Author: DigitalShoebox

January 17, 2017 In The Business of Video By DigitalShoebox

NEW SERIES: Through My Lens – Stories of how video impacts your business

A brand new series that gives my clients the spotlight to share how video made an impact, professionally or personally. While I am a fan of case studies, a number of my clients are in highly competitive fields and are reluctant to share their marketing strategies with the world at large. I can totally respect that since most people don't want to read a lengthy case study anyways. The format of Through My Lens (#throughmylens) will be fluid. Sometimes the story will be in-depth and lengthy. Other posts will be brief and presented in a list format. What I want you to

November 17, 2016 In Social Video, Video Marketing Tips By DigitalShoebox

The Top 3 Video Platforms for 2017

Once you've created video for your business, you need to know where to share it. You cannot be in business these days without having heard about how wonderful video can be for conversion. Everything you've heard is true: product videos can increase purchase intent by as much as 80%; home page videos can keep visitors on your website 2 minutes longer; about me videos can build immediate trust. You've done all the right things: gave your marketing department the go-ahead to add video to the mix, planned your content strategy and hired a video production company. Your video is shot and edited

October 23, 2016 In The Business of Video, Video Ideas By DigitalShoebox

Knowing the power of DIY video

Why is DIY video so popular? The answer to the question is so simple. DIY video is hugely accessible to everyone. If you have a smartphone, you have access to a powerful pocket producer. With every updated version, the technological advances are startling. If you own an iPhone 6, you have the ability to shoot 4K video - that is a quality that could only be found in the priciest of professional cameras. Today's consumers are living - and capturing - their lives by the seat of their pants. Literally. On a daily basis, we make the decision to leave our larger cameras

October 11, 2016 In The Business of Video, They like me, they really really like me By DigitalShoebox

9 steps I took to get over the fear of being in front of the camera

Let's face it - most of us are not meant to have a career in front of the lens, but that doesn't mean you should never step in front of the camera. When I launched ChicFlicks, I was pissed off. I was tired of my fellow female business owners feeling inadequate and afraid to get in front of the camera. Without fail, every one of them worried about their weight, or hair, or makeup, or sounding stupid. Without fail, every one of them launched a business that was successful, that created income, that helped other people. This was a huge disconnect. And I was

October 5, 2016 In The Business of Video, Video Ideas By DigitalShoebox

The power of a video testimonial

Take your word of mouth marketing to a higher level with video Every day, we find ad cards, notepads and fridge magnets inside our mailboxes. But truthfully, how many times have you actually reached out to someone who randomly appeared there among the bills and community news? Businesses are built on referrals and real-life experience. When you need a lawyer or a real estate agent, do you go straight to your mug cupboard? No. You reach out to your family, friends and community. We put high value in the experiences of people we trust. Word-of-mouth marketing is more powerful and influential than any

August 2, 2016 In The Business of Video, Video Ideas By DigitalShoebox

Want your profile to stand out? Add animation.

Animated video continues to grow in popularity Over the last year, ChicFlicks has seen a tremendous rise in requests for animated video. Creators love animated video because it allows us to remove the limits of live video and really flex our imaginations. Clients love it because it is easily digestible, highly shareable and can give you an edge over your competitors. On a psychological level, animations appeal to many senses because they are a mixture of sound, vision, movement, colours and text. That is why, as kids, we found Saturday morning cartoons so captivating: our brains respond well to the mix of visual and

June 22, 2016 In The Business of Video, Video Marketing Tips By DigitalShoebox

How to shape your video content to your ideal client

Crafting your ideal avatar story will steer your video content in the right direction When you think about adding video to your marketing mix, it's not enough to just shoot a video, post it on your site and hope for the best. You need to start the process by really knowing who your ideal client is and what problem you are specifically solving. Before you turn on the camera, a worthy exercise is to tell your ideal client story in as much detail as possible. Take time to consider every part of the client story - age, gender, profession, hobbies, family unit,

May 17, 2016 In The Business of Video By DigitalShoebox

Reaching your audience with animated video

Using animated video, you can create a hub of video content without ever stepping in front of the camera Over the last year, Chicflicks has seen an increase in the demand for animated video. The applications have been as varied as the custom characters we create. Our clients have reached out, searching for an interesting way to stand out from their competitors. Chicflicks is currently in the midst of creating a 10-video animated series for Nusite, a Toronto-based basement waterproofing and underpinning company. The first video introduced the company, and within a month, the video had more than 23,000 views. Part of the

May 11, 2016 In They like me, they really really like me By DigitalShoebox

Appreciating your Business Bullies

When confronted with a business bully, do you fight or flee? Something happened this week that left me really bothered. I should note that there is a good chance the subject will read this posting, but I won't be silenced by fear. What started off as a collaborative conversation, quickly turned ugly. After a few minutes of friendly conversation, I found myself holding the receiver to my ear while I listened to the other party raise their voice from urgent to outright yelling in my ear. I couldn't get a word in, and I felt myself getting angry that I was unable