Skillman Video Group

Skillman Video Group’s Video of the Week: Life in a Day

2010-07-27T15:33:23Z

Welcome to Skillman Video Group’s Video of the Week Series. This week, the focus is not on a video but rather a video event. On July 24^th, YouTube is sponsoring a global event: Life in a Day. Various directors and producers are asking everyone and anyone, not just current YouTube users, to film their day and submit it online.

YouTube has already established itself as one of the most popular and interactive user generated websites. Many YouTube users most likely already record their lives and post it online. Nonetheless, this is an extremely clever marketing concept.

The key is that YouTube is focusing on one idea, self-documentation, and taking it as far as possible. They are blasting this simple campaign all over their website and other outlets. They are extending the campaign to every possible person. If you do not wish to film your day, no sweat—YouTube will take a recording of you clapping your hands or singing a note.

Another important element of this marketing campaign is that it is engaging and interactive. YouTube takes engaging the audience to a whole new level. Their concept only works with people’s participation. Furthermore, YouTube is offering a superb prize: the best footage will be used in a film which will premiere at Sundance Film Festival and the people who submitted it will be credited as co-director.

While your company may not be able to offer a spot in Sundance, you can still use some of YouTube’s techniques. They focused on one concept thus making the message more powerful and less forgettable. They involve the audience and demand their interaction and input. Requesting your audience to film their lives may not work for you, but reaching out to them and constructing a campaign around their interests could. If you are considering marketing your company or organization through video like YouTube, contact Skillman Video Group today!

Video Press Release on Social Video Marketing

2010-07-19T15:38:02Z

Recently Skillman Video Group developed an exciting new service, Social Video Marketing, which SVG applied to their own website with much success. Skillman Video Group released a case study explaining and analyzing Social Video Marketing. This case study is available on SVG’s website by clicking HERE!

To properly announce their innovative service, Skillman Video Group produced a video press release showcasing SVM. This video press release is in itself social video marketing. A video press release is searchable through SEO and can be used on social media or business websites. Most importantly, it transforms a basic press release into exciting content that engages the viewer. A video press release takes full advantage of the power of media.

Skillman Video Group’s own video press release is currently also viewable on SVG’s homepage, YouTube channel and Facebook page For more information about SVM, please view the video press release, read the case study or contact Skillman Video group.

Demonstration Videos for ProWindows

2010-07-12T19:05:48Z

Skillman Video Group completed two days of filming for ProWindows, a window and door replacement (as well as home renovation) company located in Waltham, Massachusetts, on Thursday and Friday July 8-9. Skillman Video Group has previously worked with ProWindows; SVG began filming a series of instructional videos on window maintenance and an online marketing video last week.

Producer, Christina Skillman, directing the talent (and Pro-Windows owner), Jeff Fisher

The goal of this shoot was to create demonstration videos to market ProWindows’ unique installation process to potential customers. The majority of footage shot consisted of two window installations: one outside (for newer homes) and one outside (older homes). In addition, Skillman Video Group also filmed some additional b-roll to be used in a marketing video which recently has gone into post-production (editing).

Skillman Video Group and ProWindows will be working together again in the near future to complete more instructional videos. Like with all our videos, Skillman Video Group carefully planned and prepared for the day so as to make filming as smooth as possible. Scripts and shot lists were provided and as the camera rolled the talent was directed and coached. If you are interested in discovering the many way video can be used to market or sell your product or service, contact Skillman Video Group today.

Skillman Video Group’s Video of the Week

2010-07-08T15:12:05Z

Welcome to Skillman Video Group’s Video of the Week. This week, we will be looking at a video from BP’s oil crisis response campaign. BP’s oil crisis in the Gulf of Mexico may not be something your business should aspire to imitate. BP’s video response, on the other hand, shows some wise marketing techniques worth taking a look at.

What’s unusual about this video is that rather than introducing himself immediately, the speaker Keith Seilhan first describes his connection to the oil crisis. This is very important and is something that you can see in many of BP’s commercials. This technique of showing a personal connection is something that can work for your company or organization. Rather than just hawking a product or service, relate a little about what the product or service means to you. This helps create a relationship with the viewer by making you seem more human versus just a person wanting to sell something. It creates trust; if the seller actually believes in the product and appears invested in it than the product seems more credible and desirable.

This video also underscores the importance of audio. The majority of it consists of pictures from the clean-up effort. Without the audio, the video would be relatively uninteresting. If you add in the narration track, just looking at pictures would still not be too exciting. Thus, the music is key here. It makes you want to pay more attention. It helps the pictures flow together seamlessly. The type of music chosen in a video is always crucial. Here, the slow and methodical sound fits the mood BP wants to establish. Music should always work for you in creating a mood, not against you. Choosing appropriate music is extremely important and should be carefully considered. Music is a very important component to any video that helps keep viewers watching.

Here at Skillman Video Group, audio is always edited and chosen with care so as to best suit your video. Not only that, we continually work to produce and edit high-quality professional videos that are tailored to suit your needs. If you are considering a video for your company or organization, contact Skillman Video Group today.

Marketing and How To Videos for ProWindows

2010-06-30T17:59:28Z

This week Skillman Video Group begin filming a series of videos for ProWindows, a replacement window and door company located in Waltham, Massachusetts. The first video Skillman Video Group filmed was an Internet marketing video featuring the owner of ProWindows.

Christina Skillman and client Jeff Fisher work together

Next, Skillman Video Group recorded three instructional videos. These videos focus on care and maintenance of ProWindow’s products and will be placed on their website for customers. In addition, ProWindows will also use their instructional videos on social media websites such as YouTube. Shortly, SVG will work again with ProWindows to film more instructional videos.

Skillman Video Group worked with the client to script every video prior to filming. SVG used high-end video technology and extensive lighting to produce an extremely sharp image. All filming was done at ProWindows’ Waltham location. If you are interested in having Skillman Video Group produce a video for your company, contact us today.

Skillman Video Group’s Video of the Week

2010-06-28T19:29:52Z

Welcome to Skillman Video Group’s Video of the Week, which has returned after a short hiatus. The purpose of the series is to examine what helps to make a successful marketing campaign. This week’s video is a commercial from Apple showcasing their recently launched iPad. For those who are unfamiliar with the product, the iPad is a large touch screen that allows users to surf the Internet, read books and listen to music.

Apple is known for having simple advertisements and this trend continues with their iPad commercial. The 30-second ad is a montage of various people using the iPad. Except for perhaps two seconds, the product is the focal point of the screen. The purpose of the advertisement is for viewers to see this new product, so Apple wastes little time on other visuals. The short and repeated use of the phrase “the iPad is…” ingrains the idea that the iPad is indeed a lot of spectacular things—take your pick, one is bound to suit you. The repetitive phrase is an age-old practice and is still used for a reason—it drives the message into the viewer’s head. Fortunately for you, this technique can be used in almost any marketing video.

This commercial really works though because it shows the product in use. We can visualize what it would be like to own the product for a short period of time. The face of a user is never revealed. Doing so forces our attention to the product, which is central to this video and should be done in others by keeping the product the focus of the frame. Throughout the clip we see flashes of what the iPad has to offer: users reading The New York Times, playing games, watching a movie. This is a wonderful technique that could be applied to other product videos: show don’t tell. Take advantage of powerful medium that is video and bring your viewer into the world of your product.

Interested in developing a video to market your company? Contact Skillman Video Group to get started.

The Uses of Live Event Videography

2010-06-24T18:44:57Z

At Skillman Video Group, live event videography has advanced to a whole new level. We have professionally filmed a number of events for a wide range of clients, from Boston University School of Law to Springboard Enterprises. These various institutions and companies have used our live event videography services for a bevy of reasons, some of which may aid you when considering why live event video could benefit your company.

In the past, Boston University School of Law has hired Skillman Video Group to film a lecture series. The video was posted on their website. The school desired such a video so that those who were unable to attend could later view the lecture or for those who wished to re-visit a one-time event.

Springboard Enterprises used Skillman Video Group videography for similar reasons. Earlier this month the organization hosted a dinner and a discussion panel the following day. At the dinner, Besty Myers, former COO of President Obama’s 2008 Presidential Campaign, and others spoke. The discussion panel brought together members of the organization as they talked about their past, present and future. Not all invited guests could attend; a live event video ensured that all members could remain involved and be kept up to date. Furthermore, Springboard wished to capture these events partially for marketing purposes. In the future, the organization can use these videos to market events or the organization itself.

Boston Video Producer, Christina Skillman, setting up the camera for a live event

Later this week, Skillman Video Group will once again be working with the Yamaha School of Boston to produce a video of their year-end concert. In the past, this live event video has been edited by Skillman Video Group then used by Yamaha to market the school, in addition to being distributed to parents.

Live event videography helps serve many needs. Whether you wish to use an event for marketing, flaunt a prominent speaker, keep employees and members informed or more, live event videography can be the right business decision for your company or organization. Contact Skillman Video Group for more information.

Basic Types of Marketing Videos

2010-06-18T21:45:54Z

Skillman Video Group is able to produce a wide variety of marketing videos to be used for your business website. Determining which video is right for you comes back to knowing your audience and understanding why one type would better market your business over another.

A recent trend in video marketing that has been previously discussed on this blog is a viral video. Viral videos are defined as videos that gain seemingly instant and ubiquitous popularity due to unusual, funny or catchy material. Due to the fact that viral videos really began as home made clips posted on YouTube, these videos are now often produced to have the same low quality visuals. This style of video is more commonly used to market to a younger audience because the video typically promotes a less serious front.
A more basic trend is using a promotional video, one that just simply showcases
Crew starts shooting at the KCCNE Showroom in downtown Providence RI

your product or services. These videos are more direct and more likely to target an older audience versus viral video marketing.

Another trend is instructional or “how to” videos. The name really says it all—a video which works to instruct the viewer on how to use a product or how to perform a certain task. This type of video works very well not only as a nice service for new or existing clients (who may come to your site looking for simple answers to theur questions), but again helps demonstrate your credibility as an expert in your field.

Skillman Video Group also offers a similar style of video called product video. Unlike instructional videos, product videos do not show precisely how to use the product. Rather, product videos showcase the product and flaunt certain features.

Often combined with any or all of the above marketing videos is the trusty testimonial video. This video style allows previous or current customers to reach out to new customers and ensure a belief in the quality of your business. Testimonial videos are a clear example of the usage of a technique that is necessary in most marketing videos: establishing credibility. They do so by showing previous success with the business. That is why this video can work for really most product or service because the main goal of a testimonial video is to achieve what every customers looks for: proof that the business is credible and of high quality.

Every marketing video, not just testimonials, that Skillman Video Group creates works to show the credibility of your business. The real aim of doing so is to create trust in the viewer and therefore turn them from potential customers to viable prospects. Another technique Skillman Video Group embeds in their videos is relationship building. This is done through relating with your audience. And once again it is really about establishing trust through video marketing to turn viewers into customers.

Contact Skillman Video Group to learn about how one of these types of video can best help target your market.

Skillman Video Group’s Method for Successful Videos

2010-06-07T21:28:41Z

One of the most key components of any type of marketing is knowing what appeals to your audience. This is also the most difficult because it requires you to isolate what you like from what you know your audience will like. For example, if your target age group is 10 years old, chances are a simple video showing a man sitting in an office will not hold their attention. Part of our job in video production and marketing at Skillman Video Group is to help you discover what will best engage your desired client and then design a production plan around that desired result.

In correlation with this task, we employ our simple but successful method for video production and Internet marketing. Throughout our process, we strive to be professional. “Professional” for us merely means that extensive thought and a custom strategy to engage your audience have gone into each and every step of producing your video. Whether you are going for the “flip cam self-produced” look or “super slick and polished” (or anywhere in between) it is important to have a well planned and thought out strategy behind it. Taking the time to understand what your audience will appreciate, ensures a successful video project. “Professional” means creating a video that will best work for you, and give you the highest return on investment possible.

Once we determine the story we will be telling in your video, we begin the filming process with the visuals. We construct a well-framed shot with an appropriate backdrop and good lighting in order to create the most visually pleasing video possible. Next, we insure those acting within the frame are well coached and directed so their actions match the mood of the video, whether it be direct, aggressive, outrageous etc. Our final step in creating a video is the high-quality editing, where we make sure only the best remains and that it comes together as a professional video tailored to your needs. Any video produced at Skillman Video Group will go through this same system and thought process. And the result will always be a professional video that was created to appeal directly to your audience.

Live Event Videography for Springboard Enterprises

2010-06-04T15:37:15Z

Boston Video Producer, Christina Skillman, taping event at Bapson College.

Yesterday Skillman Video Group completed a two-day live event videography job for Springboard Enterprises at Babson College. This particular organization focuses on creating an entrepreneurial network that aids women in creating successful businesses. On the first day of videography, Skillman Video Group filmed a dinner celebration in honor of the tenth anniversary of both Springboard Enterprises and Babson’s Center for Women’s Leadership. One of their many speakers included Besty Myers, former COO of President Obama’s 2008 Campaign. The next day, Skillman Video Group filmed Springboard’s energetic and interactive Alumnae Caucus. Springboard Enterprises desired videography so as to be able to show this extensive event on their website for marketing reasons and absent members. Springboard wanted a well-produced, professional video of their live event. As a result, they chose Skillman Video group as their professional videographer.