Shooting a speech more than an hour and 40 minutes long is a great leg exercise.
Posts Tagged ‘website videos’
Speech To Video
Sunday, April 15th, 2012Mouth off about this video and deduct 15% off the dentist
Wednesday, March 7th, 2012Share the video with friends and family. For new patients who mention their favorite part of the video when making their appointments, Dental Associates For Kids Only will give them a 15% discount and give you the same discount for the referral. Just make sure they mention their favorite part.
Doctored Video
Monday, March 5th, 2012To avoid interviewing a CEO in an office, we re-arranged a hospital room to serve as a more compelling background.
Public Relations: Don’t Be Loud, Obnoxious, Gross Blur
Thursday, September 22nd, 2011
I drove behind a car wrapped in a restaurant advertisement. The vehicle appeared the victim of a paint ball war. Either that or Godzilla lost his lunch on the doors. The ad also included photos of the restaurant’s food. They looked as appetizing as diesel fuel. Maybe they seemed yummy on a smaller scale, but seeing them on a car instead of a computer screen would make visitors shout “check please!”
More car wraps, bright and splattered with color, are passing by these days. Too many have crossed the yellow line. They grab my attention like a bright, orange sports car would. You can stay in my blind spot, thank you very much! I rarely notice the slogan or business name. I’m too focused returning my attention to the road.
I’m not painting a broad bush across all car wraps. But the ugly ones and their distasteful pictures become the unintended message: “Don’t eat at this restaurant” or “Steer clear of this product.” How a message is presented determines how it is perceived. In these cases, the presentation overpowers the message.
This image problem ranging from cars to cameras. Too many videos by video “experts” highlight their poor lighting, shaky cameras, talking heads, distracting backgrounds and hollow sound. I tune out and turn off.
TV commercials are my next target. When I see two giant servings of ice cream in a car start making out, I’m ready to skip dessert. I appreciate humor but I think the ad’s goal was to make me hungry not disgusted.
Being loud and obnoxious doesn’t always equal success. If your brand has a voice, ensure it’s a pleasant one. If you want to literally drive your brand home, less paint is sometimes more.
Social Media: My Tweets Suffer Without My TV Potpourri
Wednesday, September 21st, 2011
Working in TV made Twitter fun and easy. While walking from the parking lot to the station, I’d see a woman dressed like a prostitute. Tweet! In the morning meeting, someone blurted out something redonkulous. Tweet! The disgruntled manager whispered something too loudly. A co-worker complained I’m too noisy. A smart reporter cracked on his dumb assignment. Tweet! Tweet! Tweet!
Most people were Tweeting links to content. I Tweeted life’s craziness. A photographer walked in wearing bright, red shoes. A live truck broke down five minutes before a live shot. An anchor said something the rest of us took out of context.
I take credit for having the talent to recognize a good Tweet. But my TV potpourri inadvertently wrote my material.
Then I left TV. I don’t see prostitutes anymore. No one complains about my loud voice. The meetings I attend are not snarky and sarcastic.
Twitter is about joining the conversation. But my surroundings have dropped in silliness. My search for goofiness often goes empty. For me, Twitter now is more work than party. It’s more content than craziness.
I miss you, my TV friends. Twitter misses you more.
Being Mr. Mom is Manly
Tuesday, September 20th, 2011
I spent a portion of the weekend watching Mr. Mom. I’m convinced the movie is on a list of films cable TV plugs in when schedules need to fill a cinematic hole. I’ve watched Michael Keaton play Mr. Mom more times than I’ve seen him dress up as the dark Cape Crusader. But this experience affected me differently.
This time I tuned in more to the movie’s message about difficult, economic times. I connected to the father who, to the theme music of Rocky, eventually approached raising kids and running a home with the same strategic tenacity as he approached his job as a car engineer.
I once dreamed of appearing on television as a network correspondent. I imagined myself based in a sophisticated city living off laptops and hotel rooms, occasionally looking at life through the window. But during my last few years as a TV reporter, I began to realize the number of times I missed a family moment while I covered a story (or sat in a meeting) that provided little passion for me. Something struck me. No matter how good I was or how good I got at my career, the achievement would bring minor fame and respect from colleagues. Then they would move onto the rest of their lives.
Even the most renowned members of our industries gain brief notoriety and if they really hit it big, might be remembered by pop culture or by insiders who appreciate the nuances of their field of interest. Woodward and Bernstein are legends, but I don’t daydream about them on a regular basis or find serenity by contemplating their achievements. My path in local news was not about to disrupt government corruption at the highest levels and leaping to a network would ensure I would miss years of family time. I might travel the world and meet leaders as a network journalist, but in the end, I would be a legend in my own mind.
My true legacy will live on only with family. They learn from me. I learn from them. Like many men if not most, I once feared earning the lesser of two salaries. I once feared not meeting manly standards. But after years of conference room meetings, covering big stories, being recognized and watching office politics swirl around me, I was done with that scenario. I proved I can survive and excel in that environment and it bored and frustrated me.
A friend told me, even if financially feasible, he could not stay home with the kids. He wasn’t built for that. I laughed inside. That’s all I wanted. My work achievements quickly paled in comparison to teaching children values and being beside them for the simple things in life. While I build my new business under my rules and by my time, my schedule is flexible for family. I’m probably more passionate about work than in years because I found the balance I desperately sought. I don’t need a rush hour drive, a desk, daily meetings and live shots to define who I am. What’s more manly (or perhaps crazy) than turning down a regular two-week paycheck to blaze your own trail?
While building The Flip Side, I might also turn into a mom taxi or start cooking some dinners. I might take pride in an organized house with the same zeal I take pride in writing a perfect script. I’ve already learned the challenge of a corporate job and maintaining a household are equally daunting. Mr. Mom eventually shaved his beard, dumped the old T-shirt, stopped feeling sorry for himself and learned building a family was as or more important than building a car. If being manly is succeeding at a good job with a good salary, then I earned my man card long ago and played the role of stud. And if sometimes playing dad, Mr. Mom and business owner aren’t enough to meet society’s and my own expectations of being a man, I’ll go cut down some trees, change a high up light bulb or drive around the family taxi while wearing my Miami Dolphins cap and rubbing the stubble covering my face. Instead of building a false legacy, I’ll be manly my way. Just don’t ask me to buy a mini-van.
Show Me Your Video, Then I’ll Check Out The Menu
Tuesday, September 20th, 2011
In the darkness of a restaurant bar while watching football on TV, my conversation with a friend turned to video. He had sent out an e-newsletter. And buried among the text were links to video. Few people clicked on those links. But in a following e-newsletter, he played up his video front and center. The video was not simply a link. The video included a thumbnail previewing what people were about to see.
On a different day during lunch, another colleague asked me if I watched the video on his company’s website. I told him I couldn’t find it. He tried to explain where the company placed the video, but his instructions sounded like a map on how to find treasure at the end of a labyrinth of caves.
In yet another case, a man told me about what sounded like a wonderful video on the company’s founders. But he didn’t know where the video was. It certainly wasn’t on their website.
Yes, I believe video is a powerful way to share your message and your company’s story. But you need to tempt your viewers’ taste buds. Imagine a restaurant that prepares the town’s top steak but only serves it to customers who walk into the kitchen. Or think about serving that steak without allowing a patron to first see and smell it. Too many businesses which buy into video marketing tuck that video away onto a page I may never click on. Or they present it as no more than a link where it turns into just another plate of blue text.
Make your video the star attraction. Don’t hide it. Use it to ensure visitors stay on your site longer. Video is not dessert in case someone stays around long enough. Video is the entrée that ensures visitors walk through the front door, sit down, stay a while and check out everything else on the menu.
Video sharing sites allow you to display a frame of your creation on your website or blog. Facebook also generates a visual preview. Various plug-ins offer you several display options for WordPress. If video is eye candy, then take full advantage of it. Whether it’s food the chef perfectly arranges or a cheap gift we dress up in a bag with colorful tissue paper, presentation is key. Show us your video in all its glory and someone will more likely show you their business.
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Try Serving Up McDonald’s On Social Media
Sunday, September 18th, 2011
I read on Twitter about a poll related to what Americans think about President Obama’s jobs plan. I follow current events closely, but I couldn’t properly weigh all the pros and cons of the plan. I understand (I think) the big ideas behind the plan, but how do you decipher the plan’s details when they float in a fog of partisan spin and interpretations that wildly differ?
So I wondered how accurate this poll could be. Many people can’t name their own members of Congress. How could they accurately answer a pollster’s questions about the jobs plan unless they simply rooted for their favorite political team or flew with the latest spin they heard on talk radio?
I decided to spark a Twitter conversation. I Tweeted “Do you think most of the public understands the President’s jobs plan well enough to answer questions about it for a poll?” I got zero replies. My next Tweet was “Do you think the media loves polls too much?” I again got zero replies.
I then got hungry and pulled into the drive-thru of the closest McDonald’s. Personally, my stomach feels blah after cheeseburgers, but McDonald’s is on to something by being quick and easy. I parked under a shady tree to enjoy lunch and wondered how often people pick McDonald’s when in a hurry. I Tweeted “How often do you eat at McDonald’s?” This time I got two replies.
While on cheeseburger number two, my mind wandered further and I began to think about an upcoming birthday. I tweeted “What is a romantic, inexpensive birthday gift for a woman?” After some back and forth, this led to 10 replies. My Tweets about the President’s jobs plan and the media got no one to join the conversation. But questions about McDonald’s and birthdays got people typing.
This doesn’t surprise me. When I worked at Fox10, posting links to my stories rarely generated much discussion. But the opposite was true when I whined about a co-worker. I notice when I’m on Twitter, the journalists I follow are often discussing the big event of the evening. But the public often doesn’t re-Tweet this information or, for example, reveal their personal opinions on Social Security or whether the latest election is a reflection on Obama. Most people are discussing what’s on TV or where they ate dinner.
A friend of mine declares this means social media is not a platform for having big discussions about big ideas. I think that’s an over generalization, but I understand how people such as my mother would consider this proof of a society which further detests life’s intellectual things … such as reading. On the other hand, I personally have two examples of when my frivolous questions later sparked outside conversations about conducting possible business. This is similar to two men BSing on the golf course and later collaborating on a project never discussed during 18 holes.
The hope is if you’re not always talking work and are willing to discuss life’s everyday events, you make that personal connection which one day may bring you business. Yes, your social media streams should include at least some relevant content on your industry to at least build the foundation of leadership in your field. But with Twitter often feeling like a flea market of overwhelming content thrown at you from every direction, serving up some questions about McDonald’s is a welcomed relief to those of us who wish to escape or take a mental break. And just like fast food, those apparently non-sensical Tweets may lead to some quick and easy business.
What subjects do you get the most feedback on when using social media?
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Should Your Social Media Get Nasty?
Thursday, September 15th, 2011
Via Twitter, a former TV newsman sent me a link, asking if I had seen it. The link showed a TV reporter at a door asking for comment for a story. The man’s answer on the other side of the door included an F bomb. That was only the beginning.
The man left the building and confronted the TV crew. The F bombs continued to flow along with other words that turned this into an episode better suited for HBO. He placed his hand up to cover the camera’s lens. And he threatened to make the experience more than a verbal lashing. Someone behind the camera said he assumed this man wasn’t from public relations.
I’m a big advocate of compelling video. I also believe in making a name for yourself by providing interesting content. The video provided raw emotion and an example of one of the worst ways of handling the media. Should I post a link to the video on my social media accounts?
Bad words don’t usually offend me unless they are directed toward me in anger. People curse in public (which I’m against). Others I just met often aren’t afraid to get foul even though we don’t know each other well. And social media is full of people who don’t seem to care their bad words are forever in writing.
Post the link would be the edgy thing to do. It would be taking a risk. People might retweet it over and over, leading to more eyes on my services. I could post the link with a warning.
On the other hand, people who might not be as outspoken appreciate an effort to keep our language clean. The video might turn away as many as it might intrigue. And would the video serve as a first impression for those just getting to know me?
In the end, my answer boiled down to branding. Posting the video might offer some pluses, but my brand is not linking myself to content that requires 20,000 bleeps. In the future, I can still achieve edginess and take risks without my content blurting out every nasty word known to man and woman. In fact, I often find clever content more impressive than social media that tries too hard to shock.
Businesses should always consider their brand when choosing content. The case might not involve cursing. It might simply be a matter of quality. For example, if you’re a prestigious doctor with a sleek office and reputation, should the video describing your services appear to be shot by your uncle? Do you really want to comment on that certain political debate? If your brand is sophisticated, is cheesy humor just going to be a joke on you?
If Apple equals innovation and Volvo equals safety, what is your brand all about? And how best to represent that brand? I decided not to represent The Flip Side with some fouled-mouth guy flipping people off.
What would you have done with the video? What similar situations have you faced in your industry?
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