The groundhog saw his shadow. Iowa was just buried by a blizzard. Looks like winter is going to stick around for a while. But before you succumb to the winter blues, here’s a reminder that spring WILL come. And summer will follow. Feast your eyes on some GREEN:
We love a client that lets us play in the snow! Next month, Yess Yoga is hosting it’s 2nd Annual SNOGA event in downtown Minneapolis. It is exactly what it sounds like: yoga in the snow. It is a blast. And all for a good cause. Proceeds this year will go to the Hennepin County Medical Center Foundation. If you happen to be up in Minneapolis on Sunday, February 22, please join us! Still not convinced? Here’s proof that it’s a lovely time.
If you haven’t already, you’re probably in the process of mapping out your marketing strategy for 2015. Does it include video? Obviously, we think it should. But don’t take our word for it. Here’s just one of many blogs on the topic. It was published last month, but is worth repeating. To quote the author: “Facts tell, but stories sell, as they say. There is no better medium than video for storytelling.”
And as the author wisely points out, doing this effectively in 2015 demands going above and beyond YouTube. Not that we don’t love YouTube. But consumers are more savvy than ever. And, as a marketing plan, YouTube just doesn’t cut it anymore.
Maximizing the medium of video effectively takes strategy. In order to cut through the noise, you need to map out clear objectives for the video(s) you want to produce. What are you trying to accomplish with each video? Here’s one example: to get someone to notice your business, a short (30 second) spot is usually the most effective. You’d post this on social media or TV. That spot brings a customer to your website, where a longer video (2-3 minutes) can further sell them on your company and why they should do business with you. Each of these videos needs to optimize the right natural sound and video for the right time frame. For example: longer, emotional soundbites for the longer video. Eye-catching images and sound for the shorter video.
It takes an understanding of the medium of video to get the biggest bang for your buck. This goes beyond knowing what kind of camera to use and how best to use it. Video can pack a powerful punch when it comes to bringing a story to life and delivering a powerful message. Hiring the right team, that understands both sides of the coin (creative and technical), is the best way to get results. But don’t take our word for it.
As we close the books on another year, we have so much to be thankful for. 2014 has been an amazing year for 515 Productions. We are so grateful for our fantastic crew. We can’t thank you enough for all of your hard work, creativity and high standards for quality. And we want to thank our clients for the incredible opportunities they have afforded us. We hope you all find time to relax and enjoy the company of friends and family this holiday season. And we look forward to what 2015 has in store!
Happy Holidays!
Here’s a classic example of nature being stronger than our sandbags. Les
Not sure about you, but I have a difficult time taking a break from reality and relaxing. I’m the type of person that always has multiple to-do lists going at any point in time. I’m your classic type-A/OCD/anxious/perfectionist/over-achiever/multi-tasker– the kind of person that drives most people crazy, because they never just sit down and shut up. If I don’t have something on my to-do list, I’ll dream up something to add to it. Of course, I’ve read a million articles, studies, blogs, etc, about how unhealthy that is. So this summer, I’m going to try something wild and crazy: I’m going to step out of my comfort zone and put the to-do list away. In fact, writing this blog is the last thing on it.
Stop and smell the flowers…
Now, obviously there are limitations here. I still have to go to the grocery store, go to work and keep my life in order. But for the next six weeks, I’m going to clear my plate of any non-essential tasks. I’m going to make a concerted effort to unplug whenever possible. I’m going to stop and smell the roses. I’m going to try to sit back and enjoy the world around me, instead of going in search of flaws that need fixing.
Of course, being type-A, it’s my hope that this will actually be a productive experiment. Here are a couple articles (one and two) about how taking a break can lead to higher productivity and more success in the long run. I’ll report back to you on whether I find any truth to their theories.
As I start out on this endeavor, I’ll take any advice I can get. How do you unplug? What’s your strategy for taking a break from the daily grind? I appreciate any suggestions. Wish me luck!
I always think it’s refreshing when someone in the public eye is willing to show the world that he or she is just a normal person. I think it’s even more admirable when business leaders and political figures, for instance, dare to show their flaws. It takes guts to be real, but the risk can be hugely rewarding. It helps people relate to you, empathize with you, and feel a closer connection to you and/or your business. Plus, it’s hard to dislike people who are willing to laugh at themselves. No one is perfect, so why bother pretending? Case in point: this recent video for Brad Anderson’s Secretary of State campaign.
It’s probably no surprise that we believe online video is wildly popular and critically important to any marketing strategy. But we’re not the only ones drinking the kool-aid. According to Cisco, 69 percent of all global consumer Internet traffic will be video in 2017, up from 57 percent in 2012. That statistic has been around for a while now. But two Drake University professors recently added some new numbers to the mix that show the importance of online video may be just gaining steam.
Chris Snider and Dorothy Pisarski recently gave a presentation to the Iowa chapter of the American Marketing Association. The topic was “Generation Z”, which starts with young people born after 1993. They’re the world’s next batch of consumers and apparently they love video.
As part of their research into this group, Chris Snider conducted three surveys on the social media use of teenagers and early 20-somethings. He surveyed high school students, first-year college students and college upperclassmen. In all three categories, the number one most popular social media platform was YouTube. Ahead of Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Now, obviously I’m biased here. And I’m not a trained analyst in marketing statistics. But, in my opinion, these surveys are further proof that video is increasingly the way of the future.
Gotta love cute critters eating fruit!
Some other interesting take-aways from the presentation about members of Gen Z: it takes a major effort to get their attention, they exist in their own little bubbles, and if you do manage to get their attention, it takes a big effort to hold on to it. That tells me the same old, same old video isn’t going to cut it. Quality and creativity are going to be more important than ever when these consumers start to flex their buying power.
A big thanks to Chris and Dorothy for sharing their knowledge on this group. Gen Z still remains a bit of a mystery, and this was a valuable glimpse into what makes them tick. Or not tick.
Nels Cline, of Wilco, playing BilT Guitars’ new guitar, the Volare. Nels stopped by BilT’s shop last October, to give it test run. Sweet sound. Sweet company.
NELS CLINE from BilT Guitars on Vimeo.
Yes, we still like to play in the rain. Last week, Ian and Tyler took their REDs for a spin. Does it get any better than raindrops in slow-mo?