What's your story

“We should do more video marketing.” “Why don’t you create one of those viral videos?” I bet you’ve heard helpful “suggestions” like these a number of times, whether from co-workers, well-meaning friends, or even your boss.  Unfortunately, most of these helpful folks forget to include any actual ideas, let alone an objective. A successful marketing video engages with a specific audience.  Storytelling is a …

A Stupid-Simple Guide to Smart Video Marketing

Smart video marketing is effective video marketing. It is on budget, on schedule, and set to live up to expectations. 6 tips to ensure you stay smart when it comes to video marketing: 1. Have a Plan for Each Video What’s the target?  What does the target care about?  What do we want them to do? These questions will help you …

Most Testimonial Videos Are Stupid

First, I assure that a junior high schooler didn’t come up with the title of this post. We’ve been on a crusade of sorts the last few years against typical testimonial videos.  I’m talking about the bland, “I really like company X.  They took care of me” testimonial videos.  The jig is up, people.  Our target demographic knows we would …

6 Things to Ask Video Production Companies

Video is a very powerful medium for cutting through the noise and connecting with an audience, but it can be difficult to choose the right company.  And if your choice seems to be between Good vs. Evil then you’re looking in the wrong places.  It should be about choosing between 2 or 3 great video production companies. Here are 6 questions you …

Best of February

Here are the best online videos of February 2014, as decided by us, UPG.  Feel free to send us links to videos you like.  Maybe we’ll add it below. Ever thought of doing a marketing video starring your competition?  Think they’d say, “no?”  Not if you did it like this.  Well done, DHL. What do you think about when you …

Corporate video survival guide

Video can be a pain in the ass.  Even when you love it.  To celebrate the dark side of video production, UPG gives you the series, The Corporate Video Survival Guide.  Enjoy. Don’t Answer the Question with Your Question.   Don’t shoot people while they’re eating. How to Frame How much headroom? Lava Mic Placement Boom Mic Placement   Again, …

How to Create an Effective Product Marketing Video

In the old days (5 years ago), getting to know a company or product online meant lots of reading and maybe a few photos.  Now, we follow our favorite brands on social media, we sign up for their email list and… we watch their product videos.  Whether it’s for a pair of shoes, a new bike, or B2B security software, good …

3 Keys to Successful Video Production

A little mystery, an open-ended question, a challenge, unfettered authenticity – these are all proven marketing concepts that are good tools for connecting with your customer and encouraging engagement.  When it comes to using video, however, mystery in the form of blurry camera angles, muffled audio or a confusing “plot” will send those same customers packing. Your marketing video will …

Tips for Online Video Marketing

Online video marketing continues to grow and expand as more and more people look to the internet to get their shopping needs met. The world of online video marketing in particular is growing at an enormous rate — according to Comscore, nearly 85 percent of internet users in the United States view online videos every day. This makes videos an excellent strategic element …

Looking at Tablet

Success in the online marketing world is dependent upon agility.  Sticking to your message but adapting to new effective methods of engagement is a must Right now, video marketing is in the spotlight, but it’s not what it used to be. Sure, message and story are still paramount but the way the market consumes this video content is changing rapidly. …