Deb and Greg are dedicating their film work to creating documentaries. There are several in the works right now, but one close to our hearts is exploring the hardships of surviving the loss of a loved one to suicide. In the past we lost one of our sons to suicide and now we want to explore how people survive this tragedy. Both Deb and Greg had different ways of coping and we have found others that have totally different coping mechanisms. Greg like to call it the ‘dirty little secret’ because so many people have suffered a loss like this, but polite society doesn’t talk about it. We are actively looking for other people willing to share their experience so that it may help someone else to see there is an Afterlife.
Business is about building trust. Whether you sell shoes or mortgages, if you can show potential customers that you’re an expert, you’ll win their confidence. The internet is full of videos that describe what a company sells. Why not offer something more?
A promotional video that teaches people something they want to know fosters goodwill. Who doesn’t appreciate helpful advice from an expert? Plus, a value-added video demonstrates your expertise and it may just give you a following. Answer a useful question well, and people will not only appreciate your efforts, they’ll look to you the next time they have a question.
As a business owner, you’re passionate about what your company has to offer. A value-added video gives you the opportunity to share that passion with the world. It could be how to fold a fitted bedsheet or why you need different types of wine glasses. Teach, empower and engage your customers.
Would you rather buy a barbeque from the store that shows you rows of product, or from the store that taught you how to prepare meat for smoking? What about the landscaping service that gives you a video on how to plant spring bulbs? Or, the tool rental place that shows you how to power wash?
See how this video describes a service, while teaching the importance of a good bike fit.
Now that you know the importance of a proper fit, where will you go to have it done? That’s the power of a value-added video. Show and sell your expertise. We all have special knowledge and skills that make us valuable to our customers. What can you teach yours?
You have an expertise to share. We have the expertise to capture it in an engaging video. Let’s get together and talk about how to showcase your business.
Your customers know what makes your business special. Let them tell the story for you. We all see written testimonials and recommendations posted on the web and they’re great. But when you use the power of video to share testimonials, the message is even more engaging. What could be more powerful than actual people telling the world what they think of your business? Putting a face on the message raises the credibility and the impact.
Testimonial videos are also great for social media. These days almost everyone spends time on social media. By having a video presence, you keep the attention of your customers longer and you give them something interesting to share with their friends. Just imagine what a television commercial would cost you. In today’s world, you can take that same content and share it on social media for a fraction of the cost. Depending on how it is shared, a social media post could stick around for a lot longer. After all, it is viewable on demand. Check out this video we created for Cycle Therapy Bikes.
As Brenda Burch, social media expert and owner of Social Media is Simple, says about the video we did for Cycle Therapy: “Video is the BIG THING and this video is beautifully done, authentic as heck, talks about the bikes, but also talks about the experience and the PEOPLE. We love this!”
Story in Focus is proud of the business we’ve created and our customers know the value of our services. Word-of-mouth is the most powerful form of marketing. With video, you can capture what your customers have to say about your business and share it with the world. We work hard to make your customers comfortable in front of the camera and we engage them in a relaxed conversation. When this happens, powerful phrases just naturally pour from their mouths and we collect those bits of gold in a concise video. Is it time to let others blow your horn? Why not use a testimonial video to bolster word-of-mouth marketing for your business? Give us a call and we’ll work with you to share what makes your business special on the web.
Virtual tours bring people inside your business and let them look around. However, if you want to showcase certain features of your space, a customized tour is better. When you have something special to offer, you don’t want to risk people failing to notice it.
That’s where custom icons come in. Including custom icons in your virtual tour is like providing a guide. The custom icons make sure that your special features are noticed. Plus, clicking on animated icons to access new information feels like playing a computer game. People enjoy the quest.
Notice the logo-style icon that appears throughout most of the tour. There are also special icons for each area of the recreation centre. Click on these icons to explore. It’s fun, isn’t it? Your potential customers will enjoy it too. We value and remember things we discover for ourselves. That’s the power of a customized virtual tour.
Many organizations prefer to use their corporate logo as the main navigation icon. This reminds potential customers of your brand as they go through the virtual tour. What is more, they will associate your brand with an interesting experience.
Icons for specialized services and facilities, like the weightlifter icon in the example, guide visitors to the features that interest them the most. The swimmer icon shows how a simple animation helps catch the viewer’s eye.
Don’t risk people failing to notice the best features of your business. Have your virtual tour custom designed. Send visitors on a guided tour.
This video was shot as a solo production. Every aspect of the video, from capturing the footage to the final edit, was completed by a team of one. This allows for a much lower budget. It can be a challenge for grass-roots organizations to get their message out. Using a lower budget option may provide a solution. As long as attention is paid to all of the details, like sound and visual content, one person can capture everything that is needed for a basic well edited story.
These are a few helpful hints to keep the cost down:
Know the message you want to convey in the video and stick to it.
Have all your experts on hand and ready to be interviewed during the day of the shoot.
Help organize the people involved in shots. Videographers are known for their cat-herding skills, but that takes time away from the production.
Find out what type of space the videographer needs and have it ready before the videographer arrives.
Arrange for lunch to be delivered. This keeps everyone close at hand and limits delays.
Many people try to put too much in their videos. They figure that since video is expensive, they should make the most of it. But people do not watch long videos so your return on investment will be minimal. One video. One message. Keep it simple and short.
Trust your videographer as the expert. After all, that is what you are paying for. Your ideas are invaluable during the planning stage. Once the shoot is underway, it’s best to stick with the plan. Rethinking the approach in the middle of a shoot will only cause frustration and budget over-runs.
Don’t waste your money by using a non-professional. Remember the last time you were forced to sit through your uncle Joe’s travel videos? Your customers will not be so generous with their time. Plus, the damage to your reputation will be difficult to repair. Looking like an amateur is okay if you’re a discount furniture sales person and that’s your persona. For the rest of us, it’s better to hire a professional.
