HD Reliant

One a Day

Thu, 08 May 2008 19:04:44 -0700

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:

Email
Phone call
Newsletter
Postcard
Visit
Thank you notes
Christmas (or other holiday) cards

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

Networking opportunities (speaking, dinners, etc)
Drop by their business
Personal email
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

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:49:00 -0700

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

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:07:00 -0700

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!

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:30:00 -0800

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

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

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:45:00 -0800

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?

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:08:00 -0800

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

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:37:00 -0800

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:

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.
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).
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

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:27:00 -0800

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

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:00:00 -0800

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:

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

Three Point Lighting

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 09:21:00 -0800

Three Point Lighting: While this article is a great intro to three point lighting, this simulator really makes light of how it affects your video.

How to Ask for More Time on a Project

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:43:00 -0800

Over delivering is not about over promising, but many of us feel the need to over promise on the project completion date.

The time comes and you are still not done, leaving you ~~stressed~~ wishing you hadn’t been so gracious with that date. Here is what you can do:

Ask for more time.

Be honest and up front with your customers and they will understand. You could say something like:

“Your project is going great, but I don’t feel comfortable letting this out the door quite yet. It is going to take a bit longer than I originally told you, but I believe you will be much happier when it is done. Is it ok if I drop this off tomorrow instead?”

This will help your customer understand and put the choice in their hands.

"Blogs, word of mouth, social networks … they’re about people connecting with other..."

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 18:22:14 -0800

“Blogs, word of mouth, social networks … they’re about people connecting with other people. You may resist advertising if your finances are tight, but if your bud tells you that new movie is really worth seeing or that the Gap has the cutest new tops, that’s more persuasive than advertising. Basically, in a recession, the consideration phase is more important than awareness — and that’s where advertising flops and social applications succeed.”

- Why Social Applications Will Thrive In A Recession
People wil continue to buy even through a recession. Spend less on (advertising) getting people to buy and spend more on generating conversation and community.

Are You the King of Distribution?

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:20:00 -0800

One way event (wedding) videographers and editors should improve themselves is in distribution. We get stuck in a “once was” mind set and hand out the polished video on DVD, only.

While everyone else is doing just that, you have an opportunity to offer and distribute your videos in multiple formats: iPod, Mobile Phones, Apple TV, & Web Video Services.

Providing any of these to your customer at no extra cost would be an easy way to give your customers more.

This 1 Tip Will Double Your Business

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:05:20 -0800

If I ~~was concerned~~ really wanted to grow my wedding videography business, I would put together a local resource guide for brides. It would be in print, but also online.

You could even partner with a photographer.

This could even lure brides into your area if you live in a beautiful area or have a fantastic wedding location.

The Luxe Wedding

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:02:00 -0800

I read about Bruce Patterson in the latest EventDV magazine. His work sounded stunning…revolutionary in fact, to what most wedding videographers are known for.

His site , wedding magazine, and wedding trailers testify of this. This was my favorite.

How can you begin implementing some of this in your next wedding?

Attraction method #1: Church of the Customer Blog

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:22:00 -0800

Attraction method #1: Church of the Customer Blog: How many customer contact/survey cards have you filled out and never heard anything back from? Here is a great example of a company who knows how to interact with customers.

Two Ways to Bill Your Customers

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:13:00 -0800

It’s easy to get picky with your customers. It’s easy to nickel and dime them for the little stuff.

A web development company in town is getting a bad reputation for nickel and diming their customers. Every support call made, they send out a bill - no matter how short of a call it is. This is good because they come to me.

The second way (and best way) is to give your customers more. Unexpectedly.

It’s easy to argue that your time is money and that you need to get paid when people require your time. It seems fair. But let’s look at it from a different angle.

You could charge $75 an hour and bill your customers for everything. At this rate you feel financially crunched. You already have lots of expenses and your customers are eating away the remaining pennies. In return you to feel obligated to bill for every little thing because your time becomes money. Customers don’t like this, it makes them feel like used.

The other way is to raise your rate to $100 an hour (or more) and feel at liberty to give more. It relieves you of financial pressures. Your mindset changes and you become more willing to over deliver, to give your customer something extra. In return your customer thanks you and tells their friends.

At some point, we need to make a decision to change the way we think about billing because you can’t take and give at the same time.

Bonus: Another reason to raise your price above the competition is that it puts you in a spot that says “you know you are worth the extra money.” The only thing left to do is prove it.

Seth's Blog: The first thing to do this year

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:46:00 -0800

Seth's Blog: The first thing to do this year: I did this. It took me 57 seconds. You can do it today too.

Yesterday, we thought about creating a product or service that...

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:32:00 -0800

Yesterday, we thought about creating a product or service that is easy to buy.

Here’s a product that makes it easy to talk about.

You've Heard The Saying Before

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 11:30:00 -0800

“People don’t want to be sold, but they love to buy.”

That is a quote from my favorite salesman, Jeffery Gittomer. He’s built an entire profession (industry in fact) around making it easy, fun, and exciting for people to buy his products.

This raises the question, have you made it easy or fun or exciting or creative or memorable or safe for your customer to buy your product or service?

It is too easy for video professionals to think like their competition - I’ll just put an advertisement in the yellow pages under “Weddings”, tell people at church I’ve started a business, and wait for the calls to start coming in.” Unfortunately starting a business isn’t that easy. It takes time, hard work, dedication, perseverance, money, and time. But still more is needed to get ahead of your competition.

You need to make it easy (or fun or exciting or safe or creative or memorable) for people to buy your services or products.

Do you know what will really put you ahead of your competition, create lasting relationships, and infinite leads? Putting together a product or service that is not only easy to buy, but easy to talk about.