All posts by Ron Harper

5 Ways To Make DIY Videos Better

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Of course, I’m a big supporter of using videos on your website. There are many ways to record videos for business. One way is to do it yourself. Some of these new pocket-sized cameras are making it very easy

So what’s being shown in all these videos? Not much more than talking heads.

There is so much that can make a great and compelling video: different angles, close-ups, b-roll. But it’s hard to take those shots and mix them in, because the selling point of the little micro-cams is that they will upload directly to the web. And that means no editing.

Editing is how you tell a story. Look at all of your favorite programs on TV. They have different shots, and various angles, reaction shots from the other players, location shots to establish where they are. You can do that if you’re doing it yourself. It just takes a little planning. Planning will make a mediocre video a GREAT video.

If you’re going to shoot with a microcam, here are five things that will make your videos better from the start:

  1. Make sure you have a steady platform. Use a mini tripod.
  2. You can’t see what you’re shooting with most microcams. Try not to get that “in your face fisheye” effect. Don’t be afraid to shoot it again and again.
  3. If there are going to be two or more speakers, don’t swing the cam from side to side. You’ll just make the viewer dizzy.
  4. Shoot in different locations. Use a background shot to show where you are, then in one edit, you can be moving forward with your content.
  5. Plan Plan Plan Plan Plan Plan Plan.

If everyone’s video looks the same, these tips will set yours apart. Many folks, however, are attracted by the easy shoot and quick upload of these microcams. If you already have an expensive looking website, don’t sabotage your image with a poor quality video.

–that’s a wrap

Ad-ology Insights To Advertising

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What if you could put a blindfold on your competition? And what if you could then make yourself the hero in the eyes of their customers and prospects? Whatever you sell, be it product or service, what if everybody considered you the expert?

If you could put a blindfold on your competition, would that help or hurt your business?

Well, there’s a good chance that’s happening right now. In a recent advertising and media study by
Ad-ology, a Columbus Ohio company, they asked 1100 small business owners about social media marketing. By the way, small businesses in this case is defined as 100 employees or fewer. The study was done November, 2009.

31% of those small business owners say THEIR CUSTOMERS don’t use social networks! Let me know when you’ve picked yourself up off the floor…

Isn’t that amazing? When Facebook has enough users to qualify as the fifth largest country in the world, one in three small business owners think their customers ignore social media.

Here’s another of Ad-ology’s findings: 73% of those small businesses don’t use YouTube. Why not?

• They don’t have the equipment to shoot and edit video
• They don’t know what subject matter to present
• Some actually don’t know how YouTube works
• They think YouTube is only for cute cat videos

Whatever the reason, those are all things I can help with. Yeah, I even have a couple of cute cats, but that’s another blog.

YouTube is the number 2 search engine behind Google. There are product demos and how-tos galore. Do folks actually search for them? Well, yes, some of them do, however the best reason for putting an optimized video on YouTube is because it will show up on Google organic searches. And it’s 80% more likely to show up on the first page of results. Add some of the other video sharing sites to that, and it turns out putting Videos On Your Website is pretty good for business.

Know anyone not using video, and still wants to grow their business? I would love to sit down and have a cup of coffee with them.

–That’s a wrap.

I Have Never Made An Offer Like This Before

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Yes, I look at my competitors’ websites. Sometimes, I’m impressed. Sometimes, I’m ashamed.

Web video is new to a lot of folks. I know some who REALLY “get it” I know producers who have editing styles I think are brilliant. I know clients and small business owners who understand web video too. They are the people who keep me excited day after day.

Web video is not television.

When I talk about putting Videos On Your Website, I mean it as a whole new way to communicate with your client base. Here’s some conversations I’ve had with business owners recently: “Clients are always asking us how we make our product”, “We have a lot of Case Studies on our website, if only people would take time to read them.”, “I wish my clients would understand more about –..” Very quickly, each one of them grasped the concept of what I do.

If you’ve looked through my site, you’ll notice I have a video on almost every page. Right now, I’m changing them a few times a year. It could be more, and one day it will be. But that kind of schedule is a good place for a small business to be at this stage. Yours, too.

Unfortunately, I have seen some sample videos from other producers that don’t quite measure up. I had been directed to one site with a client testimonial. Those are easy, because they’re usually the “talking head” kinds of videos. While the lighting on the piece was great, it clearly was shot without a tripod, a serious no-no when filming a static subject. I’ve seen website videos where I can tell that the cameraman is more at home shooting weddings and dance recitals than videos for business. And I know that they’re charging way too much to get those kinds of results.

So here’s my offer:

If you’re considering having a video produced for your business, and you’d like an honest appraisal of anyone’s style and abilities, just email or call me. I mean that sincerely. You have the right to work with whomever you choose, and I won’t try to change your mind. But if there are some things that I can pick up on that may make your video better, I want to do that.

Because this kind of content is an important addition to the structure of your online presence. To get more businesses online with the right content will help video producers everywhere. When you see the kinds of results you’ll get; you’ll be back for more, and so will dozens of other small businesses.

–That’s a wrap.

Are You A Videographer?

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I never know how to answer that question. I don’t really like the word. To describe what I do takes a little more. So I looked it up.

vid?e?og?ra?pher [vid-ee-og-ruh-fer]
–noun someone who makes films with a video camera.

Empty. So, what is the best way to describe what I do? I can’t think of a really good one, although, I like Content Producer. It really is all about content. That’s why it at the top of my web pages.

If you want to capture a wedding day, you can call a videographer. If a reporter needs someone to get pictures of the story he is telling, he’ll take a videographer. And let me say, that I’m not knocking those tasks at all. The term just does not describe my business.

My first role is as a consultant. In the preliminary stages, clients ask about the process, subject matter, and we brainstorm ideas. I’ll take that information, do some additional research, and come up with a script. That’s one of the things I love. I’ve been writing professionally since I was 16.

On the day of the shoot, I’m with my client for less than two hours. If we’ve done our planning, that’s all the time we need to get the images.

I transfer the files into my digital editor and start piecing together the message. Many times, scenes are shot out of sequence, or maybe a scene needs to be moved to give it more emphasis. I have to create the graphics, find the right music bed, and maybe do a couple of voiceover pieces.

I’m not through yet, I’ll watch it a couple of times to see how the shots match up and do some more tweaking. I’ll do a rendering to see how the video is going to look online. Does it have a great opening? Will the colors go well with the website it will be shown on? More tweaking. Finally, it’s ready.

After client approval, I make a number of renderings in different formats: Windows Media, MP4 Quicktime, MPG, Flash, and start uploading to the most effective video sharing sites. Yes, there are a couple of dozen others besides YouTube that show up in search engine optimizations. Many times I’m also working with my client’s web master or designer.

So there you have a condensed version of what goes into every project.

There has never been a better time to start using Videos On Your Website to promote your product or service than right now! And as you can see, you get more than just a video. You get my decades of experience in knowing how to reach your target audience.

Give it whatever name you want. But know that it neither starts nor stops at the camera.

–That’s a wrap

And Now, A Word From Our Sponsor

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Say you’re watching your favorite show, and it’s time for a commercial. But before the commercial is played, you see, “We Will Return To Our Show In 30 Seconds.” What would you do?
Would you sit thru the commercial? Would you fast forward if the show had been recorded? Would you see if you could find a snack in half a minute?

TV execs are hoping you’ll just sit and watch.

This season, there will be some new techniques for commercial breaks, all of them designed to get you to watch, or engage you. Some shows will only show one 30 second spot at a time. Some shows will be using the actors in character, so that maybe you won’t notice they’ve gone to a commercial.

Well, of course, none of this is new.

Forty years ago and more, actors from TV shows were making pitches in character for hundreds of products…everyone from Dick Van Dyke to the Flintstones.

Actually, network execs have been saying for sometime that they’re worried about folks flashing forward on their DVRs. Hmmm. Let’s think about that for a minute. Which TV spots would you NOT want to fast forward thru? Isn’t there one particular time of year when TV commercials actually make headlines?

That January Football Game.

Why?

Why are THOSE spots watched, and talked about, and remembered, and discussed, and replayed?
Could be that they’re just a tad bit more creative than the norm? Could it be that here are a group of advertisers who understand that the way to engage the audience is to also entertain them?
Why does that happen just in January?

Ok, there are actually some pretty good spots the rest of the year.. I like PC vs Mac, the E*Trade baby, and IKEA. But just like radio, TV spots don’t have to be funny. They just have to be memorable. They just have to show their benefit to the consumer.

Make it relevant, and they will watch.

Folks will watch “TV’s Funniest Commercials Part 8?, but they will remember Mean Joe Green and the kid with the Coke bottle because it touched them. And that’s going to sell a whole lot more product than Smiling Bob could ever dream of.

–That’s a wrap.

What Part of KISS Don’t You Understand?

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“So what exactly is it that you do?” I asked.

“We fine-tune the art and science of delivering performance through our model that embraces a business tangible and intangible objectives to build momentum, and fuel the opportunity pipeline,” They said.

“Oh,” said I, scrambling for my buzzwords dictionary.

“We help businesses communicate to their clients,” They added.

“Well, why didn’t you say so in the first place?”

Communication is about sharing ideas. If you try to Baffle Them With BS; you’ll only get the same in return.

“What do you do?” They asked.

“I help businesses tell their story to customers and investors” I said.

“Wow. We could use someone like that,” They exclaimed.

“I thought maybe you could.”

–That’s a wrap.

Are You Selling Or Teaching?

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A lot of what I do is education. Some of the concepts about how and why to use videos on your website have some folks making that classic deer in the headlights look.

That’s why I try to teach instead of sell. One of the best networking groups I belong to focuses on everyone knowing as much as possible about each others’ business. Because in many cases, people have to learn about your business to want to buy from you. And we already know that those folks aren’t going to be as focused if your message is only text based.

Video is a great way to show and tell, or show and teach, because you’ll get that personal connection with visitors immediately. They’ll be more focused, they’ll grasp more ideas, and they’ll have a better understanding.

Once your website concentrates on delivering value in the form of you being the authority, you’ll be building your video content library. More sales. More customer loyalty. What can you teach me?

–That’s a wrap.

I Have A Website, But I Haven't Looked At It Since 2004

Uncategorized, Who Uses Video

I look at a lot of websites everyday. I do it to see how folks describe their businesses and I look for places where videos can fit in. Then there are those sites where it’s kind of like walking through a ghost town.

Old information, dates that, in some cases aren’t this year, or even last year. The worst of all: either NO email, or an email form that doesn’t work.

It’s a brochure.

You may think you know your customers; no one has asked you about your website. But what about those who WANT to do business with you. If you get any kind of referrals, there’s a 90% chance that before someone contacts you they are going to take a look at your website. An updated and user-friendly website says that your business is updated too.

Whatever equipment you use in your work, I would be more likely to believe that you have the latest and greatest if your website is up to date. That site can be a lot more than an online brochure. It is your 24/7 authority on all things YOU. It is a statement of your brand, and a promise to your customers: “Here’s where you can find us, here’s how you can reach us” And like, I said most businesses are there. Now, it’s time to take the next step.

Put a face on your business. Yours? The receptionist? A customer? All are great ideas, and everyone of them would make a great video. Show off your success. Show off your expertise. WHY are you better than your competition? Everybody can answer that question differently. But the way YOU answer it is something your future customers are dying to hear.

The people who do business with you, and those who might do business with you are Facebooking, texting, Twittering, and even calling their friends and sharing information. You need to get your voice into that mix. You can’t help that they talk about you, but you can influence what they talk about. It will happen with a well-produced video.

I’d like to help tell that story. It’s what I’ve been doing since before the PC was a twinkle in IBM’s eye.

–That’s a wrap.

What's Wrong With This Picture – part two

DIY ?

Continued from earlier this week: the website that was the subject of this blog specialized only in editing. They wanted you to do the shooting and upload the video to them. They even had some videos to show you how to do it correctly.. eleven of them to start with! With such thorough instructions, you’d think they’d be sticklers for quality. Guess again.

Besides using a camcorder, they also give instructions on how to use a digital SLR camera to record a minute or so of video. Then you might as well use your camera phone too, because now you really will start looking like a YouTube cat video And now you get into the realm of why do you even need editing if you’re shooting with such low resolution cameras? Still, I for one would watch a bad picture with good sound. But I will never watch any kind of picture with bad sound.

What do they say about audio quality?: “using the built in microphone is fine, as long as you get close. Well, if you’re doing that, you might as well have a web cam, which makes you look really creepy. Listen, onboard mics have problems. They all do, unless you’re going to pay at least 10k for your camera, use an external mic. Always. This is one rule you cannot forget. Most people record in a room or an area which is way too big, that makes the sound boom-y An external mic is the difference between “anybody could” and Hollywood.

Doing it yourself is fine. It’s fun. But there are caveats if you’re looking to produce an engaging piece of content that is going to represent you .

–That’s a wrap.

What's Wrong With This Picture? part one

DIY ?

Today someone sent me a link to a website that produces video. I have to confess, I’ve had the site up for hours now, looking at it, trying to figure out its appeal, marveling at the technical gaffes.
It is a site which gives instruction on how to photograph yourself with your video camera. Then you’re supposed to upload the video to them and they will edit it for you and host it on their site.

They have 11 steps for the customer to complete before he even turns on the camera. Eleven Steps! Imagine doing that yourself. With everything else you have to be aware of, then you have to be your own director! If you’re familiar with the phrase about the man who was his own lawyer, it’s the same punchline. A director will give you advice, tell you how you look, suggest and cajole, and make you do it again until it’s the best you can do.
Do you know what aspect ratio means? That’s basically the size of the screen. Most websites are using the standard 16:9 wide screen ratio. They want their customers to use the older 4:3 ratio. Then the customer has to write his script, a chore for many even with the “catchy phrases” they suggest, and either memorize it, or hold it in his lap. Oh, but we’re not through, you have to upload it so they can edit it. There’s no other way to say it : video takes a hell of a long time to upload.

There are a few websites popping up which purport to produce video for anywhere in the country. Either they have to use actors that are local to them, and consequently do not represent you and your business, or they rely on someone else to get the right shots so that they can edit them, with no thought to telling the story, or showing your business in the best light. It scares me more than a little, because the cheap looking results that come from those kinds of folks further cheapens the concept you are trying to achieve with a video on your website.

Easy to understand now why we do it all, and we do it all right here in Cincinnati.

Later this week, part two: Video and audio quality.

—That’s a wrap