The don’ts of corporate video

Written by Chris Turnbull Monday, 02 April 2012 10:08

The don’ts of corporate video:  5 things to remember when building your brand through video
By Chris Turnbull 

When it rains, it pours.  So has been the case with corporate video around tba these past few months…and what fun we’ve had.  We’ve also learned a lot, so we wanted to pass a long a few tips to those of you thinking about using video in your own marketing campaigns.

1. Don’t just wing it. Make a plan. Write a script (or have a rough idea of one). Think about what shots you want to take and what it all might look like in the end.  Have your vision, but be flexible; strange things can happen when film is involved!
2. Don’t rely on your steady hand. This is the simplest rule: Always use a tripod.  Period.  And, while you’re at it, use a microphone and proper lighting as well.
3. Don’t shoot too much film. The more shooting you do, the more you have to edit, the more time it takes to put a final product together.  Please refer to our first “Don’t” above!
4. Don’t just repeat content that’s available elsewhere. Be as original as you can be.  Use humor if you can, but make sure it matches with your company’s “voice.”  Complement a message you’ve already put out in another format.  Provide commentary on a recent event or happening in your industry.
5. Don’t be afraid to use special effects. Video is a lot of fun.  Play around with the effects in your video editing program.  Here’s an example of an employee “appreciation” video we shot just the other day (using the Action Movie app for iPhones).  As always, Monica was a good sport about it.

Corporate videos used to cost a fortune, but they don’t have to anymore.  Depending on your company’s voice, you can have a lot of fun while building your brand in a creative way.  Good luck!

Dodd on QR Codes. Rage Ensues.

Written by Chris Dodd Monday, 26 March 2012 08:54

Dodd on QR Codes. Rage Ensues.

By Chris Dodd 

QR codes. Found on posters, windows, books, and even pets, these quirky little marketing tools can house videos, maps along with additional information that could be potentially useful to the smartphone user.  QR Codes may appear to be increasing in popularity but comScore found that as of June 2011, only 6.2% of the total US mobile market were using these fancy widgets.

I’m clearly not the only one that has a problem with QR codes. Why, you ask? Below are several reasons why people may become irritated by these mysterious boxes of wonder.

• Too Much Work - Let’s simply think about the logistics of QR codes. You have to search for a QR code reader app, download said app, open the app, scan the code, wait for ‘prize’ to appear. By this time, someone has jingled some keys and I no longer remember why I’m standing in front of this vague poster with the pixelated box.
• The QR Codes Doesn’t Take You To Something Earth Shattering - Have you scanned a QR code only to go to the non-mobile friendly homepage of the advertiser’s website even though the URL is clearly printed nearby? Annoying, right?  Take me to something that’s worth my time and mobile friendly, that’s all I ask.
• It’s A Trap! - When people trust a brand or advertiser, there is a perception of safety. Or at least that’s the plan.  However, the plan may go awry. The people that brought us computer viruses are back with malware for mobile devices!  From Jon Barocas at Mashable:

In addition to being a more versatile medium, mobile visual search is also more secure than QR code technology. Cybercriminals are able to cloak smartphone QR code attacks due to the nature of the technology — QR codes’ entire purpose is to store data within the code. There is no way to know where that code is going to take you: a legitimate website, infected site, malicious app or a phishing site.

The article also describes a QR alternative called mobile visual search (MVS) that is what a QR code should actually be.  Essentially, you take a picture of a specified object with your smartphone and the built in camera identities the image to pull up the information, product, etc.  Point, snap, buy.  How much easier could it be?

Read the rest of the article here.

At the end of the day, you need to evaluate if QR codes are really a necessity for your next marketing campaign. If they are then that’s the tops, but be sure you’re using them correctly.  If you’re not sure, we’d be glad to help you figure that out.

tba+ Spring 2012 E-Newsletter

Written by tba | PR + Advertising Thursday, 22 March 2012 12:30

	A quarterly e-newsletter from the becher agency. SPRING 2012

Thank you for reading tba+, the quarterly e-newsletter from your friends at the becher agency. It’s a great way to stay informed about marketing trends and keep up with our work.

+ TRENDS
Make Search Engine Marketing a key to your online presence

Search engine marketing or SEM is among the fastest-growing advertising tactics. It involves search-engine advertising on search sites like Google and Yahoo and on social media sites such as Facebook. With a strategic review of relevant search words, we can help you jump into this exciting and ever-changing marketing tool. Our Chris Dodd knows about all things digital and can develop a strategy to fit your goals and budget.

We're pleased to announce we've won seven ADDY awards from the American Advertising Federation. The awards spanned multiple industries in a variety of categories:

Gold for newspaper campaign (color) for the Save a Ton campaignGold for mixed media, local consumer for Save a Ton.Silver for video sales presentation for Friendship Retirement Community's Friendship Through Service video.Silver for mixed media, local business-to-business for Friendship's Friendship Through Service brochure and videoSilver for poster for the Roanoke Valley SPCA adoption posterSilver for public service brochure for Feeding America Southwest Virginia's 30th anniversary bookSilver for logo for the Greenvale Chili Cook-Off logo.

Once again, it's an honor to be recognized with awards for creative excellence but we're more excited that our work led to real results for our clients.

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+ INSIDE tba
 A growing team

Tara Horan has joined us as a public relations assistant account executive. She's assisting in developing and executing marketing, advertising and public relations plans for the company's clients. She comes to tba from New York City, where she worked for public relations firm MSL Group. Learn more about Tara.