New Indiana Video Production Tools for Nonprofits from YouTube

Friday, November 20, 2009 by Kevin Hood
Online video is just in the infancy stages of tracking analytics and encouraging conversion, but YouTube just took the progress a step further with the addition of their new video tools for nonprofit organizations. Fusework Studios has probably done more Indiana video production work for nonprofits than any other corporate video production agency in the State of Indiana. Nearly all of our nonprofit clients want to share those videos on their website, so even little steps towards improving engagement, conversions and donations are a big deal to us.

YouTube has a nonprofits division that has been introducing extra features just for not-for-profit organizations. If you are a 503C you can sign up for the YouTube Nonprofit Video service here. The first new tool may not seem life changing for your nonprofit organization, but if you have ever been stuck with a stupid expression on your face (as the thumbnail for a video), you should be interested. Instead of only being able to use select screen shots that YouTube picks for you, you can now upload your own image to use as the video thumbnail. No more half closed eyes, awkward title screens or goofy smiles!

The second YouTube video tool is what inspired this blog post for nonprofit Indiana video production. YouTube recently announced annotation tools for all YouTube users. You can display notes and pop-ups anywhere in a video. Fortunately for our Indiana nonprofit clients, they also have the ability to link to specific URLs outside of YouTube! This is huge for videos that could link to landing pages, donation pages and event pages for optimal conversion. Now you can link a "donate now" graphic at the end of your video to the donation page on your website. If you would like to update your current online videos to increase conversion, or produce a new on-line video for your Indiana nonprofit organization . . . we're up on the latest technology to allow you to do just that.


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Corporate Video Production Techniques Have Changed

Friday, November 13, 2009 by Laurie Buschmann

Fusework Studios' Tips for Corporate Video ProductionCorporate video production techniques have changed.  Let's face it.  Businesses are no longer hiring production companies to produce the token "Eight to Ten Minute Corporate Video."

In this new digital age of Internet marketing and fast-paced "get in and get out" media delivery, corporate video production is being looked at in a very different way.

Don't get me wrong, corporate video production is still VERY important to a company's marketing strategy, but now, media can be delivered in a whole new way.

Here are some pointers to remember when looking in to what makes a good corporate video.

1. Cut, cut, cut.
To be a good (aka successful) corporate video, we're looking at no more than three minutes of total running time.  And recently, the trend has been even shorter.

2. Conversion is key.
The old standby has always been to have a closing billboard or graphic on your video that includes your business' website address and phone number, but that doesn't help determine how successful your corporate video was for you. 

Now, you have got to put in some sort of point of conversion. In other words, the video should end with "Go to our website, and sign up for our seminar, using our VID3O discount code." This is completely measurable and will definitely let you in on how many people saw your video AND then were compelled to do something -- which is the whole point of creating the video in the first place.

3. Take advantage of the medium.
Video is still a viable marketing tool because it does something that print, stills and websites cannot do.  It brings images and graphics to life through animation and image movement.  Wouldn't you appreciate a client testimonial much more if you saw and heard a person delivering kind words instead of just reading those same words on a page? The impact of Audio/Visual is still very good.

If you're looking for an Indiana video production company to produce a corporate video, make sure this company is discussing these three points with you.  This will ensure that your corporate video strategy is "in sync" with the rest of your marketing objectives.
 


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Video production is like drywall

Thursday, April 30, 2009 by Jason Brown
Well, it's not flat and hard, breakable and dusty, so OK...not EXACTLY like drywall, but follow me here.

Anyone can hang a 4x8 foot sheet of drywall, scrape some drywall mud on the seams and sand it...all basic functions. Easy in their own way.

BUT, have you ever tried to hang a piece of drywall? It's HARD! Very hard.

You should pay someone to put drywall up for you. They have worked for years perfecting their craft...because, believe me, after trying to drywall an island in my kitchen...it is a craft!

Now how is that like video production?

A drywaller can walk into a room and determine how many sheets and cuts it will take.
I can walk into a room and tell you how many lights we'll need to light it correctly and what Kelvin temp the light in the room is.

Drywaller will cut the pieces to the right length without measuring.
I will shoot in properly framed/focused/exposed video without measuring.

Drywaller will  produce smooth seamless transitions.
I will produce smooth seamless transitions.

You'll look at that wall and admire the quality in comparison to the initial job he came in to fix!
You'll also look at the quality of production and story-telling that I produce vs the hours and hours of shaky home video you've produced :)

That is (IMHO) how video production is like drywall!

Corporate video production should not be *do-it-yourself*...

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