Catering to Millennials? Here’s How to Keep Their Attention

A simple #Google search will give you countless articles complaining about #Millennials. In fact, a quick Google search was the inspiration behind this article.

Corporate companies are swimming in a multitude of different ways they can find – and target – their audiences. We know – Millennials are a tough crowd to impress. We hate to break it to you, but once you have our attention, it gets even harder to keep us around.

According to Google, Millennials are like that stuck up popular kid from your math class whose skills include getting others to do his or her work for them.

Despite what people might think, many Millennials actually do have a strong work ethic, actually aren’t lazy, and can take direction. They also, apparently, aren’t as willing as they should be, are difficult to manage, and can be hard to retain.

So you can imagine a corporate company’s horror when they decide they’d like to launch a new product that caters to a younger audience.

In order to create a self-producing team of brand evangelists, companies must know what draws Millennials to different products or services in the first place.

One thing that companies conveniently forget is that the “Millennial” age group (roughly aged 18-34) is incredibly diverse. In fact, the term “Millennial” is a blanket term for a generic age range.

While our interests are strikingly different, there are some generational similarities that unite us.

1. Mobility

The first thing companies should consider before making any #campaign arrangements is mobile accessibility. Is your product #mobile-friendly? Does it have a pleasing #design #aesthetic? Which downloadable apps are best to plug in your company’s ads? This will outline the potential success of your #market #outreach.

2. Community

Remember we mentioned how diverse Millennials are? Well,  first you must know if there is an existing #community to market to (read: know your audience). What would benefit a lot of companies is attention to #social groups. Millennials are most easily identified by their interests; that can mean people who are dedicated to social justice issues to those who take interests in photography to those who watch sci-fi. Millennials tend to gravitate towards social communities both on and offline. Once a company is able to find out what that is, the possibilities are endless.

3. Engaging

By now, it’s a no-brainer that companies should be aiming to create relevant and engaging #products in order to service a constantly-evolving and demanding generation. If something is outdated it will undoubtedly go unnoticed. Remember: you’re reaching an audience who might have never known life without the internet. This doesn’t just mean their social presence is online; it means their entire way of communicating, solving problems, and connecting with others is there, too. If your product or service does not supplement this, reaching this demographic becomes that much more difficult.

By creating engaging content, you also create “brand evangelists”: self-perpetuating users who will market your brand by word of mouth and on your behalf . This always trumps traditional online marketing and has the potential to generate brand-loyalty.

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The post Catering to Millennials? Here’s How to Keep Their Attention appeared first on Corporate Video Blog.

Website: New Content & Features

Our New Website is Finally Here! Check Out Some of The Great New Content & Things We Have to Offer

Websites are a representation of your brand. They allow potential customers to get a feel for who you are, and what you have to offer. Here at Key West Video we understand the importance of online marketing, so wanted to update our site to showcase all of our great offerings, and the recent work we had produced.

In April of this year we officially launched the website, just in time for Google’s new update. We not only re-branded much of the website, but also added in a lot more interesting content which will aid our viewers in deciding what style of video is right for them.

In this post I want to outline some of the key elements of our new website which will be helpful to both prospective and current clients. First we will go over some of the new items that deserve a mention, and then we will delve into the variety of services we offer.

WHAT’S NEW

Main Page – Check it Out!

The first thing you will notice on our new site is our demo reel. It has been updated to incorporate some of the work we have produced in the past year, including some of our award winning work.

About Page – Check it Out!

This is the first time we have had an employee bio page. We think it’s important for our potential clients to put a face to a name. Learn a bit about each of us and see who makes up the dynamic Key West Video team.

How to Make a Corporate Video Page – Check it Out!

Here is where we break down the different elements that go into making a corporate video. If it’s your first time getting a video produced this page will be very helpful in understanding the different stages involved in video production.

Corporate Video Portfolio Page – Check it Out!

Get a sense of all the different styles of work we produce on this page. From testimonials, to training videos, promotional spots and event videos, there’s something for everyone.

Specialty Packages – Check it Out!

Something brand new on our website is our specialty packages offering. Need a video that doesn’t fit in any of the normal boxes? Submit a form and find out what we have to offer.

SERVICES

Here are a list of services that you will find on our website. But don’t worry, just because it isn’t listed on our website doesn’t mean we don’t provide that service!

Video Production Crew – Check it Out!

Our professional crew arrives ready to roll! The Key West Video production crew has extensive experience to make you look and sound your best.

Training Videos – Check it Out!

Corporate training videos should inform, inspire, and motivate. Professionally executed training videos can set your company on the right path to success!

Event Videos – Check it Out!

Capture the highlights of your corporate event with an exciting video! We’ll make sure your corporate event video is one to be remembered!

Product & Service Videos – Check it Out!

Key West Video will capture the features and effectiveness of your product to help translate your viewing audience into customers.

Company Promotional Videos – Check it Out!

Promote your business with a company profile video that tells your corporate story and showcases what makes you the best in your field.

Commercials & Videos for Broadcast – Check it Out!

Commercial video production for broadcast can cost a small fortune. Key West Video will produce a highly polished video without breaking the bank.

Testimonials & Interviews – Check it Out!

Harness the power of interview videos to promote on your website and social media. Utilize that personal connection testimonials convey to draw in new clients.

Green Screen – Check it Out!

Don’t have a great location to shoot your video? Our green screen studio can provide a more dynamic backdrop, providing ultimate control and visually stunning graphics and animation.

Aerial Videography – Check it Out!

Create intrigue with eye-catching aerial drone videography. Showcase your facilities, signage, and locations with the creative flair of a different point of view.

Actor Services – Check it Out!

From actor self tape auditions, demo reel editing, acting classes, workshops, and private coaching, Key West Video offers professional actor services that make you the star!

Non-Local Video Production – Check it Out!

Need a video partner in Toronto or abroad? The Key West Video production crew works across Canada, the USA, and the rest of the world!

Industry Specific Videos – Check it Out!

Creating a video for a specific industry? No problem. We produce videos for all markets; from real estate to manufacturing – we’ve got you covered.

Contact us via email – info@keywestvideo.com

By Phone – 416-675-0751

Or go to our website and fill out one of our forms to get in touch and learn more today!

The post Website: New Content & Features appeared first on Corporate Video Blog.

Product Videos: Why They Work

Have an amazing and unique product but no video? Here is the scoop on why product videos should be an integral part of your marketing campaign.

Studies have shown that online users who watch product videos are generally 85% more likely to purchase something than visitors who do not. (Internet Retailer, April 2010)

The proof is in the numbers. Numerous research groups have shown that video does have a large impact when it comes to the sale of #products and services, and especially when coupled with an online retail site. Customers today need to be wowed. There are so many different products on the market, and with fierce competition comes the need for companies to stand out from the pack. Oh, and you better do it quickly because our attention spans are forever shrinking. Here is why product videos can be so lucrative.

#Videos are a simple, quick and effective way to showcase your products. In a 30 second to two minute spot you can highlight its features, talk about its benefits, and find an interesting way to target your key #consumer. And if you are able to do that in a great package with a little pizzazz, you can truly impress and turn online visitors into purchasers.

Companies large and small have known about the power of video for decades, but within the past few years, and with all the studies being done, it seems that no organization wants to get left in the dark. The success of many of these video campaigns is evident.  Zappos, the online fashion site for example, reported a jump in sales of their products between 6% to 30% with the use of video. (ReelSEO, December 2009.)

Beyond the Traditional Benefits

The benefits of product videos go beyond the traditional as well. We all know that product videos can attract attention, increase awareness of a product, and even turn eyeballs into sales. Adam Hayes from Wyzowl Blog tells us, product videos are also useful in reducing customer queries.

“Product videos give customers a great amount of information at the earliest opportunity, giving you the chance to proactively answer many questions that may otherwise have ended up in your support team’s inbox.”

There are numerous other benefits as well. Andrew Follett, Founder and CEO of Video Brewery says,

“Explainer videos keep track of what product or service potential customers are interested in by displaying the number of views on each video”

This is an important asset when deciding on which products should stay, which should go, what ones would be good to promote, put on sale, sell to a specific market etc. Video stats are an amazing analytics tool, which can help you track the excitement for your products.

Over the years Keywest Video has been privileged to aid numerous companies in the production of their product videos. A recent client we have worked with, Ryan Design (click on the link to check out the video), contacted us to create an informative and promotional video for their latest innovative product “Touch Film”. The goal of this video was to not only promote the product, but also showcase its functionality and usability in the appropriate setting. The final video was not only an excellent illustration of the product’s capabilities and functionality, but also its ease-of-use and sleek design.

Contact us today if you’re interested in getting a quote for your product video!

 

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Product Videos: Why They Work

Coca-Cola’s Social Media Guard

The Social Media Guard, Coca-Cola’s new faux product, is designed to help us detach from our smartphones and enjoy those around us.

Coca-Cola Social Media Guard – Before

The soft drink giant’s latest commercial advertises the fake Social Media Guard, which is pretty much a giant Coca-Cola red dog collar. The Social Media Guard allows you to engage with your surroundings and disengage from your smartphone. Wearing the cone ensures that you are unable to check your beloved Instagram profile every 4 seconds and are now forced to engage with the actual humans that surround you. Each Social Media Guard wearing individual is immediately enlightened and overjoyed once they are forced to interact with others, so much so that they enjoy a refreshing bottle of Coke!

Coca-Cola’s commercial about the Social Media Guard takes the media out of social media. The commercial illustrates the fact that we spend such an exorbitant amount of time on our smartphones (mostly for social media) that we neglect to observe and participate what’s going on in our immediate surroundings. It touches upon the notion that although we may be in the company of others, we are still detached from the situation as we are constantly attached to our smartphones. Now, the social media aspect comes into play because most of the time we are actually just browsing social media outlets – updating our Facebook status, tweeting, double-tapping on Instagram, etc. – on our smartphones instead of doing something important or productive.

Coca-Cola Social Media Guard – After

“Did you know that the world spends 4 million years online every month?” the soda giant asks. “If you’re watching this video on your mobile phone, it’s time to put it down. Look around you, there is probably someone special you can share a real moment with. Enjoy it with an ice-cold Coke :)”

What do you think of Coca-Cola’s Social Media Guard? How do you feel about the attachment to social media and our smartphones?

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Coca-Cola’s Social Media Guard

Social Cause Videos: Why Humor Works

If You Are Creating Social Cause Videos Here Are Some Reasons Why Humor Can Be Your Best Method of Choice

We see them all the time. Videos dealing with human rights issues, animal abuse, malnourished children in developing countries, and every other problem under the sun. We see them at charity events, as PSA’s on television, and promotional pieces disseminated through social media. Social cause videos are everywhere, and the competition for attention is fierce.

Attention = money, which means the more attention and thus funds an organization can collect for their social cause, the more good they can in turn create. So the bottom line is, when creating a video to highlight any sort of cause, getting the most eyeballs to pay attention should always be the end goal.

With so many issues to chose from, it is often difficult to know what you should really care about. What you should invest your own time and hard earned money into supporting. By being an organization that stands out from the pack, through whatever means necessary such as through unique social cause videos, it can be very beneficial to the social cause itself.

Humor is a way to draw people in. It is a way to make a far reaching issue more relate-able. It is a universal language. Check out how these organizations below created social cause videos with the use of humor, in two very different instances, to shed more light on their issues.

The $#^! Kids Say (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)

The title itself drew me in. It make me think back to the days when Bill Cosby starred as the host of Kids Say the Darnest Things. The start of the video began just the same way, with children saying absurdly cute things; “all pigs are pink even boy pigs”, “I was six on the 50th of November”, and “do babies’ mommies teach them how to laugh”?

But the humorous observations from the children quickly take a different tone. The outlandish comments soon turn into ones that make the viewer think. The humor is launched into a tool in order to zero in on the video’s true message. Do we sometimes take the funny stuff kids say as nothing more than fluff? Is there a deeper meaning there?

Follow The Frog (Rainforest Alliance)

This video takes a much different approach. They use humor full and outright. But they too use it as a tool.

Follow the Frog follows a delightfully misguided and ambitious young man who quits his job and leaves his family in order to pursue, and make right, the injustices that are happening to the rainforest. Through the crazy and adorable trials in his journey, the voice-over tells us all of the things that we as the viewer “aren’t going to do”. At the end of the video, after we have followed the guy on his failed attempt at doing something to help the rainforest, we learn ‘what you can do is follow the frog’.

This brilliant video turns a very important issue into a social cause video that people want to share. Even people not necessarily interested in saving the rainforest can enjoy the humor throughout this video.

In both instances, humor was used as a powerful tool to draw in the viewer. In the first video for the NSPCC, humor was utilized simply as a tactic to draw viewers in and create a sharp juxtaposition against the fact that certain off-beat things that children say should be taken more seriously. While in the later video created for the Rainforest Alliance, humor is the deciding factor which makes it such a success. It is funny because we can relate to it, yet on the same hand it is so far fetched.

When creating your next social cause videos, consider adding a dash of humor to the mix.

Social Cause Videos: Why Humor Works

Prankvertising: a popular trend

Prankvertising was one of the most popular trends of 2013. Many brands and films chose to play pranks on unsuspecting members of the public in an effort to promote and gain exposure.

In October 2013, Keywest had posted about the Carrie prankvertising campaign. Using telekinesis, the creepy talent Carrie is known for, this particular prankvertisement shocked and disturbed not only the viewer, but the patrons of an unsuspecting NYC coffee shop. The Carrie video has garnered over 53 million views, making it the most successful prankvertising campaign of 2013.

Carrie Prankvertising Video

It’s clear that prankvertising is a useful tool for horror film promotion as it creates a conversation about the film and adds an element of reality to the supernatural seen in the actual movies. This particular marketing tool has since been used to promote several other horror films, including the most recent “Devil Baby Prank” for the film Devil’s Due. The prankvertising campaign, in which an animatronic “devil baby” in a remote controlled stroller goes on a rampage through the streets of New York City, has been rather successful, garnering over 30 million views in 3 days.

Although prankvertising is most useful for horror film publicity, it has also been used for product promotion – although not as successfully, in terms of online views. Take a look at this “Meteor: Ultra Reality” prank by LG to showcase the crispness and clarity of their televisions.

In essence, prankvertising achieves a significant marketing goal: it gets people talking. Creating a conversation around your product or service is key, and these viral pranks are a great way to do so. However, the question arises… is prankvertising sustainable? At first, prankvertising was a new and innovative marketing tool – creating elaborate pranks that go viral and promote your brand; lately, it seems that many brands have utilized prankvertising and it is slowly becoming commonplace. Unlike many other marketing tools, prankvertising is more susceptible to overkill, as too many pranks can cause audiences to foresee the prank, thereby ruining its primary element of surprise.

What do you think of prankvertising? Is it a good marketing tool? Has it been overused already? Tell Keywest your thoughts.

Prankvertising: a popular trend

Video Blogs: Helping You Become An Expert

Utilizing Video Blogs to Become a Thought Expert

Video blogs, or as some refer to them as, vlogs, are a great tool to help you become an expert. Whatever field you are in, there is always the opportunity to gain a wider following, and have more individuals listen to what you have to say. This is beneficial for many reasons, but most importantly to help promote yourself and thus your brand.

Stacey Waxman, in an article on Viral Blog, states that the tool of becoming a content expert, “proved incredibly effective for many people in 2013, and it will likely remain integral to the way business owners communicate with prospective clients this year, too.” Therefore, if you haven’t started vlogging, or using other tools to get your expertise out there, it may be something that you should consider.

Video blogs are a great way to increase your authority and expertise in your field. They not only showcase that you understand and comprehend the content, but also that you have the confidence to put a name to it as well. Instead of hiding behind words on a page, you are actively putting yourself out there, thus standing behind what you have to say. You are providing a human face to your company, which in today’s digital landscape can be a huge benefit.

Another major upside to vloggin is the SEO benefits. Danny Brent, a guest author on REEL SEO, stated that,

“when vlogging you’re putting up new content that you can link to all over the web on your social media accounts: other people can then ‘like’, retweet or ‘+1’ which, will give you a higher ranking on search engines.”

This can be additionally beneficial if you incorporate written content in addition to your video blog. Written content is the best for spiders crawling your content, and indexing your blog pages for SEO reasons. But the vlog itself is most beneficial in order to get readers to connect with your content. The visual nature of vlogs are much more interactive and engaging then just the written word itself.

If you don’t know where to get started take a look at our blog post, Vlogs: The Why & How. And if you are interested in getting package prices to professionally record your next vlog contact Keywest Video!

Video Blogs: Helping You Become An Expert

Vlogs: The Power of "Freshness"

What are Vlogs & Why are They Becoming the New Hot Corporate Video Tool

A video blog, or vlog, is a blog expressed through video. Vlogs are a great tool for any corporation, as they are inexpensive and allow companies to be able to provide consistent content to their clientele in a unique and engaging fashion.

Although their popularity has only recently started to excel in the corporate world, the first ever instance of a vlog was way back in the beginning 2000.  A gentleman by the name of Adam Kontras posted a video alongside his formal blog, to inform his friends and family of his move to LA. He continued creating similar posts, marking the longest-running video blog in history.

Vlogs give organizations the ability to put a face to their company. They allow audiences to feel closer to you and the content, and builds a deeper connection. Reading text on a page is one thing, but being able to put words, actions, and a face on the screen, really brings the content to life.

When creating your company’s video blog ensure you keep these things in mind:

1. Good Audio – without good audio you might as well just provide your audience with text, because at least they will be able to read it. Investing in a fairly inexpensive lavalier mic is a big must. Above all else, bad quality audio will distract viewers and make them want to tune out. Be cautious when choosing a space to film in. Things such as overhead fans and refrigerators generate a lot of background noise. Filming in a quite office space is ideal.


2. Lighting – lighting can be very expensive, but if you are planning on investing some money into this project, lighting would be the best place to start. It can really improve the professionalism and overall quality of your vlog. Even with just one key light, and one fill you will be able to get enough coverage. If you are completely dumbfounded in this area, then I suggest going to your local video production store and taking a few minutes to speak with professionals about the most cost effective option for your beginners lighting package.


3. Framing – Find a space that is professional but also explains a bit about your company. If you can have company branding in the background that is always a nice touch. Make sure to tidy up the space as your background is a direct reflection of you and your company.


4. Graphics – to boost the look and feel of your vlog, you can add any graphics or branding material that you have available. Things such as screen captures of your website, company logos, flyers etc. are all useful and can be simply embedded into your video to add an additional element of professionalism.


5. Distribution – the most important aspect of any vlog is getting it out into the right hands, so the right people have access to it. Posting on a site such as YouTube allows for certain usability features, and makes it very accessible. YouTube also gives you the option to then embed your video on external sites, such as your website or blog. The key to distribution is finding places where audiences who would be interested in your content are located and then actively seeking them out and distributing it in those locations.

I hope you found these tips useful. Don’t be scared to put yourself out there, as long as the content is strong and what your customers are interested in, then you will have an audience. You then just need to make sure the production value is at a quality level, so the overall presentation is where you expect it to be. Happy vlogging!

If you are interested in getting package prices to professionally record your next vlog contact Keywest Video!

Vlogs: The Power of "Freshness"

Branded Content: How to do it Right

How to Create Branded Content That Will Attract Eyeballs

Branded content is that which blurs the distinction between conventional advertising techniques, and the entertainment world. It is a way for advertisers to reach out to the public with content that they believe will provide a two-way benefit. Viewers enjoy the leisure/informational aspect of it, while advertisers are able to push their products and services.

With anything though, you need the right tools to be able to properly approach the situation. According to marketingcharts.com, sites with branded content outperform other websites in 41 out of 43 advertising metrics. With stats like those it is no wonder why more and more organizations are turning to this form of advertising in order to promote their brand. Now, onto the ‘how’.

1. 
   Understand Your Audience – branded content is a fairly new and exciting technique, and the idea of it is great if you can get the right eyes on your content. Although there are many upsides to this medium, such as viewers actively seeking out and/or watching it, that in turn is a downside as well. Unlike with broadcast, viewers are not forced to watch, or at least pushed in the right direction. It is much more difficult to find audiences and get them to actively engage with your content. The Key tool in finding audiences is first knowing who you want to target. Make sure to do your homework and figure out what your target market looks like. Once you know, look for the best places to ‘meet and mingle’ online with that sort of people. Maybe it is through blogs and forums, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, or whatever other place you can locate and connect with your niche audience. Target, Understand, Engage.


2. 
   Create Engaging Content – With the over-saturation of the internet, it is difficult to garner the attention required for a campaign to be relevant. Like with most great things though, great content is always at its core. It doesn’t matter how many bells and whistles you have, if you provide viewers with something interesting, exciting, heartwarming, or that which they have never seen before, you are more likely to hit a home run. Other useful angles for your content are the informational approach, where you provide the viewer with a ‘how to’ and then utilize your branded products at the core. Other prominent means of branding content is by finding content that is already engaging and has an audience, and then inserting your brand into the mix – like an updated form of product placement. Just be careful that you give full disclosure, as the online realm really dislikes ‘posers’.


3. 
   Get to the Point – Lets be honest. Audiences have short attention spans. Unless it is something that online fans are begging for, more often then not it is the audience who is pulling the strings with advertisers praying for success. In order to be successful, it has been proven time and again, in order to keep attention, give viewers what they want, and fast. Don’t make them wait until after a long and drawn out intro which doesn’t provide them with entertainment or any other sort of stimulation.


4. 
   Break into Modules – If you do have content which cannot be conveyed in the traditional 30 sec. – 2min viral video, then break it up into sections. You will be much more likely to attract initial views with a shorter video, and then once you have them hooked they are more likely to look for the second part themselves. If they don’t go onto the second part it is either because they simply aren’t interested, or you haven’t provided a clear enough ‘next step’. If you are posting your video on YouTube you can create custom annotations which direct audiences to the next video in the chain.


5. 
   Don’t Give it up All at Once – Once you have an audience which has discovered your content and is engaged, ensure that you don’t let them go. Providing them with regular and continual content is key. If you do have a series of videos which you have broken up into modules, release one a week. Like with traditional media, it gives viewers something to look forward to, and keeps the buzz going about your brand.

In the end, the ultimate goal is to create a strong consumer base. In order to do that, not only are the above techniques necessary, but continual and persistent promotion is needed as well. You have to actively seek out your target audience and give the content a chance to speak for itself. Ideally, once you have spread your branded content around to all of the right places, the social realm will either chew it up and spit it out, or devour it and ask for more. All the best!

 

Branded Content: How to do it Right