DHP IS EVOLVING

18th April, 2018

After a decade plus of creating award-winning Devilishly Handsome video content for the biggest brands across the world we are excited to announce that we are evolving.

Over  the years we have created branded video content which has helped our friends and clients showcase their message, product and identity to a global audience.

This is no mean feat. 

To achieve this we have employed the very best talents in script writing, creative direction, graphic design, interactive design, production, cinematography, editing, sound and more..  And over the decade we have continued to grow and flourish in a highly competitive market.

But this is no longer enough.

In 2018, and beyond, it simply isn’t enough to produce great content, to showcase business rockstars, animate disruptive products or document brand movements. Film production harbours too much raw creative and management talent to simply stop there. We’re way too smart, handsome, and devilish to be content with that. We can do more, and we will do more.

We don’t just want to make your video content, we want to help you and your marketing team maximise its impact on your business. We want to help shape the best possible message and distribute it to the right target audience so that your video gets real ROI.

Not just exposure. We are talking a real kick back on investment.

That’s why we have launched two new services to flank our award-winning film production offering.

 

Strategy

We have formalised and extended our creative and pre-production team. Drawing on our  knowledge and experience with a team of handpicked researchers we’re ready to roll. This isn’t just creative work, it involves  intense data and platform scrutiny and detailed measured audience profiling. 

 

Distribution

Great content needs to be seen over and over. With an intelligent approach and a little push we’ll ensure that your brilliant video reaches its target.  We love our clients and we love our work… we want it seen everywhere! 

We are partnering with some of the top  marketing and PR minds in the world to help distribute and seed your content once it has left our hands. From the very beginning of a project we will call upon these marketing heroes to help shape the project and ensure the work is given the attention it deserves.

And don’t be scared of budget. Our roster of marketing partners have been selected to cater to any size of budget or business, from start ups looking for their first job to blue chip clients wanting to tell the world.

It’s an exciting time for us here at Handsome Headquarters. We cant wait to get started all over again!

Pros and cons to building a New Year marketing campaign in 2018

1st January, 2018

So, as the new year dawns, there’s a little niggling voice in your head that keeps reminding you that you should be launching the New Year with fireworks and bells and lots of noise. That this is where your 2018 marketing campaign begins. But what are the pros and cons of hitting the New Year with all guns blazing?

It’s here!

Well, of course, you always knew that this moment would arrive, if for no other reason than you would have been working on your 2018 marketing campaign for months now, so this moment is no surprise.

You can sign off 2017 and ring in 2018 by producing a cathartic review of the old year’s successes; a final roundup of last year’s best content and milestones. You can kick off a big sale (if appropriate for the product or service or the target segment) and then dive straight into your new campaign with a whizz and a bang. Your review of 2017 will have shown you what worked and what didn’t, and your New Year marketing campaign can be the launchpad for the best of the old and the fresh content and initiatives of the new.

 

Bring on the good stuff

 

So, the pros of building a New Year marketing campaign might be:

• An opportunity to launch fresh content, new branding, new products and services
• Take advantage of new, improved and innovative advances in technology and methodology
• Chance to launch updated or brand new imagery and video content
• Fresh opportunity for virality
• Time to reinforce your status as a reliable source of information
• New year, new you – further your ability to get noticed
• Depending on your financial year end date, you may be able to take advantage of a new budget line or funding stream
• A burst of creative energy and drive after the extended Christmas break.

 

 

A fresh start

There is traditionally a feeling that a new year represents a fresh start in our lives.

Of course, nothing really changes when those chimes ring out at midnight, but the savviest marketers can still take advantage of the ideal of the fresh start and tap into the (albeit short-lived) feeling that this is the time to start again and create something better (especially if you own a gym or market fitness and diet products!).

 

The flip side

 

The cons of building a New Year marketing campaign in 2018 could be perceived as:

• The continued economic uncertainty, which infiltrates business models in all forms. It’s hard to plan when you don’t know what the future holds, and the feeling of uncertainty is all-pervasive as we roll into the new year
• Reinventing the wheel – a big marketing campaign needs to have legs, it simply isn’t good enough to be selling the same thing simply wrapped in a red ribbon. It needs to really tap into new markets or offer new products or new services to enhance and grow your business, to break the status quo. Otherwise, it is just an expensive waste of time, money and resources
• If your financial year end is not in line with the calendar year, there is always the problem of budgets being tight. Sometimes this can mean that there’s no leeway for anything extra, should you find you need some extra video footage or images, or even that somewhere else in the business is overspent, pulling resources away from your campaign, to its detriment
• Drumming up enthusiasm from your team, or buy-in from your clients can be hard after the holiday break. After all the excesses of the Christmas period, there can be a degree of lethargy in the early days of the new year which can be hard to break through
• Sadly not every marketing campaign, however well thought out, produces the results you anticipate or desire. This can be a real set back at the beginning of a long year and can create a need to rethink the campaigns that follow. It isn’t good for the soul, but it does happen and there is still life after a disappointing campaign. Onwards and upwards, as they say.

 

Get with the good guys

In the end, there are many factors which will affect your marketing campaigns. The landscape is ever-changing and often you just have to grit your teeth, put your head down and charge on in!

Make sure you have the best people around you to help you on your way. May we introduce ourselves? Make contact.

Easy ways to animate your corporate Christmas card

16th December, 2017

Christmas songs have been piped around the shops for months, tinsel and other sparkly adornments have abounded since August, all the big stores are battling it out for airtime for their latest big-budget seasonal commercial and we’ve fought our way through the bargain encrusted shopathon which is Black Friday. So, you know what comes next, don’t you? Yes, it’s the marathon of mammoth tasks, the Christmas card sending!

Is there any point in sending a corporate Christmas card?

Christmas or holiday cards make your customers feel loved and cherished – it is a big surprise to us how personally clients take these seasonal offerings when they’re sent out in their thousands, but most clients still love to receive a Christmas greeting from you. But the cost and time involved in sending printed cards is becoming prohibitive.
It’s time to show your clients and potential customers just how creative and smart your business can be by sending out electronic cards with some great video and/or animation to amuse and delight – and of course, you benefit by being able to track return on investment from email opens, click-throughs, shares, views and likes on social media, which is simply impossible from the printed versions.

 

What will your corporate Christmas card look like?

Get your team to have a little creative brainstorming session to come up with ways to get your company brand and message out via your Christmas card. Is your card going to be cute, funny, serious, clever? Can it be all of those things?!

It could incorporate a competition within it, or some simple snow and lights animation.

 

How about a fully animated corporate Christmas card?

Sites such as Jib Jab allow you to upload images to create your own personalised team card which can be very funny to watch, whilst always making sure that your brand message is consistent and that no offence can be caused and no message misconstrued. Make sure that you use good photos of your team though. Even if it’s ‘just a bit of fun’ it’s always good to ensure that the imagery is sharp and professional.

Of course, you can use custom video to create your card, and this can often be produced at the same time as other video footage, perhaps shot earlier in the year – it’s a good idea to consider this in advance when progressing other projects.

 

Other formats

Your e-card can be sent by email as a static graphic which can contain a ‘click-to-watch’ instruction which links to the actual animation. This is a useful consideration as email applications don’t often have the capacity to support complex animations, so your e-card would need to be hosted on a server. Your IT guys or your video production company can point you in the right direction for the technical stuff.

 

Sharing your corporate Christmas card

You can even send e-cards via MailChimp (or similar) and this clever little app will walk you through the process in easy stages and take care of your data protection compliance too. If you’re not sending too many, you can even do it for free.

Don’t forget to encourage your clients to share your card on social media, and you can, of course, upload it to YouTube and create a page on your own website to display your creative talents. The URL of the card should reflect your own website’s URL for consistency of marketing and branding.

 

The video or animation of your card should be short – Christmas is, after all, a busy time of year and most people are inundated with emails that often get deleted without even being read. Thirty seconds to a minute is about as long as someone can spare from their day job, so make sure that your delivery is slick and catchy.

Make sure that your e-card plays well on phones and tablets too – it’s important that it looks professional on all types of media to engage the most people and project a good image for your company or business.

And, at the end of the day, if you still want to send out a few personalised cards to your best clients, then go ahead, they’ll appreciate the thought. But make sure you’ve showcased your super skills in video and animation too so that they can see that your company is great in 365 degrees.

Merry Christmas to one and all!

 

(Think you might need some help? Get in touch – we can fix up some quick animations for the Christmas period.)

5 cool uses for drone video footage

20th November, 2017

Before drones came along, aerial filming and photography was not an easy thing to get hold of.

 

Gone (well, nearly) are the days of hiring a helicopter or light aircraft and a pilot, waking up in the morning to heavy rain or thick fog, rearranging the flight for another day, waiting for availability again, only to find that you wake up once again to inclement weather… and start all over again.

 

The Age of the Drone means you don’t need vaults of cash to pay the day rate of a pilot. Quite the game-changer.

 

 

In the event of bad weather, we can just land our drone until the wind and rain eases off. Or – joy of joys – just take it out for an hour if there’s a small window of sunshine, and pack it away again when the clouds come back.

 

What we’re saying is, with the help of a drone license and a bit of camera savvy, it’s easier than ever to capture aerial video footage, and save the clients who need it a whole lot of precious time and money.

 

Drone video captures the true size, shape and layout of locations on the ground, whether it’s buildings, landscapes, events or sites. A drone can tell the same story that photos or traditional recorded footage can tell, but better.

 

Footage is well-documented in its ability to increase time spent on web pages, and drone video can help your video content stand out from the crowd in social media feeds. It’s a worthwhile investment.

 

Here are 5 ways to use drone footage for your video marketing needs, but this is by no means an extensive list. The potential is endless.

 

What you need to know

 

Whether you’re thinking of investing in your own drone equipment or hiring a company to produce your video footage for you, these are the things you need to know:

 

• You need a qualification for flying your drone.
• You need permission to fly from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
• You need Public Liability Insurance.
• You need to check the credentials of anyone whose services you use to produce drone footage. For the record, ours are tip-top…

 

Sunrise and sunset

 

 

In terms of lighting there is a ‘magic hour’ just before sunrise and just before sunset, when the light is soft and mellow and even. With a low sun there’s no harsh glare and no awkward shadows – this is the time that drone footage comes into its own.

 

Quite apart from the lighting benefits of the ‘magic hour’, sunrises and sunsets are great to use in video footage – they can be used as a glorious backdrop to your message or product or as a metaphoric interpretation of light and dark, growth, life and death and so on to add symbolism to your messaging.

 

Behind the scenes in the office

 

We’ve explored before the ins and outs of filming in the office environment, and the drone is a fabulous way to get some great behind-the-scenes video of your working environment. It provides an overview which can be very interesting to the viewer, giving a sense of being a part of what’s going on.

 

Scenic locations

 

 

Scenic locations are put into a great perspective when filmed using a drone.

 

Whether you’re offering a sense of place, or your product is ‘the place’, drone footage is the way to go. Your office could be in the centre of a city or in the wilds of Scotland; there will be an amazing amount of interesting buildings, landscapes and features around you that will give your customers a sense of where you work and how your surroundings feed your creative soul.

 

If your workplace and product is a feature. like a vineyard or a brewery (how we would love to work in a vineyard or a brewery!), then your video will allow your product and the place it’s actually produced to shine.

 

Festivals and events

 

One-off events, festivals, fetes and fairs can deliver great footage for your promotional content. The colourful, carnival atmosphere can be hugely engaging for the viewer, and provide seasonal content that sets you apart from others (think christmas markets, sports competitions, etc).

 

If you regularly display your wares at events such as food and craft fairs, regattas (water-based events) or music festivals, you have a ready-made barrel of material just waiting for you to capture it!

 

 

Groups and awaydays

 

If you can safely say your office space is the most boring place on earth and your boss has all the camera appeal of a landfill site, the best thing that you can do is to decamp and get the team outside.

 

Organise a team awayday or bonding sessions (preferably not in the pub for this one) and order in your friendly video production agency to capture all the loveliness on some drone footage.

 

Even if all you can do is gather them for an aerial group shot, you have unique footage to incorporate into your marketing materials.

 

Go live

 

The great thing about drone video is the capacity for a real-time ground image feed – live footage, as it happens, being produced for instant streaming  and viewing.

 

Following on from the dashcam and the GoPro, the drone is producing a bird’s eye view of life as it’s being lived. It’s incredible.

Tempted to jump into the world of drone video? We might be able to help you there.

10 techniques for brainstorming your next integrated marketing campaign

13th November, 2017

Your integrated marketing campaign strategy has been followed to the letter, reviewed often and the campaign schedule has been written, reviewed, amended and implemented. So what’s next?

 

The great news is that you’re about to start all over again, that’s what. Well, not exactly, but now you really need to be building on the successes of your last integrated marketing campaign, and improving on the things that didn’t go so well.

 

The brainstorming begins.

 

 

Evaluate

 

Time for the lowdown on what has gone before. There’s no point in starting to think about a new campaign until you know how the previous one has gone.

 

Get the numbers guys in, ask the marketers to do their presentation, work out what went well and what didn’t. Did you hit your targets? Were they realistic?

 

 

Revisit your customer and your competitors

 

You know the drill. Before you start your planning process you must carry out a SWOT analysis, revisit the 7Ps and work out who your target market is and who your competitors are.

 

No shortcuts here, it’s worth the effort to have a clear idea of where you’re aiming for and what the challenges are likely to be. They may be the same as before, but things change. Make sure you’re aware of those changes before you plan your campaign.

 

Wins and losses

 

It’s a great idea to check out any spectacular wins and losses in your previous campaigns and work out why they went so well or so badly.

 

 

Was it great or really bad timing? Maybe it coincided with an event happening locally (or that you just missed it), either by accident or design, that resonated with your product? Is it something you can repeat? Is it likely to have the same impact next year? Sometimes it will be down to something completely out of our control, such as the weather. This is what you need to work out.

 

New techniques

 

Research what’s going on in the world today, and what’s coming along.

 

Think about the changes that have taken place over the last, say, 100 years:

• radio and tv have been introduced into people’s homes
• computers that used to take up huge rooms are now contained in a tiny microchip
• phones that used to be attached by wires and had a range of less than 15 miles are now wireless, widely owned and make calls across the planet in an instant.

 

Things that would have been considered to be actual magic not that long ago are now commonplace, much of it no longer the domain of the rich but available to many, if not most, people. Don’t think for a second that things won’t move on, so be a part of it.

 

 

New opportunities

 

In a similar way to the changing world of technology, cost and opportunities for marketing change too.

 

Even if a TV advertising campaign was unaffordable last year, doesn’t mean that it is still unaffordable this year. If your budget wouldn’t stretch to space at a major exhibition last time, maybe you can negotiate the price this time, or find a partner to share stand space with.

 

One tiny word of caution though; even major shows and exhibitions run their course eventually. If you’re being offered an unexpected discount, try contacting exhibitors or stand holders from the previous show and see how they thought it went. If footfall/spend/purchases/interest has dropped like a stone, it may be time to look for something new even if the price is really attractive.

 

 

New customer base

 

This goes back to doing your background work and knowing your customer.

 

You may think that your target market is clearly defined, and that may be true. But don’t be blind to new markets opening up to you. Brainstorming should include a good look at your customers, and those of your competitors, thinking a little outside of the box. You don’t want to miss a trick.

 

Tried and trusted

 

Your marketing plan will have looked at the BCG matrix (growth share) and the message here should be clear. You may well have products or services that are low growth and or low market share. However, if these trundle on without draining resources, there may be no benefit in ditching them.

 

It’s worth brainstorming growth potential for your products and services to ensure that there really isn’t any future potential before you ditch them.

 

Bring out the sticky post-it notes

 

This kind of speaks for itself. The real question is: “Can you really have a genuinely productive brainstorming session without a big supply of sticky post-it notes?”

 

 

Well, can you? We think not. Where else are you going to record all of the great ideas that come out of the brainstorming session? We rest our case!

 

Working as a team

 

It has been said before but it’s worth re-iterating: get everyone involved in brainstorming sessions.

 

You may be surprised by hidden talents within the team and without doubt, everyone’s input is valid.

 

Granted, you can’t include everything that’s popped onto a sticky note, but staff feel far more valued if their views and ideas are at least genuinely considered. Brainstorms are great for team morale, enthusiasm and motivation. You may not necessarily know why an employee has taken a job that they are clearly over-qualified for, but you can certainly tap into their latent knowledge to your advantage…

 

 

Budget matters

 

It’s important for everyone to know that the marketing budget exists and, broadly, where it’s allocated.

 

In general there will be a number of static items that appear in the budget every year, and hopefully a number of variables where there’s capacity to try out new initiatives. If each year the budget is already eaten up before the campaign has even been discussed, it’s going to be difficult for your marketing teams to be creative, or for even the best of teams to make any genuine difference.

 

Do you need some assistance with brainstorming your next integrated marketing campaign? Drop us a message – we can help.

We brainstormed 10 types of brand video so you don’t have to

6th November, 2017

Ok, so you’ve decided that video is the way to go to make the world aware of your brand, and you’re in good company. If you can make a video that goes viral with your brand featuring in it, well, my friend, then you’re golden. But how? What makes a social person want to click, watch and share your video?

 

In truth, the answer to that question is probably puppies and kittens, babies and humour (all 4 of those together is dynamite!). These things trigger a natural reaction in the world of social media that people to want to share with their friends.

 

 

So, where does this leave us in terms of your brand video? We’re going to throw out there 10 ideas for video use that promotes your brand to get you thinking. Check these out, see what you think could work for you.

 

Company Specific

 

This is your video outlining everything about your company – your vision, your mission, your product, your services. It’s laying it all out there on a white tablecloth for the world to enjoy. How you do it comes down to what the company does, this is where your creative team take up the challenge (just don’t forget the puppies and kittens, babies and the humour!).

 

 

The origins of your product will place it in the public’s minds; share the story and the history of your brand with them.

 

Case studies & Testimonials

 

These are a great way to showcase your business and its strengths. People love stories about people – the video that connects people to your business, real people, is powerful and compelling and sticks in people’s minds. Real customers and advocates of your business telling their stories is a great way to showcase your brand.

 

Demonstrations

 

Demonstration videos of your product or service – or ‘how-to-do-this’ videos – are a brilliant way of creating reassurance about your brand, instilling confidence in people that you are the expert in this field.

Is there anyone out there who has never yet been faced with an unsolvable problem and hasn’t googled “how do I do this?” We think not!

 

Live Video

 

If you’re going to go out and doing something, then video it! Why wouldn’t you?

 

If you regularly attend events, host live displays, take exhibition stand space, cook great food in a kitchen, fly a hot air balloon, play football….the list is endless. Film it, stream it, and put it on the digital platforms of your choice.

 

TV Commercials

 

If you have the budget for TV, and you can come up with a great video, there’s no doubting that you can get your brand out there.

In truth the impact of TV commercials is on the decline with so many of the audience able to skip through the adverts, but then it always was the time to nip out to make a cup of tea or a sandwich. It’s certainly worth checking out.

On the flipside, clever and personalised content placed on catch-up players (for example; 4OD or the ITV Hub) can make headlines.

It’s certainly worth checking out, but make sure you know what you’re doing with this one.

 

Social Media

 

Videos made specifically for social media can be a wonderful thing. Add humour, beauty, quirkiness or content unsuitable for mainstream TV (or puppies, kittens…) and you have a chance that your video will go viral.

A great benefit of the social media video over TV commercial is the length, you’re not restricted to packing your punch into so short a time, and the speed in which EVERYONE could see your video is phenomenal. You really can be an overnight sensation.

 

Charitable Causes And CSR

 

There are unlimited great causes on this Earth and your brand may be an ideal way to tap into the ‘Save the World’ culture.

It may seem cynical to run a campaign promoting your brand on the back of the planet’s misfortune but it is a consideration, and if it is right for your brand then why not? A story for a cause can evoke a really emotional response in your audience.

 

The (really big) Thank You

 

In a way this is a slight return to the Testimonials above, but there is mileage in video of your customers and clients saying ‘thank you’ to your company for a great job well done.

 

 

This also works in reverse; there’s an opportunity for your company to say ‘thank you’ to your clients in video footage for a great project and outcome – highlights of the project could be recorded throughout the project and edited accordingly at the completion.

 

More Live Video

 

No, we didn’t run out of ideas for subheadings here, it just is the same thing but different.

 

If you can incorporate your brand into live footage of amazingly, stunningly, jaw-dropping visual content, then do it. Polar ice caps, tropical rainforests, meteor showers, anything that really takes the viewer’s breath away. And how much fun would that be to be a part of? (Lots, is the answer.)

 

Animation

 

It’s a mainstream option, but animation can be a great way to get your message across. Look what Wallace and Gromit did for Wensleydale cheese. Need we say more?

 

When uploading your video to your chosen medium, remember to make sure that you have the best keywords in your titles and the right tags to increase the search volume. Produce video content in sufficient quantity to maintain your brand awareness and to keep your story fresh. You’ll reap the rewards from it.

 

Ready to get started on your next brand videos, but need a little support? It’s a big job – drop us a message, we’d be happy to help you out.

10 things to remember when filming corporate videos in your office

10th August, 2017

So, your commercial video production is underway. The crew are fully briefed and en route to commence a video shoot of your workplace environment, which will impress your clients and generate new business.

 

What do you need to do, apart from your hair?

 

Get everyone onboard

 

First and foremost, make sure everyone is aware that today’s the day for filming. Even if they’re not directly involved, make sure everyone’s in the know.

 

 

Just for today, any weird or slightly unsavoury bits of your office life need to be smothered for the day. Don’t worry, you’ll be restored back to full bants-and-interesting-decor levels again tomorrow.

 

Tidy up

 

Take out the dead plants and the blow-up doll left over from Sharon’s wedding send-off. De-clutter. You don’t necessarily need to remove every vestige of personality from your office space, but certainly enough to leave a professional but creative look.

 

 

In truth, a bit of housekeeping can be a wonderful thing. We’ve worked in offices where a clean-up meant the re-discovery of files that had been missing for years, a pair of shoes that used to be favourites in a past decade and much, much more. Tidy room, tidy mind… Or if you’d prefer a handy bit of Finnish proverb; “Happiness is a place between too little and too much”.

 

Additionally, clean the windows. There’s nothing worse than a shot with a dirty, smeary window in the background. Make sure curtains and blinds are hanging correctly, and that pictures are hanging straight on the walls. Also consider taking down the Justin Bieber calendar – no one needs him stealing the spotlight.

 

The talent

 

Your office staff need to look their best. Consider hiring a makeup artist for the morning, not forgetting to keep some make-up back for touch-ups in the afternoon. Your staff will feel confident if they feel good.

 

 

Decide in advance appropriate clothing for the filming so that everyone is prepared. White shirts or tops can really wash out the colouring of the wearer, so may be best avoided (unless perhaps you’re a doctor or clinician). Lurid patterns can be very distracting to the viewer so also best avoided – after all, we’re hoping that the viewer will absorb the information in the video, not wonder where this guy bought his shirt!

 

Similarly, with tattoos and piercings – you have to decide whether these add something to the creativity of your workplace or are a distraction to the viewer. It’s not discriminatory, it’s just good sense to think about it.

 

Keep the noise down

 

Make sure that the noise level is appropriate for the image you’re trying to create.

 

If phones ringing non-stop is the norm and it makes your environment look and sound busy, then great. If your creative designer is doing a piece to camera, then take the phones off the hook – otherwise parts of the interview won’t be heard.

 

Think about traffic, coughs and sneezes, air conditioning units, radios… any noise that interferes with the sound quality of your film.

 

The marketing materials

 

Make sure you have clean pop-up banners, posters, logos and signage in place for the day. This is a great chance to reinforce your brand and make your company message memorable.

 

Maybe select a consultation room or space to do your interview pieces – of course, it could also be done at the desk, but make sure you avoid the possibility of someone scoffing a McDonald’s in the background or something.

 

Script it

 

Make sure everyone knows exactly what’s expected of them. Prepare a script for anyone that needs to speak so they can practise their piece until it’s as natural as can be, but without looking stilted and rehearsed. The more comfortable people feel about what they’re going to say, the more natural they’ll come across.

 

 

If you find yourself with a bit of a script to practise, you’ll quickly find out if there are any tongue-twisters that need changing, or any parts that are continually stumbling points and need to be changed.

 

Make sure a timetable is written up for the day, so everyone knows when and where they’re needed. All of the preparation will save time, and therefore money.

 

Bring in the experts

 

If there’s any machinery or technology to be filmed, make sure you bring in the experts: the people who know how it works, how to operate it, how to make it seamless. There’s nothing more frustrating than watching someone trying to make something work when they really don’t have a clue.

 

The delays can cost time and money. So get the right people on the scene, even if they’re not the people you want in the film – make sure they’re there for their technical ability.

 

The weather

 

The weather is clearly key if you’re doing any outside shots for your video, but it can also be a consideration when you’re filming inside too.

 

If your office is at the top of a tall building and you have fabulous views from your windows, it could be a real shame if the view is masked by thick cloud or fog on the day of filming, and it will affect the lighting too.

 

Let there be light

 

Speaking of which, the video production team will bring lighting equipment with them but do make sure that your office lighting is in working order.

 

 

If your reception area has a lovely lamp or two, make sure the bulbs aren’t blown, and this applies to overhead lighting too. Make sure fluorescent tubes aren’t flickering or dead. Get some spares in. Anything to save time and to create the best look.

 

Enjoy

 

It’s not every day that you have a film crew (however big or small) filming in your workplace. Enjoy it. Have fun. Make sure that the staff are in on it and are relaxed. It’ll come across in the video and create the best atmosphere for the shoot, and viewers will soak up that ambience.

 

Looking into options for your next office tour video? We’ll happily chat through it with you – just drop us an email!

5 ways to make your campaign video stretch further

21st July, 2017

Though it’s now a crucial component of any marketing campaign, investing in video is still quite a big payout for many companies. Make sure you get the best out of your video budget with our top tips, and really make your next campaign video stretch further.

 

Forward thinking is the key.

You have a fabulous marketing plan, you have a wonderful idea for a headline video for your campaign, you’ve had some amazing creative meetings with your production company, the team is all pumped and ready to go… The day comes, the video is released, Twitter’s going MAD about it, everyone’s talking about it – then 3 days later it’s all died down. Something else is hitting the headline spot. Then what?

This is where your forward thinking comes into play. You need to have worked out right at the start that this could happen and your strategy and your creative meetings need to include a plan for exactly this point.

 

1. Drip, drip, drip

 

Just like the annual John Lewis Christmas video storybook, maybe your campaign extension is at the beginning and not at the end. By drip feeding tasters of your video in advance you may be able to extend your presence by keeping everyone guessing about what’s about to happen next. Obviously it doesn’t want to end up being a ‘spoiler’ for the grand finale, but work with your production team to see what mileage you can get from letting your public have some micro views of the good stuff to come.

 

2. Ring the changes

Talk to your video production company right at the start to find out the cost of making small changes to the video whilst in production to change the impact of your video and give it a longer life, for a relatively small financial investment.

 

For instance, if you’re selling a product, you may want to show a range of age groups using it – the main video stays the same but some scenes are interchangeable, meaning the video can be released as a ‘series’ rather than a static entity. Change the colours, change the people, whatever it is that gives your campaign a longer life and keeps people interested.

3. Season well

 

 

If your budget will stretch to it, making a set of videos that covers the four seasons is a great plan. It may be cost effective to plan this with your production company so that most, if not all, can be filmed at the same time with some creative props, sound effects and a hosepipe or two! Though if it’s mid-November (and your budget allows), we’re happy to relocate to the Caribbean to catch some summer sun scenes, just say the word.

 

Allowing a release of the same video with seasonal variations will give you a lot more mileage than just sticking with one time of the year. Remember when Boxing Day was the ONLY time of the year that you would see adverts on TV for holidays in the sun? No, you probably don’t, you techy marketing chaps out there, but we swear, there really was a totally incongruous Christmas ‘book your sun-filled holidays now’ campaign every year when all anyone ever really wanted to see was a sprinkling of snow. Look how far we’ve come, people!

 

4. Landscape or portrait

 

Now all we’re saying is that there are many products and services that can be given a new slant by changing the landscape, or, if you prefer, the sense of place. And this can completely change the audience to which it appeals.

 

For instance, if you were making a tourism marketing video about, say, Liverpool, you have a variety of landscapes to work with.

 

You can present Liverpool as a historic city, with the riverfront vista of the majestic Three Graces buildings, or you can present it as an utterly modern city with the Liverpool One development of designer shopping and fabulous restaurants, a place where music is king from the famous Cavern Club to the vast Echo Arena, cultural centre with the Walker Gallery and St. George’s Hall… We guess we’ve made our point.

 

Take a look at the thing that you’re trying to promote and then put it into different landscapes, see where it takes you, see what it adds to your product or service, see if the budget will stretch, because having vision and a sense of place will mean that your campaign certainly will (stretch, we mean).

 

5. The where, the why and the how

 

At the risk of telling you things that you already know, the one key thing that will really stretch your campaign is to make sure that your video is in all of the formats you need. We mean in all of the shapes and all of the sizes – it just has to fit.

 

 

Your campaign should not only be extended in length but in breadth too. If your video isn’t delivered in the optimum sizes or formats for all the places you want your campaign to sit, all the hi-tech production in the world isn’t going to change the fact that it just won’t look good.

 

We are still seeing the almost unreadable websites that haven’t been optimised for mobile devices. Cutting edge production can’t change an image that’s been stretched and squeezed into a space that it’s just not made for. A good video production company can give you the advice you need about format and size (and in this instance it is true, size really does matter). All you have to do is decide the where, and we can do the rest.

Feel like you need someone to take care of your next video campaign? Get in touch with us here at DHP Studios – we’d be happy to help.

7 things you need to find a great video production company

19th June, 2017

Without video content in your marketing mix, it is difficult to really compete in today’s business environment. Whether it’s on your own website, on social media platforms, or high-end television commercials, video is the way to tell a great story to the customer and invoke that precious emotional connection. So, what do you need to be sure of before you make the important decision to hire a video production company?

 

1. Write a great brief

 

No company can give you an effective quote or presentation without having some idea of what you’re looking for.

 

Even if you don’t have a clue about the technical details (that’s their job after all) you can outline what videos you think you need, how they’ll be used, what you’re hoping to achieve and, not forgetting, a bit about your company, product or service.

 

 

But be open-minded on the creative side as the production company may have some great ideas, and they are the experts – it’s their expertise that you’re buying in.

 

2. Don’t be put off by new companies with less experience

 

It’s true that a company’s track record is really important, but it’s also true that a new company has more to prove and (arguably) needs to work harder in order to build their reputation.

 

It’s always worth getting a quote from companies who haven’t yet been all the way around the block – everyone has to start somewhere

 

3. Get several quotes

 

It’s time-consuming and can often be quite complex getting quotes, particularly getting ones that are like-for-like but it’s a must. The detail in the quote shows you exactly what you’re getting for the money, equally, lack of detail raises questions that should be asked!

 

In the end you probably do get what you pay for but not necessarily. Don’t assume that everything’s included if it isn’t shown in the detail – it may not be, so ask the question.

 

Finding a team to create videos for your business can take significant investment but one that’s well worth it, if you end up with an outstanding and effective marketing tool for your company.

 

4. What’s it supposed to look like?

 

Have a look at previous works of the businesses that you approach. Often a presentation will be a demo reel, a series of clips put together to music to make maximum impact.

 

Look at past works for other clients, see how well they have been received, look for comments, shares, likes and reviews.

 

5. How they get there

 

It makes sense to find out about their approach to your project, and to check out turnaround times, number of editing ‘passes’ or changes allowed before delivery. Make sure you know and understand what their expectation is of you and your company too.

 

6. Communication

 

 

Can you get on with the creative directors and account managers? Are you basically singing from the same hymn sheet? It’s astonishing how difficult it can be to communicate ideas, it’s hard to tell a company that this is not at all what you had in mind when someone has poured their heart and soul into a production that they thought would delight you, and your deadline is looming and the costs are rising. Communication is key.

 

7. Seen it all before

 

Try to avoid off-the-shelf formulaic production which is just the same old themes regurgitated time and again with just the name changed to suit the next product.

 

 

Tired old content is not going to generate the public interest or the results that you’re paying for. Look for a bit of spark, adventure, a professional approach and the best you can get within your budget.

 

 

Hopefully the above suggestions will give you a starting point, give you a degree of confidence to go out there and get that fabulous video made which will elevate your business to greater heights.

 

Are you hunting for a great video production company right now? Get in touch – let’s talk about your project.

What is integrated marketing?

19th June, 2017

A few years ago we went to Disneyland, and bumped into Gaston, of animated Beauty and the Beast fame. By way of introduction, he said to us;

“Hello, pleased to meet me, aren’t you?”

Whilst the youngsters in our party found him hilariously funny at the time, it stuck with us. The reason for that is thus: when you introduce yourselves to your customers, whilst you wouldn’t actually introduce yourself in that way, what you’re aiming for is that that is exactly how you should make your customers feel. Pleased to meet you. A saviour. Font of all knowledge. Solvers of problems. Key to their success.

 

So, hi. We are DHP (Devilishly Handsome Productions – oh, yes we are!). Pleased to meet us, aren’t you?

 

Integrated marketing

 

Anyone who’s done any kind of marketing qualification will have had the words ‘integrated marketing’ seared into their brain. But what really is it?

 

“Integrated Marketing is an approach to creating a unified and seamless experience for consumers to interact with the brand/enterprise; it attempts to meld all aspects of marketing communication such as advertising, sales promotion, public relations, direct marketing, and social media, through their respective mix of tactics, methods, channels, media, and activities, so that all work together as a unified force. It is a process designed to ensure that all messaging and communications strategies are consistent across all channels and are centered on the customer.” (Source: Data and Marketing Association)

 

Well, there you go then. But when we start drilling down, and pulling this definition apart, what do we find? The most important part of the statement is right at the end!

 

The customer is always right

 

 

No doubt about it, we’ve all had those days where we don’t necessarily agree with that statement, but the customer most certainly has to be the focus of your marketing strategy. If you don’t do that, then however amazing your marketing content is, it can’t succeed because you haven’t appealed to the most important entity of all!

 

To complicate things further, because your customer isn’t necessarily the end user of the product or service, you have even more customers (or stakeholders) to satisfy.

 

For example, if your objective was to increase iPhone sales by writing a marketing strategy for Apple, Apple would be your customer but wouldn’t be the end user of the product.

 

Much of the focus of marketing strategy is on finding new customers, but it should never be underestimated how much value your existing customer is to you. Don’t forget to show them some love.

 

Marketing is multi-dimensional

 

So we start to understand that marketing is a complex affair – you have to focus your marketing communications on the end user for sure.

 

Often, this is where profitability is captive – but you have other customers to consider. If the end user isn’t your client, you need to satisfy the client too, otherwise you won’t retain their custom.

 

Use of media

 

We live in an age of endless opportunities to engage with our customers, online, offline, above the line, below the line… In this digital world there is still a place for traditional marketing methods, but there is also an exciting world out there expanding the way consumers are able to engage with brands, products, services, whatever you have to offer.

 

 

What should be the most important element of an integrated marketing strategy is that customers want and expect a consistent experience across all aspects of their interaction with a company’s products and services. Getting your integrated marketing strategy right gives you the best chance of achieving this.

 

And finally…

 

The key to all of this is to know your audience, know your product, find the best ways to get your message out there from the plethora of options available.

 

Don’t just stick with the tried and tested. Bring some innovation, variation and adventure into your marketing. But make sure that your brand message is true and consistent, and get the best possible quality of media that you can as a marketing message, however delivered, will reflect the quality of your brand.

 

Want to talk further about integrated marketing, and get to know us a little better? Drop us a line and we’ll come right back to you.