The video is a perfect blend of everything a top promotional video should have.  Cutting between Greg Martel and the testimonials of two satisfied clients, the video shows some stunning clips of new developments around Victoria.  The experience is rounded out with interactive graphics and the voice of Aclara Promotions’ own house narrator.

“It was great to receive different cuts of the video after such a short time,” noted Lia Robbins, the media liaison at Harbour View Mortgages, “the whole process was very speedy.”  Working around the clock, Aclara Promotions’ staff had a unique opportunity not only to work with Greg and his team, but also with social media experts Sunstar Creative, who helped re-brand the company and develop the website.

“We aimed to set the bar high with this video,” said Aclara Promotions principal, Christopher Ruffell, “It’s a classic example of what can be done not just for financial providers, but for organizatons of all stripes.”  Overall, the professional experience and business relationships that were developed made the Greg Martel video a raging success.  “We would definitely recommend Aclara Promotions,” said Lia Robbins. Terri Davies added “Video on the home page is perfect for conveying this message, and Aclara Promotions is the obvious choice for professional video production.”

About Aclara Promotions
The heart and soul of Aclara Promotions is found in our dedication to quality. Because our mission is to exceed our client’s expectations, we first seek to exceed our own. Every stage in our process, from writing to photography to editing, is completed with pride.

About SunStar Creative
Sunstar Creative Inc. believes in bridging the gap between brilliant businesses and effective online marketing. We incorporate state-of-the-art web development, online marketing, graphic design, and social media to create a remarkable online presence for each of our clients. Our specialty is the production of Inbound Marketing Platforms for small and medium sized businesses around the world.

To gain more information about Greg and to watch his video, visit his website: www.gregmartel.com

‘…oh I don’t know.  It get’s the word out, right?’

It’s a pretty good answer.  Yes, it get’s the word out.  People buy what they know.  The simple truth is: video is profitable.

But before you can make that profit, you have to dig a little deeper.  Finding that inner why is important because it’s going to shape your campaign.  When you know why you do something, it often changes how you do it.

Here are some of the reasons why video works:

Emotion

People buy what they feel.

There’s a reason why history buffs love Gladiator.  It’s the same reason why nature lovers drool over Planet Earth.  Video does what almost no other medium can do.  It fills the senses with a real and visceral experience.  If you can give your clients that kind of ‘drool’ moment where they keep clicking ‘play’, your video will go viral.  And that’s great for business.

Social

There’s no better way to impress.

We’ve all heard a lot about social media marketing these days.  It’s cool and young, and for those that get it, profitable.  Social media is all about interacting with people.  Sharing ideas.  Tweeting.  Here’s the honest truth: video is the king (a-hem, guru) of social media.  Using your video in a social media context will blow away any competition that posts about kittens and their favourite jeep.

Sales

The perfect repeatable sales pitch.

We’ve all given a sales pitch.  It usually happens over a coffee or by phone.  It’s uncomfortable.  There’s plenty of face twisting, teeth twinkling and hard questions.  Ug.  Just imagine if you could have your perfect sales pitch masterfully crafted ahead of time, add music, mood lighting, and brilliant images of your product with beads of water dripping down it (might not be appropriate).  And you can use it an infinite amount of times.  Guess what… video.

Sticky

Online video keeps people on your site.

Google analytics never lies.  Your cousin’s first website (4-bit color!) a U2 fan site, still receives precisely 3.6 minutes of viewership from each guest.  Your business website?  3.6 seconds.  Something’s wrong.  Let’s look a little deeper and see if we can solve this problem.  Oh, U2sucks.com has a video on the landing page and your business site doesn’t!  A video captures the audience’s attention.  Teenagers.  If only they could design our websites.

Portable

Show your video everywhere

Remember when you were in school and the teacher put a tape in the VCR?  Remember that bubble of excitement in your throat that turned into hyper convulsions and sent you to detention?  Well, we adults are not so different.  We just hide it better.  Show a video at your next presentation.  Pop it on your iPhone and share it on the subway. Hand out flash drives at trade shows.  Now you’re getting the hang of it.

So now you know why your business should have a video.  You may have even gained some ideas as to how it could be marketed.  This is going to be important.  It will help shape your campaign and give direction to your video.

When you’re deciding on a video company, make sure they give you a thorough creative brief.  A good company will ask questions that will not only draw out your message, but will determine what your campaign should look like.

Good luck!  And if anyone asks why you’re making a video, you can tell them it’s because you want your company to succeed.

But some businesses escape. They cut through the vines and dodge the tigers. That’s because they do something many talk about but few realize. It’s called video marketing

Companies too often make the mistake of producing videos on the fly. They’ll do it with a webcam or find some novice film maker who doesn’t know anything about business. The videos look cheap and don’t hit the right points.

Your customer is a lot more savvy than that.

‘Quality’ is the key word in video marketing. With a great team that knows about business and how to make excellent video, you’ll receive a quality product that resonates with your customer.
This is your moment to shine, so do it with class. After all, you only get one first impression.
Below are five quality check-points that you must do to raise your company from the jungle to civilization.

Creative Brief

The first rule of quality is to understand who you are. It’s dark in the jungle, so the good video marketer will shine a light on your company. What is your message? Who is your target audience? The idea is to reach down into the soul of your company and find out what it’s all about. You want the video to be genuine so it resonates with your customer. A good creative brief is the first step. Only work with a company that offers one.

Script

With creative brief in hand, the shaman is put to work. It’s script time. There are many questions at this stage. How should the script engage? Should it be funny? Instructive? Sophisticated? It’s important that your company’s message and values are reflected in the writing. A good script will go through numerous revisions to capture this.

Talent

Even the toughest marketer needs friends, and the smartest form a tribe. A ‘tribe’ is a group of experienced people who bring their unique talents to the table. The most experienced people are worth a village. The camera operator is worth two. Just like the chieftain, he knows the lay of the land. Make-up and Costumes are the artisans. Warriors work the lights. Make sure the company you choose can provide a roster of experienced tribesmen.

Visuals

A good camera, fast lenses and inspiring locations are all part of the professional package. It’s important to compare portfolios and resumes when choosing a production company. Make sure the one you choose has a well respected web presence. It’s not enough simply to point and shoot. You want National Geographic.

Sound

It’s a dangerous truth for the video marketer that predators are heard before they’re seen. Most don’t prick their ears till it’s too late. A poorly mixed audio track has caused the death of many an otherwise fantastic video. Some marketers even refuse themselves a good score for the video’s funeral! Sound can make all the difference, and no expense should be spared to have the best.

Quality is the most important consideration in video marketing. It’s the driving force that will separate you from the rabble. If the quality is poor, it will reflect badly on your company. But if it’s high, you will find trusting customers everywhere.

Find your way out of the jungle and into a world of opportunity. Add a high quality video to your website today!

What use is a twenty-minute video if the viewer only watches the first five minutes? The sweet spot for effective promotional videos tends to be 3-5 minutes. With the right production-quality, that’s enough time to grab the consumer’s attention and perk the interest of future clients.

Write Words are Right

Frankly, press releases and print ads make boring scripts. Because it is one of the key elements in video production, be prepared to spend a great deal of energy refining the story. Read the script out loud to gauge reactions. Is your message coming through loud and clear, or does it seem stilted? A professional writer is in many ways just as important as an editor or photographer. Consider hiring one to give your video a professionalism to match your client’s ideals.

Who is this for again?

Don’t forget who your audience is. Where will the video be played, and to what age group? As the viewer’s setting changes, so to must the video. An Internet video is usually short and snappy, while an in-class DVD can occupy hours. If the aim is to generate interest in a product, the story must be sculpted to generate want. If the goal is to inform, build an emotional connection between the audience and the story. Bear in mind that the viewer is the final step in the production process.

Verify the Blueprint First

A script is a lot like a blueprint: your research and development goes into making it, and from it you have a map of what you want to achieve. Have the script written far in advance of the shoot date as it will determine what challenges you will have to overcome. The more mistakes caught on paper before the shoot, the less time and money spent fixing them in post!

Replicate & Share, Share, Share

Don’t whip out your promotional DVDs at trade shows only to whip them back into the drawer once you’re home; make copies and spread them around! Embed a copy on your website to show off your work. In the office waiting room, have a small LCD screen with the video cued up for anyone to press play. Share it online using sites like Vimeo and YouTube. Don’t let your videos collect dust when there are so many options… so many opportunities!

- By Aclara Promotions