Don’t Be Scared of Video

It’s amazing how many webmasters shy away from making videos for their websites. The normal way for many of them to get in touch with their readers is to write a blog post or an article. This is great for SEO and it provides content that the spiders can crawl to index for the search engines.

But it doesn’t tell the whole story and it doesn’t appeal to everyone. We don’t all have the time or the inclination to sit and read an entire blog post. And sometimes it’s nice to see just who is writing this particular blog or website.

This is where the power of the video comes in. Video creates a connection between the reader and the presenter that simply isn’t there in the average blog post or article. The best approach used by some people is to record a video and then provide a shorter post underneath it that goes over the content given in the video. This works well because people then have a choice of which type of content to look at or read. Some will do both.

But people do have a fear of making videos. They worry over their appearance or whether people will enjoy them or not. But here’s the thing – it is incredibly important not to worry about appearance. Obviously you want to look reasonably neat and tidy, but you’ll do that anyway. The important thing is to actually get on your computer and to make your video. People aren’t going to tune in to see what you look like. They’re going to tune in to see what you have to say. The content of your video is far more important than what you look like. Even in the world of video presentations, content is still king.

So if you haven’t yet added any videos to your website, think about making the change and doing it now. It could be one of the best things you ever do, and it might just open your site up to a whole new audience. You’ve nothing to lose by trying.

Smart Videos Connect With New Customers

The internet age has given every business far more ways in which to communicate with their potential customer base. But sometimes you need a little help in making that connection, especially if you’re using a brand new method you’re not familiar with to get the message across.

Take video production for example. Most of us aren’t familiar with the skills and techniques required to make a good eye catching video that gets views for all the best reasons and not just for the shoddy camerawork. We’re not all Steven Spielberg after all. So it makes sense to jump onto this particular bandwagon in order that you can try out a cohesive and thoughtful video marketing campaign for your business.

Luckily businesses like Ratio7 have plenty of experience in dealing with this particular medium. It is one thing to have a great idea for a video, but if you don’t have the required skills to make it look and feel professional you will end up doing damage to your business instead of improving it.

In many cases business owners love the idea of having a video to help promote their business, or even a particular product they sell, but they don’t know where to begin. With no experience in the field it can be tricky to come up with a smart and fresh idea that really works. Sinking money into video production might not seem like a smart idea when there are so many other things you could be investing in. But remember that you’ll get a video that will be online and available to view for months and possibly years to come. As more and more people view it you have the potential to enjoy an ever increasing stream of traffic. Indeed, if you manage to make your video go viral, you could end up with more business than you ever thought possible.

So think seriously about the idea of video production and making your business more visible in a different way. It might just make the difference you have been looking for up until now.

November in the Red Room…

In this months edition of our Red Room blog, Helen looks at connecting with your customers through video, embracing the future of websites and the difference between a website and an optimised website?

Repurposing Your Video

We do video. We do it great! And so, when you have a finished product from us promoting your event, your brand or telling the story of your company, we want you to maximize it. Video ranks higher in search engine marketing (notice how those YouTube videos are up near the top on Google?) and also can be more compelling, especially in mobile viewers like tablets and smartphones. What are some ways to repurpose your company’s or organisation’s video?

Definitely put it online. If you don’t have a YouTube account, open one and load your videos there. Vimeo is another popular site and both will help your search engine rankings.

Add it to your website and/or blog. A home page video greeting is a welcoming addition and adds a strong visual element for your visitors. It can be used to both inform and educate potential customers, volunteers or donors. Do make sure there is a stop/mute button on the video so viewers can turn off if it is inconvenient.

Put it in your press kit. A DVD copy of your video tells a story in a more compelling way than just adding text and graphic print pieces for journalists.

Use it in your marketing efforts. Take it to potential customers and donors and drop off (DVD reproduction is inexpensive) for them to view after you’ve made your in-person pitch.

Play it in your company or organisation’s office on a rotating loop so visitors can view while they wait. Consider having a variety of videos so it doesn’t get overly repetitive.

Ratio7 can create a compelling, entertaining video for your charity, business or event. We have expert videographers on staff who will help you tell a rich, engaging story about your organisation.

Ratio7 Rocks! Video Production

Smart phones have taken the world by storm and, coupled with tablets, are changing the way businesses market and sell their products and services. Video is crucial now because it is easier to view on these technologies than text content and because video ranks higher in search engine results.

While you can certainly do short amateur videos with your personal handheld camera, true results come from a higher quality production. Your Ratio7 video team in Hertfordshire works with you and expertly films and edits your video to the highest standards and delivers on time. And because the costs associated with video production have steadily declined, we can work within most budgets.

Our production team understands set up, lighting and sound and has the equipment to do justice to your video. Editing is equally important and our video editors have years of experience in helping produce the highest quality video promotional materials.

What should you use video for?

• Filming products (particularly good for apparel)
• Tours of your facility or storefront
• Interviews with staff
• Traditional commercials
• Entertainment
• Customer testimonials

We have the know-how and experience to create high-quality, engaging videos for your company. If you aren’t sure what you want or you just want to explore the possibilities, don’t hesitate to contact Ratio7 for a free consultation.

Video Promotion and Ratio7

Whether you are a small business or a solo brand, promotional videos offer something to your customer that they can’t get any other way. A video brings your business and your brand to life, allowing customers the ability to connect and experience you and what you offer in an authentic manner. There are a variety of ways to use promotional video as part of your marketing strategy.

But, before you start using video, it is imperative that you have video that is professional in quality. Experts in videography know more about lighting, sound, angles, focus and overall quality than your average user and they use higher-quality equipment. Additionally, proper editing with titles, fades and effects is crucial.

Videos should be included in your company or personal press kit. As an introduction to who you are, what you do and why the media would be interested, it is a brilliant add-on to the general materials included in the traditional press kit.

Video can and should be embedded on your website or blog. Whether these are instructional or a walk-through of your business, they give the viewer first hand knowledge of what you offer. If they are instructional, the potential customer is instantly rewarded for having found your link!

Video can be used inside the business on television screens. Whether they video cast studies of your work with past clients, an interview with the CEO or video of company events, it offers those visitors waiting in your lobby information (and entertainment) that makes your organization feel more alive and engaging.

Finally, for business owners or solo entrepreneurs, more individuals are adding video to sites like Facebook and LinkedIn business pages. Acting as a form of a visual resume, you can provide an introduction that encourages others to connect with you online.

Ratio7 offers professional video editing and production at an affordable price. Feel free to contact us for more information.

What Your Design Team Can Do

Graphic design firms, like Ratio7, probably take for granted that the general public understands what they do and what their service offerings are. So, what can you expect in regards to services when you contact Ratio7?

The core of where you begin is with branding (or re-branding). A graphic design firm, like Ratio7, will meet with you to build a visual concept of your company. This includes core values, culture, your target demographic, what you actually do, where you are located, what the history of your company is and the story of how it began. All of these help a design firm develop your overall brand. From that point, they begin to develop a logo. A logo will be used in a variety of ways and will help identify your company quickly.

Next will be a Web site, from the ground up or a redesign of an existing site. This will involve examining your search engine optimization, your meta tags, your user experience (UX), copywriting and the general design and how it fits with your branding vision. We can create and install flash animation. If you need a blog or templates for Twitter or MySpace, we can do that too!

Then there is print. Your design team will develop a whole print series: business cards, brochures, advertisements, post cards, flyers and whatever else you need (cd or video covers, special events products) . Part of all these branding efforts will be copywriting which should be vibrant, engaging and understandable. Ratio7′s copywriting team can also do translations to make your materials more accessible.

Finally, there is new media. Video production is important these days and a cutting-edge graphics firm like Ratio7 can help you creating exciting and engaging video for your Website or promotional DVD’s. We can also upload these to your site or onto sites like YouTube.

We hope this helps you understand what a top-notch graphic design firm can do for you. Don’t settle for less! Feel free to contact us for a consultation on any of these services-and if you don’t see it listed here or on our site, don’t hesitate to ask!