with an obvious answer. Where do we shoot our marketing videos? The office, the factory, the places we do our work. But what if you’re a small business owner without a fancy facility? Well, in many cases the answer remains the same.

This week I’m blogging about some of our most recent videos, and passing along valuable lessons illustrated by each. Today, it’s RS Design Studio.

Marketing videos case study

Randy Shingledecker is the man behind the company. He’s an interior designer, and one of his big questions as we got started on the video… where should we shoot it?… Read More

The economy is still slow, times remain tough, but believe it or not businesses still have a hard time recruiting good workers. One of the things they’ll occasionally do to help their effort is create a recruiting video.

This week I’m blogging about some of our recent projects and highlighting valuable lessons. Today’s video features a Chicago networking group… LeTip of Lakeview. Okay, I’m a member, so I kind of had the inside track on this project. It was an easy one in the sense that the group’s leadership basically turned me loose and said, “Do your thing.” That doesn’t mean it wasn’t without challenges and that’s what I’ll focus on here.… Read More

We just recently wrapped-up a few new projects, so I thought I’d take the week to highlight them and some of the lessons they can provide anyone creating a website video.

Today’s selection is an example of one of our Elevator Pitch Videos. It’s the least expensive and least involved of the types of videos we do, but it’s a great way for small business owners to get a quality “About Us” video for their websites.

CGO Wealth Management is in the process of creating a new website and thought it was important to incorporate a video. When I spoke with owner Claude Ohanesian for the first time, there was something that struck me about his message for prospects.… Read More

Video marketing is huge these days and more and more businesses are giving it a go on their own, so I thought I’d write about some of the mistakes amateurs tend to make.

First, I’m on the record here. If you’re with an established company and value your reputation, please find a pro to help you. The likelihood of you pulling off an amateur video that lives up to your good reputation is slim. Okay, that’s my disclaimer.

Now, for those of you with young companies or small businesses with zero marketing budget, here are some things to keep in mind.… Read More

One of these days… one of these days I’ll convince a client we don’t need any spoken words to tell their story. It has to be the right project, but video storytelling is more than words. In some cases, it can survive on its own without anything being said.

I’ve blogged about it in the past. American Airlines did one of my favorite videos in this way. Well, I have another one.

Adobe’s creative video storytelling

I LOVE a recent video produced by Adobe entitled, Photoshop Live – Street Retouch Prank. From the concept to the execution… A+.

Adobe wanted to promote one of its upcoming events, Adobe Creative Days, so they brought some creativity to a local bus stop and captured it all on video.… Read More

My wife reads a bunch of interior design blogs, and one of the bloggers recently wrote about how difficult it was for her to create an About Us video. That doesn’t surprise me.

I’m not going to mention the blogger. I watched her video and while it wasn’t an awful amateur attempt, it was an amateur attempt. Unless I’m pointing out specifics to use as teaching moments, I don’t like to point a figure at sub-par videos. Without purpose, it’s just mean.

Anyway… the point I wanted to touch on is simply involves the About Us video in general. The blogger was right.… Read More

The decision has been made… let’s do a video! Everyone’s excited, it’s a great marketing tool, it sounds like a lot of fun… then it happens. Someone asks, “How much do you think it’s going to cost?” Blank stares… because video production costs aren’t something many people are familiar with.

I mean, why should they be? Start surfing around to production company websites and you’ll have a tough time getting any sort of a rough idea (present company excluded).

I get it. It’s hard to gauge. When someone calls us for a quote, there’s a bunch of factors…

• how many shoots will be needed?

I love Independence Day. We’ll celebrate this weekend with pool parties, barbeques and fireworks, but the reason we get to celebrate is because 56 men signed a piece of paper that started a revolution.

They defied one of the most power monarchs in the world knowing if the revolution failed, it would cost them their lives.

In thanks to them, read the words that changed the world forever. Happy 4th of July!

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.… Read More

You don’t have to sell yourself to sell yourself. That sounds weird to some people, but in the video content world it can be a really smart marketing strategy.

The key is to sit down and really think about stories that will serve your customers, and I happened to find a really good example the other day.

Realtor’s Video content open house

I came across a YouTube channel for New Jersey realtor Sue Adler. It contains some testimonials and videos featuring properties for sale. No surprise there, but what I loved was a series of videos she produced on the various communities she serves.… Read More

If you’re a regular reader here you know I’m a HUGE Dave Ramsey fan. Not only to I appreciate his advice on personal finances, I also love his input on business. You can imagine how excited I was to get his EntreLeadership newsletter with the headline, 3 Ways to Tell a Great Story and Why You Need to Do It. A Dave newsletter promoting storytelling… I’m in!

The newsletter gives some basics on why and how business leaders can tell their stories, and it’s good advice. A good reason for telling your story that isn’t talked about much was actually hidden at the end and came from one of Dave’s EntreLeadership coaches.… Read More