Making Your Marketing Move

When I was in college years ago, I had the opportunity to take some classes in Animation.  Now I say "opportunity," because I had hoped to take a different course of classes but had to settle that year for some other "related" classes.  What I didn't realize at the time was how valuable and enjoyable understanding the fundamentals of Animation would be.

Recently, we had the opportunity to animate some promotional images for the Olympia Film Festival and create a couple of promotional videos.  Check out the video, and then look below for some tips on things to consider when looking to create an animated video from 2D images.



Tips for 2D Aminated Videos -

1. Think of your materials in layers. Is there a background image, foreground image, and character image(s) that can be animated?

2. Sound sells the motion. Make sure to use music and sound effects to add reality to the motion.

3. Animation works on a scientific principal called persistence of vision. You are tricking the eye and the brain by moving objects just a small bit per frame, and letting your brain fill in the gaps. So like Ellie's dad says in Contact "Small moves".

4. HD video is created at 72dpi (dpi is a graphics term) and varies from 1280x720 to 1920x1080 frame size. You will need rather large images to move things around on an HD animated screen.

5. Don't feel like you are married to the constraints of the originally marketing piece. As long as you honor the style and theme of the print materials you should be able to create a creative video that your clients and viewers will enjoy.

If you would like some help producing your next animated video, call Pardiman Productions at 360-259-6672 or email us at info@pardimanproductions.com to set up a free consultation.

Using Testimonials to Get Results

Ever considered producing a video to promote your business, but just don't feel like being in front of the camera?

We run into that situation often with potential clients, and one of the great ways to get around the on-camera jitters is through the use of customer testimonials.  Your customers know your business, and there are probably lots of them that would be happy to sit in front of the camera and sing your praises.

Check out this video we did for Olympia Master Builders who let us use the testimonials of some successful builders to promote their Tour of Homes, and then see some tips for your next testimonial video below.



Tips for Testimonial Videos -

1. Don't be afraid to ask for testimonials from satisfied customers - if they've expressed their gratitude in the past they will probably be happy to tell others.

2. Create some questions for them to answer that will direct them to the subject you want them to talk about - but make sure to let them know that your are not looking for canned or scripted responses.

3. Schedule more customers than you think you may need - you never know when someone will clam up, back out, or say something that you just can't use.

4. Let your customers know that not everything they say will make the final cut - this can help to ease tension with nervous customers and smooth over potential hurt feelings if someone gets left out.

5. Make sure to let your customers talk - if you talk over them or respond on camera it will make the editing more difficult and disrupt the flow of their thoughts.

If you would like some help producing your next testimonial video, call Pardiman Productions at 360-259-6672 or email us at info@pardimanproductions.com to set up a free consultation.

6 Steps to Great Video Production

Check out this article from Video Maker

6 Steps to Great Video Production

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

Visit Us at Business Showcase - Free Admission

Click here for a free admission coupon for the Thurston County Chamber's Business Showcase.

You can find us at booth #60!

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

Event Video For Local Non-Profit

We had the opportunity to produce this video for local non-profit Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County.

This video was shown at their wine and chocolate event celebrating their 20th anniversary.



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

Writing A Better Profile Script

Ever wonder why no one is watching your profile video?

The profile video is unique among promotional videos.  This is typically the first video a customer will see introducing them to you or your company.  It's like a "Digital Elevator Speech" as Jeffrey Hayzlett calls it, or you might know it as a 30 second introduction if you belong to a leads group.

Customers might find it as a link on your email, or while searching YouTube, or looking at your social media profile.   What you put in the video, however, is vitally important in catching their attention and getting them to take action.  The following outline will help you to create a better script to use on video or at a networking event.


Step 1 - The Bait
This is where you grab the viewer's attention.  This isn't where you introduce yourself, talk about your accomplishments, or list what your business does.  This is where you spend 10-15 seconds painting a mental picture of how you can solve the customers known or unknown problem.  This is where you offer a solution to what ales them.

Step 2 - The Taste
Here is where you introduce who you are, and what you do.  Don't just list your name and services.  This is where you spend 15-30 seconds talking about your knowledge and passion for what you do.  Don't waste time name dropping, let them hear about who you are.

Step 3 - The Tug
Spend another 5-15 seconds describing your uniqueness in your industry, and why you're the best choice to solve this particular problem for the customer.

Step 4 - Reel 'Em In
The last 10-30 seconds should be your call to action.  Your audience needs to know what to do next, or they will move on and forget about you.  Be specific and instruct them to call your phone number today, click on a particular link on your web page, or direct them to a web page designed to move them through to the next buying process.  This is the most important part, and often forgotten, part of your script.

Forgetting to include the call to action is like cutting your line, and letting the fish swim away.  They're probably not going to bite again.

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

Simple Tips for Basic 3-Point Lighting

Just stumbled across this video from Videomaker Magazine that does a decent job of explaining the basics of 3-point lighting.  This is a good start for anyone wanting to understand how to make their video subjects look better.




Need help producing your videos?

Call 360-259-6672
www.pardimanproductions.com

Pardiman Productions Featured in Chamber Magazine

Pardiman Productions Owner Corey Lopardi shooting an event.

Ideas For Video in Email

Have you been imagining how you might use video in your email campaign?

At Pardiman Productions one of the ways I use video in email is as part of my email signature.

You can read more about it here, and see how we use it here.

You can also use video as part of and email newsletter campaign like this. (Though clickable the video links in this email are no longer active)

There are many small business and non-profit sectors that can really benefit from video in their email.

To learn more about video in email.
Call 360-259-6672 or email us at info@pardimanproductions.com

Video In Email Can Increase Web Traffic

Have you been using video in your email marketing campaigns?  Here at Pardiman Productions we have, and have been finding the same type of success that researchers are talking about.

The Direct Marketing Association has claimed that traditional email returns over $43 dollars for every one dollar of email investment.  David Daniels, a veteran of Forrester Research and expert on email marketing trends, says video in email offers a 2-3X performance leap versus traditional email.  According to comScore, some 139 million U.S. internet users now watch an average of 83 videos online each month.

Video email is the best of three worlds, bringing together the familiarity of email, the precise control and metrics of  online newsletters, along with the visual appeal of YouTube.

Just imagine how you might use video in your next email campaign.

To learn more about video in email.
Call 360-259-6672 or email us at info@pardimanproductions.com

Owner Attends Ribbon Cutting

Pardiman Productions owner Corey Lopardi is pictured here at the ribbon cutting for Super Silver 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 Mandelin's Consignment & Accessories as an ambassador of the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce.

Owner Named Ambassador of the Month

Owner Attends Ribbon Cutting

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

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.

Owner Attends Ribbon Cutting

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

Owner Named Ambassador of the Month

Owner Attends Ribbon Cutting

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