Category Archives: Video Production

The Future of Online Marketing and Curated Content

How to get the most out of your social media tools

As technology progresses, the growth of new generation video, messaging and social media services are becoming more and more crucial to the development of marketing. The importance that we place on our devices is not only consuming our everyday personal lives but spilling over into the running of our businesses. Think about it. How many times do you use messaging services such as Whatsapp to contact a colleague on a daily basis? Or perhaps you use Facebook as a platform to grow mailing lists and/or connect with future clients or partners? Now these technologies will not be for all of us, but I could bet my bottom dollar that if you’re reading this article, then it probably does. At Storment Media, we are always looking for new and innovative ways to produce content that will appeal to all demographics, no matter the size or type of your business. Understanding your demographic is the most crucial information you will need before you decide on the outlet you will choose to focus on.

Here is a quick guide to the ‘big 5’ social media apps, how to use them to your advantage and how they can benefit you, no matter what your business is.

 

Facebook

Facebook Logo

Over the last couple of years, this social media platform has taken on many faces and progressed into a heavily video based streaming and image sharing platform. While the younger demographic (16-24 yrs) are losing momentum and turning to more instant forms ways to reach and connect with the world more instantaneously (see Snapchat and Instagram), it is still a great way to reach out to a mass consumer database and getting to know your customers. For example, even the comments section allows you to get immediate feedback from your key demographic market. Being so involved and heavily inundated with video marketing content it may be hard to get your voice heard, but it does have its perks – don’t underestimate the power great content and it’s ability to gain popularity quickly.

Twitter

Twitter Logo

Ah, Twitter. Another one of the social media heavy-weights. Twitter is usually home to celebrity feuds and sharp controversial opinions. However, Twitter can be a fantastic way to gain a rapport with your clients and customers. Depending on what type of business you are, it can be a way to share news, distribute links to exciting offers, news and content and show the world your wit and charm through snappy punch lines. If you choose Twitter to represent your business online, make sure to keep content updated. The danger of not updating your tweets can lead to a loss of interest in what you have to say and a potential lack of faith in your business. Because, if you can’t keep up to date with your socials, how can your ‘followers’ expect you keep up to date with your business and customers?

Snapchat

Snapchat Logo

If you haven’t yet ventured into the new world of Snapchat yet, then get going. It is a fantastic marketing opportunity that you cannot afford to miss. It’s original intention was to allow users to send ‘snap’ shots of their daily lives to their friends, whether that’s an image or a short video, only for it to be erased as soon as it is seen. The beauty of this new app was a refreshing alternative to the seemingly permanent nature of Facebook. Out of this grew opportunities for online-based businesses (such as online publications, music company’s, news sites and much more). Much like Facebook, it is very dependent on demographic. Used primarily by the younger age group of 16-24, however, if you’re business is that way inclined, it is the perfect way to reach out and keep your customers up to date using visual curated media that shows a level of authenticity and personality.

Instagram

instagram-logo

Instagram is a very visually stimulating social media and so it is primarily more useful for those with businesses in creative industries where the curators are able to show their work like an online portfolio. It is a lot glossier than sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat. For larger businesses such as online magazines, for example, it is great to share snippets of content that will lead people to a website. But also for smaller self-made businesses such as make-up artists, independent shops or designers, to name a few, it can be a great way to gain followers and interest in their business and/or brand which will lead to further exposure. For example, rather than appealing directly to potential customers, they use a following to seek out potential partnerships, for example, brand partnerships and sponsorships. This is not to say that it can’t be useful for more corporate led endeavors. Using Instagram to showcase new products or services can also be a great portfolio and create traffic to your website.

Whatsapp

Whatsapp Logo

This may seem like a strange one, considering it is the only non-social media app included in this range of useful apps. It is a growing phenomenon and can benefit you immensely. Used as more of an internal sharing application, it can be operated as an organisational tool between you and your colleagues. Gone are the days of unread texts, missed calls and mountains of emails, this app can be used to share media, mobile numbers and put dates in your phone calendar within a click of a button. With the accessibility ranging over both android and iOS it is a good tool to share marketing ideas by simply making a ‘group’ of your contacts, book meetings and get a fast track response. Though not directly a marketing app, it can be a great aid in helping you organise your team to get those creative juices flowing in an instant.

So, whether your creative business is the perfect fit for Instagram or if Facebook’s heavily video sharing focused platform is the one rocking your boat, we have the services to help you utilise this media to benefit you. Contact one of our friendly experts today to find out how!

 

6 Reasons Why You Should Make Video Marketing a Priority

In the age of social media and content sharing, we explore why video marketing should be at the top of your to-do list 

In the days of dial-up, you wouldn’t dream of trying to load up a 10 second video of a cat playing a piano, let alone a 2 minute long video just to watch the ethos of somebody’s business. Nowadays, we scroll through our social media feeds at lightening speed, watching video after video just to fill our tube, train or bus journey. This is not a mere phase of technology boom; instant video sharing is here to stay. As we saw from the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014, the power of viral video can be global and really spread the word about your business or cause.

 

1. Utilise Your Resources

 

It is no secret that ‘YouTubers’ earn a shed load of money for uploading 5-minute videos of putting on make-up, playing video games, or simply showing off their daily life. These unlikely stars have had a helping hand in making video content a key way for people to access information quickly. A lot of these young entrepreneurs found a rising gap in the market and latched on to it by creating interesting content for their viewers by tailoring content into bite size, well-produced chunks that keep people engaged. However, we are not here to talk about these curators of content, this was just the catalyst of things to come. Now, we have so many video sharing apps and websites that there is simply no excuse not to utilise them. YouTube is just one outlet to market and keep your consumers interested, whatever your business may be. Apps such as Vine, Instagram and Snapchat – where the users can create videos only seconds long – pushed for social media users to focus on short, punchy and engaging videos. Facebook shortly followed in these footsteps, offering a heavily weighted timeline of videos with many of those being sponsored explainer and corporate videos. If you came here wanting just one good enough reason to utilise video marketing and content sharing for your business, this would be it.

 

2. Sharing is Caring

 

When someone finds something funny, engaging or emotional, you can bet your bottom dollar that they will want to share that with their friends, family or colleagues. Whether this is an interesting article, a picture of puppy or an incredible business idea that they can’t wait to explore, people want to show this to others to create a reaction. This is exactly what you want the viewers of your content to be thinking. A good way to challenge this theory before you put your content out to the masses is to show it to one of your friends, family or co-workers and ask them honestly if they would share this after watching it.

 

3. Brand Recognition

 

You want the style of your video to reflect the brand that you are. Putting together a video with dark colours and clean lines may not be appropriate for a children’s clothing company, however, it may be really engaging for the customers of a technology company. Getting the potential consumers to instantly recognise your brand seconds into your videos will allow people to remember your business and be more likely to return to it in the future.

 

4. SEO

Not only does brand recognition help drive traffic to your website, but it also increases your SEO. It helps to push you to the top of the search engines and is likely to increase the click rate from video to webpage. Including relevant tags and web links to your content will help to also improve this.

 

5. Suitable for all devices

Making sure that any of your video marketing is, including (and probably most importantly) your explainer video, is suitable for all devices is a very key detail. Is your video suitable for all types of smart phones, such as iOS and Android? Can you watch this in high definition on a laptop or desktop as well as a phone or tablet? Is the content suitable to watch on a smaller screen, such as a phone, as well as a large screen, such as a desktop computer? These are all details that need to be thought about from the very early stages of creation right to finalizing the finished production.

 

6. Content, content, content!

Finally, it would be silly to not mention content. Of course all of the resources and tips above will help you to tailor your use for video marketing, but your video will not make an impact if it is uninteresting, inappropriate for your business or produced poorly. You may have great ideas for your next marketing video, but creating and executing that content is crucial. Is it engaging? Is it relevant? Does it make you want to re-watch and share? Conduct your own research and look at other businesses similar to your own. Have they utilised video marketing? If so, how long are the videos? How are they designed? What social media have they used to place their video marketing? Have their consumers taken interest and ‘liked’ or shared their video? These types of questions will help you to understand how to curate your own content and how best to exploit it.

 

Ranging from explainer videos to promotional videos and corporate videos to animation, we can help guide you in your journey to creating and producing great content. Contact our team of experts today and get your video marketing on a roll!

Generation Now

THE POWER OF THE ONLINE BLOGGER

10 years ago, if you muttered the words ‘blogger’, ‘vlogger’ or ‘YouTuber’ in the presence of a business professional, you would probably be greeted with a bemused look upon their face. 20 years ago, those words merely didn’t exist, let alone become a valid stream of income. YouTube, the main platform for the 21st Century ‘blogger’, has enabled people to connect with the rest of the world by simply using home-recorded videos created by someone with a hobby. A savvy blogger filming themselves doing a simple review on a product or a tutorial on how to create ‘the perfect red lip’ has now snowballed into creating some of the highest earning, self-employed, influential people all over the world. We delve into the lives of these savvy business men and women, and how it can help you.

How do they make money?

To begin with, YouTube was just a platform to give people the outlet they wanted to show off their talents or hobbies, expanding from written online blogs. The more views a video would receive and interest it gained would entice advertisers to place their commercial on said video. For example, an advert with the latest type of lipstick may be shown on a bloggers video of a make-up tutorial, providing that blogger attracted a substantial amount of viewers. Advertisers then pay YouTube, who take some of the cut and then pass on the rest to the video blogger who created the tutorial. However, these types of earnings may look like pennies compared to the impact these ‘YouTubers’ are making.

Branding and Merchandise

Many YouTubers have moved on from the traditional income stream of advertising (although, don’t get me wrong, some of the biggest names online get a hell of a lot from one major company advertising on their video). Some of the most popular bloggers are now a household name and create bigger income streams from the likes of branding and merchandise. This can include partnering with big brands to creating their own brand. Some have gone on to release sell-out books, make-up lines, fashion labels/brands and even just branding their own imaging on merchandise can earn them a big buck. Some partner with major brands in order to promote themselves and sell a product and most of them create videos with a certain product to talk about, in which case, they have to label the video as an ‘#AD’ (by law).

 

Stars of the show

You think we’re joking? Well, just to make you more familiar with the process, we present to you some of the ‘stars’ of the show…

Zoella (Zoe Sugg)

One of the most influential YouTubers on the internet. With a whopping 11.2 million subscribers to her channel and over 840 million views on her videos, anything she promotes, sells. She has more followers than Barack Obama and had an invite to have tea with Prince Harry, but this isn’t merely enough. Some of her accolades include a sell out beauty collection with Superdrug in 2015 and her own book ‘Girl Online’ selling over 80,000 copies in the first week, making her the fastest selling debut novelist since records began. She began her blog in 2009, sat in her bedroom of the family home, because of this she is now known as one of the biggest influencers for young people in Britain with an estimated net worth of £3m.

Alfie Deyes

Or ‘Mr. Zoella’ is the other half to Zoe Sugg. Both popular YouTubers in their own right before becoming a couple, Alfie commands a subscribing audience of 5.4 million and over 435 million views to his channel ‘PointlessBlog’. For young viewers, this channel is about fun challenges, games and… eating candy on camera (Yep, you heard us correctly, this particular ‘candy eating’ video, that was uploaded less than a month ago, boasts almost 2 million views to date).

Pixiwoo

In 2008, Samantha Chapman, previously a make-up artist, sat in front of her webcam, ‘bored one day’ and decided to start filming make-up tutorials online. Her sister, Nicola, then joined her in the venture and together they produced the channel (and now brand name) ‘Pixiwoo’. Aside from their YouTube channel creating a sizable stream of income, they also have their own range of cosmetic brushes and worked with some big names within the fashion and celebrity industry, whilst also running a five-day make-up course from their studio in Norwich.

These are just a mere few of the hugely successful Bloggers/Vloggers/YouTubers/Influencers, whatever you want to call them! Below are some of the rest that are extremely powerful in their own right.

Samantha Maria

Subscribers: 1.8M

Views: 151M

Formerly known as ‘beautycrush’, this influencer began creating fashion, styling and make-up videos and now, with her boyfriend, run a sell-out fashion label ‘Novem & Knight’ and still earn off creating personal and sponsored videos.

Patricia Bright

Subscribers: 955k

Views: 84M

Previously working in finance, Patricia now runs a hair extension brand alongside her blogging as well as being a brand ambassador for Loreal.

Tanya Burr

Subscribers: 3.6M

Views: 311M

Alongside Zoella, she has been a ‘cover girl’ for one of the best selling glossy magazines in the UK and has a sell-out make up range in Superdrug.

In The Frow

Subscribers: 522k

Views: 28M

‘Inthefrow’ is a brand created by Victoria, a writer, photographer and editor. She is now an ambassador for Loreal alongside Patricia Bright whilst running a successful written blog and online YouTube videos. Known as a ‘lifestyle’ blogger, she talks about high-end fashion, make-up, food and travel.

 

What does this mean for you?

The above are some of the most sought after names within the online industry – and outside. So making this work for you and your business could really prove difficult. However, we are just demonstrating the sheer scope of media and culture that these names possess. It is these people that are the future of advertising and how, you, as a business owner, could be able to connect with your costumer in the most efficient way.

Reaching Out

We are a big supporter of producing great quality content and videos for any business. Connecting with the blogging community now has a huge advantage in many ways. You could start your own blog, depending on what type of business you have. Creating an authentic way to connect to your target market and making that translatable through both yourself and your products could be a double win for you and your company. If you aren’t as fond of the idea of creating your own blog or you dealing with a business that is on a much more grand scale, then doing your research and reaching out to the influencers of today could seriously win you big interest from consumers you didn’t even know existed.

Authenticity

More often than not, some YouTubers won’t agree to advertise something that they haven’t tried or they are not passionate about. Sending out products to relevant and popular Bloggers that talk to your target audience could lead to an unsponsored ‘ad’ with them talking about your product simply because they love it. Free. Advertising. What more could you want? It could consist of paying for one of your ads to appear at the beginning of their videos (depending on the popularity of the blogger, this could be a costly affair), or even paying for a sponsored ad where you partner up and/or pay the blogger to advertise your product or service on their channel. But remember, keep it authentic, only target people you think will understand the product and love it as much as you do!

Happy to help!

Want to create your own professional video or learn more on other great marketing ideas? Please contact us today! We look forward to helping you get the most out of your business.

How Social Media changed video and marketing forever

SETTING THE SCENE

The turn of the century brought on massive changes in the social media industry. You could argue that MySpace was the catalyst for this domino affect of social web services that allowed us grow closer, not only as a community or country, but the world. Although it was essentially a music-streaming platform for musicians to share with friends, it grew into much more than that, allowing people to connect in a way that had never been seen before. The demise of this type of interactive media was slowly taken over by the likes of YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and more recently, Instagram and Vine.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER

Stores such as HMV did not take the power of these media platforms and soon recognised their mistake after shutting down over 300 stores across the UK. With the ability to share content so quickly over the Internet, it is easy to imagine why music, video and technology stores were shutting down left right and center. YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Vine are now collectively worth billions in their status of social media content sharing.

SO HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO VIDEO MARKETING?

Good Question. In a world with so much at our fingertips and so many home-created videos going viral and easier ways to share it all on platforms like YouTube, it has spurred the industry of advertising and marketing to be more creative and personal to its target audience. It is not the case of simply using your content to reach one mass market over TV or radio; it has to feel as though it is reaching to each individual member of the audience in its own specific way.

GOING VIRAL

With millions of videos going viral every year, it is not hard to understand why so many companies are using this ‘DIY’ platform to create content easy for viewers to share instantaneously. So many videos that have gone viral started from the simplicity of someone capturing an emotionally accessible piece of footage, whether its funny, moving or informative in this home created setting to being recreated by corporate companies in order to look like their large conglomerate are just as accessible and heartwarming as those who are using a home-video system, whilst cleverly marketing their product or services.

WHAT HAS IT TAUGHT US?

Be Creative. Tailoring your videos online is the most crucial way to reach out to your demographic. Although creating and making a video to go viral might not necessarily be your aim, it is important to have the content there that makes it accessible, emotive and individual in order for people remember it and want to come back to it.

TIMING

You could have a 10 minute video explaining every little thing that goes on inside your business or a 30 second video with just an animation, but which one do you think the viewer is most likely going to want to come back to and possibly share with their friends, family or colleagues? In this social media dominated world with such fast access to newer and better things on every scroll, the answer is most likely to be the latter. Over the last decade we have been conditioned into lowering our attention spans, so you want to keep your video short, but sweet.

CREATING GOOD CONTENT

Content is key. This is what social media has taught us, most recently over the past 5 years with video streaming apps such as Instagram and Vine. The videos posted on these apps have to be a maximum of 15 seconds for Instagram and a much shorter 6 seconds for Vine. Therefore, the content is most definitely, key. It is about capturing someone’s attention in the first few seconds of a video with creative, original and emotive content. This includes the appropriate visuals, using animations, real-life or storyboards to put your business across in the best light possible as an accessible, friendly but professional service. As soon as you do this, you are onto a winner!

If the 21st Century has taught us anything, it is to think far more creatively as a business in our marketing ideas, which can only be a good thing! So if you want your videos to stand out and do much more than just sit alongside the millions of other videos out there, then contact our skilled and friendly team today on 01527 910050 or use our contact form to get in touch.

How to avoid the biggest pitfall that will ruin your video

One of the most valuable skills that I’ve acquired over the almost 30 years of being in the ‘video business’ is that of scriptwriter. Don’t get me wrong, there are lots of great skills to be gained in this industry such as cameraman, animator or editor but without a good script or creative idea the whole thing is a non-starter.

Now, while I’m not likely to be composing any prose that will be studied for eternity by school children or writing the next Hollywood block buster, clients appreciate the friendly, direct and conversational tone that I try to achieve. When writing for video one of the biggest challenges that I always face when putting together a script is avoiding the use of jargon.

Jargon

Headache inducing words

Jargon is defined as “special words or expressions used by a profession or group that are difficult for others to understand” and this is the whole problem – most people want to be able to understand what you are saying in the easiest and most simple terms – especially when it comes to video.

In a recent survey by the BBC the biggest thing that puts people off buying technology is high tech babble and jargon. Unfortunately this cuts across most industries with almost all having their own special words for things.

Here’s a very funny spoof video that I love that’s overloaded with jargon:

The upshot of all this that people simply don’t buy stuff if they don’t understand it. I’ve seen lots of videos for things that I’m genuinely interested in but don’t understand the benefits because the person who wrote the script focused on jargon packed features instead of telling me what it could do for me.

Let’s look at a (real) BAD example:

[XYZ Product] analyses disparate data streams into market equipped opportunities by amalgamating data from numerous feeds. By then purging, supplementing and evaluating it the [XYZ Product] will deliver business intelligence, insight and a set of key performance indicators to allow you to expose mission critical opportunities for growth and development”.

Huh

Amazingly, this is a genuine line from an online product video (that shall remain nameless) that almost gives you a headache hearing it! This is the sort of utter nonsense that’s like have a full time ‘sales prevention officer’!

Instead, this is what it should have said:

“[XYZ Product] works with your data, wherever you have it to help you make better decisions, offer better products and sell more of them.”

Put yourself in the shoes of your audience and just ask “what can you do for me?” – it’s a simple idea but trust me it works. If this is central to your thoughts and you steer clear of jargon then you’ll be heading in the right direction.

Unfortunately some phrases I’ve heard all too often in videos offer nothing but a barrier to understanding. Typically, they sound quite impressive but don’t mean anything. Here are a couple of the worst culprits:

Customer Focused – This is a meaningless phrase as by definition all companies are ultimately customer focused because that’s where the money is. What’s usually meant by this is to provide a good service. While you can’t just say this you can use testimonials to provide the social proof you need to prove it.

Full-Service – this is another phrase to avoid. Firstly, no company is ‘full-service’ and secondly it often confuses people as to what you actually mean. Phrases that are obviously not true don’t endear you to an audience.

We Give 110% – We know that this means that you’ll go above and beyond the level required but again it’s just meaningless jargon. It’s so overused that it can have the reverse affect and give a negative and untrustworthy signal to a buyer – so don’t do it.

Jargon Gone

If only it was this simple…

Also think benefits – people don’t (mostly) care if your product has an ‘overhead grimble thruster’ of if you are the ‘market leader’ – they just want to know how they will benefit. So don’t be afraid to ditch the Jargon and be a simple script-writer… your audience (and your bank manager) will thank you for it.

Written By Ian Stainton. Ian is the CEO and Founder of Stormnet Media Ltd, an award winning video production and digital media agency based near Birmingham in the UK. He is trusted by global brands, SMEs and start-ups to help them engage and interact with their customers  - ultimately selling more stuff. You can check him out on Google+

Explainer Videos – The Best Of The Best

We’re always looking at the explainer videos of others for inspiration. Here is our compilation of some of the best we have come across…and one of the worst so you can see how not to do it!

1. Chipotle – ‘Back To The Start’

We love this video and in fact it is quite unique in many ways. There is no script, there is no clear product and the story takes the viewer through a number of emotions from start to finish. There are the cute cylindrical piggies at the start (Ahhh), then there is the realisation that the piggies are off to meet their doom (Oh) and possibly a little anger and guilt about mankind’s wanton destruction of the planet.  And then Chipotle makes the world right again with their clear ethical message that makes us want to buy their products and perhaps stroke a cylindrical pig on the head. This video is simple, it’s quirky and it features a Willie Nelson Coldplay cover. What’s not to like?

2. TED Education – ‘One Is One…Or Is It?’

Explainer videos don’t have to be selling a product or promoting a service. Just take a look at this video from TED Education. Now, if you had taken the same subject matter and published it in text form, you probably would have lost a good slice of your audience. But add pictures, colour, music and animation and it’s a complete different story. Video can transform a subject and make it intriguing, memorable and engaging and TED has worked the medium perfectly here.

3. MINT – ‘The Best Free Way To Manage Your Money’

Mint is a shining example of why some services are best suited to animation rather than a live video shoot. Mint had quite a complex product to advertise and they needed to do it in such a way so that they gained the trust of their audience. After all, their product pulls information from their customers’ bank accounts. They needed a video that would show clear screenshots of the product in action and a clear message on how secure the service is. They do this perfectly by taking advantage of animation that instantly familiarises viewers with the arrangement and design of the product.  

4. The Dollar Shave Club – Live Action Explainer Video

The moment The Dollar Shaving Club’s video starts, you know you are onto something a little edgy. With the slogan “Our Blades Are F***ing Great,” you immediately realise you’re not watching an ad with a corporate message. Wacky, memorable and fun, this video was designed to appeal to 20-30-something men who would be interested in ordering a steady supply of affordable razors online. We think they have done an awesome job!

5. Poopouri - Warning! Do not watch if you are easily offended. 

When we first saw this live action explainer for a product called Poopouri we thought it was a spoof product or an April Fool’s prank. But no, just take a look at the reviews on Amazon to see for yourself that Poopouri is very much alive and kicking and doing rather jolly well for itself. It really does go to show that there is a market for anything, but that video can make those awkward or embarrassing products much easier to advertise.

So there you have it. These are just some of the ‘best of the best’ posts we will be featuring in coming months and we would love to hear from you if you have your own nominations.

Oh wait…we promised you the worst explainer video too, didn’t we? 

Well, here it is and we almost can’t bring ourselves to even share it, but it does highlight how bad an explainer video can be. Is it the jarring voice over? Could it be the amateur Powerpoint slide style animations? Or is it the drab colours or the annoying sound effects? Or is it that now and again the brand name ‘Chitrr’ sounds like something completely inappropriate that only Poopouri could deal with?  We’ll leave it to you to decide.

Stormnet Media – The Home Of Truly Great Explainer Videos

So, why didn’t we feature one of our videos in our ‘best of the best’ collection? Well, it’s not really up to us to decide, but we do know that our captivating explainer videos go on to do some amazing things for our clients. Like the videos you see before you, we take the time to understand a business, the target audience and the best way to make a connection in around 60 minutes.

Think you’ve got a great story for video? We’ll turn it into something spectacular. Speak to us today and find out how our video production services can help you to make an impact with your audience. Call us today on 01527 910050 or request a quote and we will get back to you as soon as possible. 

 

How Video Changed Our Lives Forever

It’s the decade everybody pretends they want to forget, but if you grew up in the 80s, it’s the one that brings the fondest memories. It was the decade that brought us big hair, The Goonies, Hypercolor t-shirts and Pacman, and it was the decade where video entered into our lives in a big way.

Bringing a video recorder home to the family for the first time was a moment of great trepidation. This brand new piece of shiny equipment was all the rage apparently and it could make time stand still. Oh how we rejoiced when we could watch Hannibal con BA into drinking the milk over and over again. And what would life have been like if we didn’t have to sit frantically adjusting the tracking just as JR Ewing was shot by an unknown assailant. {{{SPOILER ALERT}}} It was Kristin Shepherd, Sue Ellen’s sister.

Do You Remember Your First Time?

Can you remember the very first video you watched at home?  A quick straw poll around the Stormnet Media office revealed some all time greats and some very red faces! ‘The Breakfast Club‘, ‘Firestarter‘ (starring a very young Drew Barrymore), ‘Back To The Future’ and ‘The Care Bears Movie‘ were just some of the confessions from our team. 

Owning a video recorder also gave us access to an exclusive new club – the local video shop. Armed with our own personal luxuriously laminated card we could choose from hundreds of films, TV shows and pop videos.  Okay, so you needed a small wheelbarrow to get them home, but for just one night, or the entire weekend if you were feeling flush, they were ours!

Play It Again Sam…And Again…And Again

One of the best things about owning a video recorder is that we could record and watch our favourite TV shows and pop videos to our heart’s content. Where once we would sit in our bedrooms recording the Top 40 and frantically hitting the pause button before the DJ’s voice ruined our compilation, we could now capture everything for posterity on videotape.  Well, until the tape got chewed up or wore out anyway!

The Ads That Shaped Our Childhoods And Our Futures

Of course, one of the downsides of recording TV programmes on video was that the ads came along for the ride too. If the ads were great, it wasn’t usually a problem but there were some truly annoying ads that would have us reaching for the remote control quicker than you could say “Agadoo”.

The video revolution was a great time for advertising firms. They knew that the majority of people would sit through the ads and in those people they had a captive audience and got double the exposure (or more) for the price of one time slot. TV ads started to become slicker, longer, told stories and were talked about the next day in the playground, on the train to work and around the dinner table.

Who can forget this gem from Toshiba? We challenge you not to be singing this long after you’ve finished this article.

The Secret Of A Good TV Ad Or Video – Make It Count And Make It Memorable

At Stormnet Media, we know we only have one chance to grab the audience’s attention. That’s why we put our all into making every video we produce count. Every second, every frame and every word is carefully constructed to get deep in the mind of the viewer and to stay there long after.

Old Spice have got it just right with their latest video.

It’s got clear branding, it’s got humour and it’s got sharability – nope, that word isn’t in the dictionary but it’s a very important aspect of video production. We want your video to be liked, shared, pinned and retweeted and most importantly, we want your video to do great things for your business or organisation.

Be The Next Big Thing In Video – Speak To Us Today About Our Video Production Services

Whether you need an explainer video to explain your product or business in style or you are looking for a slick world class corporate video that will ensure you stand head and shoulders above the best, our video production team is standing by to assist. Call us now on 01527 910050 or use our contact form to get in touch. We’ve worked with some big names and some little ones too, but the result is always the same – a unique and powerful video that ensures you are remembered for all the right reasons.

Written By: Ian Stainton

Ian Stainton is the CEO and Founder of Stormnet Media Ltd, an award winning video production and digital media agency based near Birmingham in the UK. He is trusted by global brands, SMEs and start-ups to help them engage and interact with their customers  - ultimately selling more stuff. You can check him out on Google+

Power-Up Your Google Rankings With An Explainer Video

Ever considered how an explainer video could help your search rankings? Did you know that Google’s search algorithm considers the amount of time visitors hang around on your website? It doesn’t matter what they are doing and the longer they spend there, the more credence Google will give to your site.

This is just one reason why explainer videos are becoming more and more popular. In fact, they are exploding onto websites everywhere. Not sure what an explainer video is? Here’s an example of one of our most recent explainer videos.

Boost Your Exposure, Sales and Profits – What’s Not To Love?

As a leading video production company in Birmingham, we understand how profitable and proven explainer videos are for ANY business – yes, we said any business. Whether you are a small local company, a college, a bricks and mortar shop or a sole trader, you won’t believe the returns a good explainer video can bring.

Explainer videos are an outstanding marketing tool. Not only do they clarify what you have to offer or what you do – they also increase your conversion rates, boost your sales and give you a great marketing tool to use on different channels.

Here are just some of the places you can publish your video to gain more exposure:

Facebook, Twitter and Vimeo
On your landing page or home page
Advertise your services in relevant forums and communities
Use your explainer video at conferences, exhibitions or other marketing events
And so many more – we can give you advice on how to give your video the best exposure once it is ready for the world.

85% Of People Are More Likely To Buy After Watching An Explainer Video

According to a recent survey carried out by Video Rascal, 85% of consumers will be more likely to use a service or buy a product after they have viewed an explainer video. That’s a huge amount of people.

Explainer videos are also great for keeping a record of how many people are viewing your video and then making a purchase straight after. In fact, a large percentage of our clients come back to us for a second, third and fourth explainer video once they see how profitable they can be.
What’s Your Point? What’s Your Story?

Every business needs to make a point and every business has a story. Video is a great way to unleash your sales message on the world and we would be delighted to play a part in your future success.

Take Control Of Your Google Rankings And Conversions With Explainer Video

Our video production team will work closely with you to ensure you get the best returns from your video now and well into the future. We will get to know the ins and outs of your business and what you hope to achieve from your very own explainer video. It could be just what your business and your target audience is crying out for.

Get in touch with the video marketing experts at Stormnet Media to find out more about our explainer videos or any aspect of video marketing and SEO. We would be delighted to provide you with a free quote for an explainer video for your business.

Written by Ian Stainton

Ian Stainton is the CEO and Founder of Stormnet Media Ltd, an award winning video production and digital media agency based near Birmingham in the UK. He is trusted by global brands, SMEs and start-ups to help them engage and interact with their customers  - ultimately selling more stuff. You can check him out on Google+

Increase Conversions By 46% With Effective Christmas Video Marketing

Considering a Christmas video marketing campaign for 2013?  You only have to look at the latest John Lewis television advert and Christmas adverts in past years to realise their marketing potential. And many people don’t truly get into the Christmas spirit until they’ve seen Coca Cola’s annual Christmas offering – you know, the one with the epic truck lit up like a erm…Christmas tree!  

Christmas Greetings And Seasonal Promotions – Get In On The Act

With these Christmas epics causing a stir up and down the country, you might be wondering how you can get in on this video marketing action this festive season. Whether you have a new product to launch, a seasonal sale to promote or you simply want to send your customers a Christmas greetings video, Stormnet Media can help you to cash in this Christmas and experience more conversions thanks to our video production expertise.

Just wishing your customers a Happy Christmas in a promotional video can get your name out there in a very positive and memorable way. It doesn’t need to be a long or complex video and we can show you how effective video marketing can be even if you only have 30 seconds to play with. We can show you how to make a Christmas promotional video that will leave potential leads with that warm fuzzy feeling inside and an urge to get in touch with you to find out more about your business and what you have to offer.

Event Videos – Capture The Spirit Of Christmas At Your Special Event

It’s a tradition for most companies to arrange a Christmas party for their employees, clients and suppliers and it can be a great idea to film the highlights.  Event videos can create some fantastic footage to be used on your website, in email campaigns and in internal communications. Whether you have filmed an inspiring after dinner speech or simply want to promote the fun side of your company, we can help you to create a corporate video that captures your event and promotes your brand perfectly.  

46 Is The Magic Number – Why Video Marketing Is Taking The World By Storm

When it comes to video marketing and video production, 46 is a very special number. According to leading video survey company, Video Brewery, 46% of internet users who watched a video ad took some type of action after viewing that ad. That’s a huge number when it comes to conversions and that action might include getting in touch with you for a quote, buying from you directly or simply joining your mailing list.  The main thing to consider is that these people took action immediately after the video promotion ended.

Our Video Marketing Expertise Is Second To None

As one of the leading companies providing video production in the West Midlands, we can help you to unleash the true potential of the festive season and to reach those who will be most receptive to your Christmas message.

Speak to our team today for a cost effective quote and to find out more about the many videos we have produced and our many satisfied clients.

Written by Ian Stainton

Ian Stainton is the CEO and Founder of Stormnet Media Ltd, an award winning video production and digital media agency based near Birmingham in the UK. He is trusted by global brands, SMEs and start-ups to help them engage and interact with their customers  - ultimately selling more stuff. You can check him out on Google+

Corporate Video And Facebook – The Match Made In Heaven

Smart business owners around the world are starting to turn to corporate video to get their message across. Whilst YouTube and your business website are great channels for your video, social media allows you to throw a shareable and likeable video into your marketing mix to really shake things up.

A corporate video connects quicker than any other marketing medium and it can bring you some huge returns. Not only does video help to bring your business and your ideas and offerings to life – it also helps your target audience to “get you” and what you are all about in moments. And if you are looking for a way to build dialogue across your social media community, a great video can work wonders.

Never Underestimate The Power Of Facebook

Recent studies have shown that the people who ‘like’ brands on Facebook do so not just because they are following others, but because they have a genuine affinity with the brand. Of course, special offers, competitions and other incentives work too, but the majority of followers will truly like the brand and what they are doing.  Facebook users know they are in control.  They know who they can choose to like, the ads they can choose to hide from their feed and the things they can choose to share with others.  And if they like your corporate video, they are going to share that too.

And Then Things Get Really Interesting…

Imagine one of your Facebook friends recommends a brand or product to you. You trust that friend and respect their opinion. With this in mind, you’d probably take a deeper look into what they just took the time to share with you. This is word of mouth marketing at its best and it could mean big business for your brand.

Social media is not just a gimmick or a passing phase. It is an established major part of the Internet and a big part of our lives. Corporate video that is shared and liked on Facebook generally outperforms video that is published on any other medium. That’s because users become engaged in a new experience that totally immerses their senses for a few seconds.  At Stormnet Media, our job is to make those few seconds count and our corporate video production services have helped hundreds of companies to make an instant impact.

Corporate Video – How To Entertain And Gain

When it comes to distributing your corporate story online, Facebook is a terrific medium, but you need to do it in the right way.  Facebook isn’t somewhere people go when they need to make complex decisions. They want to be entertained and to share their experience with others to make others feel good or enlightened.

Speak to Stormnet Media today to find out more about impactful, high energy, irresistable corporate video marketing that engages, intrigues and sells.  We offer corporate video products in Birmingham that gives you one more reason for your audience to do business with you.

Call now on 01527 910050 to find out more about our corporate video services and how we can help you to become a Facebook phenomenon.

 

Written by Ian Stainton

 

Ian Stainton is the CEO and Founder of Stormnet Media Ltd, an award winning video production and digital media agency based near Birmingham in the UK. He is trusted by global brands, SMEs and start-ups to help them engage and interact with their customers  - ultimately selling more stuff. You can check him out on Google+