IKEA Uses Video to Increase Business

Check out this video that shows IKEA's 365 days of video campaign.

For more marketing ideas and advice contact Pardiman Productions at 360.259.6672 or info@pardimanproductions.com.

Video Tips - Getting Good Audio

Online viewers will be forgiving of low quality video most of the time, but they expect good sound. Outside of a quite office, you really can't rely on the internal microphone on your camera to do the job.  When looking for a video camera, even a Flip style, look for one that allows you to use an external microphone.

If the option isn't there to plug in an external microphone, you can still use a separate inexpensive audio recorder and mic, and sync the two audio tracks together in post.  In a conference or seminar situation, place this mic on a podium or plug it into the house sound system to get clearer quality audio.

Always monitor your audio through headphones to make sure it is recording at the proper level, and there is no noise that you might not hear with the naked ear.

For more marketing ideas and advice contact Pardiman Productions at 360.259.6672 or info@pardimanproductions.com.

What Makes Videos Go Viral?

Check out this video about Viral Video from Social Media Examiner


from Michael A. Stelzner on Vimeo.

For more marketing ideas and advice contact Pardiman Productions at 360.259.6672 or info@pardimanproductions.com.

Can Video Help Your Retail Business?

Curious if video can help your retail business?

Check out this recent article from emarketer.com.

How Retailers Can Make Video Efforts More Effective


For more marketing ideas and advice contact Pardiman Productions at 360.259.6672 or info@pardimanproductions.com.

Optimal Video Ad Length

*from Online Video Report 2010 by TubeMogul.com

When length is factored in, medium length (1:00 – 1:30) video ads outperform both longer and shorter videos in terms of completion rates, regardless of production format, length or industry category. This sample includes 100 major brand video ad campaigns, spanning 19,759,430 streams.

In short, when making content custom for the Web, one minute to 1:30 is the sweet spot in terms of length -- longer or shorter loses viewers faster.

For more marketing ideas and advice contact Pardiman Productions at 360.259.6672 or info@pardimanproductions.com.

Audiences Appreciate Videos for Awards Events

One of the greatest things about a video produced for an awards event, is that in just a couple of minutes your audience will get to hear exactly what it is that makes the recipient deserving of the recognition.

Video is a great way to be considerate of your audience's time, by keeping the presentation short and engaging.

Here is a video we produced for the Thurston County Chamber's Boss of the Year Award's 2010 presented by Express Employment Professionals.


(for best viewing quality choose 720p)

For more marketing ideas and advice contact Pardiman Productions at 360.259.6672 or info@pardimanproductions.com.

There's More Than One Way to Shoot Video

So I came across this video today, and I think it really helps to point out just how accessible the tools are for producing video.

Canon 7D vs. Barbie Video Girl from Brandon Bloch on Vimeo.

Of course their is definitely a difference in production quality between what you get from a professional production company, and a 4 year old, but you can no longer let the tools stop you from producing something. :)

Pardiman Productions Featured in Chamber Magazine

Pardiman Productions Owner Corey Lopardi shooting an event.

Using Photos in Video - Part 2

Lets take a look at how the different video resolutions match up with the types of photos you might have for a video. (The black background represents the size of the video screen. Photos have been made smaller for space, but dimensions are relative for example)

This is the original image that you might get from a 10 megapixel digital camera (3872 x 2592 at 300dpi)






This is the same image dropped into a standard definition screen without any modification (all you see on screen is the blue upper left corner)






Here is what the same image looks like dropped into a standard definition screen when converted from 300dpi to 72dpi (conversion was done before importing into video editor)






Here is what the same image looks like dropped into a standard definition screen if it was taken from an iPhone (1600 x 1200 at 72dpi)






And here is what it looks like when you drop a web thumbnail into a standard definition screen (150x150 at 72 dpi)

HD720p and HD1080p screen looks:

Original image dropped into a HD720p screen (3872 x 2592 at 300dpi)






Original image dropped into a HD1080p screen (3872 x 2592 at 300dpi)






Here is what the image looks like dropped into a HD720p screen when converted from 300dpi to 72dpi (conversion was done before importing into video editor)





Here is what the image looks like dropped into a HD1080p screen when converted from 300dpi to 72dpi (conversion was done before importing into video editor)




Here is what the image looks like dropped into a HD720p screen when taken from an iPhone (1600 x 1200 at 72dpi)





Here is what the image looks like dropped into a HD1080p screen when taken from an iPhone (1600 x 1200 at 72dpi)





And here is what it looks like when you drop a web thumbnail into a HD720p screen (150x150 at 72 dpi)






And here is what it looks like when you drop a web thumbnail into a HD1080p screen (150x150 at 72 dpi)





So what does this all mean? Well, next time we'll look at how your project dimensions and photo dimensions determine how or if we can use your photos.

Using Photos in Video - Part 1

At Pardiman Productions we often get asked by clients to incorporate photos and other images into the videos that we produce for them. Unfortunately, these photos are often unusable for one or more reasons.

We hope that the following information might help you in choosing photos for use in your next promotional or marketing video.

To help you understand what goes into determining if a photo is usable or not for video we'll look at the resolution, dimensions, and file types that are most suitable.

The resolution of standard definition video and HD (high definition) video are both 72dpi (dots per inch). A digital photo from your camera is more than likely going to be 300dpi. However, the resolution of the web is 72dpi as well, so when that photo is converted to be used on the web, more than likely the resolution is also decreased. A photo coming from a mobile device like an iPhone is also going to be 72dpi.

The dimensions of your screen and photos are where you'll find the real difference in numbers. The dimensions of a standard definition video are 720 pixels by 480 pixels. In both photo and screen dimensions the first number is always the width, and the second number is always the height. A wide-screen standard definition image is 854 x 480. 720p HD dimensions are 1280 x 720, and 1080p HD are 1920 x 1080. An image at highest resolution from a 10 megapixel camera is going to be aprox 3872 x 2592, while your iPhone image is listed at 1600 x 1200, and a web based thumbnail is usually a mere 150 x 150.

You can easily find the dimensions and resolutions of your photos by right-clicking or control-clicking on the photo and choosing the 'get info' option.

Next time we'll show some examples of differen't images and how they match up to video screen dimensions.

Happy Holidays From Pardiman Productions

Using Everyday Email as a Marketing Tool

How many emails do you send you a day?

Ever wonder if those emails could be used to help promote your business, products, and services?

An often overlooked source of email promotions is your email signature. You can add a link in your signature to a video about you, your company, a new product, or a customer testimonial.

This free promotional opportunity is there every time you send out an email. If you would like to learn more, give me a call.

Corey Lopardi
Owner
Pardiman Productions

To contact me or learn more:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FEk2JuoWGI
P 360.259.6672
www.pardimanproductions.com

EDC Awards Video for Olympia Orthopeadics Association

This video was produced as part of the Thurston County Economic Development Council's award's ceremony. Olympia Orthopeadics Association received the award for best corporate business.

Owner Featured on Magazine Cover

Pardiman Productions owner Corey Lopardi is pictured here on the cover of the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce Voice magazine.

Owner Attends Ribbon Cutting

Pardiman Productions owner Corey Lopardi is pictured here at the ribbon cutting for 4th & Brooklyn Studio as an ambassador of the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce.

Owner Attends Ribbon Cutting

Pardiman Productions owner Corey Lopardi is pictured here at the ribbon cutting for Fear Nought Productions as an ambassador of the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce.

EDC Award Video for Great Wolf Lodge

This video was produced as part of the Thurston County Economic Development Council's award's ceremony. The Great Wolf Lodge received the award for best new business.

10 Tips to a Better Profile Video - #5 Sound Tips

Tip #5 – Sound Tips

Part of a 10 part series based on the presentation given on June 1st 2009.

There are many aspects of a profile video that viewers will make accommodations for, but poor sound quality is not one of them. There are a few simple tips that can make a big difference in how your profile video sounds.

The first thing you want to do is find a quiet place to shoot. Now this may sound a bit obvious, but a noisy shooting area can make a profile video almost unbearable to watch. Music in the background, loud air ducts or machinery, phone conversations from coworkers can all make your important message hard to hear.

The next thing you can do to make your profile video sound better is use an external microphone. A built in camera mic is designed to pick up a wide pattern of sound. This means that not only will it pick up what you're saying, but also that clock ticking on the wall, your computer humming, and your foot tapping nervously on the floor. Many external microphone options are available, from ones you would put on a stand to lavaliere mics that clip to your clothing. Just make sure that the mic has a narrow pick-up pattern, and you position it close to the person speaking.

Also, you always want to monitor your audio with headphones when recording to catch and noises or sound glitches that your mic might catch that your ears don't. Not monitoring the audio can also lead to accidentally recording no audio at all.

Lastly, if your camera has a visual meter to monitor audio you should make sure to set your audio level before recording to make sure the audio is not too low, or too high. Usually the meeter will tell you it is too high by a visual meeter with a red zone. Going into the red every once and a while is okay, but if the sound stays there it will sound bad on your profile video

Check back for "10 Tips to a Better Profile Video - #6 Camera Tips

Ribbon Cutting Video for Local Company

We recently produced a video for Tumwater based Warren Business Services

They are a great new computer monitoring and repair shop.



This video highlights there recent ribbon cutting event.

TV Commercial for Local Fireplace & Spa Retailer

This TV commercial was produced by Pardiman Productions for Olympia Fireplace & Spa to run on Comcast.

This spot consisted of a half day shoot, and follow up voice over recording to produce 4 spots for broadcast.