One of the things I’m working so hard at in my day job is increasing our trade association’s video presence online. The video above is a 76 second attempt to get our 5,000+ members and others to support the nonprofit arm of our trade association. I’m fanatical in my belief that Social Media (especially video!) is akin to the invention of the telegraph, telephone and television all rolled into one. It’s that big of a deal, and companies/brands/corporations that fail to see this or jump on board late in the game are doomed.
Although it has a semi-local focus, this is a great article from MinnPost.com here in the Twin Cities about the growing niche of online video services being offered to companies. Here in Minneapolis/St. Paul, there are more than 500(!) video production companies all fighting for these dollars. (I think Ed Heil’s shop runs one of the best, for what it’s worth.)
My thought is this: While I’m all for outsourcing these needs and supporting great vendors like Ed and the other 499 shops in the Twin Cities, I also think it’s imperative that the in-house PR and Marketing departments at brands/corporations/companies have some serious video skills to start with, or at least the desire to learn video. To me, a PR person who isn’t interested in video is like a PR person who isn’t interested in using the telephone or e-mail. If I was hiring someone, that would be a huge red flag during the interview process.
So what has your company/brand/corporation done so far with online video? What is/isn’t working? Share away!
2 responses so far ↓
Ed Heil // November 26, 2009 at 5:01 am |
Well, I first have to say thanks for the plug, John – lunch is on me when we get together! That said, it’s an interesting time in communications. In fact, I harken back to my days as a sales person selling fax machines in the late ’80s when we were trying to explain to people why the fax was going to change the way businesses operate and people would simply say, “wait, so I have to buy two of those things?”
Having the benefit of working in the media and now running a PR agency, we know that from a traditional PR to Media to consumer flow of communication, video is an exceptional way to pitch a story. If a reporter, editor, producer is having a hard time visualizing your story you can now SHOW them in video! How cool is that?
Furthermore, video and as you are seeing with your blog, businesses and associations like yours can go right from the source to your customers, supporters, etc. Let’s face it, people aren’t sitting around anymore waiting to see what’s going to be covered on the news tonight, they will seek it themselves. Or better yet, the news they want will find them.
Are we biased regarding the power of video? Sure we are, but think of this: the question isn’t did you watch a video online this week, but how many and of those, how many did you watch on your phone?
johnnemo // November 26, 2009 at 1:50 pm |
Ed, you are right on the money. The stats behind how many of us watch video online and how often don’t lie. I love your fax machine analogy – this is the same thing happening on an even larger scale.