Author: admin

  • First blog on the E-commerce website options

    First blog on the E-commerce website options

    Online shopping is a form of electronic commerce which allows consumers to directly buy goods or services from a seller over the Internet using a web browser. Consumers find a product of interest by visiting the website of the retailer directly or by searching among alternative vendors using a shopping search engine, which displays the same product’s availability and pricing at different e-retailers. As of 2016, customers can shop online using a range of different computers and devices, including desktop computers, laptops, tablet computers and smartphones.

    An online shop evokes the physical analogy of buying products or services at a regular “bricks-and-mortar” retailer or shopping center; the process is called business-to-consumer (B2C) online shopping. When an online store is set up to enable businesses to buy from another businesses, the process is called business-to-business (B2B) online shopping. A typical online store enables the customer to browse the firm’s range of products and services, view photos or images of the products, along with information about the product specifications, features and prices.

    Online stores usually enable shoppers to use “search” features to find specific models, brands or items. Online customers must have access to the Internet and a valid method of payment in order to complete a transaction, such as a credit card, an Interac-enabled debit card, or a service such as PayPal. For physical products (e.g., paperback books or clothes), the e-tailer ships the products to the customer; for digital products, such as digital audio files of songs or software, the e-tailer usually sends the file to the customer over the Internet. The largest of these online retailing corporations are Alibaba, Amazon.com, and eBay.

    Over the next 10 blogs, we will be examining different e-commerce website platforms that one should consider when starting your online business to buy and sell goods or services. While this is not in any particular order we will start with the company that got the highest reviews a few years standing. That company is called BigCommerce out of Austin, Texas.

    BigCommerce is a privately held technology company and provides a SaaS ecommerce platform. The company was founded in 2009 and has 600+ employees with headquarters in Austin, Texas. BigCommerce was founded in 2009 by Australians Eddie Machaalani and Mitchell Harper following a chance meeting in an online chatroom in 2003. In August 2009, the two relaunched a hosted version of Interspire Shopping Cart called “BigCommerce” and opened its first U.S. office.

    BigCommerce was 100% bootstrapped until July 31, 2011, when it closed $15 million in Series A funding from General Catalyst Partners. BigCommerce is one of the biggest Ecommerce website builders globally. They offer great features and excellent service with no transaction fees.

    BigCommerce has hundreds of apps in a searchable app store, including 3rd party developed features that you can add with 1-click. They’ve also got terrific SEO tools like table-less themes, optimized URLs, sitemaps, and a blogging platform, along with marketing tools with social media capabilities, email and multi-channel marketing outlets. Don’t forget analytics, multi-currency support and an auto-respond cart abandon feature that pushes them head and shoulders above the competition. BigCommerce premium templates are a better investment. BigCommerce has a beautifully-designed interface that’s modern, clean and effortless to navigate, and adapting your cart to incorporate features like bulk pricing or Google shopping is also a snap. If you are a coder or designer, you’ll also appreciate BigCommerce FTP access. Some may say that customer support is the most important factor in choosing website services. BigCommerce has 24/7 live chat and email, but limited phone support. BigCommerce wins here, as there are no limits on any of their subscription plans, either in bandwidth, or what you can sell. BigCommerce pulls ahead though, with their “go the extra mile” features and apps, their value for money and their across the board usability. Test drive BigCommerce today, and get your business off the ground in no time.

    Source
    www.ecommerceceo.com/ecommerce-platforms

  • Blog Series on E-commerce websites

    Blog Series on E-commerce websites

    Welcome to our series on the best e-commerce platforms to sell on. Over the next ten weeks we will be exploring the advantages and disadvantages of each of these platforms for your companies website.  Square Online Store, WooCommerce, X-cart, Zen Cart, Magento Open Source, OpenCart, PrestaShop, osCommerce, JigoShop, Drupal Commerce, WP ecommerce, Ubercart, Wix, Big Cartel, Jimdo and Ecwid.

    A complicated past
    Social media has long provided marketers a more cost-efficient and targeted way to reach potential customers. Using Facebook user data and targeted advertising, brands can reach their exact consumer based on real data points, rather than “spraying and praying” on other channels such as TV or print.

    At the same time, with talks of a retail meltdown after swathes of big-brand bankruptcies and shop closures around the world, over the past decade, retailers big and small have increasingly moved from brick-and-mortar to ecommerce.

    Given these two concurrent trends, it would seem like a no-brainer for businesses to jump on the social commerce bandwagon. However, while it might seem like a match made in heaven, the fact is that this is not the first time social and shopping have had a fling, and traditionally, it has not worked out. After all, Twitter tried a buy button to drive sales through its platform, and it then gradually phased it out after it failed to hook consumers.

    The big problem is that with an abundance of shopping and social options available, consumers simply aren’t using social platforms to buy products. Social media plays a vital role early on the sales funnel, as a research tool and influencer, but to date, most consumers are still not buying directly via social platforms. In fact, a recent study shows that less than one-half of Facebook users have ever bought a product after clicking on a post or a link in a post.

    From the outset, social media platforms have offered an invaluable resource for marketers to drive sales online and in-store by reaching the right audiences through targeted advertising. In fact, recent studies suggest that as many as 87 percent of ecommerce shoppers believe social media plays a vital role in helping them make shopping decisions.

    However, while social platforms have always been a marketer’s dream, in recent years, we have witnessed multiple leading social media platforms trying to bridge the gap between social and shopping by facilitating direct purchases within their platforms. And with the introduction of more integrated shoppable ads on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube, there have been whispers that 2018 may be the year social commerce gains traction.

    But while social giants are trying to wriggle out of the position of middleman and get behind the counter, are the models of social media and ecommerce really a match made in heaven?

    In order to further understand where e-commerce is going we should look at where it has been.

    E-commerce is the activity of buying or selling of products on online services or over the Internet. Electronic commerce draws on technologies such as mobile commerce, electronic funds transfer, supply chain management, Internet marketing, online transaction processing, electronic data interchange (EDI), inventory management systems, and automated data collection systems.

    Modern electronic commerce typically uses the World Wide Web for at least one part of the transaction’s life cycle although it may also use other technologies such as e-mail. Typical e-commerce transactions include the purchase of online books (such as Amazon) and music purchases (music download in the form of digital distribution such as iTunes Store), and to a less extent, customized/personalized online liquor store inventory services. There are three areas of e-commerce: online retailing, electronic markets, and online auctions. E-commerce is supported by electronic business.

    E-commerce businesses may also employ some or all of the followings:
    • Online shopping for retail sales direct to consumers via Web sites and mobile apps, and conversational commerce via live chat, chatbots, and voice assistants
    • Providing or participating in online marketplaces, which process third-party business-to-consumer or consumer-to-consumer sales
    • Business-to-business buying and selling;
    • Gathering and using demographic data through web contacts and social media
    • Business-to-business (B2B) electronic data interchange
    • Marketing to prospective and established customers by e-mail or fax (for example, with newsletters)
    • Engaging in pretail for launching new products and services
    • Online financial exchanges for currency exchanges or trading purposes.
    • Contemporary electronic commerce can be classified into two categories. The first category is business based on types of goods sold (involves everything from ordering “digital” content for immediate online consumption, to ordering conventional goods and services, to “meta” services to facilitate other types of electronic commerce). The second category is based on the nature of the participant (B2B, B2C, C2B and C2C);

    On the institutional level, big corporations and financial institutions use the internet to exchange financial data to facilitate domestic and international business. Data integrity and security are pressing issues for electronic commerce.
    Aside from traditional e-commerce, the terms m-Commerce (mobile commerce) as well (around 2013) t-Commerce have also been used.

    • E-commerce markets are growing at noticeable rates. The online market is expected to grow by 56% in 2015–2020. In 2017, retail e-commerce sales worldwide amounted to 2.3 trillion US dollars and e-retail revenues are projected to grow to 4.88 trillion US dollars in 2021. Traditional markets are only expected 2% growth during the same time. Brick and mortar retailers are struggling because of online retailer’s ability to offer lower prices and higher efficiency. Many larger retailers are able to maintain a presence offline and online by linking physical and online offerings.

    E-commerce allows customers to overcome geographical barriers and allows them to purchase products anytime and from anywhere.

    There are two ways for marketers to conduct business through e-commerce: fully online or online along with a brick and mortar store. However, online retailers cannot offer the physical experience that traditional retailers can. It can be difficult to judge the quality of a product without the physical experience, which may cause customers to experience product or seller uncertainty. Another issue regarding the online market is concerns about the security of online transactions. Many customers remain loyal to well-known retailers because of this issue.

    Over the next 10 weeks, our blog series will be focusing on the different e-commerce platforms and what is used in certain sectors of the market.

    Sources:
    https://www.adweek.com/digital/will-social-media-and-ecommerce-ever-really-get-together/
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-commerce

  • Eighth Instalment of the Video Blog Series: Storyboard

    Eighth Instalment of the Video Blog Series: Storyboard

    Step 8: Storyboard
    Okay, so you’ve written your script, you’re done now, right? Not exactly. It’s now time to work with an artist, illustrator, or designer to create visuals that go with your script. The idea is to work with a visual artist to help bring your script and ideas to life, making sure whatever you’re about to shoot is going to look good (and make sense) on film. The type of artist you work with will depend on the medium you’re shooting within— for example, if you’re creating an animated video, you’ll probably want to work with an illustrator/animator (preferably the one who will create your final video) to put together the storyboard.

    A storyboard is not only important for you and your team, but it’s also super important for the artists, actors, and directors, so they can get a good sense of the visuals they’re supposed to recreate. No one is saying the storyboard has to perfectly match what happens in the scene, but it should act as a guide.

    As you can see, each of the images corresponds to some kind of description or dialogue directly from the script. You should be able to hold both the script and storyboard side-by-side to make sure they match up and nothing is missing or seems off. Alright — you’ve got your script and your storyboard done. Before you can shoot, edit, and/or produce your video, there’s a few last details you may want to think about beforehand.

    Final details
    Now, I’m no producer, so it would be best to consult an actual production expert regarding your list of final details, but here are some things you may want to think about before shooting/producing your video:

    Production
    • Hiring a producer and/or production company: if you plan to work with actors, a director, etc, it may be best to hire a producer and/or production company to help. Not saying you can’t do it on your own, but sometimes it’s helpful to have experts on your side• Casting: if you’re using actors, you’ll need to cast the appropriate folks. This can get pretty crazy, especially if you’re looking for a specific type of “look” and acting style (for example: “African-American man who is both a gregarious actor AND singer”). Make sure to list out all the details of the actors you’re looking for to make it easier on yourself, the production team, and the actors themselves.
    • Locations: if you’re shooting outside, in a house, etc, you’re going to need to secure locations, which often requires a permit. Again, this is something a producer/production company can help with. Of course, there are scrappy ways of doing this (i.e. — shooting in your own home, etc) but then you’re looking at other costs like lighting equipment, backdrops, etc.

    Post-production
    • Post-production editor: having a skilled post-production editor is super important. This person is basically responsible for bringing the final idea to life (regardless of what was cut by the film crew). This person will be adding in the Voice Over (which requires precision in terms of timing) and may also be working on the color and final look. It’s a big job.
    • Voice Over talent: this is very similar to casting, especially if you’re looking for a specific-sounding voice. You may think someone “looks the part” in terms of voice, but once you get them into an audio booth reading your script, it may not turn out the way you thought. Again, this is where a producer and/or production company can come in handy.
    • Music / audio: you may be thinking “oh I have the perfect song in mind for this video!” But the reality is, music costs money (and good music costs a lot of money). It’s not that you can’t get a great sound for your video, but you also have to be realistic in what that sound will be (meaning, if you want “Single Ladies,” as you background song, it’s probably not going to happen). Sorry to sound redundant, but a producer and/or production company can help with this.
    • Text overlays: this is something your post-production editor will do, but you want to make sure that if you need some type of text to appear on screen (i.e. “Buy now!”) you’ll need to account for that when shooting. For example, if you need text to appear in a specific shot, you need to make sure that scene has enough negative space for you to add that text in without looking too crowded or weird. It may sound like a minute detail, but if this one shot is why you’re doing the video in the first place, it’s important to map out these details ahead of time.
    And…action!

    We hope you enjoyed this Blog Series on Video Production. Our next blog series will focus on all the different e-commerce platforms. Be sure to check back for this.

    Sources:
    https://medium.com/swlh/how-to-create-a-promotional-video-707fa7a63019
    https://learn.anniemaguire.com/copy-that-converts

  • Seventh Instalment of the Video Blog Series

    Seventh Instalment of the Video Blog Series

    Step 7: Write the script
    Every writer, creative director, director, etc, likely has their own way of writing scripts. There are also countless “script templates” for how to lay everything out (while these may seem pretentious, they actually are pretty helpful).

    Regardless of what it looks like, the main things you want to make sure you have in your layout are:
    • The scene number (1st, 2nd, 3rd scene, etc)
    • The time stamp (down to the second, when is this moment happening?)
    • The audio, dialogue, or Voice Over (aka: what are we hearing in this moment?)
    • A description of the scene, list of characters, location, special props, expressions or movements, or any other details that’s needed for that particular moment

    Movie producers and inbound marketers aren’t that different when it comes to creating and editing video content. We’re both telling a story, and whether that story is about a protagonist or a product, we’re both trying to captive our audiences and make them believe in the story we tell. What happens at the end of the story is a little different, though.

    Most marketers wear a lot of hats and let’s just say, out of all the hats worn, the videographer one isn’t always their favorite. That’s because creating videos can be intimidating, especially if you’re new to it.
    1. Start with a brief.
    2. Use your brief to write an outline.
    3. Introduce yourself and/or the topic at the beginning of your script.
    4. Start writing your script, section by section.
    5. Support any B-roll with the proper callouts in your main narrative.
    6. Be as concise as you can.
    7. Use this video script template.
    8. Do a verbal run-through off-camera.

    While we won’t elaborate on the past eight points because every video production is different depending on the reason for making the video. However, we will provide some steps to take during the process.

    Sketch out a Treatment
    One of the most important aspects of writing your script is to first create a treatment. The purpose of the treatment is to sketch out the specific idea you’re writing about. The treatment tells the story that will be contained in the video. It should contain a beginning, middle, and end. Keep in mind that the treatment isn’t a piece of literature. You’re simply telling yourself the story in basic terms so that the script itself will be much easier to write.

    Create an Outline
    Now you will use the treatment to create an outline. The outline provides you with the actual structure of your script. Many people are resistant to taking the time to outline, and yet this is important for creating the best possible video. After all, regardless of the content of your video, you’re telling a story, and the best stories adhere to structure. The process of creating both your treatment and outline forces you to think through what you want to say so that you will be able to write it in the most effective way possible.

    Use a Script Template
    Another great way to take your script to the next level is by using a template. Video scripting templates provide a way for including every element needed for your material so that nothing gets left out.

    Write Your Script Section by Section
    The easiest way to write your script is to break it down into sections. This allows you to focus on one small element at a time rather than feeling overwhelmed by facing the entire script as a whole.

    Don’t Be Afraid to Write Direction into Your Script
    Never forget that your script isn’t intended to be read by the world. It’s merely a tool. Thus, you should feel free to make notes on it, to include camera directions, and to constantly be making changes. After all, your script is a living document. Don’t hesitate to write into your script what the camera will see so that you will know how to position the camera once you’re ready to shoot.

    Tips for How to Write a Script for a Video
    Video production is a valuable skill. And your script is the heart of any video production. That’s why it’s so important to learn how to write a script for a video.

    This is the second last blog in this series on video production for digital marketing. Next week will be the final blog and we will be looking at the story board when it comes to making a video for your digital marketing needs. After next week’s blog on story boards, we then start a new blog series on the future of digital marketing covering several different topics. For example, voice search, next-gen seo, augmented reality so make sure you check back in and often to our blog to learn more about the latest trends.

    Sources: https://www.articlecity.com/blog/how-to-write-a-script-for-a-video-a-complete-beginners-guide/
    https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/how-to-write-a-video-script-ht

  • Sixth Instalment of the Video Blog Series

    Sixth Instalment of the Video Blog Series

    Step 6: Outline the idea

    Assuming you have a loose idea for your video, it’s now time to start fleshing out the details. To do it, I would suggest you start at a high level, then work backward from there. It’s time to start thinking about the details of the story. For example:

    Scenes
    How many different scenes will there be? How many locations will be needed?
    Characters
    How many characters? Who are they? What is their storyline? What do they look like?
    Audio / Voice over / text overlay
    Will the video be set to the sound of someone’s voice? Will there be background music? Will any text need to appear on screen in order to get the message across?
    Product
    How does the product fit into the story? How many times will the product appear and when/how?
    Props
    Any major props needed to make your story work (i.e. — iPhone, car, bridge, elephant, etc)?

    Final CTA (Call to Action)
    What’s the last message we leave the audience with? What do we want them to feel / do? There’s really an endless number of details to consider here, and every answer you come up with will likely lead to another question. The idea is to try and figure out as many details as you can, so when you go to write your script, all the pieces will start to fit together. Speaking of which, it’s time to get out your pen and pencil — it’s script time, baby!

  • Fifth Instalment of Video Blog Series: Future is Video when it comes to creating content, you only have to choose the type of video that best conveys your message

    Fifth Instalment of Video Blog Series: Future is Video when it comes to creating content, you only have to choose the type of video that best conveys your message

    There are many different types of videos that you can create. Here are a few types for you to consider:

    Animated video
    Often used for explainer videos and brand stories, animation can be an incredibly engaging video style. Sometimes as entertaining as your childhood favorite Saturday morning cartoons, and other times as practical as an illustration of a concept, there are a bunch of different video animation styles, including:
    • 2D animation videos
    • 3D animation videos
    • Motion graphic videos
    • Animated typography videos
    • Stop-motion animation videos (including cutout animation and claymation)

    Live-action video
    Live-action constitutes any video comprised of real-world footage, typically including real live people. It’s one of the most common video styles, likely due in part to its sheer accessibility. Live-action videos can range in production quality from smartphone clips up to professionally-produced films. A lot of different types of video can be made using the live-action style.

    Text overlay video
    Social media users often view a video without sound; as much as 85% of Facebook video is watched on silent. This has led to the rise of a style of video that pairs overlaid text with B-roll and/or still images (usually with a pan or zoom effect applied). These text overlay videos are typically accompanied by a music track, which doesn’t fundamentally change the nature of the story but does enhance it for those who turn the sound on. Well-suited for how-to videos or telling simple stories, text overlay videos were popularized by publishers like BuzzFeed.

    Live video
    As the name suggests, live streaming video is broadcast as it happens so that viewers can watch in real-time. Thought it’s available on a number of social media platforms, Facebook has been a big driver of the format. Considered a distinct content type by the network, live video gets 6x more interaction than regular Facebook video. Plus, notifications prompt users to watch live streams from pages they follow while they’re happening. Live video is also available on Instagram, YouTube, and a number of live-focused and niche platforms (such as Twitch, which is popular with gamers).
    A variety of video types can be broadcast this way, from live interviews to real-time announcements to as-it-happens tutorials.

    360-degree video
    An immersive video format, 360-degree video records a view in every direction at the same time using an omni-directional camera or collection of cameras. They can even be viewed through a headset that shows a viewer different parts of the scene depending on which direction they turn their head or on a standard screen, where the audience clicks or taps to change the view. This format is a good choice for brands looking to put an interactive spin on their content. It works best when there is an immersive scene that includes points of interest in all directions.
    Brands have used it effectively to provide a unique perspective on an activity, showcase a space or place, and to give viewers the experience of “being there.”

    VR video
    Virtual reality (VR) videos, though often confused with 360, allow the viewer not only to choose what part of the scene they view but to interact with it as well. Viewed through the same headset as 360 videos, VR requires additional accessories—such as joysticks, gloves, and even suits—to make interaction possible.

    Nexonta Technologies Inc.
    On to the Next Level

    Sources:
    https://www.vidyard.com/video-marketing-strategy-guide/styles-types-video/
    https://medium.com/swlh/how-to-create-a-promotional-video-707fa7a63019

  • Fourth Instalment of the Video Blog

    Fourth Instalment of the Video Blog

    More and more people are becoming accustomed to streaming TV shows and full-length movies online. What length plays well for YouTube videos these days? And how does the appropriate length differ for the different types of videos your organization may be considering putting online?

    Will this be a 30-second video? 60-second? A minute plus? 5 minutes? You may be thinking: “how can I know the length of the video until I script it out?” And trust me, I hear ya! But the reality is, without using some type of time parameters, your video will likely end up too long and potentially unfocused.

    Remember, your idea should only be as big as the time it has to unfold, so putting restrictions on your concept will only help to make it stronger and more effective.
    This will also help you avoid frustrating situations, like forcing yourself to cut a two-minute script down to 30 seconds (which is like torture, btw).

    If you’re not sure how long your video should be, you’ll want to consider these factors:
    • Your goal (i.e. — brand awareness, clicks, etc)
    • Where the ad will appear (i.e. — TV, social media, website, etc)
    • Overall budget (i.e. — shoe-string, low, mid, high, unlimited, etc.)
    For example, if your goal is to promote your holiday sale, a 30-second ad is probably enough to get your point across. However, if you’re trying to move your audience to tears, you might need a 1.30, or even 2 minutes+ to get the job done.

    To get a gauge, think back to the direction and tone you’re aiming for. Next, check out existing videos that use a similar tone and see how long they are, as that may help guide you (for example, if all the videos are at least one-minute long, that may be a good starting place).

    The second thing to consider is where the ad will appear.
    For example, 30–60 second commercials are very common for cable TV, while longer-form videos are more common online. And then there’s online ads takeovers, Facebook/Instagram video ads, pre-roll ads, etc, all of which have their own set of restrictions and best practice guidelines.

    It doesn’t matter where your video is appearing, you just want to make sure you’re taking placement into consideration when planning it all out.

    Lastly, there’s your budget. If you’re on the lower end of the spectrum, you’re likely only going to be able to afford one cut (or one version) of the video, which is why so important for “getting it right” the first time. If you’re on the higher end of the budgetary spectrum, you may be able to cut many different versions (i.e. —90, 60, 30, and 15 sec spots) which will give you more wiggle room when it comes to things like video placement, reworking the storyline with different focus/angles, etc. Once you’ve settled on duration, it’s time to think about what your video will look like.

    When you first sign up with YouTube, your account will be limited to videos under 15 minutes, until the account has been “verified.” Once “verified,” you can post any video that doesn’t exceed 20GB. Practically speaking, this means that hour-long keynote speeches and training sessions from your annual conference are well within reach! If encoded properly, the videos will still look excellent even if not at the absolute highest quality resolution.

    Here’s what we think about the best length for different videos on YouTube:
    • Favor short videos. If you can make it shorter and make all the same points, do so.
    • Make sure to start off energized, and get the important stuff in. Your audience will start to disappear over the length of your video. Wistia reported that for a video of 4-5 minutes, fewer than 60% of your viewers will still be with you–against 75% for a 1-2 minute video.
    • Don’t hold your call to action to the end, especially for longer videos. Consider a clickable annotation that appears in the first few seconds
    • Think about breaking your longer videos up into digestible bits. Training in particular lends itself to this. Instead of making a single video that shows a long process, make a playlist that links pieces of the process for a coherent whole. That makes it easy to learn your process in digestible chunks suited to current attention spans. A speech that is clearly delineated into sections with different subtopics will break up well into smaller pieces, too. Side benefits to this break-up are an increased number of video assets and most likely an increased number of views for videos on your channel.
    • On the other hand, don’t ruin a great speech by breaking it up. If a speech has been designed as a single continuous speech, keep it as is and allow the audience to sit back and experience the full impact.

    Nexonta Technologies Inc.
    On to the Next Level

    Sources:

    https://medium.com/swlh/how-to-create-a-promotional-video-707fa7a63019

  • Third Instalment of the Video Blog

    Third Instalment of the Video Blog

    Step 3: Set the tone
    Creating and editing video is not a cumbersome process anymore. But, what matters is the Video Content. Video Content is the basic and important part of your video. Getting a huge number of viewers on your video depends on the video content and is a challenging task. In most cases, if the video is way too long, then you can expect that viewers will consistently drop off. Any of your videos is judged by its contents, presentation, production quality, style, and the valuable information it provides. All these factors are essential to maintaining the audience’s attention. Here are some video production tips that will help you out to improve the production quality of your video marketing content to boost it up.

    Stay Original
    The concept on which your video is based must be innovative and original. Never go for the easy routes and never copy anyone’s idea. You must, rather, conduct keyword and personal research to find out what is popular and successful in your industry and which type of video content is famous. You must double-check everything to ensure that no other brand has covered the same topic already.

    Tone is defined as “the general character or attitude” of something. But to make it simple, you can just think of it as how your video is going to make your audience feel.
    For example, do you want to make your audience laugh or do you want them to be moved? Do you want them to feel informed, or do you want to tell them a story?
    Keep in mind, the creative direction (chosen in Step 2) should play well with whatever tone you decide to go with. For example, if you decide to create an “introductory” style video for your homepage hero, it probably doesn’t make sense to use an “urgent” tone, as that’s best for things like a sale.
    (Of course, pairing a particular creative direction with an unexpected tone isn’t necessarily a bad thing — it just comes down to proper execution).

    Below are some various tones you can explore for your concept and creative direction:
    • Dramatic — moves you emotionally.
    • Straightforward/informative — clear and concise.
    • Conversational—casual and authentic.
    • Urgent— urges you to take action, like now.
    • Fun/playful —uses fun creative devices (like anthropomorphism, for example).
    • Humorous — comedic; makes you laugh or smile.
    • Quirky — uses peculiarity or the unexpected to drive home a point.
    • Cutesy— something that makes you go, “awww!”.
    • Entertaining — aims to inform and entertain. Super Bowl ads typically fall under this category.
    • Inspirational —uses inspiration to drive action (manifestos are typically done in this style).
    • Artsy /hip/cool— feels youthful, stylish, trendy, etc.
    • Luxurious — shiny, fancy, flashy, sexy, rich. Think luxe car commercials, high-end hotel chains, etc.

    There are certainly many more tones and directions you can explore, but hopefully this gives you some ideas as to how your video may come to life.

    Sources:

    https://fstoppers.com/bts/filmmaking-tips-how-create-different-moods-your-videos-166366

    https://medium.com/swlh/how-to-create-a-promotional-video-707fa7a63019

    https://www.techwithgeeks.com/video-production-tips/

  • This is our second Blog in our 8 week You Tube video series – Choosing a Direction for your video

    This is our second Blog in our 8 week You Tube video series – Choosing a Direction for your video

    Today’s blog focusses on choosing a direction for your video to be produced, but first there are a few minor but key points that need to be considered before any video shooting begins. First off there are the 3 stages of video production: Pre-production — This is when everything is being planned. Suppose you’re shooting a film, then the pre-production process will include: writing a script, casting, planning costumes, budget, location, etc. Production — This is the time of the action. And the last stage is Post Production which involves editing the video and finalizing it.

    Once you have organized for the three stages of your video project it would be smart to consider these 8 points to keep in mind as you go through the making of your video.

    Tips for Creating Marketing Videos
    1. Tell a Story. Instead of being overtly salesy, an effective video tells a story.
    2. Make Sure the Introduction Stands Out.
    3. Create a Stimulating Title.
    4. Focus on the Mission and Less on the Product.
    5. Don’t Be Boring.
    6. Get a Little Bit Risqué!
    7. Make it Mobile Friendly.
    8. Think About SEO.

    Now that you have your frame work mapped out then it is time to consider these starting points:

    How to Create a Good Video
    1. Find a good camera. An 8-megapixel phone camera or better will get the job done well.
    2. Pick a good location. Find a place find a place with good lighting.
    3. Get a good angle. You should probably place the camera at or above shoulder height.
    4. Speak clearly.
    5. Be alive!
    6. Transfer for editing.
    7. Edit on YouTube.
    8. Make short clips.

    Choose a direction
    Now that you have your “why,” it should be a little bit easier to determine what makes sense in terms of direction.
    For example, let’s say you’re a new company who wants to create an intro video for the homepage hero on your site; the goal of the video is to introduce the brand and get people to sign up.
    In this case, you would likely go with a video that’s more along the lines of “introductory” or “explanatory” in nature. You may even find that a combination of several directions makes sense.
    For example, maybe you’re a new company, but you’re up against a lot of competition. Perhaps an “introductory” style video with a “problem/solution” angle would be ideal (showing the “old way” as the problem and the “new way” [meaning your company] as the solution).
    To give you some ideas, here’s a list of possible directions you could go in:

    • Introductory: tell your audience who you are, explain your mission, etc.
    • Explanatory: explain how something works (like your product or a specific feature)
    • Problem/solution: show the old way/new way and how your product is the solution
    • Narrative: use story elements (like plot, conflict, resolution, etc) to subtly introduce or explain something
    • Drive action: get the audience to do something (i.e. — shop now)
    • Product-focused: introduce or showcase a specific product or feature
    • Testimonial: interviews, quotes, soundbytes, etc, with customers around a specific topic or theme
    • Endorsement: use of celebrity or influencer approval / likeness
    • Informative: educate your audience about something specific, tutorial-style, etc.
    • Entertainment: delight or inspire your audience using story, humor, etc.

    Once you have your goal and direction finalized, it’s time to further refine your approach by setting the tone for your video.

    Sources:

    https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=tips+on+choosing+a+direction+for+a+video+production

    https://medium.com/swlh/how-to-create-a-promotional-video-707fa7a63019

    Nexonta Technologies Inc

    On To The Next Level

  • This blog is the first instalment of an 8-week Video Online Marketing Series

    This blog is the first instalment of an 8-week Video Online Marketing Series

    One of the purposes behind using video in social media is to impact viewers, followers and subscribers. However, it’s the followers and subscribers who have the most influence when it comes to expanding the brand. These are the people who are more likely to share engaging content.

    Consumers like video because it’s easy to digest, entertaining and engaging, and marketers like it because it can give a potentially huge return on investment (ROI) through many channels. Video is also very accessible to anyone with internet access, both to watch and to produce.  Have you ever wanted to create a promotional video? Video content, after all, can be used in so many ways, from social media posts and advertisements to emails and marketing sites. But how do you go from “wanting to create a video” to actually scripting and producing one? Seems complicated, right?
    It’s actually pretty simple!

    No matter the company, budget, or reason for the video, there’s a pretty basic format every video follows, from first idea to final cut. Below I’ve outlined the 8 steps, which I hope will help to get your video idea out of your head and onto your audience’s screens! Over the next 8 weeks we will be examining each step to creating online video marketing ads for Facebook, You Tube and Instagram. This blog series is based on an article by Annie MacGuire on December 19, 2016 for the Startup for Medium.
    https://medium.com/swlh/how-to-create-a-promotional-video-707fa7a63019

    Following are the 8 Steps to completing quality online video content for your small to medium sized business.

    Step 1: Identify your goal. …
    Step 2: Choose a direction. …
    Step 3: Set the tone. …
    Step 4: Decide on duration. …
    Step 5: Choose a video style. …
    Step 6: Outline the idea. …
    Step 7: Write the script…
    Step 8: Storyboard

    Step 1: Identify your goal
    Before you sit down to script out your video, you’ll want to take a step back and consider why you want to create a video in the first place. Videos can be expensive to produce, so it’s important to get crystal clear on your goals before you start writing dialogue.

    For example: perhaps you’re a new company and you want a video that introduces your brand/mission to web visitors. Or perhaps you have a new product line that needs further explanation to prospective buyers. Maybe you’re just running a sale and need a video that pushes people to take action.

    Here are some common reasons many companies create promotional videos:
    • Brand awareness
    • Drive sales
    • Drive traffic
    • Increase customer engagement
    • Educate customers

    One thing to note: if you have multiple goals, you may want to consider creating multiple videos. The more goals (or ideas) you try to cram into one video (especially a short one) the more likely you’ll complicate the script and confuse your audience. If you have multiple goals, you may want to consider creating multiple videos. Once you’ve identified why you want to create a video, it’s time to start looking at potential directions for how you could bring your video to life. Video is the future of marketing not only for small businesses but for medium and large businesses. The more your audience is able to connect with your message the higher the chance you have to converting them to clients.

    Nexonta Technologies Inc.
    On to the Next Level

☎ ✉
f 𝕏