10 Reasons Why Remarkable Corporate Videos Matter

No one ever told me this, but here’s what I think. It's all about TIME.

In my 23 years of corporate video filmmaking, I think clients want to slay their biggest dragon:

...time.

If time could just be wiped out…Boom!...more would get done.

Businesses would:

1. Recruit faster.
2. Train faster.
3. Sell faster.
4. Produce faster.
5. Grow faster.

So then why bother making a corporate video, really? Producing a remarkable corporate video takes time...just like everything else. But what if there was a way out? What if there was a way to:

• Use time to your advantage?
• “Squeeze” your ideas, dreams and vision into a “time capsule” for all your potential clients to see?
• Tell your story in an emotionally and engaging manner to a world anxiously trying to create meaningful conversations?

Then time would be your best friend, right?

Remarkable corporate videos packed with "eMotion"help slay that ugly dragon: time.

Emotionally and engaging videos framed around a context of relationships ignites conversations and creates meaning...all in just a few minutes.

And why is that important? Simple. If no one is talking about you, you do not exist. Period.

Emotionally engaging and energetic videos spark conversations. They get people to talk, think and act. And in the end, we want people to act a certain way through our story.

What is my goal? To get you to think…and act.

To get you to think about how you can befriend time by creating a short, remarkable corporate video. To think about corporate videos as an emotional tool to stimulate and spread conversations about your vision, team, department, leadership or your organization.

Here are a few reasons why remarkable corporate videos matter, in no particular order. They:

1. Generate sales; create new leads.
2. Raise awareness, change perceptions, change lives.
3. Reinforce existing relationships; create new ones.
4. Reduce administrative costs; save travel costs and employee time (it's that dragon thing.)
5. Create consistent stories; consistent messages.
6. Save time. Ever go out to a meeting that is a total bust? Next time, open the door with your video and start a dialogue. Create a conversation. Then get on a plane. You’ll…
7. Save money. See # 6. Repeat #6 and #7.
8. Strengthen your brand.
9. Humanize corporate policy. Videos personalize corporate issues like diversity, new hire orientation; screen potential employees before spending thousands on training and development, profile leadership in action, raise awareness about misconceptions, and more.
10. Simplify. Take complex ideas and make them simple for others to understand.

Bonus: Change the world.

By the way, everybody has a story to tell...the only question is, who’s telling yours?

---Tom

The Lazy Marketer's Way to Create Corporate Video Conversations

Hmmm...imagine the conversations your company could be creating with their corporate videos on YouTube.

Looks like a "no-brainer" to me. What are they waiting for?

Just imagine.

---Tom

P.S. Thanks to Lois Kelly over at Foghound and her new book for the idea.

P.S.S. Lois's book, "Beyond Buzz: The Next Generation of Word-of-Mouth Marketing," is simply amazing. Looking to create meaningful conversations with your customers? Look no further.

My One Question to Ralph Nader

Just got back from Ralph Nader's new book signing. Talk about changing the world. You can thank his parents for that little trick.

His new book is called, "The Seventeen Traditions" and in it he shares how his character reflects the traditions he absorbed as a youngster from his parents, siblings and the people in his community.

One hour later, I'm hooked. I'm ready to change the world with him. Ralph's passion, dedication and commitment for one individual to change the world is contagious, if not downright outrageous.

After he signed my book, we stared into each other's eyes and I asked him this one question: "Which traditions of yours would you like every organization to voice, demonstrate and embrace in their corporate video?" Here's what he said:

1. The Tradition of Charity. The responsibility of businesses to give to those in need.
2. The Tradition of Business. The importance of relationships and character.
3. The Tradition of Patriotism. Use your rights or loose them.

Guess I have some new new traditions to use in future videos.

P.S. Ralph's new documentary, "An Unreasonable Man," is premiering in one week in Hartford, CT. I'll be there.

My Interview with Journalist Nettie Hartsock

Veteran business journalist Nettie Hartsock just published my interview for the public relations division of AllBusiness.

Nettie writes for Ziff-Davis Media publications, has been published in over 200 outlets and specializes in writing compelling case studies and success stories for companies.

If you have three minutes, you can see we had a great time chatting about:
1. My "secret sauce" for producing successful corporate video stories.
2. The importance of authenticity.
3. The process of producing a corporate video.
4. How to identify a story on video for an organization.
5. The power of asking positive questions.

Thanks, Nettie, for the opportunity to tell my story.

Hope y'all enjoy it.

---Tom

They Call Me "Shakerleg"

"Shakerleg is the most intense street performer we’ve ever seen or heard. One look at Shakerleg’s wildstyle, stick-free, bare-knuckle drumming and you know he’s more concerned with this moment than a long term career in drumming." (From Current TV.)

"Shakerleg" is just one reason why I'm hooked on Current TV. There's more.



If you're not familiar with Current TV, better get *cough* current.

It's Al Gore's baby. Launched in August 2005.

Current TV consists of 3:00 -7:00 videos, or short stories/ideas they call "pods."

These pods are generated from the audience, hence they're called, "Viewer Created Content." We're seeing a lot of this "viewer generated content" lately. I think that's good. Now, the stories are as diverse as the world. Before, the stories were as diverse as the studio walls.

So, here's the gig:
1. Short videos.
2. From around the world.
3. Inconsistent production values.
4. Gloriously wrapped in compelling stories.
5. Rotating every few minutes.
6. On every imaginable subject.

Cool.

---Tom

P.S. "Hey, Shakerleg! I need help! Can you get me in the moment? I'm still thinking about my career!"