Several years ago I was lucky enough to land an assignment from USAID; create a video about Leslie Hawke. She was receiving their "Outstanding Citizen" award for her amazing work with Roma women in Romania.
(As we were we finishing the shoot, she asked "Who are you going to use for the voice-over?" I paused for about half a second. "Your son would be good," I said. Her son is Ethan Hawke.)
I saw today that she recently got married. Congratulations Leslie.
Here's a link to the video's opening segment. You get an idea of her courage...
http://youtu.be/VrknKudrMBs
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Monday, October 31, 2011
Broaden your video's reach
From Christian Arno:
"In this global day and age, savvy marketers are directing their efforts overseas. It's now easier than ever to appeal to a multilingual market. It just takes a translation here and there, modification of your SEO, and bingo -- you're appearing on screens all over the world."
The rest of the article can be found here but very good thinking about global video.
At iFilm, our clients are frequently large multinational or global companies that need to convey their messages. In some instances, we simply add different audio tracks. In some, we have to trans-create the video so that it crosses cultural barriers. Fortunately in a city like Houston, we can find the resources for our projects that can participate in that dialog.
What videos are you making and how do you ensure that they speak to your audience in the right way?
"In this global day and age, savvy marketers are directing their efforts overseas. It's now easier than ever to appeal to a multilingual market. It just takes a translation here and there, modification of your SEO, and bingo -- you're appearing on screens all over the world."
The rest of the article can be found here but very good thinking about global video.
At iFilm, our clients are frequently large multinational or global companies that need to convey their messages. In some instances, we simply add different audio tracks. In some, we have to trans-create the video so that it crosses cultural barriers. Fortunately in a city like Houston, we can find the resources for our projects that can participate in that dialog.
What videos are you making and how do you ensure that they speak to your audience in the right way?
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Seven Tips for Marketing a Business with Video
Great article on video marketing from Entrepreur:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/220593
My Favorite Highlights:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/220593
My Favorite Highlights:
- Video connects customers on a deeper level because it covers and reaches out to different types of learning styles
- Videos also help sites show up higher on the search engines. Use relevant keywords in the video titles and descriptions when you upload them to sites like YouTube.
- Include a call to action in your video.
- Pick a focus. Make sure the video has the essence of your brand personality and carries a single message or story. Do not try to cover 15 things in a 60-second video.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Awards Season
Hollywood can have the Oscars. Houston also rolls out the red carpet each spring, for both the ADDY Awards and Marketer of the Year, and iFilm Productions will proudly accept accolades (without the long speeches) at each.
The American Advertising Federation Houston holds the ADDY awards each February to "recognize creative excellence in the art of advertising." It's the biggest night of the year in Houston advertising. Winners advance to regional and then national competition.
iFilm Productions will bring home a coveted ADDY at the big gala (silver? gold?) for producing an animated web movie for GankIt.com.
The American Marketing Association Houston gives out its Marketer of the Year Awards (MOTY) for "innovative and effective marketing programs." iFilm submitted a detailed report for vote by AMA Houston members and a judging panel of local marketing professionals.
iFilm Productions won in the Business-to-Business Services category, and is now a finalist for overall Marketer of the Year in Houston.
Other finalists include CenterPoint Energy, ConocoPhillips, Rice University, the Houston Rockets, MD Anderson, and the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. It's an honor to even be mentioned among them.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Law Firm Marketing: 5 Advantages of Using Video on Your Website
The use of video is becoming important to staying competitive on the web. As more law firms develop an online presence, it’s imperative to differentiate your firm by including video on your website.
While nothing guarantees an increase in business, the use of video is a smart and relatively inexpensive way to market your law firm. Here are five advantages of using video on your website.
1. Introduce yourself to potential clients.
The process of meeting with an attorney for the first time can be unnerving for some clients. Introducing yourself through an online video can remove this anxiety. Potential clients will be looking to get an idea of who you are and what you can do for them. A brief video that introduces you and describes your law firm can accomplish that. Another advantage of introductory videos is the amount of time they save you. Instead of physically meeting with every potential client, the video can act as a filter to bring in primarily clients who have already decided that they might hire you.
2. Convey emotion and personality.
You can show only so much emotion with text and images on a website. Video, on the other hand, gives you an opportunity to show viewers the way you look, sound and act. It is a wonderful way to project emotions such as empathy and compassion to potential clients. A visitor who is sold on what you say in a video is more likely to choose your firm over a competitor. Videos also are incredibly helpful for firms that practice personal injury or criminal law. Someone who has been injured or arrested may want to hire a lawyer with a bold, assertive personality, and simply put, video is the best way to convey your personality to viewers online.
3. Improve search engine rankings.
In the near future, video will be an integral part of search engine result pages. Google already has begun to factor in the presence of video on a page when determining where the page ranks on Google search results. Posting videos on your site sooner rather than later will put you a step ahead of other firms competing for top slots on search engine result pages. After posting a video to your website and optimizing it for search engines, potential clients will more easily locate your site and its video content. Seeing a video on a search results page instantly gives the searcher a good reason to visit your website rather than a competing site. Make sure your search engine optimization service understands how to take advantage of your video content in getting your site the best possible search engine results.
4. Improve overall website experience.
If done correctly, putting video on your website will improve the browsing experience of your visitors. For maximum effectiveness, it should be integrated seamlessly into your site. An introductory or biographical video typically is placed on the homepage. Similarly, a page dedicated to your firm’s bankruptcy practice might include a video explaining basic aspects of bankruptcy law. The more that potential clients use your site to learn about the law and how it affects them, the more likely they are to give your firm a call.
5. Impress potential clients
Let’s face it, a law firm website with embedded video looks impressive. At present, few law firms use video, so those that do give a clear sign that they’re a step ahead of everyone else. Quality video on your site indicates to potential clients that you are a quality law firm. Of course, not just any video will make your website and law firm look impressive. The most effective videos utilize well-prepared content, shot on high-definition video in a properly lit studio. Top-quality post-production work, including editing, graphics and sound effects, is also crucial to achieving results that will impress visitors to your site.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Make Better Promotional Videos
Businesses of all sizes are turning to videos to drive conversation, traffic, and sales. According to Internet Retailer, e-commerce website visitors who view product videos are 85 percent more likely to buy than visitors who do not. As with most marketing tools, originality is key to the success of any video. Finding inexpensive ways to create high-quality videos is any company’s best bet to get the most for its money while ensuring that the content is original. Keep the following tips in mind:
1. Know that production quality matters. While the majority of the most well-known viral videos are home videos, most consumer-focused viral videos often have solid production quality. Don’t even try to fake shaky-camera "homemade" film. Do it straight, or don’t do it at all.
2. Understand "relative virality." Don’t get caught up in creating a video you hope will be seen by millions. Pay more attention to the quality of views rather than the quantity. In the end, your ultimate goal is to promote your product or service, so make sure your video appeals to the end customer and your marketing goals.
3. Have fun with it. Your goal is to have people talk about your company, product, or service, so give them something they will remember and want to share.
Article Source
1. Know that production quality matters. While the majority of the most well-known viral videos are home videos, most consumer-focused viral videos often have solid production quality. Don’t even try to fake shaky-camera "homemade" film. Do it straight, or don’t do it at all.
2. Understand "relative virality." Don’t get caught up in creating a video you hope will be seen by millions. Pay more attention to the quality of views rather than the quantity. In the end, your ultimate goal is to promote your product or service, so make sure your video appeals to the end customer and your marketing goals.
3. Have fun with it. Your goal is to have people talk about your company, product, or service, so give them something they will remember and want to share.
Article Source
Monday, October 4, 2010
What video means to your SEO efforts
Video is an often ignored component of search engine optimization, notes Marty Weintraub. "It is amazing to me that there is so little discussion of YouTube as a search engine. Most marketers seemingly don't view activity in YouTube as SEO. That's the disconnect. YouTube is very much a search engine," he says. Read the entire interview here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
