Grow Your Video Business

Have you ever made an awesome video for a corporate client, only to later find that it did very little for their business? Ben Amos got tired of realizing he wasn’t providing a lasting solution for his clients, and did something about it that changed the way he runs his business and the impact his work delivers. Ben runs the video production agency Innovate Media in Brisbane, Australia, and is also the man behind the Engage Video Marketing Podcast. In both businesses, he’s all about helping clients use video content strategically to help their business goals, rather than making video for video’s sake. Today, he talks to us about how he sees more clients bypassing agencies and going right to the video producers, and how that is impacting the evolution of our role as production companies. He also discusses the three parts of a marketing funnel, how he qualifies clients, and the three circles of strategic video marketing that need to be considered. Do you talk strategy with your clients? How has that impacted your business? Let us know in the comments on the episode page!   In this episode: How the role of video producers is shifting to video strategists The 3 portions of a marketing funnel and how video can fit into it How Ben qualifies clients before their discovery session Finding opportunities to diversify your offerings and increase your revenue The 3 critical elements of video marketing   Quotes: “The ability to educate a potential client on the strategy side of what we can offer allows us to position ourselves as a better choice... because we care about the results of the video and care about their business.” 14:20 “When you start to look at it strategically the sales process becomes so much more effective and simpler.” 21:11 “When you’re clear on what the strategy is for any given piece of video content, chances are, it’s gonna be more effective and it’s going to align more closely with the actual goals the business has.” 28:37     Links: Be sure to check out Ben’s exclusive Gift for Studio Sherpas listeners! Innovate Media  Engage Video Marketing Podcast   Check out the full show notes page Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune into our weekly Facebook Lives If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would leave us a review on iTunes!   Find out how Video Blocks can save you thousands on your productions!

We may specialize in filmmaking, but we’re still entrepreneurs, and we struggle with all the same things that every other entrepreneur struggles with, too. Steph Crowder gives us tons of mic drops about some of those same struggles that she’s faced and how we can work through them. Steph is Head of Member Success at Fizzle.co, co-hosts the Fizzle podcast as well as her own podcast Courage + Clarity, and is also a business coach for people who are hungry for meaningful, independent work in their life. Today, Steph talks with us about being present in the journey and appreciating the now, as well as dropping some truth bombs on imposter syndrome and how to get past it. She also talks about building community, and gives us some very concrete, actionable tips on getting amazing interviews in our corporate and documentary films. Do you deal with imposter syndrome and impossible expectations of yourself? Share a story on the episode page about how these feelings have held you back or how you get through them!   In this episode: The importance of living in the present and some ways to remind yourself to do so Mega truth bombs about imposter syndrome as a filmmaker and entrepreneur What kind of leader you should be if you want to build community and make an impact Steph's strategies for getting powerful responses from interviewees and hooking your viewers   Quotes: “If you don’t love it now, if you don’t feel that feeling of gratitude now, you’re not gonna feel it when you reach some arbitrary goal.” 7:17 “If you’re coming to the table with that not-enough-ness, I think it’s a sign that you’re expecting too much from yourself” 16:44 “People tend to wait for clarity before they take action, but something that I’ve realized is that clarity comes from action” 30:31   Links: Steph’s gift to us: The 15 Minute Weekly Planner Courage + Clarity The Courage + Clarity PodcastFollow Steph on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter Fizzle The Fizzle Show podcast  Follow Fizzle on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter Check out these productivity tools that I use to help me sell more effectively! Check out the full show notes page Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune into our weekly Facebook Lives If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would leave us a review on iTunes!   Find out how Video Blocks can save you thousands on your productions!

This week we're throwing it back to one of our all-time greatest hit episodes, and one that personally had the some of the greatest impact on me and my business. We're talking with Dane Sanders all about what it means to ditch the shortcuts in our businesses and do the work we need to do.  Dane spent 12 years as a professional photographer before a “leadership book [he] snuck into the photography community” took off and helped him realize that he had more to offer the world. He now works as a speaker, coach, has written two best-selling books, is the founder of Fastermind.co, hosts the Converge Podcast, and organizes the annual Go Summit. Yeah, he’s a busy guy with a ton of insight and drive. With so much on his plate, Dane has realized that maybe the most important skill to develop is understanding how to prioritize your time effectively. We also talk about why good coaching is essential, and what to look for in a good coach, how he hacked his way to leveling up his friend group and why you should do the same, and why you should be focussing on the process and your body of work, rather than individual successes and setbacks.   In this episode: How to prioritize your time effectively Why we need a strong community as freelancers and business owners How Dane was able to dramatically level up his friend group Why the most important thing in your life and business is actually knowing what it is you really want So so much more!   Quotes: “If you’re going to be ‘yourname.com’ in any category, you ought to think about who you actually are, and get the becoming right before you get lost in the doing.” [6:35] “I think when people realize that they have a scaling problem, they come up against themselves. They have to make some hard decisions as a leader and an owner and really get clear on what is their value?” [10:30] “The myth of the shortcut is so prevalent in our world. You have to almost violently fight against it.”[14:04]   Links: Find Dane Online Fastermind  Converge Podcast Go Summit Fast Track Photographer   Books Recommendations:  E-Myth Revisited Permission Marketing Tribes Boundaries For Leaders Deep Work So Good They Can’t Ignore You Letters To A Young Poet - Rilke translated by Charlie Leuth Check out the full show notes page Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune into our weekly Facebook Lives   Find out how Video Blocks can save you thousands on your production  

  If you’re anything like me, there are times where you get tired, worn out, and uninspired by the direction of your creative business. Yup, I’ve been there, many, many times. Life is constantly changing, and it is easy to find yourself burying your passion underneath frustration and all the mundane tasks associated with running a profitable business. It is not until you put your foot down and re-evaluate why you are doing what you are doing and how you are doing it, that you can rediscover your passion. Today, I want to share my top 3 ways to re-energize your business and take back control. Here at Studio Sherpas, our number one goal is to help you grow your business. I want to make sure you are getting the right kind of clients and doing the right kind of work that inspires you, while also being able to pay the bills. We didn’t start making videos and creating movies because we thought it would be a lucrative career, we do it because we are moved by the work we create, and to keep putting out creative, moving, fulfilling work, we need to be engaged and excited by the projects we’re working on. I just got back from an amazing conference put on by past Sherpas guest Mike Kim, and aside from some amazing new personal connections, I took away a ton of new knowledge and inspiration that I want to share with the rest of the Sherpas community. Let me know in the comments on the episode page which of these 3 strategies resonated with you the most and why!    In This Episode How to put your foot down in the name of creativity The importance of finding your tribe and being part of a community Why you should force yourself to practice in public and how to get started How intentionally choosing to slow down can actually help your business The necessity of understanding what it is you are chasing and why   Quotes “I want to keep the world the same – said no entrepreneur ever” (4:40)  “We have all gotten into this line of work because we wanted to impact and influence the world, even if just in a teeny tiny way” (5:21) “There is something that happens when a group of like-minded people get together for the common purpose of wanting to become better and wanting to help others become better” (9:03) “What’s more important than me trying to prove to the world that I’ve got what it takes or that I can do this than providing for my family. And creating a business where I can help these incredible people that work for me provide for their families and create their own legacies” (24:17)   Links Trivinia Barber – VA priority Selling Like A Sherpa Course & Community Episode 64 w/ Mike Kim Episode 69 w/ Zack Arnold Episode 70 w/ PJ Accetturo   Check out the full show notes page Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune into our weekly Facebook Lives   Find out how Video Blocks can save you thousands on your productions!

Do you ever feel like the walls are closing in due to competition, and there's not enough work to go around? In this episode, PJ Accetturo discusses the importance of thinking out of the box and breaking the creative bias, competition and community, what makes a good reel, how knowing how to correctly network can be a game changer, and how to keep pushing your boundaries as a filmmaker.  PJ is an award-winning filmmaker currently working as a freelance director based out of Tampa, Florida. He was published by National Geographic at the ripe age of 18 years old, and has continued to work on inspired and globally conscious projects. We talk about our passion for filmmaking and how the ability to take a story from your head or heart, and translate it visually to create compound change is at the core of our role as filmmakers. We also dive into why community is so essential to our success, why a 30 second reel can be more impactful than one 2 minutes long, why PJ thinks that at least 30% of what you create should be a passion project, and ways you can engage and inspire your own community.   In This Episode Why you should almost never do videos just for exposure How you can support other studios in your hometown and get over the competitive mindset that could be holding you back The difference between networking for clients and networking for connections How a side hustle can balance your need for creativity and open up future opportunities  Things to think about including and avoiding on your reel   Quotes   “Feeling like you’re not alone is honestly one of the biggest things that a community like SS offers, it is very validating. Being an entrepreneur is a lonely road and I really think a community like SS is very validating to know other people go through the same struggles.” (8:19) “If you can find a culture that really embraces ‘we are all in this together, we are not trying to make our studio the best name, we actually care about our city and the filmmakers in our city and we want to work on some fun projects that make great art for everybody.’ I think people can get behind that” (15:01) “There becomes a gap between the work you want to do and the work you are currently doing to make money. And I think you have to take moments where you step out in faith and say I am going to do this based on spec or as a passion project because I know I am capable of this and I know I have a vision for this because nobody is going to pay me to do something like this until I’ve already done it” (33:50)   Links PJ Accetturo Follow PJ on Instagram Director's Table Facebook Group Director’s Table Podcast PJ’s Vimeo Meetup Video charity: water Video Piece   Check out the full show notes page Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune into our weekly Facebook Lives   Find out how Video Blocks can save you thousands on your productions!  

Do you find yourself dreading doing something that you’re supposed to love, something that you originally got into because of passion that’s now faded? As Zack Arnold explains on today’s episode, there’s more to leading a successful life, putting out great, original work, and just plain feeling good than the work itself. Today he’s going to share with us how to optimize our lives and cultivate our creativity. Zack is an award-winning Hollywood film editor, working on shows such as Empire, Burn Notice and Glee, and has also created Optimize Yourself, a program to help people maximize their creativity, output and well-being. He shows us how by examining our current behaviors, and pinpointing the habits in our lives that lead to destructive thoughts which can inhibit our ability to maximize our creativity, we can start to turn the ship around. Things we as creatives often don’t consider, or think of as non-important like diet, exercise and sleep can have a drastic impact on the quality of the work we’re putting out, and ultimately our ability to put out any work at all. By analyzing your habits and tendencies, Zack believes that you can have a life measured by your own version of success. Zack has a ton of energy, great stories, as well as tips and tricks of ways to develop your creativity and positively impact your business and your life. Have you ever struggled with burnout, creative fatigue, unhealthy lifestyle, or any of the other symptoms Zack mentioned? If you got through them, what did it take to turn it around? If you’re there now, what resonated most with you from this episode? Let us know in the comments yo!   In This Episode: The importance of moving and staying in motion to increase your creativity How to ignore the toxic culture of deprivation-praising in the film industry The disease of multitasking and how it is killing your productivity and focus Learn the magic formula to help you time block   Quotes: “The first warning sign is, are you still enjoying what you are doing? For me, there is nothing more magical than sitting in front of an empty timeline and having a bunch of random stuff that I have to put together with colored blocks. I essentially get to play a game of Tetris all day with people’s emotions.” (17:40)  “The key is to define your version of success. People say, ‘success for me is high profile stuff and making a lot of money’ and that’s great. But do you realize the process you have to go through every single day to get to that point and are you willing to adjust your lifestyle to that?” (21:01) “Success isn’t a destination, success is a series of habitual actions every single day. Success is a habit.” (26:12) “Think about how you can optimize your creativity. Because my creativity is the number one investment I have in myself.” (35:15)   Links: Optimize Yourself Follow Optimize Yourself on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn   Check out the full show notes page Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune into our weekly Facebook Lives   Find out how Video Blocks can save you thousands on your productions!  

If you’ve ever participated in a business partnership, you know that it takes a TON of work to make sure all partners are on the same page, mitigate conflicts, divvy up tasks, and on and on and on. In this episode, Matt & I dive into our experience as partners in Studio Sherpas, and share a big announcement about the future of the community. We’ve always seen each other as friends first, business partners second. And after two and a half years of working, it is time to take a moment to reflect on what’s helped us get this far, some of the challenges we’ve faced including lessons learned from mistakes along the way, and why it’s so crucial to constantly be making sure your priorities are in order when it comes to your business and the rest of your life. Listen in for a brief history of Studio Sherpas, and an announcement from Matt about the future of the podcast. We will also discuss how working smarter is always better than working harder, and how influential the Studio Sherpas community is. Do you have any stories - good or bad - about business partnerships you’ve been involved in? Let us know in the comments!   In This Episode: A big announcement about the future of Studio Sherpas (don’t worry, it’s not bad!) The pros and cons of business partnerships and what it takes to make them work How our relationship has helped us grow and create an engaged community Why it’s up to you as the leader of your team to constantly be setting the tone Why you always need to be checking in with your priorities in life and business   Quotes: “Knowing that there weren’t a lot of video conferences left anymore, because we attended all of them, we decided to create an online consulting coaching business where we can help videographers and filmmakers who are trying to take a go at this business, and Studio Sherpas was born.” (6:09)  “The involvement I have had in Studio Sherpas has helped me grow as a person and as a business owner.” (9:05) “Knowing personalities, knowing what makes people tick, knowing how to put people in the right seats, it is something we have learned and we had to learn it together as partners” (14:35)  “The quote that stands out to me is, ‘you don’t learn until you launch’. I can’t imagine not having launched Studio Sherpas, and not having this community of people that we have gotten to know and grow with. It’s been beautiful, it’s been amazing, it’s been tough. But it’s been so good and so rich and I am taking many life lessons away. I can’t wait to see the podcast continue.” (26:11)   Links: Check out the full show notes page Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune into our weekly Facebook Lives   Find out how Video Blocks can save you thousands on your productions!

Today we sit down with someone I’ve looked up to in the production world for a long time, Jem Schofield. Jem created TheC47, a full-service production company and educational resource focused on teaching the craft of video production and filmmaking. He has a 22-year long career, beginning by creating brand focused web content and eventually finding his passion in video production. Jem has a wide range of knowledge of everything production related, and shares this information with his YouTube viewers, clients, and with us here today! The long-term success of TheC47 is due to the fact that Jem has always had a clear vision for his brand and what he wants to produce, starting as an educational platform, and growing to focus on filmmaking, production, consulting and education. By combining his unique teaching style with consistency and passion, he creates memorable content and shares his expertise with other small-to-no crew production teams. He believes that you must be passionate about what you are creating for it to translate to your audience, and shares his advice on how to turn that passion into a career. Listen in as Jem discusses the pros and cons of working in-house and out of house, how to create lasting relationships with clients, and which red flags to look out for as an independent content creator. Find out why working smarter is better than working harder, and how to make informed decisions about why you are using specific equipment, on today's episode.   In This Episode:  Where the video industry is heading and how you fit into it Why corporate doesn’t always mean boring Discover the gear “must haves” for on the go production How to weed through the companies who just aren’t ready to commit and find clients who are ready to have you produce and pay up   Quotes: “As time went on, I realized that there was a sort of black hole surround production based education, and C47 seemed like a natural progression.” [4:14] “It is not an all hope is lost situation, there will never be less screens in the world, and someone has go to create content for those screens.” [13:43] “We are not the solution to a marketing department, but we need to understand what a company’s brand stands for, who their target audience is, and help them strategize to create content that is appropriate and going to elicit a response from whomever that audience is.” [16:03] “We are here to create brand-specific content that fits within a marketing strategy and it is absolutely our job to create a dialogue which could bring things in a different direction” [21:25]   Links: TheC47 Follow TheC47 on YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter   Check out the full show notes page Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune into our weekly Facebook Lives   Find out how Video Blocks can save you thousands on your productions!

Are you willing to be weird, risky, and brave enough to make films you produce come alive? Today’s guest does all of those things plus a lot more when it comes to the documentaries she directs, produces, and, sometimes, edits herself. She shares with us what it takes to create moving feature-length films, from the artistic to the funding, and everything in between. Mo Scarpelli is a director, producer, and cinematographer for documentaries that explore human identity and the forces that inform, conflict, and construe it. Her award-winning debut feature-length documentary, Frame by Frame, has been screened all over the world and her writing, short documentaries, and photojournalism have been published with top names like The New Yorker, BBC, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal. She’s a no-nonsense, raw, authentic creator who embraces her “weird” and it’s no surprise that she makes some amazing work because of it. We get into the ins and outs of getting grants for your films and why America isn’t the best place to get them, what the first step is when you are deciding on a film project idea, and why collaboration allows you to focus on your strongest skill set, keeps you accountable and on track, and is the best way to maintain your happiness and sanity throughout the entire filmmaking process. If you are struggling with an idea or trying to take on everything yourself then this will be an eye-opening episode for you. Do you feel like you take enough risks in your passion projects and films? What project has made you feel the most alive and fulfilled? Leave us a comment below!   In this episode: Why not knowing everything before diving into a project can actually breed creativity and can create your biggest successes The importance of knowing your who your ideal clients are and how that directly relates to your happiness and business success How truly amazing films are made through teamwork and why filmmaking is inherently collaborative Why building relationships and connecting with people will get you more work than any film reel or marketing you have in place The ins and outs of getting funding for your films How to get started with a new film project idea How being a woman filmmaker has affected her career   Quotes: “A lot of my creativity comes from ‘I don’t know anything,’ and it’s the discovery of ‘I have a question about the world,’ and my films are really the act of trying to discover the answer to that question. And I probably never get an answer because the world is complicated and beautiful in that way but striving for that answer is usually what my independent films...that’s the journey of it. And, that’s what makes it so emotional and cathartic, and hopefully, that shows in the films.” (8:58) “ Creative collaboration is very beautiful but it is also very dicey and varied because if you are truly doing something that you feel in your bones that you need to do and want to make and it’s coming from your soul, then the people you are collaborating with, they need to be on your level when it comes to how you think and how you communicate.” (18:20) “Choose one thing even if it’s for one year, if you’re like I really want to be a DP, then go be a DP for a year and see if you love it and if you don’t then pick another role. Don’t do the ‘I have to do everything all myself’ because not only are you selling yourself short in the work because you probably aren’t going to be really great at anything if you do it that way. On top of that, you are missing out on this really cool part about filmmaking which is that it’s inherently collaborative.” (23:30) “My biggest advice on starting a project is if you have an idea for a story you need to go out and find out if that idea is worth spending a lot of years of your life on.” (38:48)   Links: Mo Scarpelli Follow Mo on Facebook｜Twitter｜Instagram｜Vimeo Rake Films Follow Rake Films on Facebook｜Twitter｜Instagram Frame by Frame   Check out the full show notes page Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune into our weekly Facebook Lives

Most of us think we know what marketing is, and are all too familiar with the not-so-great feelings many of us as creatives feel in the pits of our stomach when thinking about how to “market” ourselves. But what if we have it all wrong? Today’s guest flips the notions we have of what marketing means and what it entails on their face, and boils it down to two very simple but powerful words. Human Connection. Chad Brown is owner and creator of Shade Tree Films but still prefers the moniker storyteller to filmmaker even after over a decade in the business. Another title that he should have is marketing maven and boy does he deliver today. We get into it right off the bat where when he redefined marketing and what it should really be for creatives, gives us tips on what we should jump into right away when it comes to marketing, and even breaks down exactly what it takes to connect with people and how you can redefine your business and yourself through that practice. We also dive deep into core values, how you define them, why they need defining, how they can be crucial to your growth professionally and personally, and what you can expect when you go against them. This is an episode that we ALL really need to hear because it is insanely valuable and can have immediate positive results within your business and life. What are your core values as a person and as a business? How did you come up with them and how have they helped you both personally and professionally? Have you noticed what happens when you don’t honor them? Leave us a comment! In this episode: How creatives should be marketing themselves One simple thing you should be doing at the end of every project to improve your business and get more of the clients you want Why marketing and branding may be more important than your work itself A few things you should jump into right away when it comes to marketing How can you truly connect with people and why that’s important How defining your core values, both professionally and personally, is crucial to your growth The importance of clear, defined, and respected boundaries with your clients   Quotes: “It’s been a journey learning what marketing is, and it seemed like every time I thought I’d figure out what marketing was, the next couple of days, next couple of months, or the next year, I’d figure out that that’s not actually what it is and there is something so much deeper with marketing.” (9:04) “Connection only happens through transparency and vulnerability, if there is anything else in the mix, there are going to be stumbling blocks to that connection.” (15:00) “What these core values became was actually a measuring stick. So, what happens is when the potential of a job comes in or a new client, new project, something like that, we have the opportunity to take that job, or opportunity, or that project and measure it against these five core values and as long as a project is aligned with these five core values it’s a great fit.” (26:59) “It’s often hard to identify the places in which you can improve and the only way you can find out how you can improve for your future clients, in my opinion, is finding out from your current or past clients where you can improve.” (44:37)   Links: Shade Tree Films Follow Shade Tree Films on social media: Facebook ｜Vimeo ｜Youtube Follow Chad Brown on Instagram   Check out the full show notes page Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune into our weekly Facebook Lives