#Serve your #Business with a #Corporate #Animation this #NewYear! #CorporateVideo #VideoProduction #MotionGraphics #AffterEffects #Toronto

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Corporate Company Marketing with Memes and GIFs

In the age of #internet popularity, #memes and #GIFs (Graphic Interchange Format) have infiltrated the way we think. Gone are the days when celebrities and public figures were our main source of #entertainment. Now with #pop #culture, if something is funny enough, the whole world will see it.

We live in an age where a lot of the things we post online have the potential to go viral. This influences the way companies post, with some striving to make their content as “shareable” as possible.

Both memes and GIFs originated off the internet in the late 70s and early 80s. Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins coined the term “meme” in his book, ‘The Selfish Gene’ back in 1976. Originally, a meme was meant as an “an idea, behaviour or style that spreads from person to person within a culture”, but with the introduction of internet and pop culture, that would soon change.

Memes

Affectionately renamed “memevertising”, memes essentially are what advertising is supposed to be at its core: funny, smart, and aimed towards a specific audience.

Take, for example, this Dawson’s Creek meme that was geared towards the height of the 90s:

There’s a mutual understanding that happens between meme-maker and content-consumer. Memes rely on users to understand their referential material and share its #content.

#Corporate companies can benefit hugely off of “memeing” popular culture. Like #parody, memes serve to make a statement about #culture, popular ideas, or simply make us laugh. They are a great way to access a specific audience and, if done right, keep them.

However, with the increasing #popularity and accessibility of memes, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. Before, #advertisers would struggle to keep their retained #audiences, now #memevertisers find it difficult to penetrate that bubble to get an audience’s attention in the first place.
One of the reasons why memes are so successful is their reference material. Most people feel like they are “in” on a secret joke that is inclusive. You will have #brand evangelists who will spread the word to a like-minded audience and possible potential clients.

GIFs

GIFs, in essence, are animated pictures.

GIFs are another popular way to emphasize subtleties in video that we don’t realize impact us. Popular on #subculture websites like #Tumblr and #Reddit, GIFs tap into an even more niche counterculture that requires real substance from content providers.

#Media outlets like #BuzzFeed are notorious for their use of memes and GIFs in their posts. They realized that our generation is less likely to read paragraphs of text post, and soon started incorporating GIFs. An animated bridge between image and video, GIFs literally “give life” to an otherwise dead text post.

They’re also great “calls to action”. Since they attract our eyes, marketers would benefit from using this platform to get their audience to do something.

Here at Key West Video, we create exceptional, GIF-worthy content. Contact us for a quote today!

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How to do Social Media Storytelling Right

It’s no secret that #social #media has taken over the way we communicate. In an increasingly rapid #digital world, #content #creators and #corporate #companies alike find it hard to keep up with the trends, much less stay one foot in front of their #competitors.

With #visual #storytelling #apps like #Vine, #Instagram and #Snapchat, the barriers that once barred commoners from creating #compelling content are now broken.

A large part of what makes social media so powerful is its ability to generate user participation. We are now in a realm where we can curate our own interests and change industries. After the massive success of Facebook and Twitter, other social media apps took note of the way we participate in our own virtual lives and began catering directly to us.

The main idea behind successful apps is to share, share, share. By letting your audience do the storytelling for themselves, it makes it easier for them to become the creators of their own stories.

While we’re not saying you need to become the next Twitter or Facebook, you do need to think about how current applications operate. How can you engage your audience? Do your customers feel like they have a say in what they want?

Another thing to consider is what outlet would be best to put your content out on. Though Snapchat recently became the third most popular app amongst Millennials, you may not want to put out disposable content. However, if you’re dedicated to consistency, this might not affect you. Certain brands have found that apps like Snapchat and Periscope are great ways to promote exclusivity by taking audiences “behind the scenes” with live content.

Vine is another fun way to put out 6 second spots with the potential to go viral.

Most companies would find Instagram to be ideal, given the 15-second range for video. Unlike Snapchat, it is permanent unless deleted by its user, making it easier to share on other social media platforms. And unlike Vine, it is, of course, longer.

It’s important to define what kind of story you’d like to tell before you choose your platform. Since time is limited, each millisecond of your content should serve a visual purpose. People underestimate how much can fit into a Vine post, or how long an Instagram video actually is.

Providing shareable content is key in creating a substantial online presence. You should aim for content that can gain you visibility. In fact, the more visual, the better. This can mean creating enticing thumbnails on Instagram with Youtube links in your bio page, for example.

Interested in creating great video for social media? We at Key West Video pride ourselves on making shareable content for all social media platforms.

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How to Weather the Storm: Preparing for Winter Shoots

As House of Stark so adequately puts it, winter is coming. So be prepared.

It’s no secret that #Canada has what some might call “extreme” cold #winter #temperatures. We, the North, (see what we did there?) have been the butt of the world’s winter jokes for decades. #Snowstorms. Moose. Maple Syrup. Beavers. And Tim Horton’s. Not to mention Ontario’s crippling ice storm two years back.  These are, what we’ve been told, make up our Canadian identity. So it would come naturally that we would have adjusted by now, right?

Many Canadians opt for weathering the storms – literally. We can’t count how many times we’ve seen individuals outside in shorts during below zero #weather. Though admirable, it does lead one to wonder: have we, as a nation, truly evolved to become immune to the #cold? Or are we just old-fashioned crazy?

For Canadian media professionals, our #weather forces us to take extra precautions to ensure our #equipment stays safe. Unlike our mutant body temperatures that might keep us hot-blooded during the winter season, our equipment is simply not as sturdy.

Whether you’re on-air talent, camera-operator or production assistant, here are some things to keep in mind while you happily trudge through the snow for the next 6 months.

Pay attention to your camera specificities.

Most camera manufacturers have some sort of specification for the lowest operable temperatures. This is essential when filming in remote areas with below freezing weather. Of course, depending on the type of camera you own, operability may vary.

Another reason why camera model matters is because modern day cameras don’t need much internal lubrication as older models.

Keeping cameras warm is essential for outdoor winter-weather shoots. Though digital cameras are efficient and may generate less heat than older cameras, it’s imperative to keep them warm in a pocket or camera bag outside of the ambient temperature. This is not to say that your camera should be shoved into an overcoat with high body heat; a quick transition from hot to cold could cause condensation in the lens. Instead, try to keep your camera a moderate temperature and let it gradually adjust to its surroundings before shooting. Some recommend the plastic bag method.

The same can be applied to your SD card. It’s a well known fact that electronics and moisture of any sort don’t go very well. You wouldn’t want to lose precious footage from an SD card ruined by condensation.

One of the third most important things to take note of is your battery supply. A 10 degree drop in weather can half your battery life. Make sure to pack extras.

Be mindful when opening plastics. In cold weather, plastic tends to harden, making it difficult to open. Battery compartments are especially vulnerable and prone to accidental damage.

Some photographers note that hand warmers are an ideal way to keep your equipment safe. Since they are meant to adjust to your body’s natural hand temperature, they are just warm enough to keep batteries intact.

What are some other ways to protect your camera gear in the winter? Comment below!

 

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