1) Be visible – Along with having a video page on your site, link to and promote your videos whenever possible in other areas. Cite your videos in your articles and attach links, mention this week’s video in your News section, tweet about your video. post it on Facebook….you get the idea. The more avenues you provide for your video to be found, the greater chance it will be watched!

2) Make friends – Subscribe to groups and users with video content similar to yours – but not competitors, of course! If you begin to interact with others in your industry whose needs may coincide with your offerings, you will be able to comment on videos and link to others’ sites, always connecting that information to your own video and site.

3) Do business! – Have you found a site with little to no video, but that in some way connects to your product or service? Why not consider a distribution deal? If it’s not Joe Schmo’s Site with 2 views a week, you could gain a substantial viewership and, therefore, more clients!

4) Video Responses – Maybe you’re making your own videos, with ideas from scratch – why not also respond to others’ videos…..with a video? Youtube offers the Video Response option – you can make more of an impact with what would have otherwise been a text comment, and you can add graphics to link to your business in as many ways as possible.

There’s your inspiration for the day – I hope you all find success with all the views your hearts desire!
Your Viewing Vixen,
Angela Vida

Share on Facebook

SK Media Group is a New York video production company specializing in brand-enhancing videos, Marketing videos, corporate video production and and commercials. Mainly in the New York and Washington DC, markets.

To learn more about SK Media Group visit us at: http://www.skmediagroup.com

Or visit our blog to keep up with what we’ve been up to lately. Watch videos and send us any comments you may have. http://blog.skmediagroup.com

Share on Facebook

G’day, faithful readers!  Today I’m taking away all the bells and whistles and talking about one simple thing: the power of video and the wonders it can do for your business.  Before I get ahead of myself and ramble about how terrific videos are, I’ll break them down into list form – because we know I’m a huge fan of lists!

1) Character

Even more than a well-designed website and a carefully-selected logo, videos depict the character of your business. Is it casual, or formal? Do you have an overt sense of humor, or are you dryly comical? Videos allow you to showcase yourself and your company in a way that may not read over text. I know that sometimes I hear my voice in my head while I write (don’t judge!), but my tone doesn’t necessarily convey. It’s why my mother always thinks I’m being short with her in my emails.

2) Creativity

Although you can be endlessly creative with a website, videos allow you to merge media in a cohesive way.  You can show your logo and website while you’re speaking. You can play music in the background – softly, or to make a statement. Maybe everyone in your office loves to listen to “Eye of the Tiger” during a brainstorming session!  The possibilities are endless, but the more creative you are, the more your message will stay with the viewer.

3) Connection

Nothing beats a face-to-face meeting – and sometimes, a video is the next best thing.  Use your video to show your clients (and potential clients) the inner workings of your business. The more connected they feel to you and your company, the more comfortable they will be utilizing your product or service. Also, use your videos to begin a dialogue between yourself and your viewers; whether you’re asking them for their opinions, or to sign up for your mailing list, you’re much more convincing in a video than you could ever be through written word alone.  I’m not recommending that you give them sad, puppy-dog eyes, but what you choose to do is up to you!

4) Instruction

How-to videos are terrific because most of us are visual learners. Creating these for your business allows you to not only portray direct, clear instructions, but also present yourself as an expert on whatever you are explaining. Maybe your videos have to do with your business directly, or maybe you review other related products or services. This is your opportunity to educate your viewers and control the content! Makes you feel powerful, doesn’t it?

5) Continuity

Why not start a series of videos instead of writing articles or blogs?  Provided they’re brief, informative, and have a sense of fun, videos will easily attract followers and keep people returning to your website – and hopefully, needing your business!  I know for me personally, I have made a number of new business connections since getting in front of the camera with SK Media Group.  As fun as I attempt to be in my writing, nothing beats the personal feel and conversational manner of a video!

So go forth and create, readers!  Comment and let me know how video has changed your business so far – and if you’re just about to get started, what kind of changes are you hoping it will make? Can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with!

Your filming friend,

Angela Vida

Share on Facebook

Top 5 Reasons You Need Social Media

1) Control your content

With social media, you have so many options on how to present content to your audience. Do you want to post videos? Anecdotes in 140 characters or less? Photos? The possibilities are endless! With so many options, you can really challenge yourself to identify what best works for your business.

2) Gain an audience

Simple searches will put you in touch with other professionals and clients who could benefit from your services. Often, commenting or communicating in some way on a social media site can lead to a new ‘friendship,’ and hopefully some profitable business!

3) Present yourself as an authority

Use your platform(s) to showcase where your knowledge lies. Whether it’s a niche within your business, or business analysis, or anything in between, your social media sites don’t have to speak generally on your business all the time. Use the opportunities for specialized focus and make sure everyone knows why this is what you do best!

4) Stay ahead of the curve 

Thankfully, the world of dial-up internet has passed. Anything you post online is immediately viewable by the masses, and you can use this to your advantage. From trends within the industry to your own business developments, everything you post will be breaking news!

5) Work your image

Business can often be a dull affair. Social media, by its nature, is always ‘hip and with it,’ as my grandmother always used to say. Maybe you want to show how easy-going your company is, or how your employees like to play pranks on each other. Maybe you all meditate in the middle of the workday. No matter what small details you want to include, here’s your chance. The more connected your clients feel to you, the stronger your business relationship will be.

What social media sites best serve you in your business? What help, if any, have you received from the site itself in strengthening your relationship? What help do you WISH sites were offering? Comment back and let me know!

Your social media maven, Angela Vida

Share on Facebook

1) Clearly define your business

You want to know exactly what it is you’re offering to clients.  Even if you THINK you can describe your product or service clearly, make sure you know your own key words, so you can highlight them throughout all your media outlets to reinforce your message.

2) Choose combinations of words that will stand out 

 Just because you have clearly-defined words or phrases, does not mean they will separate your website from the pack. Try to come up with a catch phrase or unique verbiage to identify your business. Think about commercials for everything from makeup to cleaning tools: they’re always creating some sort of hybrid word to describe their product! Now, they don’t always make perfect sense, so make sure yours are direct.

3) Make friends!

The more pages that link to yours, the higher your own search results will be. Collaboration strengthens your business, so look for like-minded professionals, message boards, and organizations with which to affiliate yourself and your site. Every time you comment, post in a forum, etc, include the link to your website. It will increase traffic and potential clients!

4) Strengthen your social media

Tying in to #3, social media success requires friends, and making friends helps search engine results. However, creating a strong social media platform for your business is a necessary foundation. Utilize all social media sites, and create ways in which your business could benefit from them. Can’t think of why you would need a Twitter? Maybe you share a quote from a famous businessperson every day. Maybe you share anecdotes about what happens at the office. Maybe you tell everyone what you ate for lunch, and market it as the Diet For A Successful Business. Use your imagination!

Focusing your energy on widespread exposure will benefit your business in every capacity.  Anything you think should be added to this list? Comment with some of your ideas and tried-and-true methods!  The quest for the perfect keywords is a huge topic, and any direction is always appreciated. Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

 Your keyword wizardress – Angela Vida

Share on Facebook

Many small businesses can not grasp the great benefits of online video, when the most-buzzed-about video successes tend to be from large corporations and Fortune 500 companies. Most smaller entities still struggle to see how their little company can actually utilize video in a way that will affect the bottom line. But there are great object lessons around every corner of the online universe.

Smart small business owners are embracing the fact that video is the next great content format on the web, and will learn quickly how many ways there are to leverage video to their advantage, even if they never get millions of views.

The New York Times has a great article up highlighting a few small businesses that are using YouTube for marketing purposes. They profile a manufacturer of ceiling tiles, an online grill vendor, a smartphone parts supplier, and a specialized video camera company–detailing the ways each has found success with online video. The biggest revelation? Online video is one of the cheapest marketing tools around, and can be among the most effective.

Here is the link to the full story::

Share on Facebook

With terms such as “social media marketing” and “video SEO” now well-established in the online marketing lexicon, I thought it would be deserving to lend a new definition to a subset of social media marketing with video – “social video optimization.” I’ve covered social video marketing for ReelSEO rather extensively already; and I’m intrigued to closely follow many new and developing opportunities from it. That’s why I think it’s helpful for any business that is doing social video, to understand the distinction between the optimization of video for search engine performance versus social media channels; also, between computers and real people.

To best do that, we need to tackle the foundation of what exactly we mean by “optimization,” and how that applies to video in the media channels we flock to and generate business from. Here are my definitions, which I put together from a combination of existing web content and my own analysis and experience of being in the search, social media, and video space.
What is Optimization?

The design and operation of a system or process to make it as good as possible in some defined sense.

•Optimization – improving performance;
•Optimize – to make as perfect, effective, or functional as possible
5 Things “Optimization” needs (for doing business online):

•A purpose – understanding of what something is being optimized for.
•A process – a system or steps that need to be followed for that optimization to happen.
•A metric – how we choose to measure our optimization efforts.
•An audience – the recipient(s) of the optimization efforts.
•A value – a measure of importance and benefit to more than one party.
What is Video Optimization?
“Video optimization” can mean one or several things in regards to online channels:

•Technical quality – where the physically measure attributes of a video can meet professionally acceptable standards, general audience standards, or target audience standards.
•Creative – the originality and expressiveness of a video.
•Value ­– the worth in usefulness or importance of a video to the possessor.
•Placement – the positioning or arrangement of a video is a desired space by the video’s owner.
•Distribution – the delivery and receipt of a video to the desired websites and unique visitors, measured in both quantity and quality.
•Analytics – the logical assessment of a video (i.e, “analysis”) for intended performance results, (i.e, “conversions.”)
What is Video Search Engine Optimization?
Video SEO, or “vSEO,” is about optimizing your video content for attracting unique visitors from web-based search engines’ organic results and video search results to your website.

Any success metric for vSEO must have 3 things in its foundation:

1.An Algorithm – an effective method of well-defined instructions for optimizing your video for a search engine.
2.Indexability – Having your videos, and the links to your website, web pages, and blog posts where those videos are embedded, be indexed by the search engines (both video search engines and universal search engines).
3.Visibility – An improvement in the ranking or visibility of video in search engine listings related to your optimization efforts.
The types of search engines that apply for vSEO are those that display either one of the following:

1.Universal search results – Also known as one-box results, universal search pulls data from multiple databases to display on the same page. Results can include images, videos, and results from specialty databases like maps and local information, product information, or news stories.
2.Video search engines – Web-based search engines that allow users to search specifically for video content.

What is Social Media Optimization?

Social Media Optimization, also referred to by its acronym, “SMO,” involves driving traffic to a website through new channels beyond search engines, and engaging users in a social activity (either with users, or between users). These channels can include RSS feeds, blogs, social news sites, forums, and user-generated content sites.

Social Media Optimization is for anyone involved in online marketing, advertising, or social media to learn techniques for increasing visibility in social media searches both organically and through paid advertising

What is Social Video?
Social video is the use of video in web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into interactive dialogue, including the exchange of user-generated videos and other content pertaining to videos. (User-generated videos is also referred to as user-generated content, or “UGC”; it is also referred to as consumer-generated media, or “CGM”).

What is Social Video Optimization?
To paraphrase Wikipedia’s definition of social media, social video is the blending of the technology of online video with social interaction (i.e, an interpersonal relationship) for the co-creation of value.

Social Video Optimization can also be referred to as social media optimization, with video as the medium (i.e., the content and/or the infrastructure) to be optimized for conducing and sustaining social interaction, which leads to a positive result for both the user and the creator or business.

What Makes for An Optimized “Social Video?”
Here as some questions that I believe should always be considered for any social video strategy in business:

•Does the video reach the intended audiences on frequented social media sites?
•Does the technical quality allow for a seamless user experience?
•Does the creative capture the viewer’s attention?
•Is the length of the video acceptable in keeping the user’s attention?
•Does it have a story that’s worth telling, and retelling?
•Is the message or messages in the video communicated clearly and effectively?
•Does the user feel like their time spent engaging with the video was of value to them?
•Does the user feel incentivized to follow their video viewing experience with either a “social action.” a business conversion (lead, download, sale, etc.), or both?
•Does the video make the user want to share it with others? (For more on this, I recommend checking out this post from my video colleague, Greg Jarboe over at SearchEngineWatch, “How Do You Encourage People To Share Your YouTube Videos on Facebook, Twitter, and Blogs?”)
•Does the video offer any suitable engagement features and sharing tools?
•Are there any accessible tools or features that allow users to submit their own user-generated content or 3rd party content as a response to the video; and to share those responses with other people?
•Is their an expectation and measurement of the interpersonal relationship generated from the video or around the video – from fleeting to enduring, with various levels of commitment?
Where Social Video Optimization (SVO) Trumps Video SEO
Both Video SEO and Social Video Optimization are related to search engine marketing, but also differ in several ways. Primarily, the focus of social video optimization is on driving traffic from sources other than search engines, though improved search ranking is also a benefit of successful SVO/SMO.

SVO also has more tools to work with than Video SEO (or that are of greater benefit to SVO than Video SEO). These include:

•Syndication
•Comments and other user feedback
•User-generated (and submitted) content
•Sharing tools
•Promotional activities
•Status updates
•Other third-party community functionalities part of video
The Co-Dependency of Social Video Optimization and Video SEO
It is technically possible for Video SEO and SVO to exist independently. For example, a video optimized for Google search results and submitted only via a Google Video Sitemap, can appear in Google’s universal search results without any assistance from social media channels or visitor activity. However, one has to remember the 3 key things the Web search engines do:

1.Index text
2.Follow links
3.Measure popularity
Search engine naturally want to show what they consider to be relevant content based on these three things. Social media channels are popular, indexable sites with video, text, and sometimes offer backlinks. Social media channels do not always depend on search engines for their audience or their content. Social media channels have built-in, self-sustaining (and growing) audiences and hubs for user content, which search engines index from for their own displayed results.

Social media channels may have their own search engines, and do not need to index Web search engines results for their own content. However, much of the content that is on social media channels is likely coming from users who originally found such content from search engines. That is why the popular social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn have been adding more community-based functionality with featuring and sharing video on their websites, as well as other distribution channels.

Prediction: the Future of Social Video Optimization and Video SEO
We now reached a point for having a clearly defined and measurable business strategy that combines social media optimization with video – social video optimization, or “SVO.” Social video optimization does not require vSEO to be successful, but it should be given very strong consideration if your want to reach as many targeted people as possible (which is most often what social media marketing ascribes to do.)

I believe that businesses, which obtain an understanding and skillsets for both SVO and Video SEO, will have a huge advantage over others who are just doing one or the other. Building your SVO strategy will requiring understanding the nuances between optimizing video for social media sites and search engines; and understanding the technical aspects of computer algorithms along with the web behaviors of real people.

Source: ReelSEO Video Marketing | DVR2BNUFQ3HE

Share on Facebook

Yes, producing a quality corporate, sales or training videos takes time and money. But it’s an investment that returns extraordinary dividends. One of our clients invested in a video that promoted what they do in real estate and banking.

 They agonized over spending so much on something that simply promoted their “image” One executive said they were wasting money. That  “video” investment landed them an oversees client who would have normally had no way to “see” how great their services where. And how much did that client spend on their business? Five million dollars! Not a bad return on investment. Your mileage may vary

The advantages of using video are:
1. Why tell when you can show? If clients see it for themselves, the odds of making the sale soar.

2. Video persuades: Just watch someone watching an engaging program – it’s hard getting their attention or pull them out of show. Create the same persuasive message on tape and you’ll capture your client’s imagination too. Companies often produce video “fact sheets” and wonder why it didn’t resonate with their customers.

Create a compelling story that touches their hearts and minds, and they will make a stronger connection with your message. People view television and movies the same way no matter what the program – Whether it’s “Friends” or Big Pharmacy’s “how we treat this disease” video – a good producer engages the audience the same way – with an honest, heartfelt story. Audiences view what they see with a feeling of respect and belief, because after all, they saw it on TV. Persuade them with your message on their TV.

3. Video is constant: With video you get the exact message you want delivered every time. Your video “salesperson” never has a bad day, never is too busy to deliver the message and never varies from the key points that you want made. The same with a training video. Your employees are trained exactly the same way every time. Trained exactly the way you want them trained.

4. You are in control: When you put your companies/association’s message on video you control what that message is and how it is presented. You decide what the public or your clients should think about you, what message you want delivered and when you want it delivered.

5. Video can be there when you can’t: A videotaped message from your companies President or a training video about a new piece of equipment can be sent to your offices all over the country or the world. When you can’t be there in person your video can carry your message to employees and clients.

6. Video saves travel expenses: It’s cheaper to mail your video to multiple locations in the country then it is to send a person there. You can even it stream it on the web. You don’t have to pay for an airline ticket, meals and hotels for a video’s travel.

7. Video is a corporate image-maker: Your image, your way. Your video can tell your story, sell your product, shape public opinion and control what information you want released. You decide what is said and seen in your video. You control the image You can use the power and prestige of television to shape public opinion, in the way that you want it shaped.

8. Video shows action: With video your product or service can be seen in action, doing exactly what you say it does. People want to see the action not hear about it. Video is not an expense. It’s an investment Video is not an expense. It’s an investment. Plan and execute it well and it will deliver an extraordinary return. Remember, if they can’t see it, you can’t sell it. Help your clients visualize the product or service your company works hard to create.

SK Media Group provides video production services for large consumer brands and local small businesses in the New York, Washington DC, and Baltimore metro areas.

We take care of each and every step, from strategy and script development, to shooting, editing and graphics. SK Media Group can help you deliver game-changing video productions. Call us today at (888)446-6482. Or visit our main web site at http://www.skmediagroup.com

Share on Facebook

Video production and social media

Get the Most Out of Video Search and Social Media Recommendation
Content may still be king, but simply having great content isn’t enough, which is why you need to make a significant investment in video search engine optimization (SEO) as well as encouraging discovery and recommendation via social media. This panel from last year’s Online Video Platform Summit breaks down the challenges and opportunities presented by both search and social.

ReelSEO‘s Mark Robertson, who moderated the panel, shared data from TubeMogul that indicated that even though Google still generates the most video traffic from search, referral traffic from Facebook and Twitter is growing more quickly than search engine traffic.

Additionally, that traffic is more valuable than search referrals. “Our optimization may be driven by top celebrities we’ve worked with,” said Funny or Die‘s Patrick Starzan, “but then viewers spend a lot of time browsing and viewing other videos.”

Additionally, that traffic is more valuable than search referrals. “Our optimization may be driven by top celebrities we’ve worked with,” said Funny or Die‘s Patrick Starzan, “but then viewers spend a lot of time browsing and viewing other videos.”

We take care of each and every step, from strategy and script development, to shooting, editing and graphics.
SK Media Group can help you deliver game-changing video productions. Call us today at (888)446-6482. Or visit our main web site at http://www.skmediagroup.com

Share on Facebook

Before recording and posting a video, consider these seven presentation tips to ensure that your authenticity, expertise and passion shine through.

It takes courage to show up.

No less, showing up online where thousands of people can rewind, pause, and study if you’re the person they want to hire. People want to feel your authenticity, expertise and passion. If you’ve got these, you’re off to a good start.

Here are 7 additional tips to make it easier for your listener to hear you and take action on your message.

Tip #1
Organize and get crystal clear with what you want to convey. If you can write your purpose on the back of a business card, you have the clarity necessary to get your point across. If it doesn’t fit, keep chiseling away for your ultimate goal. Then decide on your main points and give yourself and your viewers a road map. If you have 3 points to share, tell them. People love numbers; it gives them a reference point and will keep you both on the same page. Keep asking yourself, “How can I make it easier for my listener to understand?” The more organized and focused you are the easier it will be for them to hear what you have to say.

Tip #2
Keep your sentences short. When writing your script, you can test it by recognizing if each sentence can be said in one breath. When you take a full body breath before you begin your next sentence, your voice will sound richer. By deliberately taking a deep breath, you’ll give your listeners a moment to digest what you just said. The filler words like um, ah and ya-know sneak in when we think of a speech or video clip as one entire segment. Many people unconsciously use them to string the whole speech together. Thinking of each sentence as a complete thought will alleviate these pesky filler words and keep people focused on your message.

Tip #3
When you say your name, make sure the pitch goes down at the end. If it sounds like a question (going up at the end) people will question you. Notice how people say their names on their phone recordings or when they’re introducing themselves with their elevator speech. If it goes up at the end, chances are you’ll feel uneasy about their ability. Listen to famous TV personalities like Barbara Walters and the ever-popular Walter Cronkite. When they say their name, it goes down at the end. Say Microsoft out loud. It goes down, right? Now say your name. How does it sound? An easy way to correct it is to say your first name slightly higher in pitch; the last name will automatically go down.

Tip #4
Eliminate distracting gestures. Many people say they feel better when they talk with their hands, but repetitive gestures that are on automatic take people’s attention away from what you’re saying. Making facial expressions that show your aliveness is a plus (much different than someone who makes expressions merely to get attention.) When your gestures and facial expressions match your words, they add impact and build trust. An eye-opening exercise is to have a friend or coach mimic what you are doing with your body language as you speak about a subject that’s important to you. You’ll soon see if it’s adding impact to your message or not. Generally speaking, people feel more comfortable with rounded gestures than linear, pointing type gestures. Maintain soft eye contact with the camera and feel your feet on the floor. Even though most online videos don’t show your entire body, people will still feel if you are grounded or merely a talking head.

Tip #5
Use descriptive words and adjectives when sharing a short story or testimonial. Give your listeners enough sensual stimulation to keep them involved. Ask yourself how you can make it more visual and alive. One testimonial might start with, “A woman walked into my clinic for her appointment…” Consider another version, “A frustrated and clearly overworked woman marched into my clinic determined to get relief…” Record yourself and listen. Edit for boredom and add for interest.

Tip #6
Wear solid colors. Cameras have difficulty responding to high contrast or vivid colors like black and white or bright red. For best results, wear dark blue or pastels. If you’ve had a lot of compliments on a certain color you wear, consider wearing that; color does make a difference. Avoid small check or pinstripe patterns. Wear clothes that match what you want to convey. Depending on where it’s being filmed, make sure the background is congruent with your message.

Tip #7
Before you go on camera, warm up your voice with some deep breathing and toning exercises. Shake your body and let it move however it wants to. Loosen up and relax. Take a minute and remind yourself of the passion you feel for your product or service. How has it served you? Why are you in this business? What kind of person do you want to serve and who is your ideal client? Speak to them from the core of your values and how you might help. Feel the significance of your message and don’t be shy about it. Let your enthusiasm come from the inside out and straight to the heart of the person watching.

Presenting yourself to more people through the use on online video can bring up new challenges. That’s a good sign; you’re growing. Embrace it all and celebrate your successes along the way.

SK Media Group provides video production services for large consumer brands and local small businesses in the New York, Washington DC, and Baltimore metro areas.

We take care of each and every step, from strategy and script development, to shooting, editing and graphics. Utilizing our global network of professional filmmakers, and authentic story-telling-style filmmaking,

SK Media Group can help you deliver game-changing video productions. Call us today at (888)446-6482. Or visit our main web site at http://www.skmediagroup.com

Share on Facebook