Here’s a site – silly on the surface – that conveys three important messages:
1. One of the big reasons Internet video is exploding right now is that it’s finally become DEAD SIMPLE to encode and upload video to the web.
2. This site demonstrates exactly HOW easy in exactly three minutes flat. You’ve got to love a training video that cuts to the chase that fast.
3. Thinking “viral” when you create Internet video can pay big dividends. (These folks are getting tons of free advertising from all kinds of people including me.)
Warning: It you dislike frivolity, you will dislike this site. On the other hand, I’m sure many people
will enjoy it – a lot.
http://www.frenchmaidtv.com
Lest you think I am in the business of promoting mindless sexist stereotypes, here’s an interview with a whip smart young lady (she happens to be a fashion model) who develops cutting edge wireless applications in her spare time:
http://www.pbs.org/cringely/nerdtv/guests
Episode #9 of Nerd TV: “Anina”
Enjoy!
P.S. Next issue: How long? The “magic” number for Internet video length
– Ken McCarthy
P.S. For over 25 years I’ve been sharing the simple but powerful things that matter in business with my clients.
If you’d like direction for your business that will work today, tomorrow and twenty years from now, visit us at the System Club.
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Hi Ken,
I’m glad a veteran marketer like you takes the pain to advance video Internet marketing.
It was you about a year ago who was a mind openner with your E-mail series about Direct Marketing, and I had the pleasure hearing you on conferences on the phone.
Now, is there a straight forward “how to” way to make the layman like me understand how to put up videos on a site in an easy non-technical way?
Thanks and best regards,
Jacob
Jacob,
Prepare for a long ramble… 🙂
Here’s some reality:
Video is expontentially more powerful than text.
It’s also exponentially more complicated and expensive to produce. (Expensive in time and expertise even if you have the skills to do it for “free.”)
The good news is that the step of putting video on the web is the easy part of the process as the French Maids video demonstrates so ably.
How to think about video:
Think of video as the battleship of marketing. It’s got a lot of fire-power, but because of costs and logistics, it’s not something that you deploy casually.
Here are some situations where it makes perfect sense to produce video:
* client testimonials
* product demonstrations
* orienting visitors to a web site or web page
* training
* product or personality profiles
(I’m leaving out full blown video programs like Rocket Boom. That’s a step up the ladder in complexity. Probably not the place to get started.)
Actually, when we’re talking about “making a video” we really should be talking about:
* How to make a testominial video
* How to make a product demo video
* How to integrate a video greeting with a web site
* How to create a training video
* How to make a video that profiles a person or a product
OK, so to answer your question…
1. Decide on a strategy which means figuring out what kind of video you need
2. Either learn the art and science of making good videos (plan on a LONG learning curve, I don’t care what the hypesters say.)
OR find someone who has made the trip already and hire them on a per project basis to get the job done.
Litmus test for the do-it-yourself oriented: Would someone hire YOU to produce their video? If not, then your skills are probably not there yet.
3. Look at lots of videos of the kind you want to produce.
For example, if you decide that a product demo video might improve your sales, look at lots and lots of product demo vides. Note what works and note what doesn’t. Ask friends and colleagues for their impressions too. You’re as good a judge as anyone.
Then script a video. The process is called “storyboarding.” It’s a lot like drawing a newspaper cartoon with each panel showing the shot you want. The drawing can be rough as hell.
Once that is done, then you’re ready to shoot and edit the clip yourself or take it to someone who can. I’ve written about how to find people who can produce video elsewhere on this blog.
“Where to Find Great Video People”
December 23, 2005
Hi Ken,
Thanks so much for going at great lenght to answer my question in detail. It was VERY helpful!
This is certainly something of high value and I’m going to save it in computer, as well as refer friends to your blog. (I believe an e-book – or video! – from you on this theme would make a brilliant prodcut.)
I’ll also check this now:
“Where to Find Great Video People”
Thanks again and best regards!
Jacob
Dear Ken, Just send more info for a layman newbie like myself. John