LANE as the Expert
Video Production for Social Channels
My friend, and colleague, Grant Crowell of Reelseo.com recently interviewed me for his article, Do Video Production Professionals Now Need To Know Social Video Marketing? As a video marketing professional it is great to see the promotion of our powerful industry and the rich business benefits that video has… Please take a moment to read, and tweet, like, link, embed, tweet… You know the drill! Promote on People!
Chicago residents know all about the infuriating orange envelope tucked underneath a car’s wiper blade… The stealth meter agents that sneak through the day’s shadows and are one with the night, at least til 9pm. Pure evil, I say! I went to get into my car today, knowing I would have one ticket because I was in a meeting longer than expected and the meter had expired. But, I found 3 tickets stuffed inside that nauseating envelope. Over the course of 3 hours I was issued 3 tickets! Unbelievable!
Dismayed by the apathy and infuriated at the city I begrudgingly opened my Safari to pay the THREE tickets, and all of a sudden my mood changed! I see that the City of Chicago’s Dept. of Revenue is now utilizing video on the home page to inform their viewer’s of their rights and the directions to pay! Now, if the notoriously slow city is utilizing this amazing tool known as video marketing, why aren’t you??!!
Not a great video, but kudos for your efforts you dirty revenue rats (j/k Chicago, I love the majority of you, but can’t we cool it on the tix) – Chicago Dept. of Revenue Video Link.
Of all the industries that can benefit from online video marketing – and I can’t think of any that don’t – law can really capitalize. Law, like medicine, and financial industries, need to build a fair amount of trust with prospective clients before they become clients. So, should we all of a sudden have 1,000,000 attorneys riddling off their academic and professional accomplishments to a camera lens and distribute everything to YouTube? Definitely not. And, this is where video “marketing” comes in.
Any industry must understand their audience. Why are people searching for your product or service? Well, for attorneys, people are often in trouble and need help. Attorneys need to earn trust and empathize with their prospective clients. The best way to do this is to anticipate the needs of someone searching online and create videos focused on those needs. Offering free help and tips will forever reign as the most watched online video for businesses. Also, this shows that you’re not just looking at a prospective client with big, green $ signs in your eyes. It shows whomever watching that you have sympathy, empathy, and you can establish your professional wisdom almost instantaneously.
Attorney video production, when done correctly, can have substantial returns.
Video Marketing Resolutions
Less than one week until the New Year. Resolutions are stirring in our minds. What will we do this year to become more organized, healthier, smarter, and more successful? As a business owner, I unselfishly (or selfishly – depending who you ask!) think about my business… How to run a better business, target my clients’ audience better, learn new technology and how to make it more accessible to the people in business with me.
If you (un)selfishly think about growing your business for this year’s resolution, consider an online video campaign. We are video marketing specialists with the tools, expertise, equipment, and online marketing experience to help you engage your audience, create more leads, and ultimately, bring in more business in 2011, and the years to come.
So, for my resolution, I am going to continually create more engaging video and grow my business. Let us help you bring your business resolutions to fruition. Shoot us an email, or give us a call. Happy holidays to all!
Online Video Production Vs…
I’m often asked, “what sets you apart from your competition?” Well, we’re just damn good!
But, seriously… There are really two types on online video marketers. Ones that understand the marketing capabilities of video and consider how an internet audience views it, and then there are the majority that neither understand this, nor take the steps to initiate the effectiveness of online video. Many companies that are transitioning to the online production space are old timers. Yes, they can be skilled, and can have deep technical knowledge, but they are only offering online video because the heyday of their operations with agencies, and fortune 500 companies is waning. They are adapting out of necessity, and not because a true understanding of this brave new market.
LANE Media & Productions has the luxury of of a highly skilled and creative video production team, but also years, and years of online marketing experience and understanding to help guide your business to the new levels it needs to climb to in today’s online marketplace. We are a Chicago based company servicing businesses, and professional groups with website videos, testimonials, corporate video production, video email marketing, and video event coverage. When you think
If you have not yet considered a video for your website, now may be the time to do it! Here is a little snippet directly from Google’s Webmaster Tools: “Of the billions of Google searches done every day, many are looking for video content. Google Videos is the largest video search property on the Web and one of Google’s fastest growing search properties worldwide. One of the greatest benefits to Google Videos is the potential exposure to these millions of users.”
Need we say more than “potential exposure to millions of users.” Producing a web video for your online marketing strategy should happen now to differentiate yourself from your competition, and potentially rank for certain keywords within video that you may not be able to rank for just on your website.
We are video marketing experts, and deliver a turnkey solution from strategy and pre-production all the way through distribution of your stunning, new HD web video. We are worth every penny of your investment (and we’re absolutely affordable!) Give us a call today at 773.512.6110, or Email Us, and let’s create a dynamic online presence for your business today.
Video Search Engine Optimization (VSEO)
As I insistently preach to clients, online video marketing is much more than a video on your website, or other online channels. It is a powerful marketing tool, if done correctly – from start to finish. Some of the major principles that go into Search Engine Optimization (SEO) also go into VSEO. First, targeting specific keywords is very important. Choose 5-10 of your most relevant keywords. A great free tool for this is Google’s keyword tool through Adwords. These should be expertly inserted into the video script. And, just like in SEO, your script should target your audience, and not search engines. Insert keywords where appropriate.
The major difference between web video production companies and online video marketing companies is that video marketers, like us, can help you advance in search engine rankings, grow your online awareness, and perception, all at once. We give our clients the option for a Video SEO Package, where we generate keywords, write the script, produce the web video for an online audience, edit, and then after delivery to the client we create video sitemaps on the client’s behalf to all major search engines. The reason we do this is that search engines cannot see what is inside of a video, unless they are shown through HTML code. So, being prepared from the very beginning is tantamount to using your new web video as an effective and powerful marketing tool. We’d love to talk more with you about our engaging online HD videos for businesses in Chicago and abroad. Give us a call at 773.512.6110.
Online Video Marketing Vs. Storytelling
This is common for video production companies to embody their work as “storytelling.” I’ve heard it, and agree with it. But, wait… Not everybody has an amazing and compelling story, and not every production house has a Spike Jonze on staff. Pairing a lackluster story with mediocre production values will not engage your viewers. And, in truth, it is painful to watch.
As an online video production company, we plan, write, shoot, edit, and distribute for an internet audience. We are creative and online marketing specialists, and everything we do is meant to further grow your online presence. We all have “stories,” but is your story directly relevant to your audience and how will it entice them to take further action with you, your products, or services?
Think about this one… What is the most effective “story” you can tell to the camera? Have you generated keywords to throw into the script to help you rank with search engines? Give us a call – 773.512.6110. LANE Media & Productions can help you from start to finish and create some really engaging and relevant content for you to help grow your business.
Importance of Music in Online Video
As Nietzsche wrote, “Without music, life would be an error.” It’s amazing how music can stick with you for days, months, years… There is such a bond we grow to music and all the memories or fantasies it conjures. I recently heard this song, below, by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, called 40 Day Dream. First time I heard this I imagined a road trip to the west. Full August corn stalks through Iowa and the road ahead that seems to go on forever, beyond the horizon. I could envision the red rock in Utah for a few frames, passing Las Vegas in the hazy desert twilight, the lights streaking by the driver’s side window. Smelling the salty Pacific air as our car crawls through LA toward the big, blue ocean.
The producers of this video, alternately, created a clever and and endearing stop motion video. What did it evoke for you? No matter what, the importance of online video is tantamount. There are many sites that sell “royalty free music.” If you are using the video your business or for profit, definitely check the license agreements before you buy anything to make sure that they are within the scope of your project.
All online video we produce is scored with royalty free music, and music that doesn’t suck! There is nothing worse than boring, cheesy, corporate music. So, if you need some help, talk to us… Online Video Marketing Specialists. And, if not, just enjoy the video and conjure up some thoughts!
