#Topic of the Week: MKTG
7 messages in this thread
Folks,
I hope it is O.K. but I have started a new "Topic of the Week:". Going down
Michael Towe's list of a few 100 messages ago, I find, how to make money, er,
market yourself or your video. In that vein I'd like to start it off with an
observation…
Marketing yourself or your video starts alot with "producing". IE., do some
stuff for fun (read nothing) and then show it off. The example that comes to
mind is the local NBC affiliate just bought a "model" of DIA (Denver
International Airport) from a "contact" of his here in Denver. The contact was
made because this particular individual managed to make his name known, through
his work, in the local, if not national, arena for producing professional
computer based graphics.
If you can find a poor paying job, but one that will bring exposure, grab it!
Exposure can really pay off in the long run with video professionals contacting
you for a particular job that they need done. They have the job and let us
face it, you have the talent. What we/you have to do is show the people that
have the jobs that we/you have the talent.
-John
John:
Thanks for creating this topic. As publisher of a national newsletter
targeting video entrepreneurs, one observation I make over and over again is
that most independent video producers spend too much time and money on
equipment and production and not enough on marketing their services.
If these producers put the same amount of energy they put into making equipment
purchases into marketing their businesses, they'd make a lot more money and
have a lot more free time to enjoy the video toys they buy for themselves…
not to mention a lot of free time to do non-video related stuff too.
Barbara A. Besteni, Publisher
VIDEO FILE, Professional Journal of the Video Entrepreneur
Some clarification, please, John's point (I think) was about approaching
professional videographers and letting them know about the computer graphics
capability available. Your point is about just plain getting out there and
selling what you got, right?
Is John's point accurate in your opinion? Is the best plan for an independent
user with some souped-up computer equipment to just produce something and send
copies out to all the videographers and follow-up? How would you do it?
What do you think would be the most attractive features to highlight from the
perspective of the videographers?
–Scott
Scott,
I feel that what John says is true, but not maybe in the way you're thinking.
I'm donating some time to a nearby university for some graphics for their news
program, and I always donate an anim or photographers video portfolio sale item
to the local PBS stations funding auction (as well as helping staff it). They
use my animated segment in every ad for the show, and it opens every day of the
auction; and yes, I get on the credits.
It gets you exposure, and a great feeling. Every time I've done it, I gain a
few contacts. It may not pay off immediately, but I'm convinced that it's
worthwhile.
That's the way that I use, for what it's worth.
Regards, Nate.
Nate Wahl
Emerald Video
Barbara—
Send me what you have on VIDEO FILE!
-Patrick Rafter
Data Translation
Makers of the Media 100 nonlinear program authoring system
Patrick:
I'd be happy to send you a sample issue of VIDEO FILE along with subscription
and advertising information. But it's a 16 page journal, so I'll need your
postal mailing addresss. Please e-mail it to me and I'll get the information
out to you immediately.
Thanks for your interest.
Barbara
John—
The most successful video entrepreneurs I've met have the following unique
combination of qualities/skills:
1) Creative Talent and Imagination
2) Solid Experience (in video/art/music)
3) Self-promotional acumen (or access to an associate who does)
4) A pony-tail
5) A cool name for their atelier with matching logotype to boot.
6) Focus. Do somethings very well. Avoid the rest
7) Eloquent public speakers
8) A sense of humor
9) An eye-popping demo reel
With these, you can fail once or twice, but you'll come out on top in the end.
–Patrick Rafter
Data Translation Evangelist