3 Tips to Maximize Engagement With Your Videos Online

These days, trying to maintain a consistent presence on social media is a hefty task. With people glued to their mobile devices and refreshing their screens on a regular basis, it’s easy to get lost in the flood. So even if you have a recognized brand or content that gets discussed at the water-cooler, how can you actually move beyond simply racking up views or “likes” and turning that into an ROI? Let’s take a look at a few internet personalities and see how they’ve managed to carve an income out of their creativity.

1 - The Gregory Brothers, known on YouTube by the handle Schmoyoho, have mastered the art of turning the viral video into a significant ROI. Their technique employed in the “Auto-Tune the News” series digitally alters speech to follow a patterned melody. The result is amusing and infectious. These are qualities inherent to achieve viral status, but they also take their work a step further: releasing the hummable tunes from their most successful videos for sale on digital download platforms.

This practice eventually landed the brothers recording sessions to release solo albums and a commission to compose music for the Netflix series “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”, and even brought their unique comedy style to a segment aired in the 83d Oscar Awards telecast.

The lesson here? Don’t just be clever or funny. 

Pair your videos with a product that people can take home with them.

2 - John and Hank Green, whose YouTube channel currently has over 2.5 million subscribers, have taken the form of vlogging to a successful new plane. Video blogging, which is usually characterized by directly addressing viewers in a quickly-edited barrage of one-liners, soundbites and graphics, is a more malleable substance in their hands. 

Their focus bucks the trend of in-the-moment pop culture discussions and instead focuses on celebrating education, science and nerdiness. Culminating in what was known as "The Project For Awesome", the Greens organized a campaign in which dedicated viewers (who collectively call themselves "Nerd Fighters") created videos spotlighting their favorite charities to encourage other participants and viewers to donate. To date, they've raised and donated over $5.3 million to charity.

The Greens' innovative way of engaging with their followers has since garnered them a concert appearance at Carnegie Hall, an audience with President Obama, and film licensing deals for their written work.

The lesson here? Use a format that can currently grab people's attention, but make sure your content is purposeful and eschews the flavor of the week. 

Linking a call to action with your content can help inspire more loyalty to your brand as well as enact real change.

3 - Lastly, let’s move away from individuals who have already found success and instead talk about you -  and what E Video Productions, LLC can do to help shape a viable ROI out of the cornucopia of social media platforms. Whether you’re fluent in the language of Pinterest or you are the CEO of a company who needs someone to help you maintain an online presence, developing the right kind of content will be essential.

So what does “content” entail? It might be a still photo on Twitter. It could be a looped 3-second video embedded in an Instagram feed.  It could be a YouTube series or an article shared on Facebook. What matters here is that you develop an understanding of what your audience wants to take away from their experience of interacting with you – whether that’s 2 seconds or 2 minutes.

The challenge is understanding how each platform works and using its to your advantage. If you’re catering to business professionals, use LinkedIn to generate discussions about industry trends that lead back to what your company specializes in. If your target audience is teenagers, bombard the market of apps and games on hand-held tablets and smartphones with a vibrant ad campaign. Social media itself may not be an entire industry yet, but it thrives on being an integral part of many different types of industry.

The lesson here? Don’t discount social media as a way for people to pass their downtime at work. 

Make Social Media work for you.

E Video Productions, LLC consistently delivers an expertise in realizing your vision. From concept to delivery, our video services will help you stand out from the ho-hum drone of people who post simply to show that they’re active without considering what their content is actually about. Partner with us and you’ll be on your way to achieving a conversion of views into profit.

Evan Grysko evan@evideoproductions.net
Production Assistant
E Video Productions, LLC
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Apollo Relocation Services

Apollo Relocation Services

DP/Editor: Kris King
Producer: Darcie King
Grip: Pat Brask
Intern: Andy D
PM: Meghan Caputo

Location: Red Bank, NJ

Whether you are looking to tell people about what you do or let your happy customers speak for themselves, EVP can customize any video to what YOU NEED! Here’s how Apollo Relocation Services told their story through video.

Apollo Relocation Services is a licensed, bonded and insured moving service provider. They help ease the stress of long distance moving by providing its clients with professional, courteous, and meticulous customer care. Whether a residential move, military move, corporate relocation, or a last minute move, Apollo will help from origin to destination worry-free.




Patricia A. Hilton
patty@evideoproductins.net
Production Secretary

Where do trends go when they die?

If you have kids, or have ever met a kid, you are sure to have heard the constant stream of questions... "Do goldfish go to heaven?" "How does a caterpillar sleep?" "Why can't I see my own face?" You know how it goes. Well, I have one to add...where do trends go when they die? Is there an island somewhere full of Rubik's Cubes and Parachute Pants? Perhaps it's something like the Island of Misfit Toys from the Rudolph movie we all watch at Christmas time.

I have to confess something. I am not a trend follower. It often takes me a long time to develop a liking for a trend. Sometimes I hop on the band wagon late in the game and ride it until it's bitter end. Sometimes I avoid it all together and never get caught up in the hype. And every once in a while, I find that diamond in the rough and embrace it before it even becomes a trend.

There are many trends in video that come & go. Those crazy stock animations that you see in EVERY corporate video - falling $$$$$$, techno wave forms, etc. Man those drive me crazy! How about the lady who walks out of the corner of your screen and starts talking to you out of no where! I never invited her to speak, did you? And where's the darn mute button when you need it? White board videos are on my list of trends that can go away now. If you don't know what a white board video is - it's those videos that look like someone is drawing it by hand. At times it is hand drawn, other times it is computer generated. Either way, they were cool when they started, but now are so overused, I don't see a use for them anymore.

What trends will stay? Well, that's a tricky question. If it is truly a trend, it will come, stay for a while, and then go away again. Some trends do better than others. The DVD for example became so main stream that I don't think anyone really considers it a trend anymore. It may not be the current content delivery method of choice for most people, but I think everyone can agree it was definitely worth any investment you put into it, whether as a consumer or a producer.

The best test on whether or not you should jump into a trend is this...does it use tried & true methods,  did it come in like a lion, and is it accessible to all of your target audience?

DOES IT USE TRIED & TRUE METHODS?

There is no substitution for good video. Whether you're introducing a new type of animation or a new piece of equipment, if it is trying to replace good quality video, then it probably won't last long. The only video producers that are here to stay are the ones that offer a good, quality service time after time. They know how to embrace new trends, but not succumb to them completely. They don't give up their regular work to work exclusively in the newest animation technique. They continue to produce good videos and incorporate the newest trend in where necessary.

DID IT COME IN LIKE A LION?

When a new item hits the market and the market explodes, don't expect it to last forever. Give it time and the excitement will die down. This past Christmas, the Frozen Ice Castle play set was impossible to find. It was selling for 3 times it's cost on Ebay. Now, just 2 months later, you can get it delivered tomorrow if you'd like. At Christmas, EVERYONE wanted it and every child swore they would play with it every day if they had it for their very own. Now, eh. It's sorta fun. Same thing with video. When the trend comes in like a lion, EVERYONE needs to have a video like that and they're willing to pay a premium to get just the right one and be one of the first to have it. But months later, their video is now obsolete and no one really cares that they were the first. Be careful when hiring someone to do a "trendy" video for you - make sure you consider its shelf life before you buy.

IS IT ACCESSIBLE TO ALL OF YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE?

It's one thing to stay in front of your competition, but it's another to completely ostracize half of your target audience.  When a new format comes into play, it might boast better clarity, faster speeds, or perhaps it will cook you a 4 course dinner. However, if only 2% of your audience has the ability to play that format, will it really work?

As I said before, the best way to stay on top of trends is to always make sure you have a good, solid base. When looking to do a video, or any other project, make sure quality comes before the current trend.

Darcie King
Owner, E Video Productions, LLC
www.EVideoProductions.net
darcie@evideoproductions.net
732-349-4762

Video For Your Website - Tactics to Build Online Sales

I recently had an article on Video Marketing Trends appear in Web Wholesaler magazine! You can either read it below or by clicking here: http://wholesalecentral.com/Video-Tactics-for-Blockbuster-Sales-201302.htm

Video Marketing Trends for 2013
By Darcie King, owner E Video Productions, Forked River, NJ
 www.evideoproductions.net
darcie@evideoproductions.net
@evpDarcie
YouTube: evideopr

Ten years ago, it was rare for online wholesalers and retailers to have video on their websites, and those that did incorporate video into their online marketing plans were innovative. Now, if you ask a room full of business owners if they have video on their website, at least half would say "yes," as it is quikly becoming the norm rather than the exception. Today, it is how, not if, you use video that makes you stand out from the competition.

 In recent months, there have been many advances for video integration into marketing campaigns. Among them are:

Quick Response, or QR, Codes. A QR code is the square that looks similar to a bar code on many products. Users download a free app on their SmartPhones, and when they scan the code, they are shown a website, video, special offer, email address or phone number.

YouTube. This video-sharing site surpassed Yahoo as the world's second largest search engine, and is rivaling it's parent company Google for the number one spot.

Large screens. Enhanced video is displayed in a majority of booths at the nations largest trade shows, and many waiting areas now feature video ads instead of television programs.

As with any technology, it is important to remember that change happens fast. Going forward, video marketing will primarily feature personal stories rather than sales techniques. Story-telling brings companies to life in the ever-growing world of Social Media and online marketing. This can be done through compelling graphics, a storeowner's on-camera interview, a well scripted narrative or even a compilation of photos. Customers don't want to be "sold to" anymore. They want to get to know you as a company, and are more likely to do business with a company that has a gripping story.

Trust is important to consumers, and online sellers can stand out from the crowd by establishing just that. Allow your customers to get to know you, and you are at least halfway there.

When telling your story, the key is to be AUTHENTIC. Being authentic means you focus on the bigger picture rather than a particular product or service. Highlighting a product or service tends to come across as a "sales pitch" which doesn't work with many consumers. Think about Flo - the Progressive Insurance lady. She doesn't "sell" - she "relates." When she talks to the fictional customers in the commercials, she may give the benefits, or explain a little detail about a particular product, but more often than not, she is using her personality and humor to relate, both the fictional customer on the screen and the potential customer watching at home. Now, if you are nothing like Flo, don't force it! The important thing is to be you. Everyone has a personality trait, but if you really think you are a stick in the mud that won't attract an audience, then feature someone else in your company or hire an actor that can relate with your potential customers. The key is to make sure the script is not a sales pitch but a conversation. If you have trouble writing that way, try an interview format. Typically, business owners, marketing directors, etc. have all the info they need for a really great script in their heads, but when they go to write it down, nothing comes out. But in an interview setting, and by talking through the script, you find gems that will shine in your video!

Cross-platform branding and extended promotions are also tools that video marketers are beginning to use more and more. Don't just produce a video for your website & consider yourself done. Single-channel marketing is no longer effective, so incorporate the branding message from your video into other marketing techniques. Take the personality you use in the video, and bring it to your trade show floor and create give-aways based on it. In turn, use a QR code to drive customers from your unique give-away item to your video online. Make sure everything comes full circle and the shopper gets the complete package. In addition, if you had a successful direct mail or email campaign, continue THAT message in your video marketing. Find unique ways to make it work for video - beyond rewriting the copy to a script. How can you garner the same feel (emotion) that prompted so many sales during the original campaign, while making it interactive or compelling in a video format?

Extended promotions, or a series of videos, can also help cross-platform branding. When you drive the same message monthly or weekly, but with a different twist each time, you will reach a far larger audience. While someone will be compelled by the message initially, another customer might not realize you are the perfect fit until week 12, when that message fits their needs at that time. The key to cross-platform branding and extended promotions is consistency.

Dollarshaveclub.com uses a very quirky character in their unconventional videos. Similar to Flo, the character is persuasive through the use of humor. The company successfully created a video that took off in social media, and the company's unique message has been shared, tweeted and liked hundreds of thousands of times. Dollar Shave Club worked hard to create that viral campaign, incorporating a unique product, an absorbing on-camera personality, a humorous story and a tightly monitored social media presence.

Finally, with the expansion in the use of mobile devices such as tablets & smart phones, mobile video is another aspect of video marketing that will be growing rapidly over the next 12 months. When you create a video for your website, you need to consider how it will work on multiple devices. Beyond technical issues - such as how the graphics display, whether the video is cross-platform compatible and if the audio is clear, one has to consider use. What will make someone watch or share a video on his or her phone? Many people are very protective of their mobile devices and will not spend time idly searching and watching videos. You need to give them a good reason to want to watch your video. This brings into play how you promoted your video prior to release, where your video is place on your site, what the marketing material around your video says, how you tag your video, and what description you give it. Have a full plan on paper before you begin uploading, or even producing your video, so that once it is released, the video is mobile ready and your customers will have to watch it!

For web wholesalers and retailers, video is an exciting way to share company and product news, and can inspire sales as well as brand loyalty. It is an essential part of every online seller's marketing toolbox.

Tips for your video tips!

One of the best ways to promote your business is to demonstrate your expertise in your subject. A person doesn't want to hire a contractor that can just get the job done...they want someone that will get the job done RIGHT...the first time! They want an EXPERT. How can you show them that you are an expert? One great way is to provide video tips throughout your website. There are a couple different ways that you can go about this. First, you can have a media page that provides numerous links to videos and articles that you have produced and written showing your knowledge on a wide range of subjects. This is great when you want to show a wide base of expertise or have potential clients that don't know exactly what service they are looking for and need to view a variety to get an idea of what you can do to help them. A second way of using video tips is to sprinkle them throughout your website where they fit best. For example, a party planner might have tips on throwing an amazing birthday part on their Birthday page, tips for a calm bride on their Wedding page and ways to ensure a fun event on their Bar/Bat Mitzvah page. By positioning yourself as an expert, you not only market yourself as the top of your field, but you ensure that your clients know you and how you can best help them. Check out this clip below from one of our clients. He is certainly an expert in his field - marketing. Here he gives you tips for creating your website. It is professionally done and complete with graphics that enhance the message.



Darcie King
E Video Productions
http://www.evideoproductions.net
darcie@evideoproductions.net
http://www.facebook.com/evideoproductions
http://www.twitter.com/evpDarcie
http://www.youtube.com/evideopr

Reflections & Spotlights

Wow. What a crazy few weeks it has been at the Jersey Shore! For those of you that follow us on Facebook, you have learned that we were pretty much in the heart of Hurricane (ok, post-tropical cyclone) Sandy. We were very blessed and did not sustain any damage to our home or office, but it has been a very trying time in our town, county & up and down the shore! So many friends, clients & associates displaced. So many beloved places destroyed. If you are not local to this area, look at the pictures & videos online of Seaside Heights and Long Beach Island...we are right between the two about a mile inland. Then look at the Mantoloking Bridge - my parents are about a mile from there. This didn't hit too close to home. It hit home.

But being "Jersey Strong" has its benefits! It has been so heartwarming over the past few weeks seeing how neighbors and strangers are helping each other out! People who don't have much to give are giving what they can to help. While I've known too many people that lost their homes, I know even more people that were blessed by the kindness of others through this trying time. It's surreal watching Red Cross trucks drive through our neighborhoods. Some families and businesses are still picking up the pieces, and will continue to do so for quite some time. But the best thing the rest of us can do is to move forward and work extra hard to bring normalcy back to the Jersey Shore!

So here I am, reflecting for a moment and now moving forward with our Spotlight. Our Spotlight Success Series was created out of the needs of many of our clients! While we customize every package to fit the exact needs of the business and their intended audience, we found that many clients would prefer to choose a set package. What is a Spotlight Success Video? It puts YOUR COMPANY in the spotlight! Every business has a story - it is important to tell your story to your potential customers, and what better way to do it than through a video! We are able to tell your story through interviews, scripting, on-location shooting, in-studio shooting and/or customized graphics. You can use this video in all of your marketing: Social Media, Website, Waiting Area, Trade Shows & DVD mailers! While we still offer customized packages, a basic Spotlight Success Series video starts at $2600. If you were affected by Hurricane Sandy, we are offering a discount for the Spotlight Success Series through the end of the year. If you book with a 50% deposit by 12/31/12, you will receive 25% off your video. What better way to show the world that you are JERSEY STRONG than by capturing your story on video!?

Darcie King
E Video Productions
www.evideoproductions.net
darcie@evideoproductions.net
Facebook: EVideoProductions
YouTube: Evideopr
Twitter: @evpDarcie

Kinetic Type

We are getting lot of request for Kinetic Type videos, but they come with all sorts of names and strange descriptions. Kinetic Type is a graphics based video where words on the screen are animated in a way that they are choreographed to a voice-over and/or music. Not everything the voice-over says is on the screen - just key words to get the point across. It can be mixed with traditional graphics and live-action video. Kinetic Type videos are a great way to convey an abstract concept or jazz up a (sorry, I have to say it) boring subject. This type of video, especially with just graphics & production music, are much more affordable than most people think! Compared to a 3-day shoot with professional voice-over, a simple Kinetic Type video is less than a third the cost! As a matter of fact, our monthly video division - 12 Months of Video - has a new package that includes TWELVE quick videos that can feature Kinetic Type for only $75 per month! Here are a couple examples of Kinetic Type videos to get your creative juices flowing! Darcie King E Video Productions darcie@evideoproductions.net (609) 242-3760 Darcie is available for speaking engagements and would love to write articles on Video Marketing for your publications! Please contact her today!

What makes you FASCINATING?

If you're a business owner or marketer, by now you probably know you need a USP - unique selling point. This USP helps differentiate you from your competitors. That's almost as boring as the 4 P's of Marketing. That and a bag of chips will get you a bag of chips.

In today's marketplace, you need something more. Traditional marketing terms won't help you grab hold of a target audience that is also the target of about 1000 other marketing messages in a single minute. You need to focus on what makes you FASCINATING! Fascinating is a neat word, isn't it? It brings to mind images that just amaze you. Isn't that how you want people to think of your company? You want them to be totally blown over & amazed by what you are offering them. How can you figure out what makes you fascinating? Well, what are you most passionate about? When you start small talk with someone, and your company or organization enters into the conversation, what do you typically end up talking about? THAT'S IT! That's what makes you fascinating!

A video is key in showing just how fascinating you are. Through video, you can tell & show the true fascination, as well as engage your potential clients through emotion. Video reaches more senses than most other forms of marketing! They can hear how fascinating you are, see how fascinating you are and feel how fascinating you are. They can even hear from others just how fascinating you really are (through testimonials). Don't just consider your USP. Consider what makes you fascinating.

What makes Grace Initiatives fascinating? Watch the video below:


Darcie King
darcie@evideoproductions.net
EVideoProductions.net
12MonthsofVideo.com
@evpDarcie

Travel & Tourism - Marketing With Emotion

The travel & tourism industry is unique. You have two main hurdles to overcome when marketing your location or service. First, you have to convince people that they need to get away, take a break or have more fun. Second, you need to convince them that above all other potential get-aways, YOURS is the best. Whether you appeal to a local audience looking for a quick trip, or aim for those looking for the ultimate in luxury regardless of price, you need to appeal to emotion. A flow chart detailing your benefits vs. the negatives of your competition might not sweep someone off their feet and convince them to leave their every-day life and spend thousands of dollars on "relaxing."

Video offers a unique way to market a unique industry. Through video, you can immerse someone IN your experience...for two or three minutes, they are there on the island with you, enjoying the sun, the waves and they can almost even taste the cocktails. Videos offers them an opportunity to tour your facility or get an insider's view on what they can expect. Through video, you can even introduce them to the key employees they may meet during their trip, allowing for a more personal experience and a feeling of familiarity once they arrive on your property. Happy guests can also talk to future guests through video...a video testimonial allows the viewer to get a better sense of emotion than just reading a testimonial.

Whether you are a luxury hotel, a premier resort, an affordable motel, an amusement park, a zoo or aquarium, a hot night club, a unique experience (such as Medieval Times or somewhere you can swim with dolphins), or any number of other travel destinations, video marketing can help you reach an audience that may not even know that they need you!

Articles from Sandpapers past...

I wrote this article for the Sandpaper (a local newspaper), and it appeared a while back. Unfortunately, I somehow completely missed that issue! But I've found it and now can share it with you here.

Darcie King
evideoproductions.net
darcie@evideoproductions.net
(609) 242-3760

5 Strategies for Video Socialization

When you create a flyer, do you post it on your door and wait for people to find it? Or do you get out there, pass them around, give them out at networking events, ask other businesses to display them for you? If you wouldn't wait for people to find your flyer on your office door, why would you post a video on your website & wait for people to find it? You need to get it out there, pass it around, show it to your networking groups, ask other businesses to display it....all VIRTUALLY and ONLINE! These five tips will help you socialize your videos without having to leave your desk!

1. Upload, upload, upload. Do not upload once and hope that source will carry you through to virtual fame. If you use a private video host, you can still upload to YouTube! Don't just post a link to your YouTube video on Facebook, upload your video there too. There are many advantages to uploading your video to multiple platforms. First of all, you're reaching a different audience in each place. Someone might subscribe to your YouTube channel that doesn't get your newsletter or "like" your Facebook page. There are other pages also that allow you to post video to specific audiences.

2. Take advantage of each services unique features. In YouTube, for example, you can add neat features such as an overlay, mobile capabilities, and more. In Facebook, you can tag anyone that might have something to do with your video, alerting them AND their friends to the presence of your video. Check into unique services offered by each site that hosts your video.

3.  Tell everyone you know about this amazing video! Tweet about it on every account you manage. Start a discussion about it in your Linked-In groups. Ask for reviews on Facebook. Show it on your blog. Feature it in your e-newsletter. Get it out there!

4.  Choose your (key) words wisely. If you are a financial planner, words like "finance, money, planning" are over used. Try searching for them and see how many results come up! Get as specific as you can. Think about what people might be searching for that would need your services. Could someone searching for colleges possible need the expertise of a financial planner? Don't cheat & use competitor's names (this will get you taken OUT of search results), but think outside of the box when coming up with Key Words. And most definitely - USE THEM! Most video upload sites allow key words. Don't skip this step! It is how your videos are found.

5. Make your video sharable. Make it easy for people to share your video. Don't lock any features or restrict the video in any way that makes it difficult for people to spread the word. Remember, this is FREE ADVERTISING! The more people that like, favorite, share, comment, etc. on your video, the better chance that others will find IT and thus YOU.

Darcie King
E Video Productions
http://www.evideoproductions.net
http://www.youtube.com/evideopr
http://www.facebook.com/evideoproductions
http://www.twitter.com/evpDarcie

Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose!

Money is the number one issue why companies don't do enough advertising. It is important to know what you will not grow if no one knows you exist! The question should not be whether or not to advertise, but rather how to best maximize your advertising dollar.

One great way is to repurpose your existing marketing video. If you have a promo video that your made for your website, trade show or sales DVDs, it typically doesn't take a large chunk of money to re-edit it into a 30-second TV commercial! And when you do this, you are also better able to continue a consistent message through various mediums.

We recently did a promotional video for NJ Best Lawn & Irrigation, which you can see on their home page when you click on that link. When they decided to advertise on local television, we were able to repurpose that video for a 30-second spot.



Another option is to create a new campaign, but using the same production company. There is a higher cost to this, but it still allows you to keep a consistent message with similar graphics, shooting styles, etc. If you had videos done for your website by one company, and then go with the cable company to produce your TV commercial, they will look very different and might not be complimentary to each other.