Spit It Out! Why Shorter Is Better With Online Video

Which Came First: The Video Platform Or Viewer’s Attention Span?

All you have to do is look at the top social media platforms today to see the trend in current online video: shorter is better. The average YouTube video length is four minutes. Instagram limits their videos to 60 seconds in the main feed, and 15 in Stories. Snapchat recently upped their maximum limit to 60 seconds from the original 10, and Vine, no longer an active platform, limited their videos to a blazing fast 7 seconds.

Regardless of whether video lengths influenced the viewer’s attention span, or vice versa, the evidence remains that if you don’t hook your viewer by the end of your opening lines, they start tuning out fast. Even with videos one minute or shorter, only 60 percent of viewers will reliably make it to the end, and twenty percent of them will have given it a pass in the first 30 seconds.

The name for the number of seconds viewers tune in for is called “watch time.” Knowing what yours is, and how you can work with it, can change your video strategy entirely.

How To Find Your Video Watch Time

Depending on where you upload the majority of your videos, you may have to look in different places for your watch time analytics. Platforms like Vimeo and YouTube have their own analytics built right in that you can access from your account. If you are uploading videos directly to your website, you will likely have to find a third-party platform like Google Analytics, SE Ranking, Woopra, or many others. 

Any of these will be able to give you a look at your views per video, the average watch time of each of them, the time of day most of your viewers are online, and other numbers to help you zero in on best practices.

Script Your Video With Watch Time In Mind

According to a survey done by production company Vidyard this year, the average company published 33 videos each month – an increase of 83 percent over the same period of time in 2017. Of those, 75 percent of the videos were under two minutes.

So how can your video make the most out of an inattentive audience? Try these tips from marketing company MiniMatters:

• Shorter is better. If you can make the same points in less time, do it!

• Start off energized and get the important stuff in at the beginning of your video before your audience starts to disappear.

• Don’t hold your call to action for the end, especially for longer videos. Consider a clickable pop-up that appears in the first few seconds and throughout the video.

• Think about breaking a longer video into a series of shorter, easily digestible, clips.

Make Sure Your Video Matches Your Platform

Just like there is no one way to view a video, it would also be foolish to assume the same video will work on all platforms. Here are the best lengths for each of today’s popular video platforms (via Hubspot):

• Instagram - 30 seconds

  • Instagram videos that received the most comments averaged just 26 seconds. Our brain processes visuals 60,000 times faster than text, so users scroll faster on Instagram than any other app.

• Twitter – 45 seconds

  • Twitter’s video of the day averages just 43 seconds. Users are accustomed to short tweets, so make sure the brevity also applies to videos.

• Facebook – 1 minute

  • Facebook audiences like to engage most with videos that are just one minute long. Users like snappy videos that they can quickly like or share before moving on.

• YouTube – 2 minutes

  • The videos that receive the most engagement on YouTube are about two minutes. Users like spending time on this platform because they can easily find specific videos and watch their favorite creator’s content. Creating longer, more in-depth, content is perfect for this platform.

The Takeaways

Keep your video short, sweet and front loaded with information! That way whether they stick around for the entire thing or not, you’re guaranteed to get the most information in front of your viewer as possible.

If you want some help putting together a video or video series for your business, contact Tabrizi Productions today! We can help you with scripting, shooting and editing to make sure your videos make the best impression possible.

How To Use Color To Your Advantage In A Marketing Video

How To Use Color To Your Advantage In A Marketing Video

Color can make or break a video. When it's done perfectly, it adds a new depth to the story while remaining perfectly innocuous. Get it wrong, and it can pull the viewer entirely out of your story. While the exact science behind the psychology of color seems to be a popular topic of debate across the internet, anecdotal evidence abounds. Let's start with a quick breakdown from The Los Angeles Film School.

Considering The Psychology of Colors for Your Video

Red

Red represents intense feelings, including aggression, happiness, love, and passion. Red also brings to mind ideas of action, adventure, danger, power, and strength. 

The color red is popular with food companies as well, possibly due to a controversial study that found the color accelerated heart rate and breathing, resulting in a stimulated appetite. Take a look at companies like McDonald's, Wendy's, KFC, Red Robin, Arby's, and more to see just a few of the thousands of examples.

Orange

Orange is a combination of red and yellow, and the emotional and mental responses it creates tends to be a combination of the two. In a video, orange can represent joy, creativity, and stimulation, making it a popular color in marketing targeted at children. However, it can also represent attraction, success, passion, and aggression.

Yellow

Yellow is known for competence, concentration, and curiosity. It's also viewed as cheerful, playful, and positive – as long as you view it in small doses. However, if the color overwhelms a scene in your video, it can encourage feelings of stress and frustration. In fact, according to research, when placed in a yellow room, babies cry more, and people are more likely to lose their tempers.

Green

Possibly because of its prevalence in nature, green is commonly associated with nature, healing, renewal, growth, and calmness. However, its inseparable link to the color of US currency also lends its use to images of greed, luxury, good taste, and envy.

Blue

A study from a University of Washington student found that blue is the favorite color of the majority of adults, even across gender lines. Blue can be used to instill feelings of calmness and peace and can spark creativity. In addition, blue is often used in videos to represent competence, loyalty, productivity, and high quality. However, it is also representative of the traditional idea of masculinity.

Purple

You're likely familiar with the idea that purple represents royalty. In that vein, it's often used on video to evoke ideas of wealth, luxury, sophistication, power, sincerity, and authority. However, purple is also seen as a "rare" and "artificial" color because it is not often seen in nature.

Pink

Just as blue is linked with masculinity, pink is often related to femininity. It evokes ideas of romance and love and brings to mind the themes of gentleness, gratitude, innocence, playfulness, happiness, tranquility, and youth.

Black

Using black on video can have many associations with both positive and negative feelings. It signifies grief, fear, mystery, evil and simplicity, tradition, and sophistication. Black features heavily in religious settings as well, indicating feelings of humility and submission.

White

White is most often used to represent innocence, purity, sincerity, and happiness. However, it can also instill feelings of emptiness or encourage associations with sterility and clinical settings.

How Colors Have Been Used In Film and Video

Color Helps Viewers Follow The Story

We think of early films as black and white, but color has been around since the beginning. It may not be the bright technicolor vision that you think of whenever someone mentions The Wizard of Oz, but numerous complex techniques date back to the 1800s, including tints and pigments to film.

This is still from the first horror movie ever made, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, released nearly 100 years ago. Instead of a stark black and white, however, the film has a decidedly brown tint and red shadows if you look closely.

This is not a unique occurrence. While adding color to film was still a laborious process requiring many hours and hazardous chemicals, it was a reliable way to help viewers follow along with a story that may jump rapidly between characters, locations, and storylines. In fact, the introduction of sound to movies made the process too difficult and low-quality to continue and severely limited its use until Technicolor's rise to prominence in the 1930s.

Color Emphasizes Emotions in the Video

Danielle Feinberg, the director of photography for Pixar, refers to herself as color-obsessed in her TED Talk, saying, "Lighting and color are the backbones of emotion." For each film, Feinberg says they lay out a color script that maps out all the hues for each scene, so they fit within the larger story arc. Here is what she said about the opening of Pixar's 2008 film WALL-E:

Photo Courtesy of Oleg Mikhaylov

We had to do massive visual storytelling because there's no dialogue — only robot boops and beeps. Yet, we needed the audience to understand that we're on Earth, that it's polluted, and that WALL-E's the last one left. So we limited the palette to tans and oranges. Our production designer was adamant that there be no green anywhere because he wanted a visual punch when WALL-E finds a plant for the first time. Your eyes have been washed in a limited palette, and suddenly there's intense green. It cerebrally makes a difference.

Color Conveys Different Ideas

Filmmaker Lewis Bond features on a YouTube channel about the craft of filmmaking and has an easy-to-understand explainer on color in film. Bond delves briefly into how colors can reveal a film's meaning and encourages viewers to keep an eye out for repeated color patterns. "When a color repeats, it's associated with an idea. When the color changes, it shows you the concept has changed."

How Can You Use All This In Your Video?

Now that we've covered the impact of colors themselves, how can you apply this information in your marketing video?

Product Display

If you have physical goods you are selling, think about how they will be displayed and what you can control. For example, will your item be sitting on a table? Consider dressing the surface with a tablecloth or building a small scene for it featuring items of various complementary and contrasting colors. Think about your target audience and how you want your product to be viewed, then dress the scene accordingly.

Dress The Part In Your

Video

Will you or another individual be speaking to the camera? It's important to focus on your words and not on your outfit. Nicole Otchy, a personal stylist and branding consultant from Boston, gave these six tips on dressing for the camera to production company Wistia.

• Wear Jewel Tones Near Your Face. The colors near your face will either drain you of life or highlight your best features. There's a palette of colors that look best on each of us and especially great on video. Ruby red, emerald green, and sapphire blue are highly saturated colors, so they don't appear too bright or too muted against most backgrounds, and they look great with all different skin tones.

• Be Careful With Black. When it comes to wearing black on camera, avoid it altogether unless you plan on having your makeup done by a professional who can color correct for shadows on the face. Wearing black on camera can make dark circles appear more pronounced, giving you a more tired look. If you really want to wear a dark color on camera, navy is generally a safer choice.

• Choose Simple Fabrics. Looking like a disco ball on camera is not always the best style to shoot for. Shiny fabrics, especially under bright lights, are usually less than flattering. Thick cotton and matte fabrics, on the other hand, dampen shadows and can create a smoother body profile line.

• Keep It Modern. Another advantage of wearing solids is that your videos won't look dated as quickly. That vintage pantsuit you thrifted last week? Keep it in your closet. Rich, saturated colors never go out of style, so it's best to keep it simple.

• Use Patterns Sparingly. Patterns that look great in person don't always translate well on camera and can be distracting. Avoid small, busy prints (think paisley or small polka dots), which can look blurry on video. Other patterns like pinstripes, chevron, plaid, and houndstooth are also difficult to see on video and can make your viewers dizzy.

• Choose Your Backdrop Wisely. The color you shoot your video against will impact how the color you're wearing translates on camera. Colors set against a white background will appear brighter, while colors set against a dark background will lose some of their intensity.

Whether you plan on making a cinematic piece, or simply a short instructional video, color is one of the most important tools in your toolbox. And no matter how fluid the science behind color psychology, there's always one consistent: if you've done it right, no one will be able to tell you've done anything at all.

Are you considering introducing video to your marketing plan or expanding your current video collection? Tabrizi Productions can help you achieve your vision from the first script to the final, appropriately colored video. 

Tabrizi Productions is a boutique video production company with a mission to make video accessible for all. We offer authentic, affordable video storytelling for companies large and small.

We are locally serving Oakland, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, and the surroundings of the Silicon Valley area. Fill out this form to get started on your next video project!

Why Video Is Vital For Business In The Digital Age

For as long as we’ve had the means to watch TV, video has been an important part of business marketing. Today it’s one of the most important pieces in your marketing toolbox. video is quickly becoming the preferred way to consume content online and can provide you with analytical insights almost unparalleled to other forms of advertising.

Where are people watching videos?

According to the web analytics company, Alexa YouTube is the second-most popular website both in the United States and globally, with more than 500 million hours of video consumed daily. Those numbers are continually climbing, and within a year, a predicted 1 million minutes of video will be shared by viewers with their friends every second.

Facebook isn’t far behind, with users of the third-most-popular website in the world consuming a total of 8 billion videos daily. In fact, CEO Mark Zuckerberg plans to turn Facebook into a video-first platform by 2020.

Why are people watching videos?

Mobile technology has exploded by leaps and bounds since cell phones first became commonplace in the mid-’90s. As a result, today’s users frequently have multiple screens available at once, and all of them have been optimized for video.

What does this mean when it comes to using video for your business? Video’s primary appeal is that it’s effortless for the consumer. Why ask your audience to spend time flipping through product catalogs or reading extensive copy when you can deliver the content directly to them in an actively engaging manner? Consumers can then engage, embed, share and comment on video content at the touch of a button.

How video can work for your business

A survey by Digital Content Next found that 80 percent of respondents had watched a video ad in the past month, with 46% taking one or more of these follow-up actions:

• 44% of buyers viewed an online video while searching for local products or services

• 53% of viewers contacted the business after viewing a video

• 51% visited the business website

• 33% visited the store

 When comparing products, 96 percent of consumers find video helpful in making their final decision, and four times as many consumers would rather watch that video than read written information and customer reviews.

To successfully engage your brand’s audience, always include a call to action in your video. For example, do you want your viewer to visit your website, follow you on social media or share the video with friends? All you have to do is ask. Trust is key in building strong and long-lasting relationships with consumers, and new eyes will watch videos that your consumers have shared with the idea in mind that someone they trust has found the video worthy of their time.

Insights, insights, insights.

When you build traditional text-based content, do you know how many people read it? Did they read the entire thing? Did one paragraph get more attention than another? Unfortunately, in-depth metrics like these are difficult to generate.

With video, you can track exactly when a consumer stopped watching, how many full and partial views a video has, and how often a video actually generated business for your company. Compared to text, the ability to track individualized video results is unparalleled. Add on software designed for tracking the consumer journey (Google Analytics, Smaply, and Gliffy, just to name a few), and the possibilities are endless.

Want to get in touch with Tabrizi Productions to learn more about what we can do for your business? Contact us for a free video consultation!

Tabrizi Productions is a boutique video production company with a mission to make video accessible for all. We offer authentic, affordable video storytelling for companies large and small.

We are locally serving Oakland, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, and the surroundings of the Silicon Valley area. 

3 Elements You Need In a Lead Generation Video

Did you know you can use videos as a lead generation tool? Business videos are constantly proving to be valuable for many reasons, but the type of video you create changes based on the goal. A video with the intent of gathering potential customer information, for example, is a little different than a general video introducing the business.

There are a few specific criteria that a basic lead generation video needs to include; keep reading to learn what they are.

3 Elements You Need In a Lead Generation Video

1. Call to Action. Every video you create for your customers (or potential customers) needs to have a call to action, but this is especially true for a lead generation video. The goal is to gather information from your audiences, such as their name and email address, so that you can reach out to them in the near future. Your call to action should give them an incentive and clearly direct them regarding how to provide these details.

2. Include a Form. After you ask your viewers for their information, you need to provide a way for them to follow through and give them to you. A form at the end of your video is a convenient way for potential customers to leave their contact details and for you to upload it into your system.

3. Provide a Benefit. What do your viewers get after filling out the form? Will they see something special, like a sneak peek of a new product or service? Will they receive a special discount for providing their details? It’s not enough to ask them to fill out a form. They need to know that they will get something useful or exciting out of the deal.

While these are specific elements you need to include in your lead generation video, you don’t want to forget to arm your sales staff with the details of the video and any benefits they can share with their potential customers. Your video may gather the leads, but it’s up to your sales staff to close on them. Making sure they have everything they need to be successful is just as important as the video itself.

Do you want help putting together a one-of-a-kind lead generation video for your business? Contact me today to learn how Tabrizi Productions can make your video vision a reality!

Tabrizi Productions is a boutique video production company with a mission to make video accessible for all. We offer authentic, affordable video storytelling for companies large and small.

We are locally serving Oakland, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, and the surroundings of the Silicon Valley area. 

Why You Need to Use High Quality Videos for Your Business

We've been spending a lot of time recently discussing how to hire a video production company and how they can help your company, but we haven't really talked about the importance of creating high-quality videos. So in this post, we're going to take the focus off the video production company. Instead, we're taking a look at the heart of the topic – the reason why high-quality videos are important.

Why High-Quality Videos are Important

Consumers are spending more and more time watching videos; they are easier to process, more engaging, and can leave a stronger impression on the audience. Whether you are creating them for social media or your website, they are a smart choice to add to your business strategy to communicate your messages; however, shaky filming and background noise are distractions in communicating those messages. More than that, they can make people view your company as unprofessional and cheap.

Any video used for your business is a reflection of your brand. Once you upload a video to your website, on social media, or anywhere else on the web, it is there forever - a permanent part of the internet. The last thing you want is to have a low-quality video be a permanent reflection on your business – especially if it happens to go viral and is seen by millions of people.

As BusinessTown states, "We all want the services we choose to look put together because it makes us sure that the company we ultimately choose to do business with truly does care about us as clients."

While I fully support a company taking on the challenge of creating their own video content, it's important you make sure you're creating quality pieces that are a positive reflection of your business. Having the proper tools, some knowledge, and a little guidance will go a long way in helping you do just that. If you're not ready to invest in a video production company yet, we encourage you to check out our free 5 Steps to Stellar Videos with your iPhone downloadable and our #DoItOnCamera Coaching course to get your business set up for success. 

Need help with your next video? Lets Tabrizi Productions help you! 

Tabrizi Productions is a boutique video production company with a mission to make video accessible for all. We offer authentic, affordable video storytelling for companies large and small.

We are locally serving Oakland, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, and the surroundings of the Silicon Valley area. Sound like a fit? Fill out this form to schedule a free consultation. 

If you're not ready to invest in a video production company yet, we encourage you to check out our free 5 Steps to Stellar Videos with your iPhone downloadable and our #DoItOnCamera Coaching course to get your business set up for success. 

3 Types of Video Production Companies for Different Needs

When it comes to choosing a video production company to work with, not all are created equal. While doing your research, you’ll find there are three distinct types of businesses in the industry – Freelancers, Boutique Firms and Commercial Companies. Depending on your specific needs and budget, one may be a better fit over another. What’s the difference between them? Keep reading to find out!

3 Types of Video Production Businesses

Freelancer

If you have a small budget or project that needs to be done, a freelancer may be an option to consider. Since they typically work for themselves, they have little to no overhead to worry about. What this means is that they are able to pass those savings onto their clients. On the flipside, a freelancer doesn’t have a hired team to help them with projects so they are only able to take on what they have time for.

Another consideration with a freelancer is their experience and skills. This can range greatly from someone who has all the skills and knowledge from years of being in the business, to someone who is just starting out and trying to build their portfolio. When it comes to skills and experience, you’ll also want to make sure that they have the ability to produce a video for business purposes, not personal enjoyment.

Lastly, they may not have access to the equipment needed to meet your needs, especially if they are just getting started. 

Projects that would work well for a freelancer: Social media videos, short informative interviews and demonstration videos.

Boutique Firms 

This is where Tabrizi Productions stands in the mix. Boutique firms are a great option for businesses who are budget conscious and have a wide range of video needs. With this type of video production company you still get personalized one-on-one interaction like you would with a freelancer, but they have a team to back them up and help you reach your business video goals.

Boutique firms also usually have access to better equipment and have the skills to use it. Most have years in the field or corporate setting (like me!) so they are able to anticipate needs and determine the best solutions to make your video dream a reality. It is also easier to find a company in this level who are able to produce a wide range of projects for business - from training to videos welcoming guests to your website.

Because they have the equipment, skills and a team to work with, they have higher overheard costs compared to freelancers. This translates into a higher cost, but it also means that the final product is also likely to be better than someone who is doing all on their own with less equipment.

Projects that would work well for a boutique firm: Same as a freelancer, plus training and onboarding videos, website videos, other web-based videos.

Commercial companies 

Many commercial video production companies have been around for 20-30 years and were started when it was more expensive and difficult to produce videos. Typically, they work on a larger scale with much larger brands than a freelancer or boutique firm, producing commercials and high visibility pieces.

With their expansive teams, equipment and types of video they produce, these companies are much more expensive than the other two options, frequently working on a retainer basis.

While you probably won’t need to vet the skills of a company of this size, you will still want to check to see if they have experience in your industry and if they can answer your other questions to see if they are the right fit for your business and the money you will be spending.

Projects that work well for commercial companies: Television commercials as well as internal and external business videos.

Considering your needs and how much you are able to spend will help you in the decision making process. But don’t forget to do your homework with any potential video producers you’re thinking about hiring. Want to know if Tabrizi Productions can meet your needs and budget? Contact me today to find out!

Questions You Need to Ask When Hiring a Video Production Company

Have you recently decided to add video to your business strategy but don’t know what to do or where to even start? Or have you tried creating your own business videos but didn’t find them as successful as you’d hoped? Hiring a professional video production company is the answer you’re looking for. You may be tempted to sign on the dotted line with the first business you come across that offers this service; however, that’s a risk that can lead to a less than stellar experience. Don’t be afraid to shop around and ask any potential companies that you would like to work with specific questions.

Not sure what to ask, or if hiring out is the right choice for your business? This article is exactly what you need! Continue reading to learn why hiring out for the task is a good idea and what questions you need to ask when hunting for a video production company.

Why You Should Hire A Video Production Company

As we recently discussed, creating your own business video is possible, but the decision to do so should be considered carefully. A well-crafted video helps you reach business goals, engages with your audience, and can be more difficult to create than it appears. There is often a noticeable difference between a video done by a professional versus one created by someone with less experience. Here are four reasons why hiring a video production company for your business is the smart choice.

1. Experience. One of the most obvious reasons to hire a video production company is because they have the experience to back them up. With experience comes knowledge you cannot learn through reading articles alone. Professional videographers have the ability to read a situation and tell you if an idea will work; they can also make the necessary adjustments to fit your needs. From lighting conditions and sound quality to the editing process, pros know how to combine key elements and avoid any possible mistakes to achieve the best video possible for your business.

An experienced video producer can also take your idea to the next level. Using their knowledge from previous projects, they can work with you to develop a more intriguing and engaging storyline that will draw in your intended audience.

2. Equipment. The second most obvious reason why you should hire a video production company is because of their equipment. Sure, you can shoot a decent quality video with the latest iPhone, but it will never compare to the quality that comes with professional cameras, lighting, sound, and editing equipment. A video producer works with this equipment every day and has an intimate understanding of how each piece works, separately and together, to form the final product.

3. Time. Creating a well-developed video for your business takes time. Someone who is not as familiar with the equipment and software necessary to produce a top-quality video can end up using a large chunk of time learning, time that can be used more effectively elsewhere in your organization. Hiring a video production company frees you from the time required, from start to finish, to put a video together. Pros are able to give your project the time and attention it deserves.

4. Cost. All of these reasons lead to this final point - the time, equipment, and experience (training) to put together your own company video can be expensive! A video production company already has the experience and equipment needed, so they can work efficiently. While it will still require you to invest monetarily in the project, the costs of hiring a professional will be lower in the long run than if you were to go about trying to create a company video yourself.

As you can see, there are many benefits of bringing on board a professional producer to help with your video. If you’re sold on hiring help, don’t go running to the first business you find; keep reading to learn what you should look for in a potential video production partner.

Questions You Need To Ask Before Hiring a Video Production Company

Hiring a professional video production company is not something to be taken lightly. There are numerous factors you should consider and questions you need to ask when on the hunt for someone who can bring your brand to life through video. With the help of this article from VidYard, and my own insight as a professional video producer, here is a list of nine important questions you should have answered before hiring a video production company.

CAN THE VIDEO PRODUCTION COMPANY HANDLE THE PROJECT

LOAD?

If you have a series of videos that you want to create for your brand, it’s important that you ask if they have the capacity to take them all on. You don’t want to go through the hassle of finding a new partner for every video in your campaign – it’s a hassle and can take up valuable time. Another reason why you should hire one company to handle all the videos is for brand consistency and planning. By having the same video producer handle all your videos, they will be able to match the tone and message easier across all the pieces. 

IS THE PRODUCTION COMPANY LIMITED TO A SPECIFIC LOCATION?

If you have multiple locations that span a wide area, you need to find a company that can accommodate that request. Like needing to know if they can handle the project load, finding someone who can travel and serve multiple locations will help with your budget and brand consistency and free your time to focus on other aspects of your business.

WHAT TYPE OF VIDEOS DO THEY SPECIALIZE IN?

There are numerous types of videos that you can create for your business, from quick social media videos to internal employee training videos. A few examples would be FAQ videos, customer testimonial videos, corporate recruitment videos, etc. 

While the basics of creating a video are the same, no matter the type, there are distinct differences in how they are approached and produced. In the same sense, videos for enterprise-level companies and brands that are more informal will need to be handled differently to fit their specific audiences. You need to find a company that is knowledgeable about the type of video you want for your particular company.

DO THEY GUARANTEE THEIR WORK?

As VidYard states:

Not all video providers offer satisfaction guarantees; in many crowd-sourced marketplaces, it’s difficult to control the quality of freelance videographers. If there is a guarantee, read the fine print to see what it includes. It may cover the entire cost of the video or only the referral fee.

If a company you’re considering does not offer a guarantee, make sure you check out previous projects that are similar in size and scope to what you’re looking for. If they cannot provide that for you, proceed with caution or seek out other video producers who can or will guarantee their work.

DO THEY PROVIDE VIDEO

OPTIMIZATION?

One of the most common uses for video is for marketing purposes. A lot of marketing involves trial and error to find what works the best for the specific audience you are trying to reach. This understanding transfers to video as well. Ask if they are willing to work with, tweaking your videos to maximize the results you’re after.

WHAT COSTS ARE INVOLVED, AND WHAT’S INCLUDED?

When considering a boutique video production company, like Tabrizi Productions, the costs and what your money goes to may be different than if you were to hire a freelance producer or commercial company. It’s important you ask and understand what you will be getting and how much it will cost you.

HOW FAR OUT ARE THEY BOOKING CLIENTS?

When hunting for your perfect video partner, be sure to ask them how far in advance they are booking. Too often, brands take a passive approach to creating videos, searching for help only when an idea strikes instead of actively planning a campaign. Unfortunately, that can mean they miss out on top-quality producers who are booked well into the future. When it comes to including video as part of your business plan, the earlier you hire a videographer, the better, not only for availability but for planning purposes, too!

WHAT IS THE TURNAROUND TIME FOR VIDEOS?

The answer to this question will depend on the company, the type of video you want, and how many other projects the videographer is working on at the same time they will be working on yours. Like booking time, knowing how long it will take to get your final video once the project has started will help determine if the company will fit your plan and timeline.

DO THEY HELP WITH SCRIPTING OR STORYBOARDING?

This question is especially important if you have a general idea of what you want your video to be but have not outlined the specific details. Some video production companies offer these services to help see your ideas from conception to the final product, while others do not.

As you interview potential video production partners, arming yourself with these questions will help you establish clear expectations from the beginning. Beyond knowing what to anticipate from the video producer you hire, making a well-informed decision can lead to a long-term relationship with the top-quality results, you’re looking for.

Are you ready to find your video production company match? Contact me today, so I can answer all these questions and more!

Tabrizi Productions is a boutique video production company with a mission to make video accessible for all. We offer authentic, affordable video storytelling for companies large and small.

We are locally serving Oakland, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, and the surroundings of the Silicon Valley area. 

4 Reasons Why You Need to Hire a Video Production Company

Creating your own business video is possible and I support those who take on the challenge, but the decision to do so should be considered carefully. Producing a well-crafted video helps you reach business goals and engage with your audience and can be more difficult than it appears. Whether it’s for training, customer relations or product demonstrations, there is often a noticeable difference between a video done by a professional, versus one that is created by someone with less experience. Here are four reasons why hiring a video production company for your business is the smart choice.

4 Reasons to Hire a Video Production Company

1.       Experience. One of the most obvious reasons to hire a video production company is because they have the experience to back them up. With experience comes knowledge that you cannot learn through reading articles alone. Professional videographers have the ability to read a situation and tell you if an idea will work; they can also make necessary adjustments to fit your needs. From lighting conditions and sound quality to the editing process, pros know how to combine key elements and avoid any possible mistakes to achieve the best video possible for your business.

An experienced video producer can also take your idea to the next level. Using their knowledge from previous projects, they can work with you to develop a more intriguing and engaging story line that will draw in your intended audience.

2.      Equipment. The second most obvious reason why you should hire a video production company is because of their equipment. Sure, you can shoot a decent quality video with the latest iPhone, but it will never compare to the quality that comes with professional cameras, lighting, sound and editing equipment. A video producer works with this equipment every day and has an intimate understanding of how each piece works, separately and together, to form the final product.

3.      Time. Creating a well-developed video for your business takes time.  Someone who is not as familiar with the equipment and software necessary to produce a top-quality video can end up using a large chunk of time learning; time that can be used more effectively elsewhere in your organization. Hiring a video production company frees you from the time required, from start to finish, to put a video together. Pros are able to give your project the time and attention it deserves.

4.      Cost. All of these reasons lead to this final point - the time, equipment and experience (training) to put together your own company video can be expensive! A video production company already has the experience and equipment needed, so they can work efficiently. While it will still require you to invest monetarily in the project, the costs of hiring a professional will be lower in the long run than if you were to go about trying to create a company video yourself.

Make sure your business’s next video project is the best it can be by hiring a video production professional like Tabrizi Productions. There is no replacement for someone with the passion and experience to create outstanding videos. Want to learn about my experience, equipment, time and cost and how I can help your company? Contact me today.

Do you really need to invest in video for business?

I often hear, "Do I really need to invest in video for business?" I always, without question, answer - Absolutely! Video is a powerful tool that will help your business grow internally and externally. Whether you're a niche enterprise or a large chain retailer, video goes a long way to help your business succeed. There are numerous ways you can use video within your business to reach goals and milestones. If you're interested in learning about a few, keep reading!

Video for Business Marketing

Over the last few years, video's popularity has grown so dramatically that it has cemented itself as part of a business marketing strategy that you can't ignore. With a little creativity and a well-thought-out plan, videos can help your business stand out from the rest with a unique and unforgettable voice, capturing and holding an audience's attention while providing useful information. Add onto that the numerous ways you can now share video, from YouTube to social media and beyond, and incorporating video into your marketing strategy is a no-brainer.

Still not completely convinced that you need to include video as part of your business' marketing strategy?

Earlier this year, Wowzyl and HubSpot released their State of Video Marketing Report for 2018, which provides some very useful stats on why video has become so important for businesses. Here are some insights worth pondering as you consider adding video to your marketing strategy.

• In 2017, people watched an average of one-and-a-half hours of video a day, with 15 percent watching more than three hours of video every day! That's a lot of opportunities to connect with your business' audience.

• In just one year, the number of businesses that use video as a part of their marketing strategy grew by 81 percent – a growth of nearly 20 percent. There's a pretty good chance your competition is already using video.

• More than half of the 19 percent that did not use video in 2017 have planned to use it this year, which means that more than 90 percent of businesses will be using video in their marketing.

• With video being more interactive than text, most people (72 percent) would rather watch a video to learn about a brand or product than read about it.

Need more? Here are a few more stats straight from HubSpot:

• 97% of businesses say video has helped increase user understanding of their product or service.

• 76% say it helped them increase sales.

• 76% say it helped them increase traffic.

• 80% of businesses say video has increased dwell time on their website.

• 95% of people have watched an explainer video to learn more about a product or service.

• 81% of people have been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a brand's video.

• 69% of people have been convinced to buy a piece of software or application by watching a video.

• 85% of people say they'd like to see more videos from brands this year.

As you can see, businesses who use video in their marketing efforts often see amazing results in their engagement, website traffic, and sales. From advertising to newsletters, videos are a terrific way to interact with your audience and need to be included in your marketing efforts.

Video for Business Training

Video for business training is a common tool used for new employees, but it is also an effective and often overlooked aspect for established employees. There are so many opportunities in which video can come into play outside of getting new team members up to speed on your company and their new roles. If you're wondering how to maximize your training efforts through video, here are three ideas that work wonders.

1. Demonstrate How Your Products Work

Videos are a great way to teach your employees, whether they're new team members or have been with your company long-term, how your products work. The better acquainted and the more in-depth their knowledge is about your products and services, the more successful they will be in their job roles. Videos are able to demonstrate better than text can ever explain the ins and outs of your business's offerings. Just remember to make sure these videos are easy to access so employees can refer to them whenever they need them.

2. New Management Training 

Most often, when videos are used for training, they're used for entry-level employees who are new to your company. Did you know you can provide higher-level staff with coaching through video, too? Managers are the support system for your business. They offer guidance, support, and training to those who help reach business goals. For a manager to be successful, they need to have support as well. Whether they're explainer videos, FAQ videos, or something else, videos are a great way of offering guidance on managing their roles responsibly and providing them with the knowledge to help their team reach their objectives.

3. Easily Accessible Training for All Employees

No matter what position an employee holds or how long they have been with your company, training videos provide an easy way to share new policies, products, services, or goals and train them to use the information. Also, for established employees who have been with your company for a longer period of time, easily accessible videos are a stellar way to refresh skills and knowledge.

Video for Business Team Building

Team building with video is a novel way to transfer an understanding of your business culture to employees company-wide. There are multiple ways you can use video to build your team.

• Introducing your entry-level employees to upper management. Often times in larger organizations and enterprises, there is a lack of connection between upper and lower-level employees, causing a possible disconnect in your team. When your entry-level employees are familiar with who their managers are, it creates a more unified organization. When your business spans multiple locations, it can be difficult to create unification between different departments. Video is the perfect solution to introduce the different members and departments of your team. Have them talk a little bit about their role, their history with the company, why they love their job, and some personal details about themselves.

• Sharing knowledge with others. A knowledgeable team is a strong team. Video is a fantastic way for more experienced employees to share their years of assembled knowledge with those who are newer to the company. When everyone has the same information and shares their insight, it creates a more dynamic team and enterprise.

• Motivating employees to reach goals. Videos are naturally engaging and entertaining; because of this, they are a fantastic tool to motivate employees to reach goals. Having someone on video which is excited and enthusiastic about what they're talking about is powerful. When everyone is eager and engaged in the goal, from the top down, it creates a team that is unified and willing to stick together to reach them.

• Transfer Your Business' Culture. Your business culture tells a complex story that is difficult to convey to new employees. The longer your company has been in business, the more involved the story becomes! Video enables you to capture the unique picture that is your company's culture. Elements of your organization's culture include:

• How formal or informal your company is. Are jeans and t-shirts acceptable, or is everyone required to wear formal business attire?

• The diversity within your company, in all aspects.

• The history of your business.

• Unique advantages of your company. Are pets welcome? Do you offer a health bar or gym? Do employees get to work from home

• How much you value your employees – from entry-level to those at the top – and how you show your appreciation.

Video can highlight varying perspectives from different departments, can be used to bring employees up to speed, and reveal comprehensive snapshots of your business and what makes it unique. A strong sense of culture creates a team that takes pride in the company they work for and is willing to go the extra mile to reach business goals.

Beyond marketing, training, and team building- video also has the potential to welcome guests to your website, help onboard new staff and relay important messages about your organization. With so many ways video can be used, I stand by my answer – yes, you need to invest in video for business. Do you know of any other ways that companies can use video? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

If you're ready to take the leap and work with a video production company, we'd love to help! 

Tabrizi Productions is a boutique video production company with a mission to make video accessible for all. We offer authentic, affordable video storytelling for companies large and small.

We are locally serving Oakland, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, and the surroundings of the Silicon Valley area. Sound like a fit? Fill out this form to schedule a free consultation. 

3 Effective Ways to Use Video for Training

Video is one of the most efficient tools used for training employees, but beyond using it for new employees, it is often overlooked. There are so many opportunities for video to come into play outside of getting new team members up to speed on your company and their new roles. 

Keep reading if you're wondering how to maximize your training efforts through video.

3 Ways to Use Video for Training

1.      Demonstrate How Your Products & Services Work

Videos are a great way to teach your employees how your products and services work, whether they're new team members or have been with your company long term. The more acquainted and in-depth their knowledge about your products and services, the more successful they will be in their job roles. Videos can show the ins and outs of your business's offerings better than text can ever explain.

Ensure these videos are easy to access so employees can refer to them whenever they need to review various ways to use your products and services.

2.     New Management Training

When videos are used for training, they're often used for entry-level employees who are new to your company. However, did you know you can provide higher-level staff with coaching through video, too? Managers are the support system for your business. They offer guidance, support, and training to those within their supervision or department to help reach business goals. For a manager to be successful, they need to have support as well. Videos are a great way to offer guidance for managing their roles responsibly and providing them with the knowledge they need to help their team reach their goals.

3.     Easily Accessible Training for All Employees

No matter what position an employee holds or how long they have been with your company, training videos provide an easy way to share new policies, products, services, or goals and train them to use the information. Also, for established employees who have been with your company for a longer period of time, easily accessible videos are a stellar way to refresh their skills and knowledge.

Using video beyond training new employees creates a strong and confident workforce that can effectively reach your business goals. 

Want to learn how Tabrizi Productions can help you create training videos for your company? Contact me today!

Tabrizi Productions is a boutique video production company with a mission to make video accessible for all. We offer authentic, affordable video storytelling for companies large and small.

We are locally serving Oakland, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, and the surroundings of the Silicon Valley area. 

Common Video Terms You Need to Know

Have you decided to create a video for your business? I hope you have! Before you start filming or hire a professional, like myself, you need to have an understanding of the most common video terms used in the production process. This knowledge will help you understand all phases of the process, any tutorials you look up or information you’re given. Keep reading for a list of video terms from New Blue FX.

Common Video Terms

Aspect Ratio – This is the relation of your video’s height in comparison to its width such as 4:3 and 16:9.

Bit Rate – This is the amount of data used per second measured in kilobits per second (kbps).

Compositing – Used in the editing process, this video term combines multiple images together with your video editing software.

Compression – As it sounds, compression compresses the data in a video file to make uploading and downloading processes faster; it gives you more room for storage.

Crop Factor – As New Blue FX states, “Crop factor is a number (typically from 1.3-2.0) that represents the ratio of a sensor’s imaging area to that of a full frame sensor.”

Cut-in – Also known as an insert shot, “cut-in” is a type of shot which shows the object that your subject is in; it is helpful as b-roll.

Frame Rate – The rate that your shutter opens and closes or that your sensor captures video in a one-second period.

J-Cut – This video term is not short for jump cut (see below for its definition). This cut is used when editing footage so the audio from the next shot comes before the video.

Jump Cut – This is an abrupt and jarring change between clips such as the subject moving from one spot to another.

L-Cut – Opposite of a j-cut, this cut has the video’s image change from one shot to another with the audio continuing into the next clip instead of starting before.

Shot list – It is a list of all the shots that you, or the person shooting the video, wants to include as part of the production. You should have this list created before you start filming so you have an idea of the direction and needs of your shoot.

Storyboard – This video term refers to a board with illustrations of all the scenes in your production so you can visualize what the final product will look like.  

A-Roll – This footage is the interview portion of a video, with the subject on screen.

B-Roll – B roll is all the supporting footage that overlays the A-Roll, such as employees working or the office setting. For example, when used in the video, you may still hear the subject speaking from the A-Roll but the video shows the footage you recorded of employees working.

Lower Third - Graphic that shows up in the lower third of the screen with the name of the person onscreen along with their title.

Watermark or Bug - Logo graphic in a corner of the screen used for branding and copyright protection.

Render time - The time it takes to calculate all the layers, graphics and color to produce a final video output.

Export time - the time it takes to compress and convert the project into a file to upload.

Keep these video terms close at hand while you go through the video creation process. Armed with this knowledge, you’re now ready to create a visual masterpiece. Need help? Contact me today!

5 Expert Video Editing Tips You Need to Know

No matter the software you use to put together your business video, there are some tried and true video editing tips you need to know if you want yours to stand out. It’s pretty apparent, rather quickly, I might add, when time has not been spent editing a video to make it shine. Keep reading to learn where you should start when editing your business video.

5 video editing tips

1. Film multiple takes. This first tip should actually happen before you start editing, but it’s important to the video editing process. Filming multiple takes of your video and clips will give you options to piece together the perfect video with the right tone, voice, and lines you want to use. 

2. Go through each clip. Once you have uploaded all of your files, you need to go through each one and decide which clips fit your message and video tone the best. Then you can input them into your video timeline.

3. Keep your story in mind. No matter the type of video you’re creating, it’s supposed to convey a message to your viewers. As Caleb Ward says in this Premium Beat article: 

Editing is so much more than simply cutting footage. It’s an opportunity to take your audience on a journey. Whether you’re editing a complex narrative film or simply putting together a corporate video, there is a deeper story being told.

One of the most important video editing tips, keep your story in mind.

4. Know your Cuts. There are many different ways you can put together a video. Understanding the feeling, action, or motivation, you’re hoping to convey will help you determine which cut is right for your video. This article from Pond5 has a fantastic breakdown of the different types of cuts and how they can be used to achieve your goals.

5. Add Music. Like cuts, music is a powerful tool to provoke emotion and certain reactions from your audience; it is a must if you want to keep your audience entertained.

With these video editing tips, you’re sure to create a video for your business that captures the attention of your audience and gets your message across clearly. Need help making a video? Let Tabrizi Productions do it all for you!

Tabrizi Productions is a boutique video production company with a mission to make video accessible for all. We offer authentic, affordable video storytelling for companies large and small.

Tabrizi Productions has worked with some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley and the surrounding South Bay Area.

We serve Oakland, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, and the surroundings of the Silicon Valley area. Sound like a fit

Contact us today for a free consultation to find out what we can do for you!

If you're not ready to invest in a video production company yet, we encourage you to check out our free 5 Steps to Stellar Videos with your iPhone downloadable and our #DoItOnCamera Coaching course to get your business set up for success. 

HOW TO USE VIDEOS IN THE ONBOARDING PROCESS

To this point, most of our blog posts have focused on how to use video to engage with your customers and those outside of your business. However, video is also a fantastic way to interact with your employees, especially those new to your company!

Think back to when you started a new job. How did you feel? Were you nervous, maybe even a little scared? While landing a new job is exciting, it is often combined with those feelings of nervousness about the new journey that’s ahead. Videos in the onboarding process are a perfect way to engage with your new employees and provide them with the tools they will need to be successful in their new role, as well as ease any fears they may have.

4 Reasons to Use Videos in the Onboarding Process

Wondering why you should use video as part of the onboarding process? Here are four reasons from the eLearning Industry.

1. Videos provide storytelling.

Using videos as part of your onboarding allows you to tell new employees your brand’s story as you want it told and in a way that resonates better than what they can get from pages in an employee handbook. Videos provide the perfect outlet for your new employee to connect visually and emotionally with your company. These stories also open the door for discussions following the video, as well as opportunities for learning and development. Allen Communication explains, “By telling impactful stories, we help employees understand what their onboarding will cover in the future and prepare them to learn...Much like the flipped classroom, video can be a precursor to insightful discussions around the topics that will be critical for the onboarding process.”

2. Videos increase engagement.

Videos are a great way to keep new employees engaged in the learning and onboarding process. This engagement helps them adjust to their new role within your company while retaining information. Videos are able to create long-term memories for job duties and provide a connection with your brand that other, more traditional methods cannot obtain.

3. Videos quicken the onboarding process.

Beyond engagement, videos are able to speed up the onboarding process. How does this help? When employees become more comfortable and confident in their new jobs at a quicker pace, it reduces the time and resources needed for training. This is especially true when there’s a lot of information for the employee to take in. It is an employer’s responsibility to effectively help employees confidently maneuver into their jobs so they can branch out and start developing themselves within their career and your company, and a standard video can ensure the trainer doesn’t miss any critical points.

4. Videos are cost-effective.

Hiring and training new employees is one of the most expensive processes a business goes through. Videos with onboarding are not only cost-effective but will provide a better return on investment (ROI) for an organization. Effective onboarding videos give employees the information they need and have the ability to motivate them to produce results that will allow them to succeed in their position within your business.

4 Types of Onboarding Videos

Make sure your onboarding process is a memorable experience that creates excitement for new employees by letting them see more than words in a handbook. Videos are a great way to introduce them to different departments, people, and activities within your company that they may not know of otherwise. Thankfully, you’re not limited to just one type of onboarding video; here are four you can take advantage of from Allen Communication.

1. Expert-led webinars. Webinars led by experts are a great way to start the onboarding process and set expectations. They provide support for your new team members who are not familiar with the company’s expectations and can relieve any concerns they may have. According to Allen Communication, “By having experts engage with new employees, you add credibility to the topic, and you help put them at ease by providing them with a set of tools and techniques from a great source.”

2. Screen captures. While there are numerous ways you can teach new employees, include writing down specific directions or creating a presentation that combines words and pictures to explain each step of the process along the way. A screen capture of the process while offering an audio explanation at the same time is an effective teaching method for several reasons. The article from Allen Communication explains, “They let the instructor talk in real-time, which helps engage learners as if the instructor is right there with them. There are multiple screen capture programs available, and they are excellent tools to provide learners with an audio/visual look at a real-life process in action.”

3. Video tutorials. Using video to walk your new employees through your company is another effective strategy, especially if your business is in manufacturing and production. Tutorial videos help employees get their footing in their new role and environment while also showing them where to go for important information and in emergencies. As the Allen Communication article states, “[Onboarding videos] also allow for a more detailed look at the intricacies of specific industrial machines, affording learners the ability to familiarize themselves with these machines without damaging the machine or hurting themselves.”

4. Faces of the company. Onboarding videos also provide a great opportunity to introduce higher-level management to new employees, as well as the different departments and the culture within your organization, helping them get a better feel for the company as a whole. Allen Communication explains, “You want the employees to feel at home and be comfortable in their new roles, and implementing this technique gives them that feeling that they are welcome. Also, it gives them an opportunity to see the real faces of employees and senior management of their place of work.”

Steps for Creating an Effective Onboarding Strategy

So how do you put onboarding videos to use for your company? Ponopto provides helpful steps to create an effective strategy, which include the following:

1. Identify onboarding activities for all new employees. Before you can start using videos for onboarding, you need to know what actions are required to help your new employees begin their roles successfully. Once you have that information, you can strategize which types of videos will work best to reach your onboarding goals and which activities will need a different approach.

2. Create a schedule. The first 90 days are important for new employee success and to keep turnover low. It’s important to remember to remain flexible so employees can fit their onboarding activities within their new responsibilities. Depending on how heavy of an onboarding program you have, try to space out videos over a period of time, so you don’t overwhelm new employees. It can also be helpful to allow your team to have access to the onboarding videos beyond the scheduled times so they can review the videos on their own.

3. Determine the video activities and schedule for individual groups. While creating videos for all new employees is extremely helpful, creating specific videos for different roles, departments, or locations within your company can have an extremely powerful effect on the onboarding process. It allows you to provide new employees with the specific tools they need to be successful in their new roles.

4. Share your strategy. Don’t keep your plan to yourself; share it internally to help gain additional insight that can be used in the onboarding process. Ponopto explains, “Sharing your onboarding map across departments allows you to add more useful cross-functional training activities to the map. Sharing your map can also help ensure your organization buys into the new program.”

5. Consistency is key. Once you have a plan finalized, it’s important to stick to it. You won’t see any real results if you don’t show every new employee the onboarding videos or if you let them view only one of the videos they are supposed to watch.

6. Monitor video activity. This often-overlooked step is just as important as the videos themselves. Over time, if you’re consistent with your plan, you will start seeing how well your onboarding videos are working. On the other side, if the videos are not resonating with new employees, you’ll be able to notice that too. Some key areas to monitor are retention rates, new employee engagement, and performance.

Final Thoughts

In addition to sharing your brand with new customers, videos are a fantastic chance to get your employees up to speed and start them off on the right foot. Onboarding videos are cost-effective, increase employee engagement and retention, and tell your company’s story in a way that manuals can’t. With the help of the steps above, you’ll be able to create a video that helps your employees reach their fullest potential as quickly as possible.

Ready to dive into onboarding videos but need a little help? Tabrizi Productions has extensive experience creating custom pieces that highlight what makes your business unique. 

Tabrizi Productions is a boutique video production company with a mission to make video accessible for all. We offer authentic, affordable video storytelling for companies large and small. 

Contact us today to learn how we can put your new team members at ease with an onboarding video!

5 COMMON VIDEO MISTAKES YOU NEED TO AVOID

Have you decided to start including videos as part of your business plan? Fantastic! From introducing your brand, services, and/or products to onboarding new employees, there are so many diverse ways you can use this tool to your advantage. As Chris Savage explains in this Wistia article, "Video offers amazing opportunities to catch people's interest while making something creative, educational, and even artistic." A top-notch video is memorable and creates a positive experience that lasts.

Before you press record on your camera, you should know there are a few common mistakes that can hinder the success of your video. Keep reading to find out what they are and how to avoid them.

Common Video Mistakes to Avoid

1. Not having plan

While being spontaneous and "winging it" has its time and place, video is not one of them; foregoing a plan is a surefire way to fumble in your video. A good plan will guide you through the process, define your goal, and help determine which type of video will meet your needs.

The Solution: The solution is simple but takes time – write out a plan! This is the first step in avoiding all the other video mistakes. Establish a goal for your video that is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely. Decide what your call to action will be to help you reach your goal and direct your audience to take action. Based on your goals and call to action, which type of video would best fit your needs?

2. It doesn’t tell a story

It's no secret that people love a good story. We have used stories for centuries to pass along information and share knowledge. It's ingrained to look for them as a way to explain new ideas and material.

According to the Wistia article mentioned above, "One of the best things about video is that it gives people the chance to tell stories about their products or ideas without losing any of the information that they want to get across… So if you make a video, keep in mind the best way to explain something is to tell a story about it."

Creating a video that doesn't tell a story and that is filled with a bunch of random mumbo-jumbo is a sure-fire way to lose your audience.

The Solution: Determine what your main message will be and craft a video that portrays it in a fun and interesting way. If your video will be more complex and includes more than just a person sitting in front of a camera, create a storyboard and script that outlines how your story will be told.

3. Not considering your audience

While you may be tempted to shout from the mountaintops about how great your business is to anyone who will listen, this spells disaster for videos.

Joshua Sleigh notes in his article on Business2Community that if you don't consider whom your video is for, "You'll struggle to communicate calls to action to your audience, and you'll have a difficult time measuring the true success of a campaign."

If you have a wide range of people your business serves, Michael Mogill of Business Collective says, "Your video will be more effective if you focus on one point and don't cast too wide a net. Different people have different [needs]. So you have to decide which ones you want to address. Remember, when you try to speak to everyone, you speak to no one."

The Solution: It's better to take a more structured approach. Think about your audience and speak to the specific features and benefits they want to know about your business, products, or services.

4. It’s too long

Let's face it; consumers lead busy lives and have little time to spend on things that don't quickly provide them with some form of value.

Take a minute to think about your own video-watching habits. How long do you typically spend watching a single video before you click out? Have you ever started watching a video only to realize it was longer than you thought and gave up watching it? How many videos are you willing to watch that are longer than two minutes? What about five minutes?

The truth is people like videos that are less than two minutes. A long video, especially when not truly necessary, is guaranteed to lose your audience's interest, leading them to click out of the video you worked so hard to create before they've finished watching it.

The Solution: While there are a couple of exceptions to the rule, in general, you need to keep your videos less than two minutes long. Here are a few things to keep in mind to achieve this:

a. Have a purpose for your video. Whether this is an explainer video or an FAQ video, you should have established the purpose of your video as part of the plan created to avoid the first mistake. Having a purpose will also aid in writing your script (see the next point).

b. Write a script. A script will help you focus on the purpose of your video, so you don't ramble off on tangents that don't support your goals.

c. Practice. Test the length of your script by practicing it in front of friends, family, coworkers, or even a mirror. Take a deep breath and remember to slow down; people tend to rush through practicing, giving an inaccurate timeframe for the length of your video. Another benefit of practicing? When you finally get in front of the camera, you'll become more comfortable and confident, which is much more engaging to watch!

5. Poor lighting and angles

You don't need to spend a lot of money on lighting and cameras to create a video worth sharing with your audience. You do, however, need to be aware of how angles and light play a role in your filming.

A few lighting and angle factors that can destroy your efforts and distract your audience from your message include:

• A cluttered background

• Random poles that look like additional limbs

• Unnatural angles that are too low or high

• Bright overhead lighting

• Weird shadows

The Solution: Let's take each of these bullet points one at a time.

• A cluttered background. When you choose a place or places to film, look around. What's in the area? Is it bustling with people? Are there a lot of items that could distract viewers from your message and the subject you're filming?

A cluttered background doesn't have to only be busy to the eye; think of the sounds in the area as well. Is it noisy with traffic or machinery? This is especially important if you're using the microphone on the recording device (such as an iPhone). You don't want a background conversation, a passing truck, or even wind to steal your viewer's focus.

Choose an angle that hides the distractions around you. For example, if you want to include elements of your business in the background, it would be worth investing in a microphone that can cancel out the noise around the video's main subject and choose an area with minimal movement.

• Poles and other items that look like additional limbs. As you set up to film, take a critical look at what is behind your subject. Is there anything that could look like the person you're filming has an appendage that doesn't belong to them? Repositioning them slightly in one direction is an easy fix to this issue.

• Unnatural angles that are too high or too low. While different angles can add interest to your video, be careful how you execute it. Looking up someone's nose is not pleasant, and neither is looking down the top of one's head. When filming a person, it is generally best to keep level with their face to avoid these mistakes.

• Bright overhead lighting. If you can, avoid lighting that is directly above the subject, such as the sun at noon or with the above lights in an office space. Videomaker explains, "The sun directly overhead on a cloudless day presents some of the worst, most unflattering lighting conditions. People's eyes, recessed in their sockets, get lost in shadow which become great black pools." The same effect happens in an office with overhead lighting.

To fight this, when you're outside, use the shade to your advantage and place your subject in a shadow, or choose a different time of day that is more favorable for filming at your chosen location – an hour or two after sunrise or before sunset is ideal. If you're in an office, turn off the overhead lights and use the windows to provide you with natural light directly on the subject's face.

• Weird shadows. While you don't want lighting that is directly above your subject, you also don't want to shoot into the light. According to the Videomaker article mentioned above, "Backlighting a subject without lots of artificial light on your side of them will lead either to an extremely blown out (too bright) background or to your subject being silhouetted." To avoid this from happening, film your video with the light behind your camera.

As you can see, you don't need a lot of fancy equipment to create quality videos for your business. Avoiding these simple mistakes can make a world of difference, and they won't cost you more than your time and effort.

Are you ready to take the plunge in creating a video for your business but want a little guidance? Tabrizi Production would love to help! 

Tabrizi Productions is a boutique video production company with a mission to make video accessible for all. We offer authentic, affordable video storytelling for companies large and small.

We are locally serving Oakland, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, and the surroundings of the Silicon Valley area. 

If you're not ready to invest in a video production company yet, we encourage you to check out our free 5 Steps to Stellar Videos with your iPhone downloadable and our #DoItOnCamera Coaching course to get your business set up for success. 

HOW TO GET YOUR VIDEO’S MESSAGE ACROSS IN TWO MINUTES OR LESS

Learn how to get your message across in two minutes or less.

If you've been reading my other blog posts, you've learned different ways to use video for business, which platforms you can use, what it takes to create an intro video that stands out, and more. It's a tool that every business can and should take advantage of. No matter the type of video you choose, you need to make sure you stay focused on the message you want viewers to walk away with.

Research shows that the best videos are between 15 seconds and two minutes in length, depending on their purpose. According to Wistia's Ezra Fishman, "Two minutes is the sweet spot. After that, the drop-off in engagement is significant." Ezra goes on to say, "Short and sweet is a safe strategy. Assume that your viewers are busy. But don't sweat over a few seconds here and there if you're still going to come in under the two-minute mark."

Watch this video we created for a terrific example of how to stay on the message, then continue reading to learn a few tips that will help you keep your video in the sweet spot.

How to Share Your Message in Two Minutes or Less

1. Know The Purpose of Your Video. In order to clearly communicate with viewers, you need to know the purpose behind your message. What is it that you want them to take away from your video?

2. Write Out A Script. A script will help you keep focused on the purpose of your video and the main message you want your audience to know. As you write your script, try to include as many of the five W's as possible - Who, What, When, Where, and Why, and the How - if it makes sense. And don't forget the call to action at the end!

3. Practice, Practice, Practice! The more you practice your script, the easier it will be to get your message across confidently and within two minutes when it's time to record. I recommend practicing in front of a mirror and for family or friends a couple of times before recording.

Remember, videos under two minutes have the most engagement; to get your message across quickly, keep your video's purpose in mind, write out a script and spend some time practicing.

Do you want help creating a one-of-a-kind masterpiece to showcase your business? Let Trabrizi Productions help! 

Tabrizi Productions is a boutique video production company with a mission to make video accessible for all. We offer authentic, affordable video storytelling for companies large and small.

Tabrizi Productions has worked with some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley and the surrounding South Bay Area.

We serve Oakland, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, and the surroundings of the Silicon Valley area. Sound like a fit

Contact us today for a free consultation to find out what we can do for you!

3 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS YOU NEED TO INCLUDE IN YOUR INTRO VIDEO!

How do you introduce your business on your website? Do you provide some basic text and images? Or do you include exciting elements like animated graphics and video? While many companies rely on just text and images on their website, I highly recommend creating an intro video! Do you want to know why? Keep reading to find out why and to discover the three essential elements every great intro video includes!  

why you need an intro video

An intro video is your chance to make a strong, personalized first impression with new customers when they visit your site. As with first impressions between people who are face to face, an intro video will have a major impact on the course of your relationship with viewers, and you only have a brief moment to make it a positive one. But why should you have a video? Why not wait until they call or visit your location? Here are a few key statistics Forbes highlighted that show just how powerful video is:

• During the decision-making process, 90% of people said they chose a product or service because of a video they saw.

• Conversion rates increase up to 80% when you include a video, such as an intro video, on a landing page.

• More than 60% of people are more likely to buy a product online after watching a video.

• Using videos will help you gain more than a 4o% increase in web traffic from search engines than companies that don't use them.

• When given the option between reading about a topic and watching a video, most would choose to watch the video.

• Video consumption will account for 80% of internet traffic by 2019.

• 55% of people watch videos online every day.

As you can see by these statistics, incorporating video into your business plan is becoming more important, and an intro video is a perfect opportunity to jump on board.

3 common types of intro video

When it comes to creating an intro video for your business, there are a few directions you can take it. Determining the goals for the video (an essential element that we will discuss further in this post) will help you narrow down which option, or a combination of options, would be the best fit. Here are three of the most common types of intro videos you can create for your business.

1. Welcome. This is the basic type of intro video that any can use, from small startups to large enterprises. In this video, you should tell visitors who you are, what your brand is, and how you're different. By the time people are done watching, they should have a strong vision of you and your business.

In these videos, it's important that the tone and feel you present matches the rest of your brand. If your company is lighthearted and embraces humor, don't be afraid to use this in your video. If your brand is more serious and technical, make sure it stands out through your appearance and language.

2. Testimonial. Your client's opinion of your business is powerful! Where a welcome video is you talking about your brand, in a testimonial intro, your customers speak to what makes your business the one to work with. Don't be afraid to reach out to past clients to ask them for their help. Their word is viewed as more reliable and trustworthy to those just coming across your business for the first time.

3. Portfolio. Don't just talk the talk; show that you can also walk the walk with a portfolio intro video. This is a fantastic opportunity to show off the projects you're most proud of and highlight your range of skills. While you don't want to come across as bragging and arrogant, you want to make it clear you know what you're doing and are the best company to fit your visitor's needs; a video of your best work is the perfect way to share this.

All three of these options can stand alone as their own individual videos, or you can spice things up a bit by including a mix of the different options! Don't hesitate to play with ideas that work for your business, but make sure you keep your target audience in mind as you do.

A portfolio video is a great way to show off your skills, like this one featuring our ability to create animated videos for a wide range of products and services.

Essential Elements of an Intro Video

No matter the type of intro video you choose to create, there are a few elements that you need to include. They will help keep your focus on the video's objective, allowing you to make the best first impression with potential new clients.

Have a Goal: What's the goal of your video beyond introducing them to your brand, services, and team? Your goal needs to be specific and measurable while relating to the type of video you want to create. A great way to narrow down what you want to achieve from your video is to ask yourself questions like these:

1. Do I want people to explore my website?

2. Do I want them to contact me?

3. Do I want viewers to purchase my products or services?

Once you know the type of goal you want to achieve, how much of an increase do you hope to see, and in what time period? As a word of caution, make sure your goals are realistic and achievable. Creating unrealistic goals sets you up for disappointment when you don't achieve them.

Create a Script: Before you start recording, it's important to know what you want to say and how you want to come across. A script will help you figure out what you want your viewers to know and will help you organize your thoughts in a way that makes sense. Here are a few considerations when putting together your script.

Know Your Audience: The audience is an essential element of your video; after all, the video is for them. How can you help them if you don't know their needs? If you want help determining who your target audience is, CoSchedule recommends you ask yourself these questions:

1. What problems can my product or service solve for customers or clients? At its core, this should answer the question of why your company exists and why people need it.

2. What does my current client base look like? Consider areas like age, gender, location, family structure, income, and education level.

3. Who is my competition, and what does their customer look like? You should know who the larger competition is, but don't forget about the smaller guys that are just starting.

4. What can my customers gain by choosing me versus my competition? What can you do better than anyone else in the market? Determining this will help you showcase a specific need that you fulfill.

Focus on Your Brand: While you want to make sure you're speaking to your audience with a specific goal in mind, you don't want to lose sight of your brand. Focus on what makes your business different from the rest and how you can meet your audience's needs.

Keep to the Point: Don't get bogged down in every little detail about your brand. In this case, less is actually more. You have a limited time to share your company, and too much information can overwhelm your viewers or, even worse, bore them.

Add a Human Touch: Don't forget that your business is full of unique and special people. Let this shine through in your video. Including a human touch in your video makes it more relatable.

Before you start recording, don't forget to practice, practice, practice! The more you rehearse, the more comfortable you'll be once you do start filming, and you'll also come across as more confident.

Include a Call to Action: This is your chance to ask your viewers to take a specific action with your brand. Remember the goal you created earlier? Use it as the basis for your call to action. Like your goal, the call to action should be a very specific action you want your viewer to take, whether it is contacting you, visiting a certain page, or filling out a form on your site. While you want your call to action to be specific, you want to give your viewers incentive; let them know what's in it for them when they take action and what benefits they will receive as a result.

This informative video for Marki Microwave incorporates the essential elements of a successful intro video.

Conclusion

One of the best tips I can offer beyond making sure to include these elements is to remember to breathe and relax while you're recording. This should be a fun and exciting experience that highlights what makes your brand the best one to work with.

Your intro video will set the tone for your future relationship; start it off on the right foot with the helpful advice in this article. Want to create an eye-catching intro video but feel like you need help? 

Tabrizi Productions would love to help you build your video marketing strategy and highlight what makes your business special 

Tabrizi Productions is a boutique video production company with a mission to make video accessible for all. We offer authentic, affordable video storytelling for companies large and small.

We are locally serving Oakland, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, and the surroundings of the Silicon Valley area. Sound like a fit? Fill out this form to schedule a free consultation. 

HOW TO DETERMINE THE RIGHT VIDEO PLATFORM FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Are you ready to jump into the video world? Before diving in headfirst, it's important to understand which video platforms are available and how you can use them to meet different business goals. Keep reading for my breakdown of the different video hosting sites and how to use them for different strategies.

But first, let's explore how you can use video for your customers and your team.

how to use video for business

Worldwide, businesses have realized the power of video for both internal and external uses. As Wistia perfectly states:

Learn which video platforms are the bet fit for your busiess

“Business videos bring that human touch back to online business (and they also impact the bottom line). Videos help companies showcase the real people behind products and brands. They help boost email click-through rates. They help sales representatives close deals. They help support teams explain tough concepts in personable ways. In short, they help people make meaningful, memorable connections with teammates, customers, and prospects. You don’t have to take our word for it.”

In short, they help people make meaningful, memorable connections with teammates, customers, and prospects. Don't have to take our word for it. Here's how your business can use the power of video in different ways:

• Onboarding: Bringing on a new employee is exciting, but it's also time-consuming. Your organization is a complex unit with its own unique values, quirks, and story to share, which can be hard to relay to new team members. Creating well-done onboarding videos easily communicates these intricacies with new hires.

• Training: Moving past the onboarding stage, videos are a great way to continue employee training and reinforce company values and standards. They provide visual and audio aid to walk employees through new tech and teach new skills.

• Team Building: The most successful businesses run like a well-oiled machine with all parts working in sync. From the start with onboarding to continual knowledge sharing between departments and management levels, videos are a stellar way to keep everyone connected and working together as one cohesive unit.

Are you creating a new onboarding or informational video? Let your staff get in on the action; these are fabulous opportunities for team building. Whether sharing a testimonial, providing personal insight, or a little acting, getting people together from your organization makes them feel valued. It offers a chance to connect with others they typically wouldn't have a chance to click with.

• Introductions: While there is nothing wrong with including images of team members on your site, videos are a more powerful tool; a photo doesn't convey the personality and energy of a person as strongly as a video does. Create individual intro videos to highlight their unique character traits, roles in the company, and special skills.

Don't forget to create an intro for your business, too! It's a chance for you to make a solid first impression with potential new customers or clients. A company intro video is a great place to share your brand's message and provide a glimpse into the tone of your organization.

• Advertising: As I mentioned above, videos convey personality and energy in a way that images can't; beyond that, you can share more information in a short video than you can with a picture. For these reasons and with the rate people consume them, it makes complete sense to use video in your digital advertising campaign.

• Content Marketing: From blog posts to social media, use videos to share knowledge, information, and insight to establish why you're an expert in your field. People love to feel connected with a business, and content marketing with videos can help with this, too! Create behind-the-scenes videos that allow your audience to peek into an often unseen side of the business.

how to choose a video platform

You decided to create an exciting video for your business! Fantastic! As you can see above, there are so many possibilities to incorporate this strategy into your organization. Looking beyond the video creation, however, do you know which platform you will upload your video to?

There are a few options out there, but the best one to choose depends on the goal of the video you're creating. Continue reading for the pros and cons of four video hosting platforms.

YOUTUBE

When people think of uploading videos to the web, chances are pretty high that they think of YouTube. Here are a few pros and cons of the video hosting giant.

Pros:

• Free: As a business, the cost is a factor in most if not all decisions. There is no cost to create an account and upload videos. YouTube is great for businesses that don't have a large budget or want to save a little money to invest elsewhere.

• Analytics: One thing YouTube does well is provide tools to track and monitor video stats and analytics.

• Audience: With more than a billion users, YouTube has the largest audience of web hosting sites.

• Compatibility: Sharing videos uploaded to YouTube on social media, email, and other digital applications are super simple with many places, including direct linking from the site.

Cons:

• Saturated platform: With the platform being free and having more than a billion users, the result is a saturated platform, making it harder to break through the noise to reach people organically.

• Ads: While ads are a great way for you to reach new viewers, ads playing before your video open the door to people leaving before viewing your masterpiece.

• Customer support: YouTube has an expansive library of help articles and forums that users can wade through to find the answer they need; however, getting in touch with an actual support person when you don't have time to dig is more complicated.

Bottom Line:

If you're on a tight budget and have a goal to reach as many people as possible, this is an ideal platform.

VIMEO

Although not as large as YouTube, Vimeo is a popular video hosting platform that comes with its own set of pros and cons.

Pros:

• Customizable player: Unlike YouTube, Vimeo provides users with customizable features, including colors and end screens, which can help with your branding efforts.

• Analytics: Vimeo offers users basic analytics to monitor their video performance and efforts with options to purchase additional metrics.

• Community: If your video is for public-facing, the community is an important consideration. Because this is a smaller platform with a mix of subscriber levels, the community of viewers is more active and engaged with the content.

Cons:

• Limited 'free' edition: You can sign up for a free account with Vimeo, which offers basic features, but getting more customizations and higher-end applications through the platform will cost you.

• No advertising opportunities: There is no advertising on the platform, which is great for viewers but means that building a community can be more challenging if you're using it for customer-facing applications.

• Storage: Unlike YouTube, Vimeo does not offer unlimited storage space. It provides different storage levels you can purchase based on your need and budget.

Bottom Line:

When engagement is a priority for your business, Vimeo provides the opportunity to build a tighter community through video.

WISTIA

You may not have heard of Wistia, and that's okay. Wistia is slightly different from YouTube and Vimeo, but it offers some excellent value for business users.

Pros:

• Business focused: As Wistia's Phill Nottingham states in his article, Wistia vs. YouTube: What's The Difference?, "[The platform] is designed exclusively to serve companies using video on their websites for marketing. Essentially, Wistia is ideal for 'on-site' videos, and YouTube is a social video platform that requires a unique strategy."

• Website friendly: Wistia, as a platform for businesses, makes embedding video easier and features better adaptability and loading speeds when compared to other video hosting sites

• Analytics: Like the other video sites discussed above, Wistia also includes analytics to monitor performance. As Phill points out, "Wistia's in-depth analytics show you how your audience consumes and interacts with your videos."

Cons:

• Not a social site: One thing to know about Wistia is that it's not a social site like YouTube. If your goal is to reach as many people as possible, this will be a challenge on the platform.

• Cost: Although there is a free account option, it is limited in the number of videos you can host, including the Wistia branding mark. The next step above the free option is a little steep for a smaller budget but worth the investment if you plan to use videos on multiple projects.

Bottom Line:

Use Wistia when your objective is to create a stunning video for your website as a tool to drive leads and conversions.

PANOPTO:

This video platform offers unique features, not in the above websites discussed thus far. Here are a few benefits and slight drawbacks to Panopto that will help you decide if it is right for your organization.

Pros:

• Employee training: If you're looking for a site where you can host your employee training, whether live or recorded, Panopto provides users with the ability to create, host, and share training videos.

• Employee onboarding: Like training videos, this website also features the option to create, host, and share videos to help your newest employees hit the ground running.

• Internal video sharing: Have videos you want to share with your team? Panopto allows you to store and search videos on your company's secure account.

• Application integration: Panopto integrates into some leading enterprise tools and applications, such as Share Point and Blackboard.

Cons:

• Cost: This platform does not offer a free account option. It does offer you the chance to request a free trial period to get a feel for the features and usability before committing to signing up.

• Not a social site: This is not a platform meant to share videos with customers; it is strictly for use within the organization. With that said, it's only a con if your goal is to create a video that you can share both inside and outside your organization.

Bottom line:

If you have the budget and will use video for internal use, this is a solid option!

FINAL TAKEAWAY

You're not limited to one type of video or hosting site. Determine which options are within your budget and will get the results you're after, and then go for it! 

If you need help deciding or would like to hire a video production company, we'd love to help you create your next business masterpiece. 

Tabrizi Productions is a boutique video production company with a mission to make video accessible for all. We offer authentic, affordable video storytelling for companies large and small. First, Tabrizi Production will work with you to identify which platform best suits your business. Then, we'll put together interview-style questions and start our docu-style video production process. 

We are locally serving Oakland, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, and the surroundings of the Silicon Valley area. Sound like a fit? Fill out this form to schedule a free consultation. 

​​​​​​​HOW VIDEO CAN BE A POWERFUL TEAM BUILDING TOOL

Perhaps you have considered videos for marketing, but did you know your teams can also be strengthened through video? As evidence suggests, using video will not only help coordinate and connect departments that are usually separated, but they can also improve your ROI, mainly if you take the leap and become one of the first businesses to use video for team building!

Read on to learn how video can dynamically work to transfer your business culture, coordinate employees in different departments, enable professional growth in novel ways, and overall strengthen your company's team.

1. Transfer Company Culture

Your business culture tells a complex story that is difficult to convey to new employees over time. In fact, the longer your company has been established, the more involved the story becomes! Video enables you to capture the unique picture of your company's culture. It can help you:

• Bring teams up to speed

• Transfer legacy team knowledge

• Reduce onboarding time

Video can highlight the varying perspectives from different departments and be used to bring employees up to speed or reveal comprehensive snapshots of your business' trajectory. Similarly, video can easily allow you to infuse your current teams with legacy knowledge from the past. Video also has the incredible ability to reduce the training time needed for new hires.

Give it a shot! When recording your culture videos, play with different formats. Document team meetings or project deliveries for first-hand takes, screenshots of software for training, interview employees for rich insights, or try a combination of the above by creating a video montage. Check out these culture videos for more inspiration!

2. Differentiated Professional Growth

When it comes to training your team, research suggests that the more individualized the process, the more meaningful the outcome will be. Video instruction has numerous benefits, including:

• One on one learning

• Standardized curriculum

• Ability to reference in the future

The ability of video training to enable your employees to learn in a one-on-one style is priceless. Prerecorded content can be given to new recruits for them to learn at their pace. The material would be standardized without the hassle of leaving out important material until a mistake down the line necessitates the instruction. And because video can be played back as often as needed, it works as a terrific reference tool when a new employee is taking on tasks in real-time and wants to verify their understanding.

More companies are using video as a novel way to train new hires.

Give it a shot! There are many ways to leverage video for professional development. Try using it for virtual coaching, self-learning for employee promotion tracks, or leverage team collaboration outcomes.

3. Business Track Record

While most companies know that videos can share information, some companies miss out on the insights videos can give to the content creators. Video analytics can provide:

• A measure of reach and retention

• The ability to refine training the curriculum over time

Video analytics available through YouTube, Vimeo, or other CRM platforms are a means for your business to measure your team's engagement. Is 100 percent of your team up to speed on the latest training requirements? Were there areas in the training that frequently resulted in pausing or drop-offs? This information can help you better understand your team's abilities and also help to refine onboarding techniques.

Give it a shot! Try creating a video tutorial for team collaboration. Shoot a brief perspective of each team and then share. Ask your employees for feedback on their new understanding. Look at the engagement numbers and the personnel feedback and brainstorm how you might refine future video curriculum, whether by making it shorter, more or less informative, etc.

4. Team Building ROI

Team building is an investment in your business and its future. For many companies, it's an upfront cost without a measurable return on investment. However, team-building with videos can enable you to:

• Invest upfront but continuously reap the benefit

• Analyze learning material in relation to team growth

Rather than continue to invest in printed materials, personnel trainers, or dedicated office space, the use of videos for onboarding and professional development exercises requires an initial investment that can be reused over time. Plus, your ability to compare engagement and retention to real-life outcomes such as performance and company growth will provide a complete look at your business' return on its investment. Team building with video is an upfront cost that saves time and makes money in the long run. The result is an additional avenue to achieve an ROI for your business.

Give it a shot! Try creating a fun team-building video that highlights a problem and then invites employees to brainstorm and share possible solutions. Take a closer look at the numbers and measure every stage of the initiative, from the engagement training video to ideas submitted and ultimate outcomes.

5. First Mover Advantage 

The early bird gets the worm, or so the saying goes. Because team building through video is still uncharted territory, it offers a novel way for your brand to get noticed. Here's how to take advantage:

• Don't overthink your videos

• Share videos outside of your company to gain recognition

The few companies using video for their team building programs are gaining recognition, such as T-Mobile's Magenta program, where employees can participate in training and professional development through self-driven video technology. Excitingly T-Mobile won an award for undertaking this cutting-edge approach to team growth.

Yet, to become a first mover, you have to move! Don't aim for perfection, as videos that have been over orchestrated are less likely to connect with viewers. Plus, early adopters are usually forgiven for mistakes and celebrated for their ingenuity and effort. The goal is to progress over time with a tool that will lead to strong ROIs for your business.

Give it a shot! When it comes to having a first-mover advantage, the key is to jump in and get your feet wet! Don't obsess over perfection, but try to refine your team development efforts over time as you gain data and evaluate your efforts.

6. Tips to Get Started

Ready to begin team-building with video today? Keep these strategies in mind when jump-starting your video team-building efforts:

• Learn from others breaking into videos for team building.

• Consider your company's team building needs: recruit training, cross-team collaboration, and professional development.

• Commit to trying a few different video approaches to team building: first-person recordings of teamwork, interviews of employees or customers, screenshots of work in action, or a montage of different formats.

• Analyze the engagement and retention of your videos! Was there 100 percent participation? Did any participant have a lack of clarity or drop-off during the video training exercise?

• Refine your video content and approaches over time, aiming for progress over perfection!

• Measure your business outcomes in relation to video data and track your business ROI.

• Share your efforts outside of your business to raise awareness about your early adoption of team building through video tools.

Click through to learn more about how to successfully set up videos. Are you new to using video for your business? Take advantage of the internet's changing algorithms that give preference to video content and consider more ways of adopting it for your company, such as marketing with video, ad campaigns, clarifying public relations initiatives, and employee recruitment.

Whether you're new to video or already using it, contact Tabrizi for insights on how to create and optimize videos for your business! Each company has a unique story that can lend itself to both new as well as proven video strategies, and the Tabrizi team is ready to help you navigate this fast-growing tool.

Final Thoughts

Team building is underdeveloped for most companies with outdated practices or none at all. Video offers a unique approach to team-building with many incredible benefits, including:

• Bringing teams up to speed

• Transferring legacy team knowledge

• Reducing onboarding time

• Providing one on one learning

• Standardizing curriculum

• Providing the ability to reference it in the future

• Offering a measure of reach and retention

• Enabling the refinement of the training curriculum over time

• Investing upfront but continuously reaping the benefits

Team building with video is a novel way to transfer an understanding of your company culture to new hires across time. It's a strategy that offers economical training and professional development that provides data for further curriculum refinement. The use of video for team building requires upfront costs, but the potential to save time and money over time results in a measurable ROI for your business.

If your business is already using video for other purposes, such as marketing, consider adding team development content to your video plans. Whether you're new or experienced at video integration for your business, I'm thrilled to help bring your video ideas into reality. 

Tabrizi Productions would love to help you build your video marketing strategy. Tabrizi Productions is a boutique video production company with a mission to make video accessible for all. We offer authentic, affordable video storytelling for companies large and small.

We are locally serving Oakland, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, and the surroundings of the Silicon Valley area. Sound like a fit? Fill out this form to schedule a free consultation. 

3 Reasons to Tell Your Brand’s Story with Video

Focusing on your brand’s story is a key strategy for many businesses, but did you know that video is quickly becoming the ultimate tool to tell (and share) your company’s tale? In fact, mega social media platform Facebook recently announced they intend to spend more than a billion dollars promoting videos over traditional words and still image content.

With major players shifting their focus to video, businesses, both big and small, should consider these 3 valuable reasons for adopting a video strategy for their brands.

1. Share insights about your story and team

Business is all about taking your ideas and making them into a reality. In a similar fashion, when it comes to video, it’s all about taking the plunge and getting started. Don’t be afraid to begin a video campaign and refine the process as you go – waiting for perfection means delaying results! The most important step is to begin telling your story and learn as you go.

One concept taking hold in the video content industry is stage theory. It works like this: every aspect of your brand’s story is a stage. If you had a team meeting brainstorming your company video, that could become a video in itself. Try to imagine video as less of an end-product and a more powerful tool to capture the unique story of your business in all its varied stages, both official undertakings and backstage endeavors.

In this light, a video can never be a mistake, as even the mistakes work in your favor by offering authentic insights into your story and team.

2. Engage your audience in a meaningful way

Video also offers an easy way to interact with your market. Because it can capture the authenticity and often feel like a first-person perspective, customers can watch your brand’s video and feel connected to your business.

Once connected, a customer can conveniently follow your brand and be alerted for video updates on Facebook, YouTube, etc., effortlessly helping to keep them engaged. Additionally, video content is easily shared on desktop and mobile devices helping to spread your business’ message to new potential customers. 

Beyond following your story, customers can comment on your videos and make valuable suggestions for content that your next video can include. This feedback doubles as free market research as well as offering your customers a stake in the overall story.

Video is a powerful way to retain your audience and spread your message, all while refining your story with real-time feedback.

3. Take advantage of the ultimate stage

If a story took place and wasn’t documented on social media, did it happen at all? Research shows people are beginning to view social media as the ultimate stage. Just as users are more likely to subscribe to brands that have video content, social media algorithms have announced they intend to favor video content as well.

Yet, social media offers additional benefits for companies having a video strategy. Analytics from social media platforms provide valuable insights about the click-throughs, drop-off rates, and shares that show the power of your message through numbers.

The ability to monetize your videos is yet another reason to consider producing video over static content.

Final Thoughts

With the potential to authentically share your story, engage your audience and measure awareness of your brand through numbers, video is the content on which major players are heavily betting. When it comes to jumping in and making a video of your brand’s story a reality, what are you waiting for?

Ready to take the leap and hire a video production company? Let Tabrizi Production help! 

Tabrizi Productions is a boutique video production company with a mission to make video accessible for all. We offer authentic, affordable video storytelling for companies large and small.

Tabrizi Productions has worked with some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley and the surrounding South Bay Area.

We serve Oakland, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, and the surroundings of the Silicon Valley area. Sound like a fit

Contact us today for a free consultation to find out what we can do for you!

How to STAND OUT with Your Video Content

Smartphone Setup Cheat Sheet at bottom of page!

Take the plunge and start creating your digital content

Video content is a powerful and dynamic tool for your brand. A strategic video can serve your business’ branding, advertising and recruiting needs – a dynamite combo for small businesses.  And with YouTube and other digital video content topping more hours watched per day than television, the potential exposure for your business is tremendous and still growing. Keep reading to learn how to create a video that grabs your customer’s attention.

1. The Video Setup

The right video setup is crucial because it will give you the best material to work with in the later stages of your video’s production. Be sure your setup includes:

·         A quiet room with natural light that hits the subject directly

·         A camera or phone that shoots in 1080p or 4k

·         An inexpensive tripod for video consistency

Why? When it comes to creating video, people have the tendency to jump into recording without investing time in the right setup. First, choose a space that is quiet and has natural light. Adjust your camera’s subject, so the light hits them straight on and not from the back or sides.  

You can purchase a professional camera, but today an iPhone is also able to capture higher quality footage in 1080p or 4k.

Consider investing in a tripod to prevent that inevitable handshake.  A few inexpensive tripod recommendations are listed at the bottom of this post.  Another helpful tip for production consistency is to mark on the floor where the tripod will stand as a reference for future shots. Finally, make sure to orient your phone or camera horizontally to capture a video that will look great on a big screen.

2. Techniques to STAND OUT

You can create stand out content by trying the following:

·         Bring the right energy

·         Capture ‘first-hand’ experiences

·         Engage your audience and learn their interests

After the strategic and technical video setup, the most important technique for your video is an often-overlooked component – bringing the right energy to your content. Just as you are able to tell if someone is having a bad day or is utterly elated when you see them in person, the same energy is transferred on screen. Speak clearly and with authenticity about your business, and avoid being overly excited or nonchalant.

Keep in mind most people have a hard time watching themselves at first, but it’s something you'll become more comfortable doing with time and practice. Don't be afraid to take the plunge and start creating digital content; you'll improve your presence the more you film. 

Intriguingly, with the advent of virtual reality and live streaming experiences, videos that offer a ‘first-hand’ impression are gaining traction.  Consider content that shows consumers reacting to your product or highlight your team solving a production problem.

Another technique to capture your audience’s attention is to engage with them. Start by asking them to contribute video ideas, then use those ideas as research to fuel more content that is likely to interest your market. Rather than worrying about reaching thousands of viewers, start by creating content that authentically speaks to your consumers and their enthusiasm will help your content garner more attention.

3. Post-Production Tips

When it comes to work in post-production (or, after the video is recorded), take these steps:

·         Maintain the video quality during file transfers

·         Check if someone on your team has experience with iMovie

·         Create a strategy for publishing your business’ video content

As director Inarritu put it, “Movies become art after editing.” There are many tips and tools that exist for the art of post-production. Yet, the most important element is the quality of the video material itself. Be sure to transfer your footage directly with a USB or cloud storage upload rather than emailing or texting the file, which risks a reduction of the file’s quality. 

iMovie, one of many fantastic editing tools for consumers, is a video editing platform that is free to use with Mac hardware. The platform's software offers a manageable learning curve; in fact, there is likely someone on your team who has experience using iMovie in their personal lives. If your team feels out-of-water in the editing process, consider outsourcing to a professional or contact Tabrizi Productions for a video editing consultation.

Once your video footage has been edited, create a strategy for sharing your content on social media. Will you publish the video on Vimeo or YouTube? Choose a day of the week to consistently publish your video content and post social media updates about the video to your customers. Studies have shown that the best day to publish videos on YouTube are Thursday and Friday between 12-3pm and Saturdays from 9-11am. 

Final Takeaways

When thoughtfully produced, your business’ video content can speak volumes about your brand. If you capture quality footage and capture your brand’s voice authentically you’ll be sure to stand out in the crowd of video content. For more technical insights when using an iPhone, download my iPhone cheat sheet for free!

Tripod Recommendation

Tripod Recommendation

SmartPhone Cheat Sheet