Internet & Video Marketing Internship at Skillman Video Group

This week concludes my time at Skillman Video Group. Three months ago, I signed on as a Internet & Video Marketing  Intern with the company. In the beginning I was not sure what to expect, however, I am happy to report that it could not have been better. Like all young people pursuing internships, I was looking to gain real-world experience and at Skillman Video Group I got experience, real experience. At no point was I relegated to busy work; I did not make one photocopy or get a single cup of coffee. Instead, I was given the chance to explore many different avenues, both creative and professional.

I worked as a production assistant on many video shoots, working with a crew,  setting up lights, moving equipment, and learning the intricacies of professional video production. I was able to produce a  “behind the scenes ” video press release and edit it myself for the company website.  At the same time, I was given the chance to write for this blog and learn SEO and online marketing techniques. Perhaps most noteworthy, was my opportunity to create my own original viral video from start to finish. The Producers at  Skillman Video Group gave me the leeway to be creative and funny and I wrote and produced our  first ever viral style video Gerry’s Waterbed Emporium. Making this video was a great experience and a lot of fun. I was given the chance to explore new styles of shooting & editing, like utilizing a green screen, in a safe and educational environment.  This internship was a wonderful opportunity. It gave me the chance to work on the professional level in video production, writing, and marketing. I would recommend working for or with Skillman Video Group to anyone.  I can’t believe my time is over already and would like to thank everyone at SVG for making this experience so positive.

Mike McGuinness

Online Marketing Videos

At Skillman Video Group we believe, when used correctly, online marketing videos are of the most successful and cost effective way to market your company on-line. We will soon be releasing a case study on our new service, Social Video Marketing. Social Video Marketing combines the use of high quality video marketing with Internet marketing technology to convert web visitors into new leads.  As we have mentioned before, Internet Marketing works in two ways.  1) getting people to first come to your site through SEO and social media and then 2) once on your site, the content must be engaging enough to compel the casual visitors into a valuable lead.  This is what we call at Skillman Video Group the “video conversion point” .  Combining the power of the video medium with the power of the Internet gets our clients the best return on investment possible!   We focus not just on producing the highest quality video, but also  on the importance of routing as many viewers as possible to that video thereby expanding your presence in the marketplace. By using the right keywords and tags, we make sure your videos can be found on the web. Also, by incorporating a  blog posts and web announcements on your site, you can keep your content fresh and Google relevant.

We started implementing these techniques ourselves in October 2009. Google ranks website traffic and searches on a scale of zero to ten, with nines and tens being the Facebooks of the world. When our new site launched in October 2009, our website was ranked a zero by Google. Our old html site was static and we weren’t generating leads from the web. In October 2009 we started an agressive Internet marketing plan using the services outlined in our soon to be published Case Study.  By the time our case study had concluded, we were coming up as #1 in 9 targeted key words.  Within 6 months of us launching our new program, our paged jumped to a number four ranking on Google, a very impressive feat for a company of our size. The results of this online marketing effort is that our traffic is up, our content is fresh, and it’s helping our business grow. For example, our recent blog post on Video Legal Depositions was the direct source for Duane Morris LLP locating our services (please read about that job below) though a Google search and booking us just a day later. Our Social Video Marketing program is the most efficient way to market on the web. Our online efficiency techniques direct maximum traffic to your site, and our quality videos tell your story in the most effective and dynamic way possible. Call us today about your Online Marketing Video!

Legal Marketing Video Shoot at Duane Morris

Skillman Video Group recently went on a video shoot at the national law firm, Duane Morris LLP. Duane Morris hired SVG to shoot a Legal Marketing Video of their Boston office for their web site. SVG shot a series of interviews with the firm’s partners discussing their practice areas and experience for both internal….and external marketing purposes. Duane Morris will be using the videos to market their attorneys to potential clients, as well as to use for recruitment of new hires.     The partners discussed both personal and professional topics and we concentrated on their areas of expertise, their goals for the firm, and even personal interests and hobbies.

Marketing for any law firm begins and ends with their attorneys.  If your lawyers are essentially your product, then video allows a law firm  to showcase those lawyers in a personal, intimate way.  By allowing potential clients to see and hear your attorneys speak about their experience and goals  – you are allowing them to build trust and repore with a client before they pick up a phone to call!  In the legal field, where personal relationships are crucial, video marketing is the only medium that can clearly and accurately represent your services.

It is also important that your legal marketing videos look and sound professional.  Lighting and audio are key components to any video shoot.  If your attorneys look or sound unprofessional, it will do a poor job marketing their skills and abilities to the public!  Producers at Skillman Video Group are adept and not just lighting and audio, but also directing the on-screen talent.  Speaking on camera is sometimes very difficult for those who are not used to doing so in their every-day job.  Our producers will work with the on-screen talent to make them feel comfortable and help them look and feel their best.  Call today to learn more our Legal Marketing Videography and Video Production services!

Corporate Viral Video of the Week: Awareness Test

Welcome back to Skillman Video Group’s Corporate Viral Video of the Week. This week’s viral video is the London government’s Awareness Test video. This video was first released two years ago, however, it has maintained a steady hit rate since it’s debut and has over eight million hits on YouTube. This video does a lot of great things. One of the most important aspects of this video is that it’s interactive. By asking you to count the passes, it ensures undivided attention from its audience. Visually, it is a very interesting video. The constant movement and weaving of the players catches the eye. The white shirts and arching passes keeps you focused on the action of the players. The production work is very simple. The whole video is only one shot. As we’ve mentioned before, the at home, hand held camera look is very effective in viral videos. This is because it’s reminiscent of a sense of accessibility that’s associated with distributing content over the internet. The “re-wind” feature adds to that at home, viral feel.

Another great attribute is the “ Aha!” moment. Without slowing the video down or changing it in anyway, the viewer sees something they completely missed the first time (I know I did). This is the kind of mind trick video that people love to forward to their friends. In this case, the “Aha!” moment has the added bonus of being hilarious. They were not afraid to be silly and it paid off. Check back in for next week’s Corporate Viral Video of the week or contact Skillman Video Group today to see how your company could use a viral video!

Video Press Releases

Skillman Video Group is now offering a Video Press Release service! Video press releases (VPRs) are essentially an a video version of a traditional press release.   They are a fun, easy, visually stimulating and high-tech way of keeping either previous, potential or existing clients updated on your activities. VPRs can be used by businesses to inform,  shape public opinion, or to promote and publicize individuals, commercial products and services, or other interests.  In a few short minutes, you can provide your clients with a first hand look of  any new events, products or services that your company is offering. You can send these press releases out in emails, put them on your website, or post them on your social media profiles. Video press releases are also a great way to keep your blog or website fresh and interesting with new content on a regular basis which is important for SEO.  As a basic example of a video press release, check out the video from our recent shoot for Kitchen and Countertop Center of New England in Providence, RI shoot (below).   The idea is to keep the VPR simple and easy!  What is your company doing that is newsworthy or relevant to your clients?  Call us today to do your own video press release!

Corporate Viral Video Of The Week: Pedigree Dogs

Welcome to week two of Skillman Video Group’s “Corporate Viral Video Of The Week” series.  Let’s review some of the characteristics of a successful corporate viral video outlined in last week’s blog. The most important rule is of course to keep it simple. Too many characters and too much back and fourth dialog is too much work. The average, cubicle bound, corporate viral video viewer does not have the time to get caught up in an elaborate story.  This week’s video is from Pedigree Dog Food and it exemplifies many of the traits that make viral videos successful. This video was added last week and it already has over 700,000 hits. They opted to go as far no dialog at all. Instead, they focus on the physical feats of the dogs. The video is fun and lighthearted without trying too hard. The video also has a cool bit of production work. By showing the dogs slow motion while using a camera with a high frame per second rate, the viewer is able to see every minute movement of the dogs. The slow motion technique is very effective in this video. It adds a clearer view and a heightened anticipation to the dogs’ tricks.

Naturally, the videos that go viral are the videos with the most mass appeal. Companies are constantly trying to make videos that are funny but also work for a broad audience. This video exemplifies one of the sure fire rules to achieve that mass appeal: Put a dog in your video. If the words “dog”, “kitten”, or “puppy” are in the title of your video you’re almost guaranteed a million hits. Everyone loves to see dogs perform zany antics; you can’t help but smile.  The video with the most mass appeal is the most successful viral video. Check back in for next week’s Corporate Viral Video Of The Week.  Or call Skillman Video Group to see what kind of viral video we can do for you!

The Rise of the “Searchmercial”

We live in a world where the company name Google becomes a verb if you need to find someone, a business, or information.  If we don’t know something, we “Google it”.  This concept was alien to most of us 5-10 years ago, and now it is standard operating procedure for consumers and businesses alike.  Companies are constantly trying to figure out how they can use search engines like Google to their highest advantage. With the rise of YouTube and more advanced searching capabilities, Internet searches are involving video more than ever, and now is the best time to get your message across with a professional “searchmercial” video.

So what exactly is a “searchmercial”?  A blog written by RealSEO talks about the increasing need for searchmercials among small to medium businesses.  It is simply a web video that can be found on search engines so customers and clients can find your business. Searchmercials are between 30-90 seconds long and briefly explain you and your company, what service you provide, and any special offers going on.  These web videos allow you to target your audience effectively, so the viewers become your customers. 68% of Internet users watch video ads.  68%!  And as we previously pointed out, it is only expected to grow in the coming year. Television commercials a)  can cost an arm and a leg in addition to your bank account, b) you can only use it a select number of times, and c) there isn’t an immediate feedback on the success of the commercial after it airs.  The beauty of a “searchmercial” is that you can take the level of quality of a traditional TV commercial, for a 1/4 of the price, and use the power of the Internet to reach the customers whenever you want, AND receive immediate feedback on the success (utilizing Google Analytics)!

With web video becoming more popular, the blog states that Internet companies like Google and Yellowpages.com are making their sites more conducive for web video advertising so that companies can be found by clients.  The phonebook is transferring to the Internet, and in addition to being found with a website, you can be found with a quality web video that speaks more than words on a page ever could. Those 68% of Internet users (and rising) will see your ad, visit your web site, and pick up the phone and call.  That is what we call a hight “rate of return” on your investment.  But how do you want to be perceived?  That is where Skillman Video Group comes in. The blog also states that among small to medium businesses, 75% prefer a custom-made professional video to put on the web.  Businesses all over the country (and Skillman Video Group) are beginning to realize that quality produces results!  It is essential that all aspects of your advertising campaign are done to the highest quality, including your web video, so your clients know you are professional, experienced and the best in your field!  Skillman Video Group is here for you to help market your brand on Internet with a professional high-quality “searchmercial.” Skillman Video Group has the professional equipment and expertise to make you look and sound your best to your clients, and the partnership with QLegal to help you take that video and optimize it on the Internet to get the highest rate of return for your investment.  These Internet viewers’ first impression of  your service or product will be from your web video, so it MUST look and sound good!  With your Skillman Video Group “searchmercial”, your clients will see that you have arrived into the new decade, you will have more control over what you can do with your video, and you can track its success.  2010 is here and roaring – Contact us today for pricing!!

Grow your business in 2010 with a professional Internet marketing video!

This time of the year, there are lots of blog posts and articles about how you can “Grow your business in 2010″, but it can be difficult to sift through the plethora of information and find what really works for your type of business.  If you read our post on Professional Video in Social Media (scroll down), you will see that one of the biggest areas of growth in 2010 is Internet video marketing with over 40% growth projected for this genre in the coming year.  If these trends come to fruition, then a day is coming when businesses will no longer see web marketing videos as a luxury but a necessity and a key tool in their overall marketing strategy.     As we have stated before it is imperative in any marketing endeavor  to look and sound your best.  Using professionals to shoot and edit your videos will result in a better quality product and give you a much higher rate of return on your investment then if you tried to do it yourself without the proper equipment,  training or experience.  Quality does matter to your audience and our goal as professionals  is ultimately to translate those viewers – into clients!  A high-quality corporate or marketing video from Skillman Video Group can be the key to kick start your business in the new decade.

In researching some of the most popular ways video is going to expand over the next few years, we came across a couple blog postings listing and describing 42 different ways to use video on the Internet for your business (yes – 42 different ways).  They were rated by the authors by Popularity and Growth Potential.  A summary of all of these types can be found on Reel SEO and the original posting with descriptions can be found with One Market Media.  There are so many ways you can grow your business with a professional video, but to save you some time we thought that we would highlight some of the video categories that got the highest rating in both Popularity and Growth Potential, so you can start brainstorming now about what kind of video Skillman Video Group can do for you.

• Customer Testimonials/Success Stories
• Man-in-the-Street Interviews
• Product Presentations/Demonstrations/Reviews
• Visual Stories
• Corporate Overview
• Staff Presentations
• Training Video/Employee Orientation
• Just-in-time Learning
• Internal Communications
• Health, Legal, & Safety
• Internet Commercials/Viral Video/Email Video
• Content Marketing (Huge Growth Potential)
• Landing Pages/Microsites
• Video Press Release/Community Relations Video
• Event Presentation Video
• In-Store video
• Mobile Video

The producers at Skillman Video Group have years of experience helping businesses like yours see real growth in their market share through the use of web marketing videos.  We have the cutting edge, professional equipment needed to create your perfect corporate or marketing video, for either your web site, DVD distribution or e-mail marketing campaign.  The producers at Skillman Video Group also have experience in leveraging the power of social media sites (such as Youtube.com or FaceBook) and Search Engine Optimization techniques to attract new viewers to your site and increasing your overall  web presence on all major search engines.   2010 is here, start it off with a bang – Contact us today to learn how!

How to Prepare for Speaking on Camera

Skillman Video Group specializes in marketing videos for both large corporations and small businesses in the Boston area and all of New England.  As we have said in previous blog posts (feel free to scroll down and check them out) in this day and age of Internet social media, viral videos, and Internet (or “inbound”) Marketing, a great professional corporate video from Skillman Video Group is a great way to market your product or service, build brand awareness, and increase sales.  Creating repore with viewers who come to your site by adding the “human touch” through the use of the video medium, can not only help you reconnect you with former clients, but also open the door for new clients to feel instantly connected to what you and  your business stand for.

As you can see in our Portfolio page, many business leaders and employees have courageously stepped forward and placed themselves in front of the camera  to speak  about their company and the services they offer.  For some (and maybe for you), this is an entirely new experience and as we have said before, it is not as easy as it looks!  The professionals at Skillman Video Group recognize this and are ready and willing to help!  The whole experience of “lights, camera, action!” can be daunting (trust us when we say we’ve seen it before), but if the speaker is properly prepared for the shoot, it will go quickly and smoothly.  With this in mind, Christina Skillman, Sr. Producer and Principal at SVG and the production professionals at Skillman Video Group willingly stepped out from behind the camera and created a short “How To” video to highlight some of the pre-production work and planning that goes into creating the ideal “Talking Head”/interview video.  A marketing video can take many forms, but the simple interview or talking head format is one of the easiest and cost effective forms available.  From pre to post-production they can be completed in just a matter of days!

So there you have it!  There are so many factors that need to be taken into consideration when making a professional corporate video -from the room selection, to the clothes, to the microphone & lighting, to the on-screen mannerisms – it can seem overwhelming to the novice.  But with this kind of preparation, and with the skill and experience of the professionals at Skillman Video Group, it’ll be a breeze!  As a business owner it is in your best interest to look and sound your best in whatever marketing endeavor you pursue,  and we will be there to help you every step of the way.   Feel free to check out our previous work to get some ideas about what Skillman Video Group can do for your business!  Contact us today to set up a free consultation on what our video production and Internet Marketing services can do to help your business grow in 2010!

Capturing Clean Audio in a Professional Video

Ok so  we here at Skillman Video Group are always preaching that in any corporate marketing or promotional video  should always look and sound good.  No matter what platform you chose to embed your videos on, such as your  web site, or on Social Media sites like YouTube.com or Facebook.com – your viewers  will appreciate quality!

We’ve talked a lot about how video should look good (see previous posts!), but a very important component of professional video production is the audio.  The best lit video in the world is useless if the audio comes out fuzzy, muffled, too “hot” or otherwise inconsistent.  Audio in professional corporate video production needs to be clean, crisp, and clear so your audience is never distracted from your message.

What’s the difference between “professional” vs “amateur” audio you ask?  First, it’s the equipment. Skillman Video Group uses only top-of-the-line audio equipment which insures the best sound recording at any shoot.  We only use  industry-standard professional XLR cables and microphones.  We may utilize three different types of microphones depending on the type of shoot.   Each has its own unique use and function and the audio specialists at Skillman Video Group know what equipment to use in any given situation to capture clean, clear audio.

• Shotgun Mic: A “shotgun mic” is a highly directional microphone that may be hand-held or mounted on a boom. It is best suited for capturing “natural” or “environmental”  sounds like at a party, the sounds in nature (bird chirping etc), or the excited chattering of a group of children – and these are just a few examples.  It picks up the nuances of the shoot’s environment and gives a realistic feel for how the voices and sounds naturally echo.  Marketing videos looking to showcase the environment of a working location is an example where a shotgun mic would be used.
• Wireless Lavaliere Mic: A “lav” mic is a portable microphone that hooks around neck or is clipped to clothing. Also known as a necklace, lapel, or pendant microphone.   It has a wireless transmitter that is placed either on a belt or in a pocket of the speaker, and is transmitted to a receiver connected to the camera.  These are most popular in television and video production when it is important to get clean and crisp audio from the person or persons speaking on camera.  It is best suited when the focus is on the speaker and not on surrounding sounds.  A “talking head” video is an example where a lav mic is best suited.
• Wireless Handheld Mic Similar to the wireless lavaliere, the wireless handheld is perfect for the “Man on the street” type of interviews commonly used on the news broadcasts.  While the audio will sound the same as a wireless lavaliere (when held towards the mouth), it is an entirely different visual.

The 2nd component of capturing great audio is the actual shoot location.   The location of the shoot is just as important as the type of microphone being used.  If capturing clean audio is the top priority (and remember every video is different), then the location of the shoot must be relatively sound-proof and distraction free.  Doors opening and closing in the background and/or phones ringing  will all be distractions from the speaker’s words and can potentially ruin the “take” (which trust us when we say if it is going to happen, it will be right in the middle of your best take and we will have to start over).  The video producers and audio technicians at Skillman Video Group are all highly skilled in minimizing and removing such distraction from even the busiest office space.  We’ve seen (or shall we say heard) it all!

The third component of capturing great audio is the actual content (or words being spoken).  It is important to practice beforehand what you are going to say in order to speak fluently and clearly without the regular “ums” and “ahs”.  It is NOT as easy as it looks!   The producers at Skillman Video Group will offer coaching during the shoot but practicing before will help the shoot to go more smoothly – which ultimately will save you time and money in the long run.

What separates video from other mediums out there is that your audience will be able to see AND hear you.  While the nature of video is what makes it the most effective format for building trust and rapore with potential customers, it can be disastrous to your brand and message if not handled correctly.  All these various options also highlights the point that pre-production planning is very important to the success at any shoot.  The video producers at Skillman Video Group work with our clients to discuss shoot locations, lighting AND audio options all before the camera crews arrive.  Call today to find out how Skillman Video Group can help your business!

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