Marketing video tips – 3

By David Strelitz3 Comments
In this third part of a series of marketing video tips, let’s 'focus' on content and staying legal. Content can be your footage or still images, (professionally shot footage or images), library footage or images, (purchased, usually online from a stock library) or simply graphics and text. This maybe supplemented with some music and a voiceover. First off: stay legal. There are plenty of stock libraries to buy still images and video that you may need, i.e Shutterstock. You try before you buy with a watermarked version and then replace with a purchased high quality version when you are ready. 'Borrow' them from Google Images at your peril! Music licensing is a minefield of confusion best described as a total mess! You cannot simply use copyrighted music (except specific library music) legally without hideous expense not to mention dealing with MCPS and PRS. So NO, you cannot use anything you just fancy without at best risking your video being taken down from YouTube, Vimeo etc...
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Experiential marketing: the integrated approach

By The Events StructureNo Comments
Since the explosion of digital marketing, a universe of new possibilities have become available to 21st century businesses. The rise of innumerable new communication channels mean that getting the word out about your product or service has never been easier - and any company failing to utilise the array of new and innovative marketing tools at their disposable is quite simply missing out on new business. The marketing revolution is on the horizon and the future is in experiential marketing. The ‘Experience’ Factor Event marketing is by no means a new concept, but it’s certainly one that’s experienced a metamorphosis since the digital boom. The detached and impersonal practices associated with old-school marketing lack the engagement aspect of live events - where prospective customers and clients can get to know your brand and your product up close and personal. Live demonstrations, seminars and face-to-face networking are just some of experiential marketing’s many assets, bringing new and valuable dimensions to your marketing efforts. Traditional...
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Marketing video tips – script and presentation – Part 2

By David StrelitzNo Comments
Here is the second part of a series of marketing video tips, which deals with script and presentation. Whether this is a simple presentation to camera, or a full blown corporate video – don’t rely on what was on a brochure or flyer. It may be too wordy and may well be boring when spoken on camera or as a voiceover. Make it more conversational without being too informal, in order to engage with your viewer. Expand the ideas from the bullet points (mentioned in business video tips part 1) until you have something resembling a script and then refine it. Less is often more. On very rare occasions, I have made promos with no voiceover at all but only where the pictures are so powerful that they tell the story, reinforced by short informative captions. However that is not the norm. When you write the script, don’t forget to include a “call to action” at the end. As a minimum,...
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Marketing video tips – Part 1

By David StrelitzNo Comments
I was asked to put some marketing video tips together for The Marketing Compass. Requirements could range from a first web presence to updating or creating a corporate video, so with that in mind, here are the first two areas for consideration. Just because you shoot a mean holiday video doesn’t mean it is right for your business. It is your company’s image you are promoting. Get it wrong and it may damage, not enhance, your business. Check out what a professional will do with a wealth of experience and kit. I’m not a fan of testimonials shot on a phone in glorious “wobblevision”. If you must do them, be mindful of eye lines. Eyes should be in the top third of the screen. (If in doubt, look at any TV news presenter). There are some amazing “Phone video’s” on the web, but usually they are shot by experienced pros, sometimes with ancillary equipment and lots of experience. Self made...
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Ideas for a wedding

By Christine Thompson-WellsNo Comments
I would like to introduce myself. I’m Christine, Director of the publishing company, Planet Press. At Planet Press, we specialise in publishing digital publications. Our publications include both magazines and ‘How To’ books. I would like to introduce you to our quarterly e-magazine: Ideas For A Wedding. We are passionate about the articles and information we publish. We only publish new, researched and informative information with vibrant images for brides and members of the bridal party. Our information comes from around the world. The magazine is available on android and e-devices. If you or your company is connected to, or involved with weddings and with: * Health & Wellbeing * Makeup & Nail Beauty * Hair & Skin Beauty * Pedicure & Manicure * Hospitality & Or Venue Hire * Fashion & Designer Fashion of Bridal Gowns, Bridesmaids Gowns or Fashions for the Bridal Party * Celebrants * Flowers or Florists * Bridal Shoes or Footwear * Bridal Jewellery or Gems * Wedding Cakes or Cake Decoration * Bridal Transport * Party Hire: Marquees, Props, Tables,...
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Local PR tips and ideas

By Karin RidgersNo Comments
Why not pick up the phone and call your local papers?  You will be surprised that not many people do this now – it’s all email! Why not ask them to lunch (and treat them to it) or for a coffee and chat about what they would like in a news story or feature.  Building good relationships with local newspapers, magazines and radio stations pays off in many ways. For example,  several journalists that I knew locally are now in the national media. In addition, it is not unusual for the national press to pick up local stories. The first step is to have your local newspaper delivered, so that you never miss an issue. Make a note of which journalists write stories which are relevant to you, i.e. do they have a Business Editor? Start listening to your local radio station (search on the internet for them).  Study their websites.  Send them a brief, friendly, introductory email about yourself and your...
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YouTube meta data and SEO

By David StrelitzNo Comments
It wasn’t so long ago that what was known as 'web video' tended to be simple graphics messages, or single person presentations to camera with or without some extra enhancements. The image size you saw was quite small, by today's standards. However, the advent of higher speed broadband and sophisticated servers, that allow more data to be delivered to our devices, means that today nothing is off limits, with even Hollywood movies being delivered on the web. At one time, YouTube was only for Skateboarding Cats - but now household name companies not only use YouTube for announcements, promotions and product demonstrations, but they also reinforce their brand by producing short instructional 'How To' programmes. Ironically, just as I was writing this, an email came in from Machine Mart promoting their web videos on a range of products. With YouTube offering the same opportunities for inserting meta data (i.e. Tags) as can be used within a website and being part of Google,...
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Do You Ever Wonder – The Power Of The Human Mind!

By Christine Thompson-WellsNo Comments
Your Human Mind Do you ever wonder why you say the things you say and do the things you do? The above two questions baffled me and then I realised - it's my amazing human mind working either with me or against me! I can't say it was a simple answer but it was profound enough to make me dig deeply into my mind to look for a way forward and to write a book that would  help people, the world over, and to give them some simple guidelines of how to move forward, even from the most dire of circumstances, to make life work for them. Adam's Mind - Eve's Psyche - a book I have written, has taken the last six years to write. I too, have experienced tough and very difficult times in my life but I have always understood that: 'tough times can only last so long!' It was the information from the tough times that I needed to extract the experience that...
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Video production tips

By David StrelitzNo Comments
Video communication is great for websites and SEO and here are some practical video production tips. I will formulate a top 10. However, in the meantime if anyone has any questions regarding video production, feel free to post here or contact me. Many people like to film themselves for their websites. Invariably what lets these videos down is the audio. On board mics on cameras and phones won’t cut it, so invest in a proper mic. A wired tie clip mic will give you clearer sound and reduce the 'boomy' effect that comes from the mic being non directional and too far away. If you intend to work with a professional company, get some ideas together about your business before you meet them. You know more than they ever will about your business. If it is a simple presentation to camera, don’t expect it will take five minutes. Allow plenty of time. Don’t just take the back of a flyer/brochure and think that it will...
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Content marketing and search engine rankings

By Nigel TempleNo Comments
In a digital economy, much of what you know can probably be found for free on the internet. On this basis, you may as well share a reasonable proportion of your knowledge on the web. Google will love you and so will prospective customers. For many years, it has been said that 'content is king'. This is now more true than ever - due to changes in search engine algorithms.  Content marketing and search engine rankings walk hand in hand. Therefore, the more you write, the more you sell....
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