Keywest Video: Our Year in Review

2013 Through the Eyes of  the Keywest Video Team

January: At the start of 2013 Keywest kicked off the new year with the launch of a fresh design to our website. Although tweaks and adjustments have been made all throughout 2013, it was in this first month when the new style of the website took form and went live. We think it’s important to continually optimize our website and make sure we are always looking for ways to improve the site for ourselves, and of course our clients.

February: It was in February when we produced a video for one of Keywest’s friends Renaldo Gairy, highlighting his personal training company Way2Fit. Renaldo is a well known body builder, and uses his personal expertise in order to help others reach their physical goals. The final product was not only an excellent depiction of Renaldo’s personal training abilities and fitness knowledge, but also an indication of his personality and success rate with his clients.

March: We acquired a new Producer/Project Manager. Her name is Shivani if you don’t already know her, and she is wonderful. Shivani is talented in many ways, and has improved various aspects of Keywest’s business. From her exceptional organizational and management skills, to her flare for web design, and very handy technical knowledge, Shivani is a valuable asset to the team and we are all thrilled to have her.

April: We continued to develop our relationship with NABS (The National Advertising Benevolent Society), which is a great organization that supports those in the marketing and communications industry who are facing a difficult time, due to illness, injury, unemployment or the like. NABS is a non-profit which approached Keywest several years ago, and since then we have donated multiple live action and animation videos in order to help spread the message about their cause. In April we created this testimonial video for them.

May: We utilized a remote controlled helicopter for the first time on one of our clients shoots where they wanted to get aerial footage of their building in downtown Toronto. We had been wanting to use a drone for some time, knowing its capacity for cost effective aerial shots, and the results were everything we ourselves and the client expected, and more! We continue to recommend this route to our clients who are interested in getting a different point of view that is sure to impress audiences and create a truly professional corporate video.

June: We are proud to say that Huawei Canada has chosen Keywest Video to produce several of their video projects over the past year and a half. In June of this year we were very happy to once again be working with the Huawei team, this time on the production of a promotional video commemorating the company’s fifth year on Canadian soil, which was to be shown at their event commemorating the occasion. Returning clients show us that our commitment to customer service and the quality of our productions is really paying off.

July: We added another amazing team member to our roster of talent. Hiram is a 2D and 3D motion graphics animator. He loves what he does & we love him for that. Hiram has increased the quality of animation work that Keywest produces, and is always ready with fresh and interesting new ideas to aid our clients’ videos. Hiram has been working on a number of different projects over the past few months and looks forward to what lays ahead in 2014.

August: This was the month when Keywest completed several promotional videos for Century 21 Aberwin Realty. They wanted to showcase their agents, and emphasize that their team was “smarter, bolder, faster” then the rest. The Keywest team was delighted to work on the project, as the real estate market is one that we have wanted to tap into for some time. Since this project, we have produced videos for a Remax brokerage, and have had several meetings with other agents and brokerages across the GTA and beyond.

September: In September we produced our first weekly video blog. Since then we have been creating video blogs on a wide array of topics, and plan on continuing this throughout 2014. We have found video blogs a great way to reach out to those with similar interests who want to learn a bit more about the corporate video production industry, are interested in getting a video for their own company, or simply find the content interesting. We are happy to share our knowledge at Keywest, and we hope that these video blogs have been a useful asset for our viewers.

October: Although weekly video blogs were something that we just started producing the previous month, holiday videos were a Keywest Video classic. In previous years though, December was the month where we really ramped up our game and created a cute/silly video to share with our clients, vendors and friends. But due to our recent commitment to make videos for our own use on a regular basis, we had decided that each and every holiday should have its own special Keywest holiday video. This gem was the result.

November: November started out like any other month, but half way through it seemed as though every client we were speaking with wanted to film on the last week of the month. We ended up having two shoots booked almost every day on that last week of November. There was a lot of extra planning and organization involved to ensure that everything went smoothly and without a hitch. In the end no equipment was lost, all of the footage looked great, and our clients were truly satisfied that we were able to work around their schedules. We proved a lot to ourselves this month.

December: This was a busy month for us. There were quite a few shoots, lots of editing, both live action and animation, and of course the holiday’s create a busy atmosphere with holiday parties and endless amounts of fruit cake. But in between it all we managed to produce another holiday video, to add a little extra cheer to the month. While many in our office groaned about the prospect of lip synching, doing the can-can and blowing fake snow into the camera, I think it was all worth it. If you haven’t already seen it please take a look!

Happy New Year from everyone here at Keywest Video!

Keywest Video: Our Year in Review

Online Video Trends: Expectations for 2014

 Popular Online Video Trends in 2014

Over the past year Keywest Video has written numerous blog posts, and created video blogs on the subject of online video trends and their importance, and of course produced many online videos for our clients. As countless marketing, technology, and video professionals have noted, “online video is considered to be the fastest growing consumer service offering” (ihub Media). This is a fact that many individuals have been aware of for quite some time, but in 2014 will be undeniable. Online video is something that is not only here to stay, but rapidly growing and expanding to include new elements, including new styles, technology and social components.

 

With the closing of 2013 fast approaching we thought it would be nice to look at how online video is shaping up in the coming year ahead, and expand on what we see as some of the important changes in this market.

Micro Videos

With the introduction of Vine’s 6 second video model, and Instagram’s recent video player addition, short video clips that can be quickly filmed, shared, and devoured are on the rise. Companies are even getting in on the action finding innovative ways to push their brand through these social video platforms. Methods such as ‘how to’ videos, product features, behind the scenes access, and user generated contests, have been featured, as an article on TechVibes points out.

Slo-Mo

Slow motion has been utilized for years in Hollywood actions movies. But now with the addition of a slow-mo feature on the newest iphone, we should be seeing a lot more use of this style in the coming year. Slow motion can be a great feature that adds an interesting element to video, whether it be a shot of a car crashing into a tree, to a beautiful bird flying through the air, the impact it creates is substantial and can be used for a variety of purposes.

Aerial footage

Aerial footage adds a whole other element to a video. It not only creates an air of professionalism, but it provides a viewpoint which we don’t often see in our everyday life. Big budget productions have for years been afforded the privilege to get these wonderful angles, and only in the past few years has it become more accessible. Remote controlled helicopters are allowing smaller productions from corporate to indie films, to be able to get aerial footage in a cost effective manner.

4K video

As with the slow-mo on iphones, and miniature drones, 4k video technology is something that is being put in the hands of casual film makers all around the world. With the introduction of 4K being able to be shot on GoPro’s, this superior quality and video resolution will be something that we will see more of in the coming year.

Mobile Video

Reel SEO states that, “between 2012 and 2013, the average time spent watching videos on smartphones doubled, and on tablets it tripled”. While some of us have been watching videos on our phones for years, in other areas, including older demographics and less tech-heavy parts of the world, smartphones are still being integrated. Therefore it is a growing market which is only going to become more important and integral to an overall branding strategy in 2014.

Interactive video

Interactivity within video is something that has been slowly gaining in popularity over the past decade. In Keywest’s blog Interactive Video: Corporate Video Rebirth we discussed how interactivity has been utilized in broadcast television, such as American Idol getting the audience to phone in and vote, to today YouTube users can embed links directly in their video content. There are so many more possibilities that have yet to be explored, such as more social elements: “like buttons which will allow viewers to pick the content they want” (ihub Media). Targeted content is what every marketer strives for, so being able to allow audiences more autonomy is a key aspect in the future of online video.

There are many other trends out there, but these are a few that we think will be important in the coming year. And while some trends are just that, trends, which will eventually fade away or at least be utilized less often, others are only in the beginning stages and have the potential to become a standard, and be integral for online video in 2014 and beyond.

Online Video Trends: Expectations for 2014

Xmas Jammies: Some Holiday Cheer

At Keywest On Christmas Eve: In My Xmas Jammies

Because some of us are at the office on Christmas Eve I thought I would share a little fun to brighten up your day! If you haven’t already seen the adorable video Christmas card that went viral this year, check it out below.

This family sure knows how to grab attention; catchy song, adorable kids, some funny commentary on the family’s year, and of course a set of ridiculous matching xmas jammies.

In just over a week this video has garnered 12.6 million views on YouTube!

What do you guys think of this new video Christmas card tradition?

Xmas Jammies: Some Holiday Cheer

Happy Holidays from Keywest Video!

Happy Holidays from Keywest Video!

Keywest Video wants to wish you happy holidays and a joyous festive season!

We look forward to working with you in the new year

Happy Holidays from Keywest Video!

Post-Production Services at Keywest

Post-production services are essential to every video as this is the stage where your video finally comes together.

At Keywest, we offer a variety of post-production services, from live action to motion graphics and animation, to help bring your video to life.

Post-Production Services – Edit Suite

Live Action

Live action editing is one of the most common post-production services performed here at Keywest. In this case, the editor will sift through the captured footage and re-assemble the clips to tell a story. This can sometimes be quite a challenge in the event that there is a great deal of footage and a rather limiting time constraint. Once the footage has been cut together, the final video comes together by adding elements such as voice overs, music, titles, colour-correction, audio cleaning, etc. Our talented editors here at Keywest can transform your raw footage into a captivating story. They will listen to your needs and convey your message in the most creative way possible.

Motion Graphics & Animation

If you’re looking to explain an interesting/abstract concept or include elements that live action can’t exactly replicate, post-production services such as motion graphics and animation are excellent tools to get your company/brand noticed. Our talented motion graphics artists here at Keywest can guarantee you an exciting and innovative animation for your next production! Corporate animation is a great way to explain your product or brand easily and in a short time frame. Our motion graphics artists will listen to your vision and collaborate with you to create the most unique and captivating animation for your company.

When it comes to post-production services, we understand that this stage can be particularly overwhelming and technical. In order to remedy this, we make sure that our clients are able to see the final product come together and provide editors with their input. Our online file sharing website helps avoid lengthy approval processes. Once we have cut together something for you to look at, we send you a link to your video, and you simply click, watch, send to others for comments or approval, and then send us your feedback. We then continue this process until you are fully satisfied with the finished product.

Want to know more about post-production services? Take a look at the evolution of post-production.

Post-Production Services at Keywest

YouTube Optimization: Top 7 Techniques

7 Simple Ways to Optimize & Increase Your Businesses YouTube Presence  

With YouTube being the second largest search engine after Google, it is no wonder why a company’s YouTube channel is an integral part of their overall marketing strategy. As with anything online, the clutter and chaos can be overwhelming, so here are some tips and techniques on how to break through the crowd and get your channel noticed.

1.       Customize Your Channel

Ensure that the branding of your channel is done in a fashion where visitors will be certain whose channel they are viewing. It should be cohesive with your other branding strategies, not only in the look and feel, but throughout the content as well, be it the video itself, the video’s description, or even your comments on others videos. As every point of contact with your audience is another opportunity to convert them into customers.

2.       Engage with your audience

While some may think of YouTube as a place where businesses can simply upload and distribute their content, it is so much more than that. YouTube, just like other popular social platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, is also a place where you can actively engage with your audience. Through the comments section, your playlists, channel subscriptions and ‘favorited’ videos, you will be able to tell the story of who you are as a company, and in return understand who your customers, or potential customers are as well.

3.       Provide awesome video content

On the WebSEO Analytics Blog, Tina outlines her top 10 tips for optimizing YouTube videos. In there, her number one tip is to create original and interesting videos. Along with numerous other lists I checked out, content was always a priority. As it doesn’t matter how many tricks and techniques you can employ, if the content is not engaging there is no reason to attract people to it. You want each video you post to be a positive representation of your company and help your company’s overall marketing goals.

In order to do this your video content needs to be engaging for your audience. At Keywest we suggest that videos going on YouTube or other social media avenues are short and sweet. Another priority is trying to create content that your customers can’t find elsewhere. Whether it is a great tutorial on how to use your product, secrets of behind the scenes at your organization, or simply funny stories from your staff. Think out of the box, and whenever possible think big!

4.       Don’t forget a call to action

Once you have created your preliminary content there are several ways to optimize your video to further encourage viewer engagement. One of those techniques is provided right within YouTube and is called annotations. Annotations are a free and easy way to share additional resources and add an element of interactivity into your video. Annotations allow you to simply embed a link within your video which will then bring viewers to your website, a fundraising campaign, your YouTube channel or other videos you have posted. This is an excellent tool, as if you already have someone’s attention, you might as well steer them towards other content of yours that they may be interested in.

There are other avenues which will provide similar results. Creating a call to action or next steps can be done right within the video as well. In many of Keywest Video’s video blogs we incorporate a call to action within the video content itself, by getting the host to say things such as ‘tell us your thoughts in the comments section’, or ‘email us at info@keywestvideo.com for more information’. This way, the call to action cannot be ignored as it is just as much part of the video as the rest of the content.

5.       Make sure to cross-promote

Maybe you can write a blog post about a recent video you posted on YouTube. Or you can link to your other social media channels at the end of your YouTube video. There are many ways to integrate your company’s various marketing outlets within one another, so ensure that this is done. It will not only help promote your various content, but it will ensure that your brand is being consistent throughout their different promotional avenues.

Another important avenue, cited by the Search Engine Journal, is by embedding your YouTube videos on your website. Depending on content and relevancy, posting videos on your website can be a great asset for your company, and aid in a variety of ways from simply explaining your product or service, providing an overview of your company or employees, or highlighting event coverage. In return, this will be a great way to gain more views on your videos, which will in turn aid your YouTube profile. So it’s a win-win!

6.       Be SEO Friendly

When uploading your content to YouTube always ensure that you are taking the few extra steps in order to optimize your content for search engines such as Google. Ways to do this include; writing a title that utilizes relevant keywords related to your business, providing a clear and detailed description of the video, including keyword rich tags, making sure the appropriate category is selected, and adding closed captions for the hearing impaired. All of these techniques are beneficial as they make the video more searchable and therefore easier for your audience to discover. Brian Honigman writing for KISSmetrics, clearly lays out why these SEO techniques, or rather the technical term MetaData, are so important. He also provides some in-depth analysis of well-known companies’ channels and their hits and misses in this department.

 7.       Invest in your content

YouTube is a great place for cost-effective promotion, as getting an account set-up and your content online is virtually free, minus your time and investment in the video. However, there are ways to guide those who may be interested in your content directly to it, and that is through paid video advertisements. There are numerous categories you can select from in order to target your key market. Including things as specific as age, race, gender, economic status, and as useful as online habits and likes and dislikes. If you are wondering about how useful online video advertising is, check out Keywest’s recent video blog which discusses some important statistics about the growing marketplace.

As you can see from this list, there are a variety of reasons why YouTube optimization is important,  and now your are equip with some techniques to ensure that you are maximizing its true potential. If you follow these simple steps you are sure to make progress in getting your brand out there, and encourage your audience to engage further with your company. Check out Keywest’s YouTube channel and let us know what you think.

YouTube Optimization: Top 7 Techniques

Corporate Video Production: The Stages

Corporate video production is a specialized profession, and here at Keywest, it is our only focus.

We know that you need the control, expertise, and knowledge to create and promote outstanding videos; that is why we strive to solve your biggest challenges with amazing video. There are four main stages associated with corporate video production: pre-production, production, post-production, and deliveries.

Stage 1: Pre-production

Firstly, when embarking on a corporate video production, you need to figure out what exactly it is that you need. It’s critical to assess your needs, plan a timeline, identify your audience, and define the scope of your project. Once your needs have been determined, it is time to embark on the creative process. This is the part where concepts are refined and the entire production is planned – everything from location consultations to casting talent and script writing/editing takes place during this stage of your corporate video production. Keywest’s experienced producers can assist with brainstorming ideas and methods that will make your video stand out against its competitors.

Stage 1: Pre-Production

Before going ahead with your corporate video production, it is crucial to understand how video can help your business. Keywest will work together with you and your team to assess the purpose, target, and effect of your video. By refining all of these details in the pre-production stage, we are able to guarantee a focused finished product that not only exceeds your expectations, but also saves you money.

When it comes to corporate video production, it is crucial to ensure that your video is informative, but also entertaining and captivating to your audience. Many viewers associate terms such as “dull” and “boring: with corporate video production, but it’s important that your project is unique and interesting to the viewer. Luckily, Keywest has a roster of creative professionals who understand the corporate video format. If your annual video needs something more, or if you just need to capture your audience’s attention, let us present an idea that just might transform the way you think about corporate video.

Stage 2: Production


Now that all the planning has taken place, it’s time to get this show on the road. The production stage is all about performance and this is where all of your ideas come to life. During the production stage, it is important to be extremely prepared, well informed, and equipped for shooting. At Keywest, it is our job to make sure that everything runs smoothly, especially during this stage as any mishaps could end up costing unnecessary time and money.

Stage 2: Production

It is important to be alert during the production stage, as there is a great deal at stake during this phase of corporate video production. Locations have been confirmed, talent has been prepped, and the crew is booked. Since there are so many people involved in a single production, it is important that all of the groundwork was laid during the pre-production stages so as to ensure the project goes off without a hitch.  It is important to have a knowledgeable producer on hand as they are the ones you will need to go to in the event of any unforeseen issues. Keywest’s organized and dedicated producers will ensure that the production stage is executed properly and according to schedule.

Stage 3: Post-Production

The post-production stage is literally “where all the magic happens”. This is the stage where everything finally comes together. For live action corporate video production, the editor will sift through the captured footage to create the final video, adding elements such as voice overs, music, titles, colour-correction, audio cleaning, etc. In other cases, motion graphics artists or animators will create the final product during this stage, combining production and post-production, as there is no live action involved.

Stage 3: Post-Production

It is during this post-production stage that Keywest’s clients are able to see the final product come together and provide the editors with their input. Our online file sharing

website helps avoid lengthy approval processes. Once we have cut together something for you to look at, we send you a link to your video, and you simply click, watch, send to others for comments or approval, and then send us your feedback. We then continue this process until you are fully satisfied with the finished product.

Stage 4: Deliveries

The final stage in your corporate video production journey is the delivery stage. Here at Keywest, we are able to accommodate various kinds of deliveries… and best of all, we even backup your entire project on our servers. Some popular formats include:

• MP4


• Blu-Ray


• YouTube


• Vimeo


• Embedded Link


• DVD


• Quick Time


• WMV


• Flash Video


• Mini-DV


• Betacam

Stage 4: Deliveries

As you can see, there’s more to corporate video production than what meets the eye. It is important to have a professionally produced video for your business, as its quality is a reflection of your company. Keywest is here to help and our professional producers will make your job easy.

Corporate Video Production: The Stages