Moments ago Delaware was rattled by an rare yet noticeable Earthquake.  Twitter and Facebook feeds up and down the Northeast Coast show DE was not the only recipient.  Video footage has yet to be released but expect content to be uploaded via YouTube any minute.  The magnitude of the Earthquake is being labeled as a magnitude of 2.8, which is considered minor.

East Coast Earthquake

Nice shake-up which propelled many out of that 2:30 feeling.  Stay tuned to your local news stations for more information and updated readings.  Some parts of the East Coast like Virginia and DC had readings of 5.8!!!  Look to Delaware Online for local news.

Cheers,

Evan

Wilmington’s own Jennifer Behm was the interest of many Delawarean eyes on this season’s MasterChef.  She earned the title as the Nations top amateur cook and pleased even the most critical cuisine connoisseur, Chef Gordon Ramsay.  The grand prize being $250k of which she will invest into her new catering venture, Pink Martini.

Delaware apart of the experience (through video)

Jennifer Behm was the talk of the town as many tuned in religiously to cheer on the Wilmington native.  ”Being able to be to experience her mission through video was a key part in understanding her plight and also getting to know her as person was key in my urge to follow” Say’s one Delaware viewer.  Many are excited to learn more about her new/upcoming business.

Delaware… a culinary hotspot??

Jennifer Behm now joins the ranks of culinary superstars such as Dana Herbert, the winner of TLC’s “Next Great Baker”   So many places now exist in Delaware for fine dining.  The Culinary Hotspot is now on the map!

In the meantime satisfy your taste buds at local fine dining establishments such as Piccolina Toscana and Columbus Inn(where Jennifer celebrated).  Look to Piccolina Toscana for the best apps, main courses, libation and desserts in the State!

Getting hungry? Me too!  See ya

Cheers,

Evan

About Skein Media

Skein Media is video production/advertising and web design firm located in Wilmington, Delaware.  Our talented staff is dedicated to expanding your brand further, faster and more effectively through the use of advertising’s most powerful medium; online video. Skein Media operates as a Limited Liability Company out of Wilmington, Delaware.

Progressive Giants Using Video

Have you noticed that the most progressive companies are harnessing the power of web video like never before?  Facebook just recently announced their move to video chat functionality, partnering with visionary video company Skype.  The move has received much attention since this strengthens the ties between Facebook and tech giant Microsoft (owner of Skype).  Obviously, YouTube, the leader of online video is making some serious moves.  In 2 hours, YouTube, will broadcast the Red Carpet premiere for the ever popular movie series Harry Potter.  The move is genius considering the large following of Harry Potter fans are under the age of 26.  The under 30′s are moving their viewing attention online.  I can only imagine that the big 3, not Lebron, Wade & Bosh, but ABC, NBC and CBS are shaking in their boots while pondering the coming years.

How video is being used

Video is being used by these large organizations to keep in touch and create a human element for their prospective customers and clients.  Many large organizations have the luxury of harnessing the power of online video given their massive budgets and deep pockets.  Such progressive companies will use video to feature a new product, show community involvement, re-cap company parties, company meetings, etc.

Video is progressive

Is your big and/or small business progressive?  Are you using video?  If not, you will!  Video will be the web norm.  Video is versatile, give you brand/business a face and relate to your prospective clients and customers through the marketings most powerful medium; online video.

Enjoy this online video by web juggernaut Google.  The video features their new product, Google+.  It ranked as a top 20 most shared video for the past month. Enjoy.

Cheers,

Evan

About Skein Media

Skein Media is a video production/advertising & web design firm dedicated to small & medium sized businesses. Our talented staff is dedicated to expanding your brand further, faster and more effectively through the use of advertising’s most powerful medium; online video. Skein Media operates as a Limited Liability Company out of Wilmington, Delaware.

Contact Skein Media for all of your video production/advertising and web design needs.

DE Kids Fund 5k

Skein Media was just onsite this 4th of July for an exciting 5k in Marlton, NJ.  Our purpose was to capture the Club Metro USA running team in action while running for a worthy cause.  There is nothing better than a solid 5k, you get to exercise with like minded individuals while supporting those in need.  5k’s have become quite the popular medium for raising awareness and funds for those in need  from disease or monetary distress.

Skein Media is proud to support the Delaware Kids Fund

Next month on August 6th, 2011 Skein Media will be participating in the 2nd Annual Delaware Kids Fund 5k.  This event has picked up some major steam.  The event was formed to raise monies for kids in distressed situations.  This Delaware 5k is poised to be the top event in the state.  Skein Media will be filming the event and creating a clip that promotes awareness and funding avenues for the wonderful charity.

Get involved Delaware

The Summer is upon us and winding down soon.  If you love to run/walk then this is the perfect type of event for you.  Trust me, no pressure to perform , just get outside and enjoy the fresh air with other healthy and active adults.  Your proceeds go to great local and national charities.  After a good 3 mile run not only will your body feel refreshed but so will you mind, body and soul.

Cheers,

Evan

Contact Skein Media

About Skein Media

Skein media is a video production/advertising & web design firm dedicated to small & medium sized businesses. Our talented staff is dedicated to expanding your brand further, faster and more effectively through the use of advertising’s most powerful medium; online video. Skein media operates as a Limited Liability Company out of Wilmington, Delaware.

4th of July

Just wanted to reach out to everyone and wish a Happy 4th of July Weekend.  Spend the weekend with those who matter most.  Enjoy a cold one, grill an All American hot dog or flip a burger.  Gather round a fire pit and make the neighbors jealous when you light the sky on fire through the traditional lighting of fireworks.

Video Memories:

I encourage you to take pictures for the keep sakes BUT if you have the capabilities by all means press record.  Review the moments captured by your video device the next day or next year; fall back into that special moment in time.  After all, video has such power by combining those key elements; sound, motion and emotion.

Viable Video options:

No need to spend thousands of dollars on a high end video camera.  Look to your smart phone/device.  The iPhone/iPad2 has a nice video recording option.  If you were lucky enough to pick up a Flipcam ($70) before they were discontinued then lucky you; use it!  Best Buy also carries a nice array of consumer level camcorders at a fair price.

Check out this video by Keystone Light: Nice Patriotic yet comedic approach to the well weathered Holiday Weekend.

Above all enjoy responsibly.

Cheers,

Evan

About Skein Media:

Skein Media is a video production/advertising & web design firm dedicated to small & medium sized businesses. Our talented staff is dedicated to expanding your brand further, faster and more effectively through the use of advertising’s most powerful medium; online video. Skein Media operates as a Limited Liability Company out of Wilmington, Delaware.

Contact Skein Media for all of your video production/advertising & web design needs.

Video can be affordable

Me: “Have you ever considered using video to promote your business?”

Potential client: “We don’t have the budget for that!  No way,  we stick to print and social media.”

Is Video in Your Budget?

So many business owners shake in their boots when the idea of advertising their brand through video enters a conversation.  Without hesitation, many will eliminate the idea since video has always been associated with high dollar production.  Yes, video has been a luxury in the past to those with deep pockets/budgets.  Yes, video was only really used for national broadcast.  Yes, video is more expensive then print ads.

For the most part online video is a new medium.  HD technology is relatively new.  The ability to stream video anywhere, anytime is super new technology.  I urge all businesses to consider the power of online video and reconsider the idea when evaluating/creating a marketing budget.  Sure, some video production companies will charge you 15k-50k for a simple 60 second commercial BUT there are high quality production companies that will charge lower rates.  I guarantee you can find a pricing plan that works for you.  You can have a high quality production for under $5,000 with ease!

Reconsider Video

Reconsider video as a high power medium to expand your brand further, faster and more effectively.  Leverage the power of YouTube and your social networks when publishing video.

Cheers,

Evan

About Skein Media:

Skein media is a video production/advertising & web design firm dedicated to small & medium size businesses. Our talented staff is dedicated to expanding your brand further, faster and more effectively through the use of advertising’s most powerful medium; online video. Skein media operates as a Limited Liability Company out of Wilmington, Delaware.

Contact Skein Media for your video production & web design needs.

I come across a lot of companies/organizations/services that claim to offer video.  However, when viewing it is apparent that it is nothing more than faux video.  Simply put; a bunch of JPEGs pushed through an automated process that throws on a few pan effects and less standard royalty free music.  If you can not tell…this is extremely frustrating to me!  If you are going to invest in video then gosh-darn-it INVEST IN VIDEO.  Even those panoramic flash tours are just spruced up imagery moving at slow speeds that cant even be viewed on most smart devices.  After all, in the US alone, 49% of Americans use their smart phone for internet access at least once per day – eMarkter.

Faux Video Users

Companies guilty of faux video are larger corporations with a lot of inventory like car dealerships, realtors and retail chains.  Watch this Real Estate video tour below to see how true video is much more engaging.  Today’s consumer is tech savvy and expect HIGH quality.  Gone are the days of assembly line design and trying to pass a house cat for an African Lion. Impressions are made within seconds…relationships are formed/dictated in seconds.  Invest in the best if your product is worthy.

A Real Video

Cheers,

Evan

About Skein Media:

Skein media is a video advertising/production & web design firm dedicated to small & medium sized businesses. Our talented staff is dedicated to expanding your brand further, faster and more effectively through the use of advertising’s most powerful medium; online video. Skein media operates as a Limited Liability Company out of Wilmington, Delaware.

Contact Skein Media for your video production needs.

Simple yet effective statistic; 90% of people trust pier evaluations where only 14% trust advertisements.  Many business owners have used testimonials as a form of marketing for years.  Testimonials are simply word of mouth.  Many websites offer written testimonials…great!  At Skein Media we provide small business owners affordable video and encourage branded testimonials.  Think of it as a disguised advertisement.   There is nothing dis-honest about it.  It is rather simple and much more effective than traditional text by combining sound, motion and emotion.

Big Companies using video testimonials

You may have noticed big brand using a form of testimonials in their national campaigns such as Ford and Lowes to name a few.

Video Word of Mouth

Let your customers sing your praises through video testimonials.  Simple. Effective. Word of Mouth.

Cheers,

Evan

About Skein Media:

Skein media is a video production/advertising & web design firm dedicated to small & medium sized businesses. Our talented staff is dedicated to expanding your brand further, faster and more effectively through the use of advertising’s most powerful medium; online video. Skein media operates as a Limited Liability Company out of Wilmington, Delaware.

Contact Skein Media for your video production & web design needs.

Sharing video content

Tonight  I attended a Delaware Marketing event about social media.  The event was great! It was geared to those who are seasoned veterans and to the new rookies of social media.   At the end of the day its real simple, social platforms are a must have for any SMB.  Social platforms are free and only require your sweat equity.  Learn to use social media properly to harness its true power.  Understand your audience and which platforms they are more likely to engage with.

Social: Video Platform

My take (non bias); social media is all about sharing content that is relevant to your business/services.  The best content you can share in this virtual world has to be video!  Text and imagery only do so much.  Video is the human element and is just as effective as the coveted face-2-face interaction.  If you decide to invest your time and money in video be sure to invest in quality productions.  Clean, well directed, well designed video is as important as a well organized/designed website.  Your video is a pure representation of your business/brand; make it professional.

Brand through Video

Final thought: Humanize your brand/business through video.

About Skein Media:

Skein media is a video production/ advertising & web design firm dedicated to small & medium sized businesses. Our talented staff is dedicated to expanding your brand further, faster and more effectively through the use of advertising’s most powerful medium; online video. Skein media operates as a Limited Liability Company out of Wilmington, Delaware.

Cheers,

Evan

Contact Skein Media for all your video production & web design needs.

So, I get tired of hearing the word viral just like many creatives.  So many companies expect a viral push when considering entering the realm of video advertising/marketing.  Many will have visions of their video being viewed all over the world with views in the hundreds of millions.  My thought… good luck!  Viral videos just happen.  Many times we will see videos created by agencies that try too hard for the viral feel.  It seems that 9/10 viral videos just happen by chance.  It usually happens when some young kid records a freak event on his/her iphone or flip cam; like a chicken actually crossing the street (now thats viral!).  Another way to go viral is to record a terrible song and produce a horribly choreographed music video (aka Rebecca Black).

Local Viral Video

In my next post I will discuss a more realistic approach to generating the viral effect locally for SMB’s.  I will address ideas for branding within your videos and how to leverage the power of your social network through video.  TUNE IN FOR THIS ONE!!!

Viral Video by accident(like most).

Cheers,

Evan

About Skein Media:

Skein media is a video production/advertising & web design firm dedicated to small & medium sized businesses. Our talented staff is dedicated to expanding your brand further, faster and more effectively through the use of advertising’s most powerful medium; online video. Skein media operates as a Limited Liability Company out of Wilmington, Delaware.

Contact Skein Media for you video production & web design needs.