Archive for the 'Tools for Success' Category
posted by Steve6th, 2008
It is true that a website can give you a great web presence and necessary exposure. But by default, creating or launching a website doesn’t automatically guarantee it’s going to be successful in reaching your target audiences or getting you any business. There are millions of websites out there on the www where there is little or no traffic. So, getting the traffic is the most important thing.
And getting local traffic is a real key to your video business success.
With the help of a real SEO expert, I just finished up a great half-hour video on how to optimize your video production business website to really get right out in front when people are searching for local video production resources. The new video is available online 24/7 to Video Business Members and if I decide to sell it to non-members, it’ll probably go at $60 -which is more than twice the monthly subscription rate for the VBA…so if you’re interested in learning how to do get max results in the local search engines, including Google Maps and Yahoo! Local, I think it’s a darn good deal -and you can sign up right here.
But while you’re pondering your decision on whether or not to join the VBA (and here’s something that maybe can help you with that), Kristin Edelhauser over at Entrepreneur.com wrote a great article awhile back that bookmarks 15 sites for promoting your local business -video or otherwise. She says (and I agree), “The advertising of the future is going online–and going local. This hot trend is growing rapidly and shows no signs of letting up. In fact, according to a report by Borrell Associates, local online advertising is expected to grow by 31 percent this year, hitting $7.7 billion. The report also predicts local paid search will skyrocket by 86 percent this year, up to $1.8 billion. Local e-mail marketing will experience growth of about 54 percent, reaching $233 million.”
There’s no question that consumers are using the internet to navigate their way to local brick-and-mortar retailers. A recent study by ROI Research Inc. and Performics shows that online searches influence 20 to 30 percent of purchases made at retail locations–and that number is only increasing. More and more sites, like Local.com, are making their presence known by competing against major search engines like Google and Yahoo! So study up, plan your budget and get in on the online advertising game.
And take a serious look at joining the VBA, willya? You owe it to your business.
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posted by Steve6th, 2008
How would you like to get your message out to thousands of independent videomakers and producers!
We have a couple slots open for ads on this here blog. For the details, click here, or on the very clever “Advertise Here” ad in the right-hand column.
Yeah. That one right over there —————->
Space is limited and we’re picky. If you’re an online casino…better luck elsewhere.
posted by Steve5th, 2008
The Internet Archive features a huge “Moving Images library” of free movies, films, and videos. This library contains thousands of digital movies which range from classic full-length films, to daily alternative news broadcasts, to videos of every genre uploaded by Archive users. Many of these movies are available for download. There are well over 50,000 free downloads in the “Open Source” library and many are usable in your own productions -simply check out the Creative Commons License details.
Another great index of free stock video footage resources is available at Robin Good’s blog.
posted by Steve4th, 2008
It’s perfectly normal for someone new to appearing on camera to have a little case of the jitters. Regardless of your previous experience, it’s something you have to get over if you want to present yourself on camera or in front of a live audience.
Anytime you clamber onstage –whether it’s talking to a group of one or 1,000 –part of your job is to create a positive and informed mental image in the minds of your audience. If you have presentation coming up, a little stage fright is a common phenomenon; quite a few well-known celebrities who regularly appear in the public eye have been known to suffer from stage fright. Heck, after 40 years of being onstage regularly, even I still suffer bouts of stage fright.
Here are some tricks and techniques -and an inexpensive tool -that can reduce your pre-show jitters. Read the entire article here.
posted by Steve8th, 2008
In a downturn, the first thing many video producers and independent videographers cut is marketing. They stop advertising, they stop sending out demos and generally, they cut down on their promotional activities -if not eliminating them entirely.
This may sound like a logical thing to do, but it’s a dumb move.
And it’s exactly what a lot of your competitors are going to do -if they haven’t already done it -which gives you a terrific opportunity to gain new business.
To give you an extra boost in these difficult times, I’ve written a short, easy-to-read little guide to helping you maintain your business in tough economic times.
And I want you to have a free copy.
“Marketing Your Video Business Through A Downturn” will give you some common sense guidelines for stepping back, assessing your production business, and applying practical, low-cost tactics for stretching assets and marketing spending further -in the right directions -for a greater yield.
And it’ll show you some great ideas and techniques to add a little extra to your bottom line, too.
The last time I put out one of these recession-busting reports, I sold it for $19.95. This time around, it’s free. No charge, no obligation.
All I ask is that if you like it and it’s helpful to you, pass it along to a friend or two. You can give them the link to the download page or you can just send the .pdf book to them by email. Or burn it to a CD and flip it to them. And if you’re in a local video association, feel free to let your fellow videographers know it’s available.
Fair enough?
Thanks. As always, I wish you the best of success! And go get your free copy right here.
posted by Steve7th, 2008
Time to hit the Panic Button? Boy, I’m close. My well-organized schedule has turned into a moving target! In between the normal spring cleanup tasks and finishing up a new book and a new audio program, I’ve been trying to move my office into our home. Which means more time spent sifting through things to see what gets moved, what gets stored and what gets pitched. And then to top it off, Jenny -starting her third year of college -decides she is ready to vacate her bedroom at Casa del Yanqui-Wolfe…so it’s pandemonium around here. I recorded a half-hour audio program yesterday in the “home office,” then broke all the equipment down so Gayle could do her thing last night…then when I sat down to edit the program this morning, discovered I had left out a couple critical paragraphs, so I have to set everything up again, and hope I can match the levels.
Well, luckily the chaos will only last a couple more weeks, so bear with me.
But if my refrain is far too familiar a one, you might check into my Success Without Stress video on how to manage a successful home-based video business. Details here.
Chaos or no, tomorrow I’m releasing my brand new book, Marketing Your Video Business Through A Downturn, to my Weekly Video Tips readers and to readers of this here blog. Make sure you’re here tomorrow or are a subscriber to get your hands on this when it’s released; it’s a free resource that will help get you through the hard times we’re all experiencing.
posted by Steve14th, 2008
Daniel Rudd, a fellow Michigander and the founder of Stock20, tells me tomorrow and Wednesday is the production music production company’s “IRS Appreciation Sale.”
“There seem to be such positive feelings toward the IRS this time of year, we wanted to give our customers a way to celebrate, and maybe stretch whatever dollars they have left,” Daniel says, with tongue firmly in cheek.
“Actually, we found that our spring sales event last year made a lot of people happy and brought us some great exposure. We’re basically trading very generous discounts for the chance to impress some new customers with the quality of our product.”
Stock20’s library offers a wide variety of selections, featuring real instruments and fresh compositions. Of course, you can preview every track in its entirety before purchasing -and I think they have about 1200 trax now -along with a virtually unlimited and unending license. For details, visit www.Stock20.com
