Grow Your Video Business

You already know how to make amazing videos. If only that were enough to sustain your business, you’d be all set. Sadly, outstanding video seldom is enough. To truly get the business you need, you need to market what you do. Today’s guest is here to help us navigate the murky waters of social media marketing so that you can grow your business to the next level. Key Takeaways Don’t get caught up in how many followers you have. What’s more important is promoting the quality of your impact and the value you provide. This will not only help you get discovered but will allow you to charge what you’re worth.   You need to market to a specific need. By trying to market to everybody, you’re marketing to nobody. By specializing in something specific, you’ll be better positioned to market to and find your ideal clients. The more specific you can get, the more powerful and tangible your messaging will be. About Neal Schaffer Neal Schaffer is an authority on helping innovative businesses digitally transform their sales and marketing. Founder of the digital marketing consultancy PDCA Social, Neal also teaches at Rutgers Business School and the Irish Management Institute.  Fluent in Japanese and Mandarin Chinese, Neal is a popular keynote speaker and has spoken on four continents in more than a dozen countries. He is also the author of 4 sales and marketing books, including Maximize Your Social and the recently published The Age of Influence, a ground-breaking book redefining digital influence. The Many Ways Social Media Can Be Used In Marketing We all have to market our businesses. There are countless ways to do this and it will look different for everyone. Neal discusses how to use social media to build your exposure and influence in a way that’s authentic to who you are and your brand.  You need to be specific in your approach. Carefully choose the platform, format, and content that makes the most sense to what you do and who you want to reach. Neal explains how honing in on this will help you differentiate what you do and reach the right clients. This may mean further developing your niche, or even changing it altogether. Being Unique To Leverage Your Connections The thing to remember is that, no matter what, you have a unique experience. That experience is what sets you apart and gives you something worth sharing. Whatever it is, it can be applied to something related to video. Neal reminds us that we are all experts in something. Marketing is merely a way to communicate that you’re an expert to the people who need that expertise. It’s also not that important how many followers you have. What matters more is how connected you are to others. It’s the quality of those relationships that makes the difference. Neal tells us how to use your sphere of influence to get the word out so that more business will start flowing your way.  What could be holding you back from a pivot you need to make? What do you need to do to move forward? How can you use your skills in video to reach out within your sphere of influence? Leave a comment on the episode page!   In This Episode: Developing a love of social media as a way to build and promote businesses [5:45] The dangers of comparing your business to others [9:55] Where to start when developing your social media marketing strategy [13:30] Overcoming the fear of niching down [17:12] The power of having processes in your sales strategy [28:40] How to build and leverage your sphere of influence [37:08]   Quotes “With social media, it’s so misunderstood and done wrong by so many, and I think if we can teach people at the top level how to do it right, it’s so impactful for people, businesses, and society.” [5:34] “The numbers don’t matter. What really matters is the impact that you have in your community and the market where you’re looking for work.” [12:50] “There are influencers out there, in your community and online, who you can begin a relationship with, collaborate with. I think that can become a really powerful way of getting some word of mouth going for you.” [39:44]   Links: Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook group The Client Budget Workshop Core Storyblocks Find Neal Schaffer online Follow Neal on Twitter | Linkedin | Instagram | Facebook Free Preview of The Age of Influence   Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

If only you had that one piece of gear you could take your business to the next level, right? Well, more often than not, you’ll just end up spending money on something that won’t truly help move your business. Today’s guest and I talk about the most important factors when considering a new expense so that you can actually focus on what’s best for your business. Key Takeaways When trying to find your niche, think about different areas of expertise that you have that overlap. This will set you apart more from your competition and allow you to play to your strengths.  There are likely parts of your business that are unnecessary. Cut those out not only to save money but to give you enough bandwidth to focus on the truly important parts of your business. About Wesley Dean The founder of InterMotion Media, Wesley Dean has a passion for helping nonprofits, churches, higher education, and development organizations succeed. He loves the work that they are doing to make the world a better place and wants to see them succeed. He has traveled around the world from the Andes mountains in Ecuador to the rice paddies of Cambodia, helping nonprofits communicate the impact of their work. Wesley is also passionate about helping educate people as well as inform, which is why InterMotion Media has produced a large number of online courses in partnership with the US Institute of People, the United Nations, and the World Bank. Focusing on what you and your business really need With a decade of experience as a business owner, Wesley has learned a lot of lessons. He shares how he learned the need to create a refined hiring-process, the importance of proper team management, and the true meaning of success. More than anything, Wesley understands the need to take care of yourself as a business owner. A great way to go about this is to seriously think about the unnecessary parts of your business. What’s sucking up resources and time that you could do without? Once that’s identified, you can get rid of it and focus on the more important things. How your business can do more with less One thing that Wesley understands is how constraints lead to solutions. Instead of buying gear you don’t need or hiring an employee you can’t afford, consider how you can accomplish the same thing with fewer resources.  When you know what your business doesn’t need, you can better focus on your actual vision. Niching down, identifying your ideal client, developing strategy, and so much more can happen once all the unnecessary noise, expenses, and distractions are jettisoned. What unnecessary expense can you cut from your business? How can you utilize overlapping skills to create a new niche?  Leave a comment on the episode page!   In This Episode: How a career in video allows you to create the work that excites you the most [5:10] Discovering the unnecessary parts of your business and getting rid of them [12:40] Utilizing the power of community and a mentor to help with big decisions [21:12] Challenges and solutions to niching down [26:30] Leveraging the advantage of warm leads during downturns in business [36:48]   Quotes “Focus on yourself. Focus on making sure you’re profitable and taking care of yourself as a business owner.” [14:40] “Take care of yourself. Make sure you’re paying yourself first versus assuming that buying the latest camera or having a bigger studio is going to automatically lead to more work.” [16:22] “You just have to be exponentially better at one particular thing in order for people to actually want to involve you on the strategy side of things.” [33:10]   Links: Get access to the free Client Budget Workshop Join the Onward Summit Waitlist Core Storyblocks Find Wesley Dean online Follow Wesley on Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin InterMotion Media Your Video Roadmap Profit First By Mike Michalowicz   Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Who doesn’t want to land a high-budget project for a big brand? That may be the goal of many of us, but seldom can you start there. Before you get booked to make something big, you often have to do something much smaller. Today’s guest is an expert in video marketing who’s going to tell you how to introduce yourself to big clients by offering smaller projects. Key Takeaways When talking to clients, focus on how to best use the videos you create rather than the video itself. Your videos are a means to an end for them and you can help them reach their goals. That’s what they’re truly interested in. Have something to offer a potential client on the cheap (or even free) to help you establish a relationship early on. This will not only possibly lead to more lucrative work later on, but it will also help you decide if you’re a good fit for each other. If you ever do free work for somebody, be very clear from the start about your expectations of what you’re doing for them and what they should expect from you. About Jacob Snowden Jacob Snowden has worked in video and marketing for the past eight years. Starting out with Kickstarters and music videos, Jacob now leads a team of nine video creators for one of America's fastest-growing companies; Marketing 360. Focusing on Strategy to Help Your Clients More important than making a great video, is putting it to use in the best way you can. Jacob describes the process for selling clients on the importance of the videos you create for them rather than the video itself. It takes remembering that they have a goal in mind and focusing on how you can help them achieve that goal with your creation.  By focusing on strategy, you’ll not only sound more professional, but you’ll help your clients even more. Knowing what they want the videos to achieve will guide your creations towards a more narrow focus and make them more effective. Starting Small Before You Can Go Big We all want to create big-budget projects. But sometimes it pays to make something with a tiny budget or even for free when just starting your relationship with a brand. Jacob and I have both found that this is a helpful way to get your foot in the door and find out whether or not you’re actually a good fit for each other.  Templatized projects can also fill this role. They are cheap, fast, and easy to make while still serving your client’s needs. Sometimes the most memorable video is just a few seconds long and quickly made. Although they don’t make you much money upfront, Jacob knows that they often lead to much bigger projects down the road. What low barrier to entry project can you offer a prospective client? Can you offer templatized projects? How do you think they could help you serve your clients? Leave a comment on the episode page!   In This Episode: Why implementing a video correctly is more important than creating it [8:10] How to introduce yourself to a big agency as a small company [17:00] Important considerations when it comes to doing work for free [20:05] Using inexpensive templatized projects to grow your business [32:35]   Quotes “You can talk to a client about video until you’re blue in the face, but if they don’t understand how it’s going to benefit their business and how it’s going to be used, you already lost them.” [9:14] “If you can get somebody to say yes once, you’re more likely to get them to say yes again.” [28:49] “Just keep creating videos and just keep learning. That’s all you can do.” [42:03]   Links: Get access to the free Client Budget Workshop Join the Onward Summit Waitlist Core Storyblocks Find Jacob Snowden online Follow Jacob on YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram   Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

There was a time I tried promoting my studio with Facebook ads. It didn’t end up working out. I suppose there was a lot I didn’t know at the time that would have made the difference. But why would a video studio want to consider Facebook ads or ads of any kind? Today’s guest will answer that question and tell you how to do it the right way. Key Takeaways The best lead magnets will position you as a guide who will serve your clients however you’re able to while also letting them know that you may not be the best fit for everybody. Don’t make ads too early on. First, identify your sales process and how you convert leads into paying customers. Then you can create ads that use the successful process that you’ve already established. About Michele Caruana Michele Caruana is a corporate marketing professional, turned local business owner, turned online entrepreneur. As someone who was stuck on the marketing-hamster-wheel for years in marketing her own business, her passion is now helping other local business owners simplify and streamline their strategies so they can get new sales, bookings, and clients while they spend their time doing what they love in their business. Simple is Best for Your Sales Process Michele explains how simplifying your sales process is crucial to its success. There’s so much to distract you from the work you love to do. That’s why having an established straight-forward process to take people on a journey from a prospective customer to a satisfied paying client will allow you to spend your energy on the parts of your business you enjoy the most.  Creating content that your ideal client wants and needs puts you in the front of their mind when they’re ready to spend money. Your ads will work best when they keep you first in your customer’s thoughts when they think about who they need. But this takes research and preparation. Michele tells us just what to consider when beginning this important process. Making Ads the Right Way Once you find your process to convert calls into sales and put it in place, Facebook ads can be used to further amplify that process. Michele explains why getting into ads too early is a waste of time and money. Before you create and pay for ads, you need to know how you best land paying clients. Once that’s known and established, your ads can streamline this process by steering people to the resources you know work. What’s your experience with Facebook ads? How has your sales process changed over time? Tell me what works and what doesn’t in the comments on the episode page!   In This Episode: The importance of simplifying your marketing process [6:10] What to do before you ever reach out to clients [11:16] Why making referrals can sometimes be better than the work itself [18:10] Getting clients excited to work with you from the start [27:25] What to avoid when running ads for your business [34:24] Tips for engaging with potential clients through Facebook ads [39:00]   Quotes “As someone who works in a niche business, it’s just as important to attract your ideal customers as it is to repel people who you can’t do your best work for.” [16:02] “When someone first steps into your email list, that’s when they’re hottest. That’s when they’re most interested and most easily moved towards a sale or booking. Having even just a few emails to start with and then adding more as time goes on is so important when it comes to simplifying everything.” [31:43] “What I recommend is finding that perfect way to collect someone’s contact information - really honing in on that nurture-sequence - making sure your process is going to result in bookings. That’s when you need to spend money - when you know that it’s already working.” [35:14] “Even if you feel like you are wasting money with Facebook ads, they really come down to testing, tweaking, and optimizing. It is a learning process.” [42:51]   Links: Get access to the free Client Budget Workshop Join the Onward Summit Waitlist Core Storyblocks Find Michele Caruana online Follow Michele on Instagram | Youtube Get Michele’s Free Facebook & Instagram Ad Guide The Marketing Junkie Podcast   Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

As creatives and entrepreneurs, we sometimes find ourselves up against a wall, unable to make money the way we thought we would. This is where we can put our creativity into action. There are so many options for us in this business. It just may not be obvious what they are right away. Today’s guest has explored numerous creative and non-traditional ways to make a video business profitable and is here to share some of them with you. Key Takeaways There are countless ways to make money in the video business. Sometimes this involves making videos and sometimes it doesn’t. As a creative, explore what you and your business can do that will help you lead the life you want to live. It takes more than shooting video to make a business profitable. You need a clear plan and vision long before you arrive on set. This means knowing your purpose, your audience, and your process in detail. About Holly Gillen Holly Gillen empowers high-performing leading lady entrepreneurs to save time on both sides of the camera. She teaches them the skills they need to create not just video, but Business Cinema. This means not creating content for content’s sake, but creating videos that have a plan, purpose, system, and strategy - videos that move your business forward and have a bigger purpose. Where the Planning Really Begins Anyone who’s been in this work for any period of time knows that just making videos (even the most amazing video) isn’t enough. You need to plan, have a strategy, and processes. These are important things to think about and put in place. Holly explains how she starts with a recognition of where her money is coming from. You can then work backward by reverse-engineering your content based on how you generate income.  Being prepared also relies on Holly’s Four Pillars of Pre Production. This means being clear on the ‘why”, ‘who”, “what”, and “how” of what drives your business. With these in place, you’ll be ready to make the videos that will be most profitable for your business. Building a Business That Works for You Ultimately, your business should work to help you live the life that you want. That’s why you became an entrepreneur in the first place. Holly explains how she structures her business around creating the time she desires to spend with her family. Whatever your goals are, take a hard look at how your business can help you get there. You may have to go an unconventional route, but there is no one right way to do this. By putting your creative talent into action, you can explore these possibilities. How can your business allow you to live the life you want? What’s the most important thing you can do before you start filming? Leave a comment on the episode page!   In This Episode: The power of community to build self-confidence in business [8:08] Where to start when building a business strategy [14:32] Why proper mentorship is a long-term investment [20:40] Using free events as a way to market your business [24:50] Creating healthy boundaries in work and in life [31:00]   Quotes “I teach people how to create Business Cinema which is a video with a plan, a purpose, a system, and a strategy. When I was working professionally in video works, I never ever ever walked onto a set where they were like we’re just gonna see what happens.” [13:38] “You can have videos or you can have excuses. You choose.” [24:30] “Remember, you are someone’s reason to smile, whether that’s your client, your family, or yourself. So don’t give up.”  [35:14]   Links: Get access to the free Client Budget Workshop The 5 Day Grow Your Video Business Challenge Core Storyblocks Find Holly Gillen online Follow Holly on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin | YouTube | Pinterest   Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

There’s a lot of excitement for video freelancers when they start out. But often after a point, they realize that things aren’t going as planned. In order to stay in business, you have to be adaptable and clear on your mission. Today’s guest shares lessons learned from recent pivots and how you can keep your business running during tough times. Key Takeaways Basing your success on how others see it will set you up for disappointment. Build your work around what it is that you want out of your business, not what other people think is important.  It’s good to have goals, but focusing on sustainability is what will allow you to reach them. Focus on what you need to do to grow your skill sets and create systems to allow your business to survive for the long haul. Learning about strategies for business success will help set you apart from the competition more than your gear or shooting techniques will. By presenting yourself as someone who will help your clients’ business succeed will make you more desirable than anything else. About Evan Bourcier Evan Bourcier is from northwestern Connecticut and has worked as a director, DP, and photographer for the last nine years. During COVID he pivoted away from DPing commercial jobs and leaned into direct to client relationships as a creative director and producer. Resetting Your Business With a Clear Plan Like many entrepreneurs in this line of work, Evan made some drastic shifts in what he does. He describes how he went “too far too fast” at the start. Since resetting, he has developed a clearer plan for his business and established a healthier work-life balance. These changes were only accelerated with COVID. Evan recounts how his calendar went from packed solid to empty in an instant and how he took this as an opportunity to further adapt. Being Adaptable to Find Truly Joyful Work More than anything, Evan learned that it takes time to get good at what you do. The short-cuts to success that many online personalities peddle are not going to get you there. Evan discusses the importance of process and consistency, as well as adaptability, in achieving sustainability and success.  We also talk about finding work that you actually enjoy doing. Sure, there’s a lot of prestige that comes with making an ad for a big brand. But often, that work is frustrating as the visions and needs of too many other people collide. Evan gives some great advice on how to identify who you really want to work with and the type of video you can make for them. How has your vision for your business changed since the start? What type of work do you find the most joy and fulfillment in? Tell me in the comments on the episode page!   In This Episode: When it’s time to reset how you run your business [5:20] What to consider when success feels like a failure [11:13] Why consistency and process is more important than goals [20:40] Finding work that’s actually fun versus work that just sounds fun [29:00] Shifting your requirements to find more enjoyable and diverse work [34:30]   Quotes “I’ve worked with so many agencies that don’t seem to understand basic creative and just hand production companies stuff that doesn’t make any sense and you’re trying to fix it on the day. So I’d rather be ahead of that point on the curve and have that relationship with the client.” [10:07] “You’re not going to go to the Olympics in four years in any sport. So to think that you’re going to be Nike’s go-to production company three years after you get your first DSLR is just stupid. And it’s just stupid that people on Facebook are going to sell you on how to do that.” [25:10] “Do your homework on the ‘boring stuff’ because there are even a lot of big agencies that aren’t good at that. You’d be surprised how many big conversations you can win just by knowing your stuff.” [38:23]   Links: The 5 Day Grow Your Video Business Challenge Core Storyblocks Find Evan Bourcier online Follow Evan on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek Start with Why by Simon Sinek StoryBrand BRAND is a Four Letter Word by Austin McGhie   Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

If you’ve ever found yourself poised to create something but unable to actually do it, you’re far from alone. There’s a whole psychology behind this paralysis that afflicts so many creatives. That’s why I’ve brought on an expert to help us understand it better and figure out how to overcome our self-imposed obstacles. Key Takeaways When you notice yourself afraid to move forward with your work, identify the actual source of that fear. Doing so will help you reframe your goals and actions so that you can see opportunities where once there were obstacles. Listen to when your body and brain are more eager to create. Block that time off regularly for your own creative process. This will establish a rhythm for creation that will make previously daunting tasks enjoyable. About Dr. Shannan Crawford Dr. Shannan Crawford is a clinical psychologist, adjunct professor, founder of #7MCulture, and leadership consultant who has invested over 15-years honing optimal performance strategies for those leading in the creative and entrepreneurial spaces. She loves working with creatives because the language of the unconscious is best understood through allegory and story. Dr. Crawford intuitively helps individuals identify and overcome areas of self-sabotage by deepening awareness of their internal world to enrich creative enjoyment. As an innovator of Restoring-Self-Cohesion (RSC) approach, Dr. Crawford helps creatives remove the unconscious blocks that have been limiting the spontaneous free-flowing enjoyment of their craft. Overcoming Your Fears of Creativity Fear is a major impediment to creative action. Dr. Crawford explains that fear is a natural response to risk. But just because it exists, doesn’t mean we should let it stop us. There are many methods for resetting and getting back into a motivated creative mindset. Journaling, meditation, laughter, or even a solid hug from a loved one can help make the shift you need to stop self-sabotaging.  When you actually lean into the thing you are anxious about, you can see it for what it is. Dr. Crawford gets into what actually happens in the brain when this refocus happens. By utilizing certain intentional practices, you can start to think more rationally about your creative process and move forward. This ongoing task requires a dismantling of our own defense mechanisms. Using positive psychology, Dr. Crawford works to help people stop simply pushing their symptoms away so that they can truly address and understand where they come from. Time-blocking for More Freedom and Creativity Being disciplined with your time is an essential part of a sustainable creative process. Blocking your time so that you make the creative process part of a regular rhythm trains your brain to be inspired. By being disciplined with your time and regularly scheduling space for creativity, you’ll find that creativity will come naturally to you.  To better help you block your time, Dr. Crawford describes techniques for listening to what your body is telling you. Your body will let you know when it's the best time to prepare and create. Linking these feelings with a positive association will help train you to be excited to do the work and surmount the hurdles that you had previously placed in your way. What obstacle is standing in your way? What is one step you can take to overcome it? Leave a comment on the episode page!   In This Episode: The power of psychology to overcome inaction [6:30] How to replace false-comforters with truly beneficial ones [12:15] What happens when you associate fear with opportunity [17:07] Time-blocking to create a creative rhythm [32:10] The joy that comes with creating according to your own schedule and rhythm [41:00]   Quotes “Inside, your body is protecting you by pulling you back to what is comfortable and safe. If you understand that, now you can start replacing the false comforters that are sabotaging for the ones that are beneficial.” [12:09] “Failure is the key for most people to actually innovate. But if we live paralyzed to the god of the fear of failure, we’re all just trailing back with what everybody has done ahead of us because it’s safe and familiar.” [18:29] “The problem is you can’t wait for inspiration. You have to discipline yourself and structure your time.” [33:20] “I think it reduces your productivity if you’re not able to give yourself lengthy preparation time to be successful.” [36:40]   Links: Get access to the free Client Budget Workshop Core StoryBlocks Find Dr. Shannan Crawford online Follow Dr. Crawford on Linkedin | Instagram | Facebook The Prosperous Coach by Steve Chandler and Rich Litvin Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz   Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

What drives your business? I bet it’s not what you think. It’s not your style or your gear. It’s not even the amazing videos that you create. It’s your marketing. When you put marketing first, the business will follow. Today’s guest explains how to market your business while still staying true to your work. Key Takeaways An effective showreel should go way beyond just clips of your videos. It should say more about who you are as a company and what it is you can provide to clients.  Add value for your clients beyond just making the video. Teach them how to use it so that they utilize its full value or even manage it yourself for a fee. This will set you apart and create more business. About Simon Banks Simon Banks is a video coach and producer. He works with businesses to get visible using consistent video content. With over 30 years of experience in the video industry, Simon made documentaries for many of the major broadcasters, such as BBC, ITV, CH4, and National Geographic. This gave him great skill in distilling complex messages into engaging films. Simon now uses this approach to produce videos for small businesses right up to large corporations. With his insights on working with hundreds of businesses and producing thousands of videos, Simon believes it’s not all about the production. In this digital age, unless you have a robust strategy and distribution plan in place, your video will not be effective. So much so Simon has written a book, How to Get Video Right, a video marketing guide for your business. It’s All in Your Presentation It’s easy to get hung up with marketing to new clients. Many of us fall back on a showreel to present our work. Sometimes this is a good way to go, especially when approaching an agency. However, when working directly with a client, this is seldom necessary and often counter-productive. Simon describes how you’d be better off strategically sharing relevant samples and making an introductory video instead. This will speak more directly with what they’re looking for and really highlight how you can be of service. Time to Pivot How You Market More than anything else, Simon urges us to put a focus on marketing. It’s been a difficult time for many businesses. Simon explains how to stand apart from the crowd. He also talks about why it may be time to pivot. With the changing playing-field, what can you do that’s new for your clients? When we don’t know what the future is going to look like, it’s time to think about what you can do right now to be of service beyond creating videos. How can you provide extra value for your clients beyond video creation? How can you present yourself to prospective clients beyond a showreel? Let me know in the comments on the episode page!   In This Episode: Teaching clients about the power of your videos [4:10] How to strategically use your showreels [10:00] Identifying who you want to build a business relationship with [17:55] Being the marketing engine of your business [20:50] Why now is the time to pivot [39:05] Simple marketing tips for adding extra value for your clients [43:00]   Quotes “No one really cares how long you’ve really been in business or what cameras you use or where you’re based. They just know that ‘I can make a video. Can you deliver the video that I think I want?’” [10:40] “If you want to be different and stand out from the crowd, don't make a showreel. Make a reel about you.” [15:42] “I’m happy to work, so I’ll do any job. I don’t think that serves you well.” [17:53] “We need to be smarter with our clients. We need to help our clients with strategy and marketing as well as the creative. You can still do the creative, but you need to do more. You need to actually help our clients win with video; to make sure that it works with the goals that they have.” [44:03]   Links: Join the free Client Budget Workshop Core  Storyblocks Find Simon Banks online Follow Simon on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Linkedin How to Get Video Right by Simon Banks The Video Blueprint Method   Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

The secret to lasting social change is to create compelling content that actually gets results. I’m joined by Ben Gilbarg of Big Picture Anthems to talk about where he spends his money, who he works with, and how he distributes his videos to maximize his client’s return on investment. Key Takeaways It’s more important to spend money on what’ll bring you the biggest return on investment. If that means investing in marketing, sales, branding, invest there rather than upgrading your equipment first. About Ben Gilbarg Ben Gilbarg is the Chief Creative Catalyst for Big Picture Anthems. Ben's been doing professional video at the intersection of youth development, community outreach, and social justice since 1998.  Through community events and video campaigns, Ben’s work has reached 3 million-plus people, and he has directly impacted more than 4,000 young people in his career through teaching, mentoring, and community programming.  Ben’s expertise in producing video campaigns is articulated by impressive results from 2016-2020 in which he produced 4 viral video campaigns, 2 national, and 2 locally in New Bedford, MA. He now resides in the SF Bay Area in Hercules, CA, with his wife, three children, and one grandson. Creating Videos for Social Change Ben Gilbarg joins me to talk about his video production company with a mission for social change and community impact. He explains how niching into this industry was not only the catalyst for creating lasting change but is also a financially viable business venture. He explains some of the best methods for distributing videos that maximize their reach, therefore making the most social impact. Ben’s secret: creating compelling content that gets those results. Ben’s motivated by his upbringing. Being “hood-adjacent” meant that he grew up learning what underfunded neighborhoods need to help bring about positive social change. Where to Invest Your Money Ben explains why it’s not about having the most expensive and high-tech equipment on the market that makes the most impact on a business’s success. If no one knows who you are, that tech investment is not well-spent money.  Instead, we both encourage you to invest in marketing and sales management first. Both Ben and I also invested in growing our team before our equipment. Having someone else in the roles that zap our energy was a game-changer for our business production value. What’s the best investment you’ve made for your business? What’s your unique niche and how has this helped grow your business? Let me know in the comments on the episode page.   In This Episode: Methods to increase video distribution and reach [16:00] What really matters when it comes to your equipment specs [24:30] Where you can better spend your money than investing in better gear [26:00] How hiring a person or team can improve your business production [30:00] How your upbringing can create a drive for social change [34:00] Why you should niche your business down [36:45]   Quotes “Essentially we want to bring all of the things we do under one roof because it all revolves around production, design, social impact, and community outreach.” [14:44] “When we’re spending money on gear, if there’s not an obvious return on that investment, then we really need to think twice on all of the things we can spend money on.” [25:48] “We need to present these opportunities to youth better if we want them to achieve. That’s really hopeful. When you have a niche and you can add something that’s missing.” [36:58]   Links: Join Grow Your Video Business on Facebook Storyblocks Core Use #byanymeansvisionary on Instagram and Twitter to engage with Big Picture Anthems Find Big Picture Anthems online Follow Ben Gilbarg on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Follow Big Picture Anthems on Instagram | Facebook | YouTube   Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Your time is precious. I’m sure that as you get further and further into the business of video production, more things are competing for your time, especially marketing. It’s so easy to lose countless hours on social media or in your inbox marketing what you do. Don’t get trapped! Today’s guest is here to tell us how to avoid this all while maximizing your outreach and landing repeat customers. Key Takeaways Don’t rely solely on a single social media platform to market your business. Bring potential clients to a platform you have more control over, like your email list. This will give you more direct access and control over your outreach.  Everything you do should tie into your overall brand. This means having consistency in how you present yourself and your business in every way that you present yourself. About Laura Higgins Laura Higgins, founder of Lala Social Club and My Marketing Playbook, is an online marketing expert. Based in Australia, Laura is a recognized marketing consultant and educator with expertise in social media and content strategy. Laura works with small business owners who want to cut through the noise. She is all about giving you practical, proven strategies to take you from confused to confident. Using Your Uniqueness to Market Your Business Today, Laura sheds some light on the mistakes we make when marketing and how to do a better job without overworking. First of all, too many of us just market in one way, often a single social media platform. But you shouldn’t rely solely on social media. Sure, you can meet potential customers there, but then you need to lead them somewhere where you can have direct contact, like your email list. Once you’ve made these connections, it’s up to you to convert them into repeat paying clients. Laura explains how connecting on a personal level is essential to this. Not everyone works well together. But I assure you that there are clients out there who work best with you. Laura explains how to harness the power of your unique personality to make these connections. Why Do You Even Need a Marketing Strategy? If you’ve never come up with a marketing strategy before, Laura urges you to think very clearly about who you want to serve and who you don’t. Your message is central to this. Having great content is wonderful, but if you can’t connect it with an appealing yet succinct message, you’ll never capture people’s attention.  Beyond this, you need to be clear on how your videos will actually help your clients. People can get a video anywhere, but you need to communicate what makes yours different if you want to get their business. You need to make it clear how your video will be a transformation for your client in language that resonates with both of you. What do you do to stand out from the noise with your marketing? What can you do to add more value to your clients? Leave a comment on the episode page!   In This Episode: The biggest mistake you can make when marketing your business [7:00] Using the power of your personality to find the right clients for you [13:30] Learning how to identify your ideal client [21:05] The first step to building a successful marketing strategy [30:20] How a marketing strategist can level-up your marketing game [37:00] How to easily add the most value for your clients [41:40] How to take advantage of new social media features [48:08]   Quotes “Video is such an important part of your social strategy because it’s so much easier if people have a sense of ‘I know them and I like them and I trust them.’” [13:35] “I think it’s about actually stepping back and going, ‘how do I want people to feel when they encounter my brand? How do I actually want to come across? What types of people do I not want to attract?’” [16:41] “There’s too much noise online to not have a clear plan of attack. If you don’t have ‘this is our goal and this is what our singular focus is,’ - if you don’t have that, you’re not going to cut through the noise.” [31:16] “It’s not about the quality of the video. It’s actually about the transformation that the video brings them. If you can communicate that in a sentence or a phrase, you are going to be on top of cutting through even more.” [36:12]   Links: Get A Client's Video Budget Workshop Core  Storyblocks Find Laura Higgins online Follow Laura on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest My Business Pep Talk sign up (express business tips)   Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!