content creation

The Most Important Content KPIs for Creators Course Preview

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Excited that my online courses are up on Lynda.com and LinkedIn Learning! Here's a preview of my first course on The Most Important Content KPIs for Creators for people who want to grow their brands. Check it out and feel free to share it with anyone you feel would benefit from the course. Thanks!

Be Creative Everyday

“Do something creative every single day even if it’s not filmmaking related, in fact it shouldn’t be whatever your creative vocation is it should be different and exercise that muscle every single day.”

Joe Harris lends his advice to create everyday to young creatives who are trying branch out into the creative space in this clip from episode 66 of our podcast.

Joe Harris is a director, editor, and cinematographer at the Dallas-based video production company; Side Chops.

Listen again as we talk about how his background in music has a vital role in filmmaking and content creation; how his definition of success has adapted throughout the years. We also talk about how Joe found a work-life balance and engages with his family to find creative inspiration and support.

Find episode 66 on Apple Podcasts Work-Life Balance In Content Creation, How Success Changes As You Mature, And Importance of Creativity As a Daily Habit

Five Feelings

“You have to understand the client problems, how you solve those problems, but start with the feelings and then that’s your shortlist.”

Hear Natalie Cass share with us her detailed thought process on writing stories for brands. Natalie is a corporate photographer and filmmaker at Cass Studios: an entertainment, commercial photography, and video production company.

Listen to this conversation again as we talk about how her psychographics led her to create content; how music, being active in nature, and optimizing her health and wellness helps her leverage her flow state; her method of focusing on five feelings she wants her audience to feel when developing stories for brands, and how artists can build their career by being comfortable in the unknown.

The full episode 65 is available on Apple Podcasts here: Psychographics And Content Creation, The Method of Creating Content Around 5 Feelings, And How Holistic Well-Being Helps With Creativity

Work-Life Balance In Content Creation, How Success Changes As You Mature, And Importance of Creativity As a Daily Habit

Our latest podcast episode focuses on the value of music, the definition of success, and a work-life balance. Joe Harris is a director, editor, and cinematographer at the Dallas-based video production company; Side Chops. He recently won a Gold Telly award for directing a commercial spot for Dr. Squatch-Shampoo.

In this episode, we talk about how his background in music has a vital role in filmmaking and content creation; how his definition of success has adapted throughout the years. We also talk about how Joe found a work-life balance and engages with his family to find creative inspiration and support.

Find episode 66 on Apple Podcasts Work-Life Balance In Content Creation, How Success Changes As You Mature, And Importance of Creativity As a Daily Habit

Psychographics And Content Creation, The Method of Creating Content Around 5 Feelings, And How Holistic Well-Being Helps With Creativity

Hear from our next podcast guest Natalie Cass! Natalie is a corporate photographer and filmmaker at Cass Studios: an entertainment, commercial photography, and video production company.

Listen to this conversation as we talk about how her psychographics led her to create content; how music, being active in nature, and optimizing her health and wellness helps her leverage her flow state; her method of focusing on five feelings she wants her audience to feel when developing stories for brands, and how artists can build their career by being comfortable in the unknown.

The full episode 65 is available on Apple Podcasts here: Psychographics And Content Creation, The Method of Creating Content Around 5 Feelings, And How Holistic Well-Being Helps With Creativity

Create bite-sized short videos for your content strategy

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Are you a business owner or creative and want to try a new trend for your content strategy? Looking to increase the engagement of your videos? Video marketing is a vital tool to your content strategy, so trying new techniques and trends to increase your engagement and business goals opens your company up for more growth opportunities. If your videos tend to be on the long side, find out how short videos can also fit in your video marketing strategy.

Short-form videos last up to 30 seconds, 2 minutes, or 10 minutes, but it mostly depends on the platform. Generally, shorter videos are better as it is more concentrated on one concept. This is a content medium on the major platforms, including YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels, and targets consumers who watch short-form videos as their source of news and entertainment. Shorter videos are very beneficial as they can boost your Google search ranking, increase your viewer’s time on your website, and increase open rates in email newsletters when “video” is in the subject line.

The type of content to put in your short video is unlimited. Your short videos will need to be creative and concise to capture your audience’s attention in a short time frame. To help stay on track, write down the main points you want to talk about in your video. Some ideas for short-form content are product demonstrations, behind-the-scenes clips, customer testimonials, promotions, and live-streaming videos. As technology increases, so does the accessibility of video production. Feel free to use your phone or a camera to record your video, following any video guidelines the platforms have before uploading. Once the video has been on social media for a while, check your video goals and continue to monitor how other brands are conquering short-form videos to use to your advantage.

Credit: Pamela Kock How You Can Add Short-Form Video to Your Content Strategy

Video SEO doesn’t need to be complex. Here’s what you need to know.

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After going through the process of planning, writing, and producing a video for your business, you finally upload the video onto your blog, social media platforms, and email newsletter. A few days go by, and your video is not meeting the goals you set for it. So what went wrong? Does this sound like you? There may be many factors why your video may not have ranked high, but making your video marketable after publishing is key to reaching out to your viewers.

Search engine optimization for videos requires a strategy that is relevant, timely, and optimized. Since videos have been extremely popular over the years, with users watching videos as entertainment and educational source and marketers using video as an effective tool, invest in a proper SEO strategy to improve your video’s visibility on search engines.

Here are some strategies to keep your video optimized. Before you upload your video, reflect on your video marketing goals. What do you want to accomplish with your videos? This knowledge and research will guide you to determine if you want to upload your video on a platform that may increase your engagement, brand awareness, or traffic. When you’re ready to upload the video, write an engaging title and description to increase your chances of visibility. Use relevant keywords in the title and description because your viewers will use keywords to find videos like yours.

If your video is on display on your website, make the video easy for your viewers to see when visiting your website. If your video is not the first piece of content seen, your videos may have difficulty being seen and played. Make sure the video is embedded onto your page. The page your video is on also needs to be SEO optimized and be relevant to the video. As a reminder, using SEO is an effective strategy for search engine ranking; however, using other strategies such as paid advertising and organic promotion can also work for your video.

Credit: SEO Optimizers Video SEO: 7 Ways To Optimize Your Video

How To Create Professional Video Content To Grow Your Brand Online...Without Spending Tons of Money On An Agency

Do you need to create videos to generate more sales? Do you want to train an in-house team to create videos so you don't spend thousands of dollars on an agency?

If you said yes to the questions above, this free training is for you. When you sign up today, you'll get access to a 3-part video series where you can learn everything below:

  1. How To Borrow Viral Video Ideas From Your Competitors So You Can Start Making Videos Quickly Without Having To Spend Days Coming Up With Your Own Ideas!

  2. Filmmaking And Videography Fundamentals From Framing To Lighting So You Can Make Professional Videos Without Investing In Expensive Equipment Or Hiring A Big Team, Plus Equipment And Software Suggestions For All Levels.

  3. ​Content Strategy Basics So You Can Establish Your Goals And Target Audience, Plus The Platforms They Consume Content On So Know Which Type Of Videos To Make So You Don't Waste Time And Get The Results You Want.

  4. ​Digital Marketing And Social Media Best Practices So You Can Optimize All Of Your Video Posts For Maximum Views, Engagement, And Conversions.

  5. ​How To Utilize Stock Assets (Footage, Music, Images, Etc.) And Free Automated Animation Software So You Can Start Creating Amazing Videos Without Picking Up A Camera Or Hiring An Animator!

You'll get all the information and tools you need to create video content on your own so you don't have to spend money on an agency. Save more time, save more money, do it yourself with your team. Everyone is going in-house these days, it's time for you to train your team with someone who's created videos for Spotify, Sony, HBO, and Colgate.

Sign up at services.thecreativehaven.com!

Investing in video content is essential for your success. Find out why.

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So you know that video is constantly present in our personal lives, but do you also know that video works well in your business too? Video is a powerful engagement tool that when implemented in a marketing strategy can help reach any goals your business may have. It’s accessibility due to technological advancements have made it more possible for companies to train employees, hold meetings, and educate and entertain consumers. Include video in your marketing strategy, using these reasons to guide your decision.  

For hiring businesses, video is an excellent source to train your new employees without spending a huge sum of money for extensive training programs. Help your employees retain information by creating interactive videos that compliments every employee’s learning style. There’s no need to change the entire video when updating the video. You can make a few changes, while allowing your viewers to replay the video at any time. Businesses have shifted and adapted to using online formats to navigate the changes of the lack of workplace environment surrounding the pandemic. Video is one method that draws consumers in to make a purchase. Provide virtual alternatives to physical events and meetings so that your clients and potential consumers stay connected with your business.

Viewers’ preferences shift as technology increases and different types of content becomes preferable. Whether you choose short-form or long-form content create videos with your target audience and goals in mind. Short-form content is great when you want to engage with your audience in a span of 15-60 seconds. Long-form content works well with interviews, educational videos, how-to videos, and demonstrations. A longer video gives you the opportunity to share your brand story and explain any products services without feeling like you are short for time. Improve how you approach your long-form and short-form content in your marketing strategy to increase brand awareness and engagement.

You don’t necessarily have to start from scratch to create a video. Your written content is the foundation for your video. Your viewers will retain more of what was said in the video than what was read in the written content. Use any old blog posts, scripts from interviews, and guides as inspiration for your next video. Make your video appear where your target audience is. That means placing videos in your email newsletter, social media platforms, and website. Analyze the results from the video to make sure you’ve targeted your audience, then refine your strategy for the next campaign. Overall, video connects your customers to you. Add, adapt and analyze your marketing strategy with videos as your investment.

Credit: Luke Fitzpatrick 7 Reasons To Invest In Video Content In 2020

What Is A Creative Brief?

How do you make sure your marketing, sales, and creative departments are all on board for an upcoming project? By using a creative brief, your team will strategize, plan, and set the expectations for the project to ensure success and preparedness for any unforeseen circumstances. The creative brief is a short strategic document that outlines the specific details surrounding your production before a shoot. Collaborate with your team to set the objectives, deliverables, target audience, timing, budgeting, and legal for an overall clear and efficient process. In this clip from our video content course, we focus on the main elements needed in a creative brief for a production shoot to be successful.

Optimizing Your Videos For Mobile By Learning Aspect Ratios

Now that you know where to post your videos, are they optimized by device and platform? Your viewers are watching your videos from all sorts of devices and platforms. It’s best to review your video before you post to check for any audio changes or cut-off content that may occur in a mobile viewpoint. Viewers are not limited in how they watch videos as they watch videos on the landscape, portrait, and square formats. Make your content stand out in every format by applying the right aspect ratios and dimensions on all channels. In this clip from our video content course, we stress the importance of mobile optimization and uploading content by the right aspect ratio for the device and platform.

Here Is What You Should Do For Your B2B and B2C Video Marketing

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Still thinking about incorporating video into your marketing strategy? Are you wondering how video is making an impact in B2C and B2B marketing? Video marketing is increasingly becoming the medium marketers use to share their message with their consumers. Due to its popularity, there have been changes in how consumers and viewers react to the company’s offerings. Before we go into depth on the changes facing the B2B & B2C sectors, let’s dive into the benefits of video marketing these companies have experienced.

Videos are full of possibilities in the eyes of marketers. The outward goal of spreading the message is visible to the consumer. But the underlying goal in the same video is to increase the brand awareness to the viewers who watch the video. Videos create a cost-effective experience for the consumer that combines different mediums (text, images, audio) in a short timeframe to provide information to the viewer on your brand values, your products or services, and your brand story. It’s all about connecting potential customers and current customers to your brand story. That connection, backed by the storytelling strategy, has proven to increase ROI as 80% of viewers recall branded videos. An increased brand awareness, conversions, and low cost in video advertising all mean well, but how does that correlate to B2B and B2C companies?

B2C companies are focusing on the storytelling aspect of video marketing. Consumers want to be able to envision themselves using the product or service. One way companies are serving this change is through influencer marketing and interactive product videos. If consumers see an influencer unboxing and demonstrating how a product is used and incorporated into their lifestyle consumers will start to picture themselves using the product. Video testimonials and immersive product videos also are on the rise in B2C companies. In B2B companies, videos are created based on the stages of the sales funnel. Live videos and webinars are also an option to connect with your audience, while repurposing content from the blog can provide a B2B company with content lined up ready to reach an audience on different platforms. Videos are not going anywhere anytime soon, so as these changes are changing how marketing operates, adapt to the changes with video marketing by your side.

Credit: Written by Modern Diplomacy How Video Marketing Is Changing B2B & B2C Marketing

Follow the Strategies these B2B Companies made to Perfect Their Video Marketing Strategy

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In the B2B sphere and are curious how other companies are doing with video marketing? Do you need to tweak your video marketing strategy to boost more sales and conversions? Here are six companies that are just the source to guide you in your video marketing strategy implementation.

From HubSpot to Taulia, each company tackles video marketing in a way that engages their audience, tells a story, and reveals their brand’s personality. HubSpot and Cisco create niche problem-solving-oriented videos related to their sales funnel. Intel focuses on storytelling, while SAP uploads videos with the buyer persona in mind. Don’t be afraid to use humor and be unique in your videos, as Taulia’s parody video and VeriSign’s series of viral and entertaining videos still get their message across to their audience. Their videos show more of their brand than just the services they serve.

Upload the tutorials, case studies, and explainer videos to multiple formats and channels while displaying your brand values and voice in a recommended 60-90 second video length. As you review these six examples, take note of which tactics you want to incorporate into your own strategy.

Credit: Written by: Upland 6 Examples of Perfect B2B Video Marketing

Effective Marketing Strategies to Drive Customers

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Last week, we shared with you our feature in Feedspot’s Top 40 Video Production Blogs and Websites To Follow in 2020. Now let’s take a look at these brands who went viral, focusing on the takeaways of each. We’ve got many strategies to share, so let’s get started!

Dominique Ansel Bakery created a pastry that blended his current offering of croissants and a customer suggestion of donuts. The bakery focused on the quality of the cronuts than the quantity. That helped his bakery control the demand of his customers.

Another viral success story comes from the fashion and apparel short shorts brand, Chubbies. After a successful initial test, the founders spent months building their brand and their inventory. That time spent was necessary as they were able to narrow in on an ideal customer and brand story they could target and expand on in the future. When companies go viral, not every viewer is going to know who your company is. Having a strong brand identity before sending your content lets those in and out of your target audience know who you are.

Some more strategies are to utilize ongoing trends, reach outside your target audience, and use user-generated content on social media. Finally, create content that is appealing, relevant, and drives customers to action, regardless if it goes viral or not. Always remember to have a strategy and PR plan in place when you have more demand for your product or service or when engagement is increasing. These takeaways provide useful strategies business owners can implement for their own brand.

Credit: Written by Meg Prater Help! My Brand Went Viral: 16 Small Brands That Made It Big

Advantage of Having Multiple Skills, Working In A Team Environment, And Why Creatives Shouldn't Run A Company

Come listen to our latest podcast episode with guest, Lesley Lopez. As an experienced producer, Lesley has produced many independent features and branded commercials for brands such as Nestle, Nickelodeon, and Sony. She is the COO of ReKon Productions and a member of the Producers Guild of America.

Throughout this episode, we discuss the advantages of being multi-talented, the process of working with directors, and why creatives shouldn’t own a company if they solely want to create art.

Listen to episode 34 on Apple Podcasts here: Advantage of Having Multiple Skills, Working In A Team Environment, And Why Creatives Shouldn't Run A Company

Dynamo Dream Teaser Shot

In this world, everything is an illusion. Watch below how the special effects transform this shot from the Dynamo Dream teaser by Ian Hubertz🚈

Read This First Before Creating a Video Marketing Strategy

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Technology continues to rise, with marketers implementing strategies that work best for their company. One of these strategies is video marketing. About 76% of businesses who use this strategy recorded an increase in traffic due to video and 78% of people watch online videos every week, according to Report42. So what can you do with video marketing? Well, if you’ve got an idea in mind for a video for your company, then you’re one step closer to your video marketing strategy.

As you create a video marketing strategy, focus on the purpose of the video, who it’s going to, and how you’ll measure the success of the video. For starters, your target audience plays a special role in your videos. Create a buyer persona that specifies what the audience needs, wants, and has questions about. Not only will this help you create content that is catered to them but will also give you plenty of ideas. The next step is to define your video marketing goals. Setting measurable clear goals such as increasing brand awareness or an email list, will guide you and hold you accountable when reviewing the video outcomes.

During the planning stage of your strategy, you need to think about if you plan on spending any money on video creation. Your budget depends greatly on the type of videos you want to create and your video schedule frequency. It’s important to consider whether the video and the content fall in line with your customer buyer journey, whether you choose to create a demo, how-to, animated, or combination video. Consider the ultimate reason why you’re creating videos. If you’re creating videos as part of a campaign or as part of a regular content strategy, then decide if hiring a video production team, freelancing, or creating videos yourself is ideal for your strategy. Overall, choose a video type that aligns with your budget, business, and target audience.

Once the video is uploaded, it’s time to measure your video’s performance. Keep these metrics in mind as you review your own metrics:engagement rate, view count, likes and comments, and conversion growth.Reviewing these key metrics will help you determine if you need to adjust your strategy to meet your business goals. For more useful statistics on how video marketing is essential for your business,view the article below. The cats out of the bag when it comes to this video marketing strategy. Now it’s up to you to d’s out of the bag when it comes to this video marketing strategy. Now it’s up to you to decide what you want to do with it.

Credit: Written by Mila Bera 6 key tips to consider when creating a video marketing strategy [Infographic]

Drink Behind the Scenes Collaboration

Delightful behind the scenes clip of a drink display by Amr El Saadany. Watch below the camera highlights the many components of the drink.🍹

The Creative Brief

Do you have a written guideline that outlines your project's strategy for everyone involved? Without a document like a creative brief, your creative video or project can be directed off course and can lose sight of the original intentions of the project. A creative brief will guide you in the direction and outcome you want to take with your project. In this clip from our video content course, we discuss the important elements that go into a creative brief.

The Importance of Creativity- Alejandra Carles-Tolra Podcast Clip

"Creativity is what can really help our mental health in finding different solutions in thinking outside the box and really trying to find positivity and to see light where we just see darkness. So I think creativity is important in any field because it can push people to look at something from a different perspective which I think is valuable."

This insightful quote came from Alejandra Carles-Tolra as she noted how much of a positive impact using creativity has on mental health and in our daily activities. Alejandra is a visual artist and photography facilitator whose work has been been published by CNN, The Huffington Post, and the Wuhuan Art Museum. Listen to more of this podcast episode as we talk about using art to give individuals a voice in vulnerable communities, the importance of creativity in everyday life, and using the time with the lockdown to make art with what's around you.

The full episode is on Apple Podcasts at Creative Haven Here: Using Photography to Give Voice to The Vulnerable Communities, The Importance of Connecting With Nature, And Exploring Various Creative Domains During Lockdown

If you want to learn more about Alejandra and purchase her work, visit the links below!

IG Account - @alejandractr

Website - www.alejandractr.com

Work for sale can be found here https://www.fiftydots.com/en/categoria-producto/artists/alejandra-carles-tolra-en/