Education

How To Stay Invested In Your Work

“Doesn’t matter what age you’re at, the opportunity is always there. So, with that reminder, success, you have to keep working for it.” Hopefully, this heartening advice from Flekz can help light a fire for you today. Gustavo Fuentes is a street artist that creates art pieces using painter’s tape and geometric knives without exact measurements from rulers! As we sat down and spoke with Gustavo, we managed to touch base on how freestyling your art can lead to more authentic pieces, avoiding other artist’s works for inspiration to keep your own work pure, the importance of working out for creativity and channeling your emotions from music to create art. 

The full episode is available on Apple Podcasts on Creative Haven here: Channeling Your Emotions With Music To Create Art And The Importance Of Freestyling Your Creativity For Authenticity

Six Refreshing Video Marketing Tips You Should Implement in 2020

Are you hoping to stand out a bit more with your video marketing tactics? 

Hoping that you can find some tips to give your own business an edge?  

In 2020, the pandemic has forced businesses to rethink their marketing tactics. Despite the sudden change in our landscape, here are six refreshing tips that should provide a boost to your company’s video marketing strategies. 

Firstly, you want to be sure that you are familiarized with the 7 sales and marketing video types - 80%, Employee Bio’s, product/service, landing, bad fit, customer journey, and claims. It is not necessary to have an About Us video despite it being common among companies online because it doesn’t tend to generate revenue or trust. After that, be sure that you spend some extra time polishing your YouTube channel by -  optimizing your playlists, use sections, designing a banner, and more. A cleaner layout allows your viewers an easier time browsing through your channel.

A personalized video for sales will allow you to connect with an audience deeper than a bland email message and can provide a better way to pipeline your sales for your sales team, look up vidyard’s chrome extension as it is a free tool to use in creating one. Try researching into hiring a videographer to help you create video content, as you are getting an individual/crew to fully commit time making high-quality content!  Don’t forget that there are more outlets than YouTube for you to post your content!

Credits - Written By - Liz Moorehead - 6 top local business video tips for your 2020 marketing strategy

Video Marketing Guide - The Authenticity Of Your Message And Video Is What Matters Most

Fans want authentic videos, not polished pieces

Have you ever worked so hard on a video that looks amazing but doesn’t get a lot of views, and your video shot on a cell phone is your most watched content?  I’ve had this happen to me before and it’s frustrating but also relieving.  You don’t need high quality for engaging videos.  Most people want relatable, organic, un-polished content that doesn’t look like a commercial.  Viewers want to see something “real” and believe videos that come from their favorite influencers that are usually shot on cell phones.

So consider User Generated Content, Live Videos, Boomerangs, and Phone footage to get your message across to your audience.  You don’t always have to use a DSLR or Cinema Camera to shoot your videos to get the results you want.

Balancing Creativity With Business, Gaining Experience Through Office Jobs, And Taking Lower Rates For Strategic Networking

Last week, we featured a few posts about not needing expensive equipment to start on video marketing! In our latest podcast episode with Michael Reiken, we managed to delve a bit further into that subject. Michael Reiken is a filmmaker and entrepreneur with his own media company (Aristokat Media) and a teeth whitening company (White Smile). The rest of the interview included discussions on the importance of working at bigger companies to gain insight on how to be a professional for your own business, staying patient while building your own company/product and why it’s fine to take a lower-paying job if there is an opportunity to network and build relationships with clients.

The full episode is on Apple Podcasts at Creative Haven here: Balancing Creativity With Business, Gaining Experience Through Office Jobs, And Taking Lower Rates For Strategic Networking

Take A Look At Pucko's Chocolaty Behind-The-Scenes!

Take a look at this impressive split screen of this commercial before and after VFX! While we might not understand the language in this Swedish commercial, we definitely craved some chocolate milk by Pucko. Especially after seeing how one delicious sip could take you to somewhere you desire in this behind-the-scenes! You can see the impressive little details leading up to the transition and final results here all the way down to the man pulling down the coat!

Getting Out Of Your Comfort Zone

“That’s the problem. You’re in a rut, cause you’re just there in your comfort zone. And you’ve gotta get out, you’ve gotta surround yourself with people, you’ve gotta find a mastermind of people that are gonna encourage you”. This inducing quote is a part of the advice that John Lee Dumas shared with us in terms of not allowing ourselves to get too content. John is the CEO/Host of EOFire which is an award-winning podcast that has generated many episodes and has earned him a seven-figure revenue a year. The theme of our interview with John was about getting out of our comfort zones and the discussion included, the importance of exploring other industries to get out of a rut and allows one to find inspiration, how using journalism and meditation improves his flow state and inspires him and how spending time to relax can allow one to regenerate and get work done. The full episode is available on Apple Podcasts on Creative Haven here: Optimizing Your Creative Flow State And Productivity With Meditation, Journaling, and Getting Out Of Your Comfort Zone

A Step-by-Step Guide to Better Videos

Do you want to start video marketing for your business, but limited in resources? 

Unsure if you have enough time and money to invest in a premium camera and video editing technicalities? 

It’s been proven by many businesses that there are affordable ways and steps you could take to still create quality video content on your own. Simply having a lower-priced video camera or latest smartphone is enough to get started. Here are some things you can do to get started on creating quality content while you are on a budget. Firstly, ensure that you have properly thought out a production plan to execute. The plan should involve a script to the video and the message you want to deliver should be identified early on. Don’t be afraid to be yourself on camera, the authenticity of your personality should garner you, customers. If you have someone else in your company that may be more charismatic, perhaps consider them to be in front of the camera instead. 

As you are explaining the product in the video, repeat the details a few times so that you can reinforce it into your viewers. The viewers don’t know as much about the product as you do, and they certainly would get bored hearing you just talking about all the specifications. It is much easier to just demonstrate or put the product into action. Chances are that even if you felt that the video content is amazing, not everyone will want to sit through the entirety of it. So how can you increase the chance your viewers will stay? Entice your viewers by promising something at the end such as a discount code to reward them for watching. A Call-To-Action should be presented to viewers at some point so that they can subscribe for more of your content or take a look at your business page, even if they don’t finish the video. 

And be sure to promote your video as much as you can. A great video won’t be good if you can’t capture an audience. You can start by adding an eye-catching title, adding relevant hashtags/keywords, and posting on all of the major social media platforms, and selecting the proper thumbnail to increase the chances of more viewers. 

Credits - Written By - Lauren Colman - How To Make A Video: A Step-by-Step Guide

You Can Still Create Engaging Content With Budget Cinema Camera Options.

You don’t need a Red or Alexa Mini to make engaging content.

Are you fascinated by the Alexa look and want to buy one just so you can be one of the cool kids? You don’t need it if you’re filming vlogs. Reds and Alexas are great for higher budget productions like music videos, commercials, films, and TV shows, but it isn’t necessary for your project.  

You can get caught up in the way the image looks but you can achieve the same with a cheaper camera like a Sony FS7, Panasonic GH5, or even a Black Magic 6k. You can spend less and get that look you want, just hire the right Director of Photography or know your camera fundamentals.

Dealing With COVID-19 As A Professional Artist, Using Art As Therapy, And Using Photography To Speak On Social Issues

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a source of drastic changes and frustrations around all of us this year. We had the opportunity to touch upon this subject with photographer Julia Fullerton-Batten in the latest episode of our podcast. Among her achievements, Julia was the first female photographer to shoot for the esteemed Campari calendar and became a Hasselblad Master in 2008. As the pandemic was the central topic, we discussed how to deal with the lockdown as an artist, the need to create sustained happiness(bad and good), art for therapy, confronting fears, speaking on social issues and how you shouldn’t be pressured to create amidst the lockdown. The full episode is on Apple Podcasts at Creative Haven here: Dealing With COVID-19 As A Professional Artist, Using Art As Therapy, And Using Photography To Speak On Social issues

A Magical Behind-The-Scenes of a McDonald's Commercial

Take a look at this incredible behind-the-scenes of a McDonald’s commercial! From the fairy models and magical burgers, to the video crew. You can see the amount of effort made into the choreography and rehearsal! 

Establishing A Brand

“Don’t get too comfortable within your brand. If you’re just starting off with music, you’re going to go through like five artist names.” The advice came from rapper/artist Leo Black as he spoke to us about how his brand identity had to continually evolve before he achieved success. Leo Black’s success in the music industry has included him signing with Never Say Die record (dubstep label), touring with DJ Mustard, and having his name appear on Spotify’s US Viral 50 charts. We had the opportunity to sit down with him as he talked about growing up in South Central LA, overcoming hardship during his childhood to become a successful rapper, how his passion for music got him famous, the importance of consistency, and learning from mistakes to succeed. The full episode is available on Apple Podcasts on Creative Haven here: How To Become a Successful Artist Through Consistency and Utilizing Digital Platforms.



Use These 25 Tips To Improve Your Marketing Videos

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   Are your marketing videos conveying their messages effectively? What changes could you implement and have your videos stand out more? Whenever you upload video content to your business page, you have an opportunity to appeal to your customer’s desires and needs and tell a story. 

   Spend some time in the creative process and ensure that your content is not boring! Use an eye-catching video title to get attention and tag it with relevant keywords so that it can have a higher chance of appearing in search results. Don’t be afraid to add some music in your videos as it can help spice it up and set the emotional tone you desire. Many online users may browse the internet through their phones and tablets, so make sure that the video is mobile friendly. 

   Most importantly, be sure that you have a CTA (call to action) at the very end of all your videos. What would you like your audience to do once they have finished viewing your video? You could encourage them to sign up for your newsletter or invite them to check out your product through a link. Encourage viewers to have a conversation by asking them to leave a comment or ask a question to increase engagement. 

Credits: Written By - Gabrielle Pickard-Whitehead - 25 Tips for Creating Great Marketing Videos

How To Streamline Your Editing Sessions

Shooting is fun, editing is challenging.

Have you ever had a blast shooting a video and find yourself frustrated in the editing room with hours of footage?  Yeah, it can be like that.  The creative process and shooting day can be fun, though most people don’t anticipate the editing workflow and how much time it takes.

Be prepared for post-production by shooting to edit.  What does that mean?  Know your shots and editing sequence before your shoot so you can film in the most efficient way.  You don’t need a million camera angles for an interview or a timelapse for a testimonial - figure out your shot list and sequence beforehand so you can make your editing process easier and faster.

And if you know you’ll make the same video over and over again (tutorials, interviews, product videos, etc.), then create your main project file in the post and then duplicate that for the next video, keeping the same watermark, title cards, lower thirds, and CTA’s to make it consistent.  Plus, you can just “color by number” and shoot the exact same way for consistency and ease.

Honoring Tradition While Breaking Rules To Evolve In Your Craft, And Practicing Self-Care To Increase Creative Stamina And Avoid Burnout

Have a listen of episode 20 of our podcast and get some inspiration to start your day with our guest Lean Rock ! In addition to being a celebrated DJ and music producer for Redbull, Lean Rock is also a member of the renowned dance crew called The Floorlords. We had the chance to sit down with him and discuss topics such as - honoring your past to help shape your present style while evolving your craft, the importance of trying new things to help your voice develop and to ensure that you are practicing self-care to maintain your mental health and eliminating any creative ruts. The full episode is on Apple Podcasts at Creative Haven here: Honoring Tradition While Breaking Rules To Evolve In Your Craft, And Practicing Self-Care To Increase Creative Stamina And Avoid Burnout.

Ever wonder how an EA commercial looks behind-the-scenes?

Ever wonder how an EA commercial looks behind-the-scenes? Have a look at this splitscreen clip of a remarkable soccer act being shot and the final results by Richard James Lewis 🎬⚽

Watch the video here:

How To Transition Between Careers

“What are my goals and aspirations? What are my dreams for my life? And if you haven’t identified that, then you can kind of languish in something. And it might be time for that thing to be done.” The quote came from our interview with Joe Stolte as he described when he realized what he wanted to do in life and made changes in order to fulfill his purpose. Our conversation with Joe included topics such as focusing on your unique gifts to reach success, how the skills he acquired helped in business and entrepreneurship, and the importance of a positive mindset. The full episode is on Apple Podcasts on Creative Haven here: Unlocking Your Purpose, Focusing On Your Unique Gifts, Changing Mindsets for Success, and Using Hip Hop Skills To Succeed In Business.

Video Marketing Is Working For Small Businesses In 2020

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How have small businesses used video marketing tactics in 2020? What are some numbers that prove that their strategies are working? In 2020, video marketing has been established as a working strategy for many businesses. When video marketing tactics are implemented correctly, it helps small businesses to build a long relationship with their loyal customers. A study has shown that 66% percent of consumers would rather watch a video on a product than read up on it. 

Apparently, it’s a format most customers have a preference for as video posts tend to have three times more engagement on sites than posts without them. If consumers can’t get the information they want about your products, they are likely to move on to your competitors when doing their research. Some small businesses are still holding out on using video marketing, but Promo.com have shown that 64% of their own users suggested that it’s their most effective type of marketing for their own businesses. 

Whether it’s a personalized thank you video for a client, a short demo showing off a new product, an interview with a client, posting such video contents regularly can remind customers that your brand exists and move newer customers along their buying journey.

Credit: Written by: Shama Hyder This Is How Small Businesses Are Using Video Marketing In 2020

How To Delegate Roles To Create Better Quality Videos

Video creators of today can accomplish more than massive film crews of yesterday. 

The videographer or “one man band” can do more than most film crews could do 10+ years ago. Lighting, sound, producing, directing, editing, and camera operating - it’s just part of the package these days.  Technology has made it easier for people to create awesome videos without having to hire a massive crew. From cameras to editing software, one person can create a beautiful video from beginning to end. 

It shouldn't always be like this because delegating certain tasks and roles is the best way to enhance quality, productivity, and mental health - trust me, doing everything by yourself is exhausting.  

Videos don’t have to be expensive and most videographers can handle it on their own, making it easier for some companies to work with. Just because there’s a small crew, it doesn’t mean the quality is worse than a bigger one - it’s all in the people. 

Optimize Your Content While Being Yourself To Attract Your Ideal Audience And Hire A Strong Team To Produce Prolific Content

Come listen to episode 19 of our podcast to get some marketing inspiration from Ali Spagnola. Not only does Ali have 3 Guinness World Records (which includes being the fastest female space hopper), but she has had her music featured on MTV’s “The Real World” and Oxygen’s “Bad Girls Club”. Join us as Ali shares her thoughts on topics such as creating content for the “algorithm” to boost traffic, knowing current trends to create relevant content and increase engagement, placing trust on your team to create and more!
The full episode is available at Creative Haven under iTunes here:Optimize Your Content While Being Yourself To Attract Your Ideal Audience And Hire A Strong Team To Produce Prolific Content.

Take a look at this spectacular behind-the-scenes from “Alita: Battle Angel”(2019)

Take a look at this spectacular behind-the-scenes from “Alita:Battle Angel”(2019) to see how it looked before and after VFX was added by: @weta_digital @digiartpiles 🎬🎥