Hi Everyone

[Bridget]

Hi Everyone,
I just thought I would introduce myself. Im Bridget, Im 24 and based in Preston. I started Opus Video Productions about 18 months ago after finishing my Moving Image (filmmaking, media) degree. I started out doing wedding videos to build up some cash for new equipment and Im now trying to concentrate on business promotional/corporate videos.

I think whatever your business, video is the most prestigious medium available to promote your products or services and increase sales. Short films are an ideal way to promote your business to potential customers in a creative and interesting way as it engages the audience in a far superior way than any text or still image can.

Online video advertising is also a very powerful tool to promote your business as currently more than a quarter of internet users watch video online on a daily basis. A short web video production is a great way to boost your company profile. Businesses are under estimating the power of online video and need to catch on.

What used to cost tens of thousands to advertise on television is now very affordable for any size of business.

I use 3ccd broadcast quality cameras and the latest digital non linear editing software.

If I can be of help to anyone please let me know, or if you have any questions please contact me.

Bridget

[Will]

Hi Bridget and welcome to the forum :)

Video is certainly a powerful marketing tool though I wonder if the members here would necessarily know how video could help their business or even the likes of the PM (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6633355.stm).

From an Internet marketing perspective I know a lot of marketers are having great success with viral advertising campaigns using social media websites like YouTube. I'd be interested in your thoughts on the subject.

Also, I've only just ordered a new camcorder. If only you'd gotten here a little sooner, I could have picked your brains! :D

[Bridget]

Hi again. Yeah there are lots of ways a business can benefit from video advertising/marketing.

I think if you want to generate revenue from your online presence, you will probably find that video is the most effective representation for your products or services.

A moving image can engage an audience far more effectively and can convey a depth of information that simply can't be delivered with any text, no matter how clever or even a still image. It keeps the audience more interested for longer and its something they are more likely to remember.

Also with faster internet connections and sites such as youtube and google video its now possible to reach a global audience whatever the size of your business.

I think video presentations are also increasing in popularity as a means of delivering a marketing message over the internet and I also think its only a matter of time before web video becomes the dominating vehicle for businesses that are serious about marketing & communication.

Videos are also ideal to use for product demonstrations, custmer testimonials, staff training, sales presentations or as a company profile (documentary style) or a ' talking heads' / 'interview' style videos, in which you can tell the audience who you are and what your business does. It's much more effective than text. I did one 2min video for a company and they had it out as a business card to their potential customers. Theres so much you can do!

If anyone is interested in video let me know and I will be happy to help!

Bridget

[harrynicholas]

Hi Bridget, welcome. If you are working in video and online then maybe I can provide some services. I have a computer animation and graphics company based in Becken, Kent:
www.virtuallydone.co.uk

Take a look, virtuallydone has been producing computer graphics for various areas, medical, scientific, architectural alongside tv - commercials, program content and film (Blade II, Resident Evil, and Thunderbirds to keep it short).

This is not to say we're expensive, the sharp intake of breath that clients make when confronted with the cost of computer graphics is offset by knowing their budget, I usually say 'how much have you set aside' followed by 'well this is what I can do' and the breath of pain is changed into a sigh of relief.

Two projects for nowPharma (a start-up medical video company) were done this way recently and they received two 5 minute films, in two languages, in two formats (mpeg and dvd), at two resolutions each (work it out) for less than 5,000 pounds.

So if video is what you do, and graphics is what you need, and CGI is what you desire - look no further.

Oops - pardon all the sales-talk, again welcome on board...