HD Reliant

One a Day

Most people are willing to help you out, if you ask. See we all go about our business not really paying too much (if any at all) attention to others around us. “Everybody else” just isn’t on your mind, until someone approaches you.

And that is when people take notice. It’s a good idea to keep in touch with the people you know through:

1. Email
2. Phone call
3. Newsletter
4. Postcard
5. Visit
6. Thank you notes
7. Christmas (or other holiday) cards

But it’s the personal ways we can communicate that allow us to approach people, primarily:

1. Networking opportunities (speaking, dinners, etc)
2. Drop by their business
3. Personal email
4. Phone call

The personal approach allows us to specifically ask someone for their help, like asking for a lead. 

What if you called up one customer each day to ask for a lead? Better yet, what if you went to that person’s business to see how they use your video services and then asked for one lead? You’d have 250 new leads a year.

Show Me the Benefits

Features. I’m bombarded by features when I visit a business website. But that’s not what I want. I want to know what the product does FOR me, not what how many features it has. I certainly don’t want to know what you’ve called your special feature unless I first understand what it can do for me.

Case in point, what in the world is ScriptSync? What will it do for me? Can you tell me? I am not about to sit through their boring video because it doesn’t get to the point. Make highlight videos short, sweet, and capture my attention for goodness sakes.

Talk my talk. Tell Show me the benefits.

Most of you have a website. Does it talk “features” or does it show benefits? You are in the business of video, use video. Use it because it captures the attention and warms the hearts of your clients better than words.

Warning: Read This Only if You Want to Take Your Event Video Business to the Next Level

Video is big. Same Day Edits are bigger. But web video is (going to be) HUGE!

So why aren’t more videographers utilizing the web video for their events?

Maybe I’m just ignorant, but I haven’t read about anyone broadcasting weddings in one of the many video editing magazines being published.

I’ve talked about distribution, but giving your brides the option to broadcast their wedding to friends, family, and relatives who are unable to attend will bring your event video business to a new level. You will not only be the brides hero, but will have fans around the country (or world) as they watch the service. Furthermore, the cost of entry is extremely low and you can start with your next wedding.

Here is what I envision:

• Canon HV20 or HV30 
• Tripod
• Good audio feed
• UStream.tv
• High speed internet connection
• Son, daughter, or next door neighbor kid to man the camera

Of course, you could go bigger with a multi camera setup and a TriCaster, but your price will sky rocket and so will the amount of stress involved.

Since your focus is not on creating more stress for yourself, but offering a service that will bring more value to your bride, you’ll put yourself above the competition.

My moo MiniCards Have Arrived!

I just got my moo MiniCards in the mail today. They are awesome! Why?

1. Excitingly Different - Have you ever seen a business card like this before?
2. 100% Original - I can print anything I like. I chose to use some customer testimonials.
3. Attention Getters - These just beg to be picked up off a table! On the back side is my contact info and what I offer.
4. Durable - These things are sturdy, almost a plastic-like feel to them (just another reason these stand out).
5. Environmentally Friendly - Made with paper sourced from sutainable forests.
6. Simple - I had mine customized and ordered within 10 minutes.

You can buy 100 MiniCards from Moo for under $30 - go do it today and make your business standout. 

Why Did Your Customer Cancel Their Service?

If you don’t know the answer, ask them. I’m continually amazed at how often we don’t ask the customer (myself included, which is why I’m writing reminding myself and telling you about it too).

Just this morning a customer called and wanted to cancel a service we provide for them. Did I ask them right then and there? No. I just finished writing quick courtesy email notifying them that we followed through with the cancelation and their last invoice will be adjusted.

Furthermore, I ended with this request:

“If you could take a moment to let me know why you canceled your service with us, it would be much appreciated. We just like to know if it is because of something we did or didn’t do, that way we can continually improve our service.”

Sometimes a simple question will provide them an opportunity to let you know if you can do something better next time. 

Are You Exploiting Your Opportunities?

Two and a half years ago I started a website to help others learn about camcorders and editing. It was a side project and postings were sparse. In early 2007 I started writing 2-5 articles a week and saw the number of visitors to my site increase 200-300%.

It was nice to see, but my heart wasn’t really into it and money was the motivator in sitting down to write articles. Three months into my big push to write consistently I let it slide again.

The motivation to write just wasn’t there.

I read an article awhile back where Shoemoney said he “exploits every opportunity.” Exploiting is a powerful word and I hadn’t really exploited every option for this website.

I’ve decided to expoit an opportunity out of my dud because I don’t see the site growing unless I do something different than all the other sites, especially since the consumer camcorder market is slow. As the idea moves forward I will report on it later.

But for now, what opportunities can be exploited by you?

Three Reasons Why You Should Increase Your Rate

Is this next sentence true?

“My customers would stop using me if I raised my rates.”

I’m sure you’ve thought about raising your rates but have hesitated from fear of losing customers. Here are three reasons why raising your rates will be a positive benefit for you and your customers:

1. Reinvest - In an industry that is constantly advancing, upgrading is expensive. Raising your rates will generate cash flow that can be reinvested into your business.
2. Get Trained - Spend a few hours less working per month and spend it on training to catch up on some much needed skill (with your new equipment or software).
3. Customer Satisfaction & Desirability - With a combination of the first two, the product or service you give back to your customer will be better, making you more desirable in their eyes.

Learning How to Generate Buzz from the Customer

I think a lot about ways to generate word of mouth buzz that keeps my business at the top of peoples mind. Word of mouth opportunities give the customer something to talk about with friends and family. But today I learned it can be the other way around.

My customer was ecstatic. She loved what I had done for her. A few days later I received a card with a hand written letter, an excellent reference, and a $25 gift certificate to the best pizza place in town.

Wow! Look who’s talking about who now. 

The next time I have a customer worth keeping (like her), you can be sure I’ll be giving them a gift certificate after everything is said and done.

It's Good to Check In Once in a While

Cold calling rarely works. If a company had the choice to use the services of one whom they’ve had contact with in the past versus one who called them out of the blue, who are they most likely to choose?

There is something to be said for taking the time to network, but it isn’t always easy for some people (introverts). If you have trouble meeting new people, leverage the existing people you’ve met by sending an email. This will keep you in their mind and let them know you are thinking about them.

Here are two things you could send them:

1. A link to an article that you think know will benefit them.
2. Let them know of an event you will be at and tell them that you’d like to see them there.