It's been a tough year for many. I have more people approaching me looking for a job than I have potential clients approaching me for work. While this is hard to stomach for many, I'm looking at the silver lining. The talent many couldn't afford just 3 or 4 years ago, is affordable. I can pass that savings on to my clients and increase our offerings for clients! I's actually helping us to grow. I thank the good Lord that these are the people I am allowed to work with every day. Not only do they show up eager to work, but they are happy, truly happy. And THAT makes me happy with a fantastic creative team!
It's time to celebrate - April is National Frog Month! And that's no "croak."
OK, forgive our frog-themed puns. But this is one recognition month with which we can get on board. In honor of our amphibian friends, we thought we would take a moment to tell you WHY we celebrate frogs every day at Life's Eyes Media.
When we founded our company in 2005, we adopted a logo that featured a red-eyed tree frog. While we'd love to tell you some storied tale of how we were inspired by the creature's tenacity and vitality, the true history of our fascination with frogs is a little more personal.
The story is two-fold. First, LEM president Kristan Getsy, who stands 5'9", played basketball for her high school in Dry Prong, Louisiana. Because of her height and long skinny legs, she picked up the nickname "Frogger." The nickname followed her as she played collegiate ball at Louisiana College. This was the beginning of her frog love story.
Secondly, while attending college at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, La., Kristan and her friends were fans of the Lady Techsters basketball team. In the late 1990s, the Lady Techsters made a run at the National Championship and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. Before the tournament started, the friends "adopted" a small toy frog as their good luck charm. The toy frog traveled with them to every game to cheer on the Lady Techsters and was often seen in photographs with the friends.
Since then, Kristan has gained a fondness of frogs, as they evoke very special memories for her.
Many cultures believe the frog is a symbol of luck, opportunity and metamorphosis. We agree - our frog logo continues to bring luck to us at Life's Eyes Media. So, Happy Frog Month, everyone! Now, go out and play a rousing game of leap frog!
To learn more about the red-eyed tree frog, check out this Wikipedia entry.
Today, we are attending the Ohio chapter of the National Speaker Association's annual meeting in Columbus, Ohio. We were thrilled to hear one of the keynote speakers say, "In our business (professional speakers,) it is mandatory to have video on your website, and you don't have to spend $15,000 dollars." We agree!
And then our enthusiasm waned as he encouraged those in attendance to "Do it yourself using a Flip camera or webcam." (Cringe!!)
With the proliferation of handheld digital cameras, it is easy to be your own videographer. But keep in mind, quality still matters when you're using video to market yourself or your company. As a friend of mine put it, "If you own a pair of scissors, you can cut your own hair, too. But you'll get better results using a professional."
You should ask yourself a few questions:
1- "Do you have the time to invest in making a QUALITY video?"
2- "Does my DIY project represent me professionally enough to show I'm worth a big-time speaking gig?
3- And last, "Can it be SEEN and HEARD clearly?"
Well first, we love the FLIP camera, but we don't recommend using them... the quality can be very jerky... and "Blair Witch Project-ish." The purpose is to get more people to view it, not be nauseated or make fun of it. And if you are going to use your own camera, get an HD camera that allows for a microphone input. We say HD because it's the standard nowadays. We talk specifically about the microphone, because the mic on the camera picks up every sound in the room, including the echo! (Technical term: Hollow.)
The speaker also suggested that producing your own green screen video is easy. Sure it is... if you have the patience of Job! This is an easy thing to do, if you've been doing it for a while and have some technical savvy. You platinum blondes, go ahead, go on You Tube, look up the Do-It-Yourself video, buy the green screen, shoot it and then try to put a background behind you in your Sony Vegas editing software. You will almost certainly have a glow around your head. That's because the color green is in your hair color. You should use a blue screen, if you want to attempt it yourself. This is just a small sample of the technical knowledge a professional videographer brings to the table.
Ultimately, we believe that if you want to present yourself professionally, then you need to invest in professional video production.
Whew! Now I've got that off my chest!
Video Content Changes the Face of Traditional Marketing
Companies will continue to analyze their marketing plans as we enter 2011. Traditional marketing approaches will be reconsidered as they have become less effective in reaching their target audiences. Businesses are rapidly embracing digital media as the preferred tactic to reach today's consumers.
Harris Interactive, an information gathering group for surveys, polls and web marketing analysis applications, recently reported the results of an in-depth study:
- 87% of online adults use social media
- 17% of adults ages 18-34 use social media 6 to 10 hours per week
The concept of video marketing has emerged as a highly effective tool in increasing companies' search engine optimization. At the 2010 Search Engine Strategies Conference & Expo, Greg Jarboe, president and co-founder of SEO-PR, revealed that:
- Americans watch more videos a month on YouTube than they conduct searches on Google
- A video is 50 times more likely to get a first-page Google ranking than a text page
Platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Flickr and other video or image social sites will get more attention as a marketing method. Among the most common types of video being used by businesses are company introductions, customer testimonials, product presentations/demonstrations, video blogs (vlogs) and company seminars/presentations.
Digital marketing tools also provide companies with the "feel good" benefit of being earth-friendly by reducing traditional printed marketing materials. Savvy business owners will weigh all of these options as they review their marketing plans in 2011.
HERE IT IS... (click here)
...our first in a series of videos we are shooting for the Space Telescope Science Institute. We're talking about "Behind the Webb"...catchy little phrase for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) project. If you're not familiar with it, you likely will be one day. Of course you've heard of HUBBLE. Well, the James Webb telescope will not replace it. It will, however, be launched as a partial successor.
Plans are for it launch in 2014. We're helping to document the various building aspects. JWST is a NASA-led international collaboration, involving 15 nations! And yes, that means we're traveling. So far our Life's Eyes Media team has traveled domestically to Alabama, Los Angeles and San Francisco. We've documenting some WAY cool stuff. If you're interested in looking at pictures of us working, shoot me an email...kgetsy@lifeseyesmedia.com
We're very stoked to be a part of this history making project. Be sure to save the link and look each month for a new video. Mary Estacion will post one a month, hopefully until the launch!
Mary Estacion received an Honorable Mention, at the Columbus International Film Festival for her video production "behind the scenes" at NASA. Click here for a link to see some of the cool stuff. And realize, she worked her butt off for 10 days, sleeping only 3 hours a night.
As a quick sidebar, if you've never been to a film festival, it's a neat experience. The creativity and imagination that you witness is amazing. A lot of these people do this as a hobby, as an art and some are truly professionals. Many you will never see their names on the big screen movie credits (as if you stay to watch them, or can read them because they go so fast). But you can tell they love what they do and do what they love.
Maybe one day, we will be in a film festival...watch for us. :-)
Integrated Marketing Brochure
Back in the first part of the year, we were awarded this BlackSmith. With all of life's hectic-ness, we forgot to mention this. So, thanks to Kortnee Miller for your expertise in design and your fabulous pictures that enabled us to win such a prestigious award.
And yes, Life's Eyes Media can do more than just videos! We work with all facets of public relations and marketing...we just LOVE to integrate various aspects and think OUTSIDE the box for our clients.
Kristan Getsy Chosen as 1 of 50 Rising Stars with the YWCA
Sounds fancy, right? At first I wasn't sure what to think about the nomination. Then, I was in complete shock that I was selected from hundreds of applicants, nominated by members. But you know, when I was sitting in the room of women selected, I was truly sitting in a room of my peers. And it felt good.
You see, the Rising Star program is basically a mentoring program for young business leaders, with a focus on the non-profit/volunteering side of things. And the fact of this matter is, I need them as much as they need me. I'm meeting women who, like me, need the networking and need the mentoring. Plus, they're planning a lot of fun stuff to do for us hard working and giving individuals. Great!
Just a quick side bar...at the first dinner we attended, we heard Connie Schultz speak. Wow! She's the author of 2 books (His Lovely Wife & Life Happens) and a columnist for the Plain Dealer. I ran out to buy both of her books the next day! She comes from a blue collar background, has made her way to marry well the second go around (for happiness), is a journalist and just a nice person! We have a lot in common.
I just want to say thanks to Linda Gill for nominating me. And I want to say thanks to the YWCA for this opportunity. I want to take full advantage of this and someday, be one of the mentors.
A NASA Arm Reached Out and Grabbed LEM!
We are very excited to have been awarded a contract with STSI. We're working with their web producer, Mary Estacion on the James Webb Project. Our travels have already taken us to Alabama & California. We're helping to build educational and informative stories that will be on STSI's website and on You Tube. Currently, the videos are under construction and development. Once we have enough in the can, each one will go on-line at least once a month. James Webb will be launched in 2014...so we should have lots to talk about between now and then.
Getting back on track is a bit challenging. Luke is now 3 months old. I'm back at work and catching up, slowly but surely. I will have blogging back on track ASAP. (In my time that's within the next month or so. In the meantime, you can follow me on TWITTER@KristanGetsy.