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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Social Media: Videos on the Rise

First off, what is Social Media?

It can be defined as websites and other online means of communication that are used by large groups of people to share information and to develop social and professional contacts.

With that in mind, how many people and businesses that you know use social media? I know for a fact it is more than the number of fingers and toes combined. What better way to have conversations with your customers and get your point across with not only pictures but with video as well? And that’s what a lot of businesses have started to do.

By posting videos to your social media you build relationships, get in touch with the world and find a greater reach for your business. Here are some statistics of how video works in social media:

·      More than 100 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube each minute.

·      Video is the fastest-growing ad format, with spending rising 41.4% this year and an anticipated 40% again next year.

·      Video ad sharing has increased 50x since 2006.

·      72.1 million US smart phone users watched video on their devices at least monthly in 2013. This is expected to rise to 86.8 million, more than ¼ of US population, in 2014.
Click here for more Statistic Information 

Your customers can be reached worldwide with just one uploaded video. Social media gives you the tools to upload, share or retweet  to show other people in different countries what is going happening at your company. This is why I believe video is the best social media tool for any business out there. People are more apt to look and see what a video has in store than to click on a link to a website. Often people would rather watch a short video to get to know you and your team, than read a long “who are we” page.

As many social media users know, what you post can end up in another country in a matter of hours, even minutes. We might not know what a certain business has to offer until someone shares it on Facebook.  A video that may have been created for another purpose continues to drive up the ROI through social media sharing. It is important for businesses to stay on top of current trends in social media – and right now, video is the one to watch. 

Patricia A. Hilton

Marketing Assistant

patty@evideoproductions.net

Why You Should Use Video

There’s no doubt -- we live in a digital age. We live in a world dominated by the social spheres of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and more. Businesses all over the world now use these social media programs to advertise themselves and reach a wider audience.

For instance, YouTube reports that it receives over 1 billion unique visitors every month, and 4 billion views every day. Furthermore, Google, the most popular search engine globally, owns YouTube, which is the most popular video streaming site in the world and the second most popular search engine.

Check out the video below, which was put together by the EVP team. Pay attention to the way images are used throughout the video to better portray what the narrator is speaking about. It'll help illustrate the points I make further along.

Why the popularity of video media? It’s simple, really. Video can work for you in ways that other media cannot. Video can grab attention quickly, and it’s engaging if done right. It's not difficult to see how even simple animations that pop can connect to your audience much easier than a wall of text. It's not intimidating, it's not as time-consuming, and it's exciting.

A well done video also increases your perceived credibility to your consumers. It can make you appear to have more authority in your particular market: video on your site says “I mean business.” More than that though, it creates a particular bond with your audience. By seeing your facial expressions or hearing the nuances in your speech, viewers are able to recognize emotion easier, which gets your message across faster and cultivates a very human connection. This builds trust. By integrating your video into social media (Facebook, YouTube, et cetera), you also allow for feedback on how you can improve. 

A web page is a lot more likely to show up on the first page of a Google search if it has a video on it. Emails that contain the word “video” are more likely to be opened. It's also very cost-effective since, it is compartmentalized -- it stays online indeterminately and can be embedded across websites easily.

Still not convinced? It’s no accident that social media giant Twitter created their own video app, Vine. The same can be said for photo-sharing app Instagram deciding to incorporate video as well. Video makes your website or profile “sticky,” meaning that it grabs people and retains their attention longer than a picture or text. Studies have shown that people really only register about 20% of text on a webpage, while merely skimming the rest.

Data shows that readers fail to stay focused -- they have limited attention spans. Many of them don’t even scroll through content. In fact, if you've made it this far, you should be proud. The goal is to prevent that “back” button from being used within the first few seconds. On the flip side, most viewers find it easier to concentrate on visual content such as video or pictures. People who are purchasing a product are much more likely to buy in after they view a video.

According to Forbes, just over 90% of marketing respondents use video content. If you’re not already, then you’re behind the competition. When coupled well with social media, you can direct massive amounts of traffic to your website, which bodes well for you and your business.

To summarize, this is why you should use video: it’s accessible and eye-catching; search engines give it priority; it’s human, professional, and cost-effective. 

Evan J. Backer
Social Media Intern
http://www.evideoproductions.net
You can find EVP on Twitter here or here!
Also check out our Facebook and YouTube.

Making Unused Time Work For You

If you can't join us, beat us....Well, not really. But I'm hoping this blog post will inspire you to come up with a marketing idea for your company, though!

How can you utilize unused time, space, product, etc? How can you develop that time, space or product into a money generator for your company?

We have come up with a great way to utilize our downtime to generate exposure in the community and make a small profit. 

Every quarter, we offer an Open Studio event - a time when we schedule ourselves to be in the office/studio for the day, keep the equipment at the ready, and invite people in to record short videos for their website & social media. For a minimal investment, they can start to build their video marketing portfolio. While at first glance, you see us offering crazy low prices for something that typically draws a much higher price tag, but take a closer look at how this actually benefits us, not just customers that are walking away with almost free video.

1. We pick a day that we don't have other shoots scheduled, where we are in the office working on editing, marketing, etc. If someone comes in to do an Open Studio video, we benefit by making a few bucks and get a distraction from our day-to-day routine. We are making the absolute best use of our time on these days.

2. Offering a great deal like this allows us to approach people in a way that is a benefit for them, not a sales pitch for us. We are able to reach out through multiple social media networks, networking events and emails in a way that comes across much more approachable. We get mixed reacions - a few that don't want to be 'sold to,' a few that are interested in our Open Studio and a few that want to discuss full-scale video projects. By offering a low cost service, we actually have an easier time selling higher cost services.

3. (This is my favorite part). Video breeds more video. This goes two fold. A - the client that loves their video that they did at our Open Studio often comes back for future Open Studios or larger scale projects. Once you start video marketing, you start to see the endless possibilities. B - most of these videos are posted on Facebook, YouTube & other social networking sites...furthering our reach as a video producer. The more videos we have out there, the more people see our work and the more people turn to us for their video needs.

Now, the purpose of this post is not to convince you to come to our Open Studio (even though I think you'd really benefit from it!); it is to inspire you to come up with a way to use your unused time, space & product to benefit your company. No matter what you do, there is some way you can apply these concepts to make more money, book more appointments and get more exposure!

Darcie King
owner, E Video Productions
darcie@evideoproductions.net
Facebook - /evideoproductions
Twitter - @evpDarcie
YouTube - evideopr
LinkedIn - evideonj

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

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

But wait, there's more!

I know you've all been to a trade show somewhere where there's a large both at the end of an aisle with a man or woman talking through what sounds like a McDonald's drive through microphone. "Wah, wah, wah, wah, when you use it this way you can, wah, wah, and then the benefits are wah, wah." It's over modulated, too close to their mouth and too loud for your sensitive ears already bombarded with tons of trade show noise. If you can get close enough, you can see how that amazing rag really does soak up a soda bottle full of water! But often times, you are stuck behind a really tall guy and can't see a thing. There must be a better way to demonstrate a product.

Yes, you finally figured it out! You can do an infomercial on TV! You get quality microphones so people can actually hear what you're saying. You get a live studio audience to "ooh and ahh" at the end of every sentence. The production studio edits together a beautiful package that is high quality and ready for TV. You sit back and wait for your return. Uh oh. You spent so much money on producing your infomercial that the only people able to see the amazing stain fighting power of your product are those suffering from insomnia at 3am. Their eyes are glazed over and they're feverishly looking for reruns of Three's Company. You think there's nothing else you can do to demonstrate your amazing product.

But wait, there's more!

There's another way to demonstrate your product directly to your target audience. A promotional video. This video can be shown at a trade show (with high quality production value shown on a top of the line HDTV), displayed on your website (fully optimized to appear on the first page of Google) or used in social media (for a truly viral experience that is as beneficial as word of mouth advertising). A product demo video can be cost effective if produced correctly and free to display. You can show the benefits, the product in use in a real situation, testimonials, and much more. For an example of a product demo, check this out:



Darcie King
E Video Productions
12 Months of Video