Category Archives: Explainer Videos

6 Reasons Why You Should Make Video Marketing a Priority

In the age of social media and content sharing, we explore why video marketing should be at the top of your to-do list 

In the days of dial-up, you wouldn’t dream of trying to load up a 10 second video of a cat playing a piano, let alone a 2 minute long video just to watch the ethos of somebody’s business. Nowadays, we scroll through our social media feeds at lightening speed, watching video after video just to fill our tube, train or bus journey. This is not a mere phase of technology boom; instant video sharing is here to stay. As we saw from the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014, the power of viral video can be global and really spread the word about your business or cause.

 

1. Utilise Your Resources

 

It is no secret that ‘YouTubers’ earn a shed load of money for uploading 5-minute videos of putting on make-up, playing video games, or simply showing off their daily life. These unlikely stars have had a helping hand in making video content a key way for people to access information quickly. A lot of these young entrepreneurs found a rising gap in the market and latched on to it by creating interesting content for their viewers by tailoring content into bite size, well-produced chunks that keep people engaged. However, we are not here to talk about these curators of content, this was just the catalyst of things to come. Now, we have so many video sharing apps and websites that there is simply no excuse not to utilise them. YouTube is just one outlet to market and keep your consumers interested, whatever your business may be. Apps such as Vine, Instagram and Snapchat – where the users can create videos only seconds long – pushed for social media users to focus on short, punchy and engaging videos. Facebook shortly followed in these footsteps, offering a heavily weighted timeline of videos with many of those being sponsored explainer and corporate videos. If you came here wanting just one good enough reason to utilise video marketing and content sharing for your business, this would be it.

 

2. Sharing is Caring

 

When someone finds something funny, engaging or emotional, you can bet your bottom dollar that they will want to share that with their friends, family or colleagues. Whether this is an interesting article, a picture of puppy or an incredible business idea that they can’t wait to explore, people want to show this to others to create a reaction. This is exactly what you want the viewers of your content to be thinking. A good way to challenge this theory before you put your content out to the masses is to show it to one of your friends, family or co-workers and ask them honestly if they would share this after watching it.

 

3. Brand Recognition

 

You want the style of your video to reflect the brand that you are. Putting together a video with dark colours and clean lines may not be appropriate for a children’s clothing company, however, it may be really engaging for the customers of a technology company. Getting the potential consumers to instantly recognise your brand seconds into your videos will allow people to remember your business and be more likely to return to it in the future.

 

4. SEO

Not only does brand recognition help drive traffic to your website, but it also increases your SEO. It helps to push you to the top of the search engines and is likely to increase the click rate from video to webpage. Including relevant tags and web links to your content will help to also improve this.

 

5. Suitable for all devices

Making sure that any of your video marketing is, including (and probably most importantly) your explainer video, is suitable for all devices is a very key detail. Is your video suitable for all types of smart phones, such as iOS and Android? Can you watch this in high definition on a laptop or desktop as well as a phone or tablet? Is the content suitable to watch on a smaller screen, such as a phone, as well as a large screen, such as a desktop computer? These are all details that need to be thought about from the very early stages of creation right to finalizing the finished production.

 

6. Content, content, content!

Finally, it would be silly to not mention content. Of course all of the resources and tips above will help you to tailor your use for video marketing, but your video will not make an impact if it is uninteresting, inappropriate for your business or produced poorly. You may have great ideas for your next marketing video, but creating and executing that content is crucial. Is it engaging? Is it relevant? Does it make you want to re-watch and share? Conduct your own research and look at other businesses similar to your own. Have they utilised video marketing? If so, how long are the videos? How are they designed? What social media have they used to place their video marketing? Have their consumers taken interest and ‘liked’ or shared their video? These types of questions will help you to understand how to curate your own content and how best to exploit it.

 

Ranging from explainer videos to promotional videos and corporate videos to animation, we can help guide you in your journey to creating and producing great content. Contact our team of experts today and get your video marketing on a roll!

Generation Now

THE POWER OF THE ONLINE BLOGGER

10 years ago, if you muttered the words ‘blogger’, ‘vlogger’ or ‘YouTuber’ in the presence of a business professional, you would probably be greeted with a bemused look upon their face. 20 years ago, those words merely didn’t exist, let alone become a valid stream of income. YouTube, the main platform for the 21st Century ‘blogger’, has enabled people to connect with the rest of the world by simply using home-recorded videos created by someone with a hobby. A savvy blogger filming themselves doing a simple review on a product or a tutorial on how to create ‘the perfect red lip’ has now snowballed into creating some of the highest earning, self-employed, influential people all over the world. We delve into the lives of these savvy business men and women, and how it can help you.

How do they make money?

To begin with, YouTube was just a platform to give people the outlet they wanted to show off their talents or hobbies, expanding from written online blogs. The more views a video would receive and interest it gained would entice advertisers to place their commercial on said video. For example, an advert with the latest type of lipstick may be shown on a bloggers video of a make-up tutorial, providing that blogger attracted a substantial amount of viewers. Advertisers then pay YouTube, who take some of the cut and then pass on the rest to the video blogger who created the tutorial. However, these types of earnings may look like pennies compared to the impact these ‘YouTubers’ are making.

Branding and Merchandise

Many YouTubers have moved on from the traditional income stream of advertising (although, don’t get me wrong, some of the biggest names online get a hell of a lot from one major company advertising on their video). Some of the most popular bloggers are now a household name and create bigger income streams from the likes of branding and merchandise. This can include partnering with big brands to creating their own brand. Some have gone on to release sell-out books, make-up lines, fashion labels/brands and even just branding their own imaging on merchandise can earn them a big buck. Some partner with major brands in order to promote themselves and sell a product and most of them create videos with a certain product to talk about, in which case, they have to label the video as an ‘#AD’ (by law).

 

Stars of the show

You think we’re joking? Well, just to make you more familiar with the process, we present to you some of the ‘stars’ of the show…

Zoella (Zoe Sugg)

One of the most influential YouTubers on the internet. With a whopping 11.2 million subscribers to her channel and over 840 million views on her videos, anything she promotes, sells. She has more followers than Barack Obama and had an invite to have tea with Prince Harry, but this isn’t merely enough. Some of her accolades include a sell out beauty collection with Superdrug in 2015 and her own book ‘Girl Online’ selling over 80,000 copies in the first week, making her the fastest selling debut novelist since records began. She began her blog in 2009, sat in her bedroom of the family home, because of this she is now known as one of the biggest influencers for young people in Britain with an estimated net worth of £3m.

Alfie Deyes

Or ‘Mr. Zoella’ is the other half to Zoe Sugg. Both popular YouTubers in their own right before becoming a couple, Alfie commands a subscribing audience of 5.4 million and over 435 million views to his channel ‘PointlessBlog’. For young viewers, this channel is about fun challenges, games and… eating candy on camera (Yep, you heard us correctly, this particular ‘candy eating’ video, that was uploaded less than a month ago, boasts almost 2 million views to date).

Pixiwoo

In 2008, Samantha Chapman, previously a make-up artist, sat in front of her webcam, ‘bored one day’ and decided to start filming make-up tutorials online. Her sister, Nicola, then joined her in the venture and together they produced the channel (and now brand name) ‘Pixiwoo’. Aside from their YouTube channel creating a sizable stream of income, they also have their own range of cosmetic brushes and worked with some big names within the fashion and celebrity industry, whilst also running a five-day make-up course from their studio in Norwich.

These are just a mere few of the hugely successful Bloggers/Vloggers/YouTubers/Influencers, whatever you want to call them! Below are some of the rest that are extremely powerful in their own right.

Samantha Maria

Subscribers: 1.8M

Views: 151M

Formerly known as ‘beautycrush’, this influencer began creating fashion, styling and make-up videos and now, with her boyfriend, run a sell-out fashion label ‘Novem & Knight’ and still earn off creating personal and sponsored videos.

Patricia Bright

Subscribers: 955k

Views: 84M

Previously working in finance, Patricia now runs a hair extension brand alongside her blogging as well as being a brand ambassador for Loreal.

Tanya Burr

Subscribers: 3.6M

Views: 311M

Alongside Zoella, she has been a ‘cover girl’ for one of the best selling glossy magazines in the UK and has a sell-out make up range in Superdrug.

In The Frow

Subscribers: 522k

Views: 28M

‘Inthefrow’ is a brand created by Victoria, a writer, photographer and editor. She is now an ambassador for Loreal alongside Patricia Bright whilst running a successful written blog and online YouTube videos. Known as a ‘lifestyle’ blogger, she talks about high-end fashion, make-up, food and travel.

 

What does this mean for you?

The above are some of the most sought after names within the online industry – and outside. So making this work for you and your business could really prove difficult. However, we are just demonstrating the sheer scope of media and culture that these names possess. It is these people that are the future of advertising and how, you, as a business owner, could be able to connect with your costumer in the most efficient way.

Reaching Out

We are a big supporter of producing great quality content and videos for any business. Connecting with the blogging community now has a huge advantage in many ways. You could start your own blog, depending on what type of business you have. Creating an authentic way to connect to your target market and making that translatable through both yourself and your products could be a double win for you and your company. If you aren’t as fond of the idea of creating your own blog or you dealing with a business that is on a much more grand scale, then doing your research and reaching out to the influencers of today could seriously win you big interest from consumers you didn’t even know existed.

Authenticity

More often than not, some YouTubers won’t agree to advertise something that they haven’t tried or they are not passionate about. Sending out products to relevant and popular Bloggers that talk to your target audience could lead to an unsponsored ‘ad’ with them talking about your product simply because they love it. Free. Advertising. What more could you want? It could consist of paying for one of your ads to appear at the beginning of their videos (depending on the popularity of the blogger, this could be a costly affair), or even paying for a sponsored ad where you partner up and/or pay the blogger to advertise your product or service on their channel. But remember, keep it authentic, only target people you think will understand the product and love it as much as you do!

Happy to help!

Want to create your own professional video or learn more on other great marketing ideas? Please contact us today! We look forward to helping you get the most out of your business.

Important Things to Think About Before Creating Your Start-Up Video

Whether you are just starting out or you have long been in the game and looking for fresh ideas, we all know how important it is to have a start-up video with gusto! It is there to represent your company in a nutshell, so it is imperative to keep it authentic, engaging and informative. Here are some tips to help you tidy loose ends and, ultimately, create a fantastic investment.

Plan in Advance

It seems trivial, but this is one of the most important things you can do for any aspect of your business. Knowing your targets and what results you want to see from your video is a good place to start. If you have someone helping you out with the production side of it, make sure to be clear on your vision and be specific.

Budgeting

Whilst it is difficult to know how much it will all cost to begin with, make sure you know how much you are wanting to, and have, to spend on your video whilst leaving yourself some wriggle room. It is smart to do your research before you begin so you know exactly how to deal with each stage of the process. You want to make sure your start-up video has some staying power, but you don’t want it to break the bank. This is why planning in advance is so important, you want to be able to budget whilst having the best quality video you can produce within it.

Presentation

Whether this is a new venture or you’re just looking to re-vamp your business model, it is easy to believe that the most coverage of your user interface the better for your business’ brand. However, it is very likely that your website and/or app will change as your company grows, so avoid over-sharing in order to avoid confusion from your customers. The same goes for your logo. You want it to be recognizable to your customer-base, but you also want it to be updateable without too much of a drastic impact. Sure, you want people to know and understand your brand but be aware that over-using your company logo may make it harder to change or update in the future without consequences of alienating your customers.

First Impressions count

You want your customers to be impressed with your work so far, so sometimes it can be hard to avoid voicing your achievements and important cliental. We understand that you want to shout these things from the rooftops, however, it can make your start-up video seem boastful and can put people off. Including the names of existing clients (in order to boost your company’s profile) may change over time and cause a lack of authenticity to your business, so keep things like your cliental to your testimonials, then you can really big it up!

Get Involved

Having a strong and savvy team behind your company can really have an impact on how your company is portrayed. It shows your customers that your passionate about your business and care for the people who have helped you build it, which breeds a sense of loyalty, trust and security. So get your team involved in the start-up and video marketing! You might tell people you have a strong team behind you, but seeing it for themselves will really give your videos a strong message.

Think About Your Future Customers

It can be easy to get wrapped up in the culture that surrounds your business and have a great influence from the area in which it will be based, but consequently, it can have a limiting effect on your customer base. Whilst you want to have a clear demographic in mind, don’t be too specific on the area that surrounds you by using language that is too colloquial. Be open and universally understood so that your potential future customers can connect to you.

Be Proud!

Ultimately, you want your company to be a roaring success, and your start-up video is a big part of getting your business out there to the masses, so be proud! Show it off and stay focused. Being connected through online platforms such as social media has swiftly become the most important way of promoting yourself and reaching your customers, so it is crucial that you present your video, not just on your website but through social media and apps to get as much coverage as possible.

If you would like to know more about how to create a successful start up video, or you need some inspiration to get the most out of your video marketing techniques, then please contact us today. We look forward to helping you create something that you will be proud to show off!

5 Tips to Help Create the Ultimate Explainer Video and Script

Picture this: It’s Monday morning, you have beaten the mad rush to the office, finally made it to your computer, coffee in hand, you take a breath in and you eventually feel ready to create that killer content that will completely transform your business, and then… You end up staring into the white abyss that is a blank word document for a good 10 minutes, rifling through your thoughts for ideas? Well, at Stormnet Media, we understand that, when creating the perfect script for your explainer video, it can be hard to encapsulate the best of your business and put it into just a short few minutes’ worth of content. Here are some handy tips to help you get the best out of your creativity (and beat the Monday morning blues)!

1. First Impressions Count

The best way to keep your potential future customers interested is to explain to them what you are about, as a business, in the very first part of your video. You want to get your message across within the first 30 seconds of the video, and decorate with extra content later, in order to keep them watching on. There is nothing worse than vague intentions and may make your company look like it doesn’t know what it is about.

Our Advice: Take a piece of paper and a pen and write down your company’s tag line or ‘motto’ in the middle, then create a spider diagram around it, writing short notes down on what you think this means to you as a the business and to the consumer. This is a good way to find out what you think is the most important thing that customers should know about you within the first 30 seconds. 

2. Short but Sweet

Now, we have spoken about this plenty of times before, but we simply cannot stress it enough! Keeping your video precise yet informative shows the customer that you are not there to waste there time, but to provide a helpful service.

Our Advise: Similar to our first tip, you want to make sure that your video is full of content before you add the flowery decorations that make your video and company sound that little bit different. So make sure you know what content it is that you need to include and separate these points into a ‘definitely’, ‘maybe’ and ‘unnecessary’ columns. It will help you decipher what is really important to the consumers and what you need to focus on.

3. Picture It

Okay, you’ve got the important stuff done. Now it’s time to be a little more creative! Since you know what you want to say to your customer, it’s imperative that you know how to want it to look when portraying it through video. You want to have an appropriate animation or live scene and you want to engage your viewers.

Our Advice: Tell it like a story. Think of it like starting a new book, the first chapter is crucial. It has to be engaging from the first word that is read or spoken and then it has to hold its gusto! One way to keep your viewers happy and excited by your content is to tell it like a tale. Getting together facts and statistics and throwing it out to people shows that, yes, you have done your research, however, it can often come across as clinical, non-personal and a bit dry. So, make sure to create a storyline that keep your viewers hooked until the end!

4. Pick the Right Storyteller!

Now we have got it sussed and you’re on your way to create a killer story for your content, having the right storyteller for your video is key and needs to match the energy of your company and it’s values. For example, a company promoting toys for toddlers is probably going to have a different tone to one that is promoting meditation apps!

Our Advice: Keep the Pace. You want to make sure that this video is a winner and really draws attention to your business in a good way. If it is a relatively straightforward, fact heavy video then you probably want it to be bold and clear but friendly, whereas, if it you are promoting an online game or app then you want it to be upbeat and animated. Either way, the audience needs to relate to the tone of your video, so make sure to keep the pace whilst explaining clearly and rhythmically, to not lose attention from the viewer. 

5. Keep it Personal

When telling a story, you want the viewer to feel involved and connected. Ultimately, you want them to feel as though your company is the best to provide this particular service because you care about them, personally. We believe that this is the most crucial role that your video has to portray.

Our Advice: Always address the customer directly and never speak down. You don’t want to be re-telling people what they already know or over-explaining your company. The customer wants to feel as though what you are offering is special and helpful to them, rather than ‘talking up’ your own business needs or how well you’re doing, you want to show them that you are there for them. You can speak directly to customers by simply addressing the audience as ‘you’ and ‘your’ needs rather than ‘them’ or ‘their’ needs.

We hope that this has inspired you to create that Ultimate Explainer Script, however, if you are ever in doubt or may need a little more inspiration then we would love to hear off you. You can contact us via our website or call 01527 910050.

How to avoid the biggest pitfall that will ruin your video

One of the most valuable skills that I’ve acquired over the almost 30 years of being in the ‘video business’ is that of scriptwriter. Don’t get me wrong, there are lots of great skills to be gained in this industry such as cameraman, animator or editor but without a good script or creative idea the whole thing is a non-starter.

Now, while I’m not likely to be composing any prose that will be studied for eternity by school children or writing the next Hollywood block buster, clients appreciate the friendly, direct and conversational tone that I try to achieve. When writing for video one of the biggest challenges that I always face when putting together a script is avoiding the use of jargon.

Jargon

Headache inducing words

Jargon is defined as “special words or expressions used by a profession or group that are difficult for others to understand” and this is the whole problem – most people want to be able to understand what you are saying in the easiest and most simple terms – especially when it comes to video.

In a recent survey by the BBC the biggest thing that puts people off buying technology is high tech babble and jargon. Unfortunately this cuts across most industries with almost all having their own special words for things.

Here’s a very funny spoof video that I love that’s overloaded with jargon:

The upshot of all this that people simply don’t buy stuff if they don’t understand it. I’ve seen lots of videos for things that I’m genuinely interested in but don’t understand the benefits because the person who wrote the script focused on jargon packed features instead of telling me what it could do for me.

Let’s look at a (real) BAD example:

[XYZ Product] analyses disparate data streams into market equipped opportunities by amalgamating data from numerous feeds. By then purging, supplementing and evaluating it the [XYZ Product] will deliver business intelligence, insight and a set of key performance indicators to allow you to expose mission critical opportunities for growth and development”.

Huh

Amazingly, this is a genuine line from an online product video (that shall remain nameless) that almost gives you a headache hearing it! This is the sort of utter nonsense that’s like have a full time ‘sales prevention officer’!

Instead, this is what it should have said:

“[XYZ Product] works with your data, wherever you have it to help you make better decisions, offer better products and sell more of them.”

Put yourself in the shoes of your audience and just ask “what can you do for me?” – it’s a simple idea but trust me it works. If this is central to your thoughts and you steer clear of jargon then you’ll be heading in the right direction.

Unfortunately some phrases I’ve heard all too often in videos offer nothing but a barrier to understanding. Typically, they sound quite impressive but don’t mean anything. Here are a couple of the worst culprits:

Customer Focused – This is a meaningless phrase as by definition all companies are ultimately customer focused because that’s where the money is. What’s usually meant by this is to provide a good service. While you can’t just say this you can use testimonials to provide the social proof you need to prove it.

Full-Service – this is another phrase to avoid. Firstly, no company is ‘full-service’ and secondly it often confuses people as to what you actually mean. Phrases that are obviously not true don’t endear you to an audience.

We Give 110% – We know that this means that you’ll go above and beyond the level required but again it’s just meaningless jargon. It’s so overused that it can have the reverse affect and give a negative and untrustworthy signal to a buyer – so don’t do it.

Jargon Gone

If only it was this simple…

Also think benefits – people don’t (mostly) care if your product has an ‘overhead grimble thruster’ of if you are the ‘market leader’ – they just want to know how they will benefit. So don’t be afraid to ditch the Jargon and be a simple script-writer… your audience (and your bank manager) will thank you for it.

Written By Ian Stainton. Ian is the CEO and Founder of Stormnet Media Ltd, an award winning video production and digital media agency based near Birmingham in the UK. He is trusted by global brands, SMEs and start-ups to help them engage and interact with their customers  - ultimately selling more stuff. You can check him out on Google+

Explainer Videos – The Best Of The Best

We’re always looking at the explainer videos of others for inspiration. Here is our compilation of some of the best we have come across…and one of the worst so you can see how not to do it!

1. Chipotle – ‘Back To The Start’

We love this video and in fact it is quite unique in many ways. There is no script, there is no clear product and the story takes the viewer through a number of emotions from start to finish. There are the cute cylindrical piggies at the start (Ahhh), then there is the realisation that the piggies are off to meet their doom (Oh) and possibly a little anger and guilt about mankind’s wanton destruction of the planet.  And then Chipotle makes the world right again with their clear ethical message that makes us want to buy their products and perhaps stroke a cylindrical pig on the head. This video is simple, it’s quirky and it features a Willie Nelson Coldplay cover. What’s not to like?

2. TED Education – ‘One Is One…Or Is It?’

Explainer videos don’t have to be selling a product or promoting a service. Just take a look at this video from TED Education. Now, if you had taken the same subject matter and published it in text form, you probably would have lost a good slice of your audience. But add pictures, colour, music and animation and it’s a complete different story. Video can transform a subject and make it intriguing, memorable and engaging and TED has worked the medium perfectly here.

3. MINT – ‘The Best Free Way To Manage Your Money’

Mint is a shining example of why some services are best suited to animation rather than a live video shoot. Mint had quite a complex product to advertise and they needed to do it in such a way so that they gained the trust of their audience. After all, their product pulls information from their customers’ bank accounts. They needed a video that would show clear screenshots of the product in action and a clear message on how secure the service is. They do this perfectly by taking advantage of animation that instantly familiarises viewers with the arrangement and design of the product.  

4. The Dollar Shave Club – Live Action Explainer Video

The moment The Dollar Shaving Club’s video starts, you know you are onto something a little edgy. With the slogan “Our Blades Are F***ing Great,” you immediately realise you’re not watching an ad with a corporate message. Wacky, memorable and fun, this video was designed to appeal to 20-30-something men who would be interested in ordering a steady supply of affordable razors online. We think they have done an awesome job!

5. Poopouri - Warning! Do not watch if you are easily offended. 

When we first saw this live action explainer for a product called Poopouri we thought it was a spoof product or an April Fool’s prank. But no, just take a look at the reviews on Amazon to see for yourself that Poopouri is very much alive and kicking and doing rather jolly well for itself. It really does go to show that there is a market for anything, but that video can make those awkward or embarrassing products much easier to advertise.

So there you have it. These are just some of the ‘best of the best’ posts we will be featuring in coming months and we would love to hear from you if you have your own nominations.

Oh wait…we promised you the worst explainer video too, didn’t we? 

Well, here it is and we almost can’t bring ourselves to even share it, but it does highlight how bad an explainer video can be. Is it the jarring voice over? Could it be the amateur Powerpoint slide style animations? Or is it the drab colours or the annoying sound effects? Or is it that now and again the brand name ‘Chitrr’ sounds like something completely inappropriate that only Poopouri could deal with?  We’ll leave it to you to decide.

Stormnet Media – The Home Of Truly Great Explainer Videos

So, why didn’t we feature one of our videos in our ‘best of the best’ collection? Well, it’s not really up to us to decide, but we do know that our captivating explainer videos go on to do some amazing things for our clients. Like the videos you see before you, we take the time to understand a business, the target audience and the best way to make a connection in around 60 minutes.

Think you’ve got a great story for video? We’ll turn it into something spectacular. Speak to us today and find out how our video production services can help you to make an impact with your audience. Call us today on 01527 910050 or request a quote and we will get back to you as soon as possible. 

 

Explainer Video Case Study – Bisbell Magnets

Bisbell Magnets have been manufacturing and supplying magnetic products and magnetic materials since 1971 and they are now one of the leading companies in their field. Their innovative products and commitment to quality were deserving of a very special explainer video.

In fact, they ordered two!

There are effectively two sides to the Bisbell product line – premium quality knife storage and their versatile range of magnetic materials. Bisbell Magnets wanted a separate video for each that would showcase their products and their many features and benefits. They also manufacture bespoke products and wanted their videos to highlight this.

Bisbell magnetic knife storage and more ......   YouTube (3)

Getting To Grips With The Brief

Bisbell were really open to ideas and for there to be a fun and fresh element to their videos. Their knife storage products are diverse and range from classic designs perfect for the professional kitchen to funky neon designs that would look great in the contemporary home. Their magnet sheeting products are also the perfect solution for stores looking for a versatile advertising solution.

We love speaking to clients to get a feel for their business and what they hope to achieve with their video. It’s probably the most important part of the briefing process as it allows us to share our expertise and ideas and to get a firm idea of what the client needs.

Writing A Killer Script

It all starts with the script. The script forms the foundation of the video production process and is the first glimpse a client gets into how awesome their video will be. At this stage we work out the script for the voice over and also work out some animation ideas so the client can really get a feel for how the video will play out on screen.

Most of the time, we produce explainer videos for products or services that solve a problem. The purpose of the video is to tell viewers how their problem can be solved, and we often only have 60 seconds to do that! But when you consider that we need to hook viewers at around the 5 second mark to watch the video to the end, we often have our work cut out for us. The good news is that we have an expert creative team that have written hundreds of scripts over the years!

Getting To The Heart Of The Problem And Solving It

So, the problem for Bisbell customers was that they needed somewhere to store their expensive knives or some way of changing their advertising displays quickly and easily.

Remember, we only had 60 seconds to get the message across. Here’s how we approach most explainer videos:

  • We describe the problem.

  • We agitate the problem a little more.

  • We reveal the solution and deliver it with impact.

  • We leave the viewer with a powerful call to action that compels them to take action immediately.

We worked closely with Bisbell to understand the problems of their customers and the solutions available. They wanted a video that would present their products in a fun and enticing way that they could use on their website, in client offices and at exhibitions.

Choosing A Captivating Voice Over

The voice over stage is crucial to the sound and feel of the video so we choose the voice over artists we work with very carefully. We are quite lucky in that we have forged strong working relationships with three dynamic and professional artists who have worked for prestigious brands such as Apple, Jaguar and Hyundai.

Bisbell Magnets decided to work with Emma Thurston – an excellent choice. She’s the voice of many ads including those for Littlewoods, Hyundai and Natwest, to name a few. Getting the voice over just right is important for both the client and our animation team and it forms the wireframe that we use to build the animation sequence around.

Bringing Those Ideas To Life

Whilst every stage of the video explainer process is exciting, it’s the animation stage that really brings everything together. We start by generating the assets that will be used in the video. For Bisbell this involved creating kitchen and shop scenes, recreating animated versions of their products in the minutest detail and including the branding that would ensure their video was absolutely unique.

Bisbell magnetic knife storage and more ......   YouTube (1).png

We then develop the characters and animate them so they can interact with the background scenes we have already created. Then we add in any funky text, animated slogans and other elements that will ensure the video is totally awesome in every way.

Once we have completed the visual elements of the video, we move on to what we call the final audio pass. We add a cool soundtrack, stunning sound effects and other audio elements that really bring everything together.

Presenting The Final Cut To The Client

Bisbell Magnets were delighted with the results and after a few minor tweaks they signed off their videos and we handed full control and copyright them them. Their videos how have pride of place on the Bisbell Magnets YouTube channel and we are sure they will continue to bring in new business for many years to come.

Boost Sales And Revenue With Your Own Explainer Video Production

We mean it when we say we can produce a video for any business, any product and any service. And that video will add a new dimension to your marketing strategy, helping you to pitch and persuade in a unique, exciting and innovative way.

Speak to us today for a free and informal consultation. We offer professional video production for any channel and any audience and we would be delighted to learn more about your business and how we can make video marketing work for you. Call now on 01527 910050.

Written By Ian Stainton. Ian is the CEO and Founder of Stormnet Media Ltd, an award winning video production and digital media agency based near Birmingham in the UK. He is trusted by global brands, SMEs and start-ups to help them engage and interact with their customers  - ultimately selling more stuff. You can check him out on Google+

 

How Video Changed Our Lives Forever

It’s the decade everybody pretends they want to forget, but if you grew up in the 80s, it’s the one that brings the fondest memories. It was the decade that brought us big hair, The Goonies, Hypercolor t-shirts and Pacman, and it was the decade where video entered into our lives in a big way.

Bringing a video recorder home to the family for the first time was a moment of great trepidation. This brand new piece of shiny equipment was all the rage apparently and it could make time stand still. Oh how we rejoiced when we could watch Hannibal con BA into drinking the milk over and over again. And what would life have been like if we didn’t have to sit frantically adjusting the tracking just as JR Ewing was shot by an unknown assailant. {{{SPOILER ALERT}}} It was Kristin Shepherd, Sue Ellen’s sister.

Do You Remember Your First Time?

Can you remember the very first video you watched at home?  A quick straw poll around the Stormnet Media office revealed some all time greats and some very red faces! ‘The Breakfast Club‘, ‘Firestarter‘ (starring a very young Drew Barrymore), ‘Back To The Future’ and ‘The Care Bears Movie‘ were just some of the confessions from our team. 

Owning a video recorder also gave us access to an exclusive new club – the local video shop. Armed with our own personal luxuriously laminated card we could choose from hundreds of films, TV shows and pop videos.  Okay, so you needed a small wheelbarrow to get them home, but for just one night, or the entire weekend if you were feeling flush, they were ours!

Play It Again Sam…And Again…And Again

One of the best things about owning a video recorder is that we could record and watch our favourite TV shows and pop videos to our heart’s content. Where once we would sit in our bedrooms recording the Top 40 and frantically hitting the pause button before the DJ’s voice ruined our compilation, we could now capture everything for posterity on videotape.  Well, until the tape got chewed up or wore out anyway!

The Ads That Shaped Our Childhoods And Our Futures

Of course, one of the downsides of recording TV programmes on video was that the ads came along for the ride too. If the ads were great, it wasn’t usually a problem but there were some truly annoying ads that would have us reaching for the remote control quicker than you could say “Agadoo”.

The video revolution was a great time for advertising firms. They knew that the majority of people would sit through the ads and in those people they had a captive audience and got double the exposure (or more) for the price of one time slot. TV ads started to become slicker, longer, told stories and were talked about the next day in the playground, on the train to work and around the dinner table.

Who can forget this gem from Toshiba? We challenge you not to be singing this long after you’ve finished this article.

The Secret Of A Good TV Ad Or Video – Make It Count And Make It Memorable

At Stormnet Media, we know we only have one chance to grab the audience’s attention. That’s why we put our all into making every video we produce count. Every second, every frame and every word is carefully constructed to get deep in the mind of the viewer and to stay there long after.

Old Spice have got it just right with their latest video.

It’s got clear branding, it’s got humour and it’s got sharability – nope, that word isn’t in the dictionary but it’s a very important aspect of video production. We want your video to be liked, shared, pinned and retweeted and most importantly, we want your video to do great things for your business or organisation.

Be The Next Big Thing In Video – Speak To Us Today About Our Video Production Services

Whether you need an explainer video to explain your product or business in style or you are looking for a slick world class corporate video that will ensure you stand head and shoulders above the best, our video production team is standing by to assist. Call us now on 01527 910050 or use our contact form to get in touch. We’ve worked with some big names and some little ones too, but the result is always the same – a unique and powerful video that ensures you are remembered for all the right reasons.

Written By: Ian Stainton

Ian Stainton is the CEO and Founder of Stormnet Media Ltd, an award winning video production and digital media agency based near Birmingham in the UK. He is trusted by global brands, SMEs and start-ups to help them engage and interact with their customers  - ultimately selling more stuff. You can check him out on Google+

Power-Up Your Google Rankings With An Explainer Video

Ever considered how an explainer video could help your search rankings? Did you know that Google’s search algorithm considers the amount of time visitors hang around on your website? It doesn’t matter what they are doing and the longer they spend there, the more credence Google will give to your site.

This is just one reason why explainer videos are becoming more and more popular. In fact, they are exploding onto websites everywhere. Not sure what an explainer video is? Here’s an example of one of our most recent explainer videos.

Boost Your Exposure, Sales and Profits – What’s Not To Love?

As a leading video production company in Birmingham, we understand how profitable and proven explainer videos are for ANY business – yes, we said any business. Whether you are a small local company, a college, a bricks and mortar shop or a sole trader, you won’t believe the returns a good explainer video can bring.

Explainer videos are an outstanding marketing tool. Not only do they clarify what you have to offer or what you do – they also increase your conversion rates, boost your sales and give you a great marketing tool to use on different channels.

Here are just some of the places you can publish your video to gain more exposure:

Facebook, Twitter and Vimeo
On your landing page or home page
Advertise your services in relevant forums and communities
Use your explainer video at conferences, exhibitions or other marketing events
And so many more – we can give you advice on how to give your video the best exposure once it is ready for the world.

85% Of People Are More Likely To Buy After Watching An Explainer Video

According to a recent survey carried out by Video Rascal, 85% of consumers will be more likely to use a service or buy a product after they have viewed an explainer video. That’s a huge amount of people.

Explainer videos are also great for keeping a record of how many people are viewing your video and then making a purchase straight after. In fact, a large percentage of our clients come back to us for a second, third and fourth explainer video once they see how profitable they can be.
What’s Your Point? What’s Your Story?

Every business needs to make a point and every business has a story. Video is a great way to unleash your sales message on the world and we would be delighted to play a part in your future success.

Take Control Of Your Google Rankings And Conversions With Explainer Video

Our video production team will work closely with you to ensure you get the best returns from your video now and well into the future. We will get to know the ins and outs of your business and what you hope to achieve from your very own explainer video. It could be just what your business and your target audience is crying out for.

Get in touch with the video marketing experts at Stormnet Media to find out more about our explainer videos or any aspect of video marketing and SEO. We would be delighted to provide you with a free quote for an explainer video for your business.

Written by Ian Stainton

Ian Stainton is the CEO and Founder of Stormnet Media Ltd, an award winning video production and digital media agency based near Birmingham in the UK. He is trusted by global brands, SMEs and start-ups to help them engage and interact with their customers  - ultimately selling more stuff. You can check him out on Google+

How Long Should an Explainer Video Be?

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What’s the sweet spot for an explainer video?

So you’ve decided that an explainer video is going to help you get your ideas across to thousands of new potential customers – if not more. You know the topic you want to cover, you’ve selected the points to get across, and now you’re sitting down to write your script. You don’t know it, but you’re also about to make a big mistake.

It’s a simple mistake and a common one: you’re going to make your video too long. It’s easy to see why this can happen – almost by definition, no one is going to make an explainer video without being enthusiastic about the subject. Add to this that people tend to be bad at estimating the length of a speech or conversation and it’s no wonder that most videos run over their optimum length.

What may surprise you is just how short that optimum length actually is. Video hosting firm Wistia studied the average length of time viewers were willing to watch the business videos on their site. The results showed that viewer attention dropped off sharply the longer the video was – fewer than 10% of viewers made it to the end of hour-long videos. But, strikingly, the numbers were relatively low even for much shorter videos. Fewer than 50% of viewers made it to the end of videos in the 2-3 minute range.

In fact, the data suggests that the optimum length for an explainer video may be in the 30-60 second range. It may not be much, but you can fit a surprising amount of information into a minute – and you have a much better chance of communicating your complete message to the viewer. This is especially important for business videos, which are typically trying to convey a single unified message. An explainer video abandoned by the viewer halfway through is as bad as one not watched at all.

If you have decided to create a short video, then, you’ll need to use some simple techniques to package your message in a manageable format. The simplest – and one of the most important – is to break up your message into as many smaller chunks as possible. The second is to front-load the video with material that keeps the viewer interested. Even short videos run the risk of losing viewers part of the way through, so beginning with the point will help you grab the viewer’s attention.

In some cases, of course, it simply isn’t possible to compress your message into the short space of a one-minute video; if this is the case, you’ll simply have to run the risk of losing some viewers, trusting that the ones who do make it all the way through your explainer video will come out the other end well-informed.

If you’re looking for explainer video production then contact the friendly experts at Stormnet Media. We create persuasive and powerful explainer videos that boost sales. Contact us today on 01527 910050 – we’d love to help.