Fairfax Video Studio Blog

SEO Is Still the Best Way for Consumers to Find Your Video

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMT

With the rising popularity of Facebook, Twitter, and Google+, it may be hard to believe that many consumers still find their videos online through a standard search engine. One of the benefits of using social media for marketing with video is that social media websites are constantly streaming information to their viewers (and therefore alerting them when you upload a video). However, the numbers don't lie - while it is still absolutely critical that you use video for your web marketing, you cannot neglect standard search optimization since most web users are still finding their videos through Google searches.

This news may dismay certain individuals who have banked on social media completely for their video marketing needs. The notion that someone can simply upload a homemade video to YouTube and reap the benefits of SEO is a lofty one, but ultimately that line of thinking is false with regards to effective marketing. As always, it is best to diversify; this is why we work with our clients on social media optimization and search engine optimization.

The internet advances at an incredible rate, but many internet users don't keep up with what is hot and trendy. Some users may not know how to best find videos for a law practice on Facebook or Twitter, but they certainly can find them through a simple Google search.

Video search engine optimization involves several steps, from finding the best way to integrate video directly on your site to properly tagging it for search engine crawlers. At the Fairfax Video Studio, our DC video production professionals can create videos with stunning quality and clarity, but we can also optimize your video online so it will be seen by those searching for your services. To get started with your video marketing campaign, give us a call at 1.877.477.STUDIO.

Mobile Video Accounts for Over 50% of All Wireless Traffic

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMT

We've been saying this for years, but now the data is affirming our predictions! In 2011, mobile video comprised over half of all wireless traffic. In other words, of all the data that was transferred to smartphones, tablets, and 3G/4G laptops, 52% of it was mobile video. Video is huge right now, and it will continue to be for the foreseeable future.

Cisco, the company that produced the study, forecasts that mobile video will account for 71% of all mobile data by 2016. So, what does this mean for those who are wise enough to perform a lot of their marketing on the web? It means that all the video planning they have done is paying off! This data confirms that consumers love to watch videos on phones, tablets, and laptops, and anyone who is creating video marketing material will benefit from this surge in mobile video consumption.

Since mobile video consumption will likely continue to rise every year, there is literally no excuse to not add video marketing to your campaign. However, uploading videos to YouTube is simply not enough. Videos need to effective in style, quality, and content, and they need to be optimized online so they can be found by your customers.

Fortunately, the DC video production experts at the Fairfax Video Studio specialize in video search engine optimization and social media and have expertise in creating professional video. To get started, give us a call at 1.877.477.STUDIO.

New YouTube Education Channels Provide Original Content and Diversity

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT

YouTube has certainly evolved from its home-video centered origins to become a much more complex and diverse resource on the Web. This month, YouTube is releasing a new lineup of six educational channels containing original video content. These channels focus upon science, history, math, culture, astronomy, and art.

YouTube intends to become a “global classroom” by offering educators and experts the chance to create original content that can be viewed by anyone in the world. YouTube has long been THE destination for people who want to get their voice heard or provide educational or interesting content.

YouTube is certainly taking the effort seriously. Although it's doubtful that the educational channels provide a raw glimpse of complete altruism by a company (surely there is money to be had somewhere in this), YouTube's desire to become a platform for the free dissemination of science, art, and history should be applauded. The first pieces of content cover a variety of topics, from a crash course in the agricultural revolution to the science behind turning Mentos and Diet Coke into a geyser.

We always push our clients to provide useful and educational content for their potential and current clients. Creating videos that describe your profession or provide useful tips is an excellent way to get noticed and get more business. Sometimes it is better to give than to receive! YouTube seems to have the big picture in mind.

Are you thinking big? Call the DC video production experts at the Fairfax Video Studio at 1.877.477.STUDIO to learn more.

Barack Obama's YouTube Campaign: Why You Need to Promote Conversation

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT

We are not here to discuss politics. We are here to discuss why politicians use YouTube. In April of 2011, Barack Obama began his campaign for reelection with YouTube and Facebook. Whereas, in the past, candidates would begin campaigns with rallies, print advertising, and speeches, the 44^th President has decided to begin his campaign with a conversation.

Barack Obama’s emphasis on YouTube comes from the belief that technology has caused the classic sales pitch to become obsolete. The population is bombarded with many thousands of advertisements every day - a simple grab for attention does little to impress people in the long run. Instead, the President has chosen to utilize social media in order to communicate with his supporters and let them join in the conversation.

What do we mean by joining the conversation?
Social media, like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, is interactive. Everyone has a voice, and anyone’s comment can be responded to by members of the candidates’ campaign. The President can personally reach out to supporters with videos and Twitter updates. This kind of constant and intimate connection develops an atmosphere much different from traditional advertising; it encourages the target audience to listen, watch, and contribute.

Referring to the start of his campaign, Obama stated, “Today, we are filing papers to launch our 2012 campaign. We’re doing this now because the politics we believe in does not start with expensive TV ads or extravaganzas, but with you… We’ll start by doing something unprecedented: coordinating millions by one-on-one conversations between supporters across every single state, reconnecting old friends, inspiring new ones to join the cause, and readying ourselves for next year’s fight.”

Everyone in marketing should take a cue here. Expensive TV advertising is a waste when it is so much more effective to begin a conversation. When it comes to your marketing, it would be wise to look into ways to start your own conversation. A simple approach with videos on YouTube, a Facebook profile, and other strong social media tactics can lead to a devastatingly effective chain of word-of-mouth marketing.

If you are ready to start your conversation, call the DC video production experts at the Fairfax Video Studio at 1.877.477.STUDIO.

How Web Marketing Video Can Help You - Even if Only a Few People Watch

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Everyone in marketing is talking about web marketing video right now. Websites that specialize in discussing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) regard video as one of the fundamental necessities for a website’s success in search engine results. Video is important, and no one is arguing. However, we often receive questions from customers who are nervous about how many people will actually view their videos. Most are surprised to learn that much of a video’s benefit is still felt even if no one watches the video.

How can a video help you even if no one watches it?
The answer lies in Google and other search engines. Google uses software called a “crawler” to scan websites to determine their relative value on Google’s search engine. When you search for a term, Google’s crawlers will have already ranked websites, and it will display the websites that seem to offer the most quality content. The process of enhancing your website’s ability to perform well on Google and other search engines is called SEO.

Google loves video, which is unique content. If a website wants potential clients to be able to find them on the web, they need to offer unique content that Google deems valuable. Hosting videos on your own website is a sure way to show Google your website is a quality resource for people searching for the services you provide.

So, can a video provide a massive benefit to your website and business even if no one watches it? The answer is yes! However, at the Fairfax Video Studio we believe that videos need to be shared, watched, and promoted. We offer a full range of social media guidance and web marketing that will give your video (and your website) the best shot at being seen by many viewers.

When you are ready to learn more about the many benefits of web video, call the DC video production experts at the Fairfax Video Studio at 1.877.477.STUDIO.

Retro Digital Cameras and the Fine Line Between Nostalgia and Utility

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT

If you shot film cameras before the autofocus and plastic camera revolution of the 1980's, you probably have at least a hint of nostalgia for manual focus rings, film advance levers, and solid metal camera bodies. Let's face it - consumer digital SLR cameras and pocket cameras are constructed of plastic and plagued with endless menus and endless settings... all of which contribute to getting in the way of your picture.

Do not fear! Camera maker Fuji has led the charge for a more classic photography experience with its 2011-released Fuji X100 rangefinder-style camera and, more recently, the Fuji X-Pro1. The X100 became popular because it offered manual dials, a metal alloy body, and a form factor that mimics classic rangefinder cameras. Providing a digital spin on the rangefinder theme, Fuji implemented a hybrid viewfinder system in the X100, which permits the users to switch between an optical and electronic viewfinder. The X-Pro1 offers an even more well-rounded experience, as it allows for lens changing.

Olympus has followed Fuji's lead with the recent release of the OM-D E-M5. Olympus' classic film line of OM cameras carries much respect throughout the photography community because the cameras provided a small form factor and excellent durability. Olympus has a reputation for producing cameras and lenses that are small in size and big in performance, and the OM-D gives us every indication it will deliver.

Both the Fuji X-Pro1 and Olympus OM-D E-M5 do have down sides associated with their use. The Fuji camera is priced at $1700 and does not include a lens. The lenses should run around $500 each, but for this kind of money a photographer could assemble an impressive DSLR camera kit with lenses and flash (The X-Pro1 is not a DSLR but rather a “mirrorless” camera). Fuji only has 3 lenses for the X-Pro1 at this moment, but there are more to come throughout 2012 and 2013. The Olympus comes in at only $1000 and does have a broad and affordable lens selection; however, low-light and autofocus performance must be examined before it could be considered a contender to normal DSLR outfits.

Both of these retro digital cameras are likely to offer technical image quality that meets or exceeds the image quality from DSLR cameras in this price bracket. You do pay a price for the nostalgia in other ways though - whether it's Fuji's limited lens selection or Olympus' sensor format historically being unable to compare with DSLR sensor quality. The jury is still out - we need to see what these cameras can do.

The DC video production firm Fairfax Video Studio has the artistic vision and technical mastery to make your photo or video project stand out from the rest. To get started, give us a call at 1.877.477.STUDIO.

Three Creative Web Video Marketing Methods for Doctors

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT

As a physician working in a private practice, have you ever thought long and hard about a marketing strategy? Many doctors have spent so many years training in the medical field that they haven’t even had a moment to develop a 21^st century marketing strategy. You need reasonable patient volumes in order to pay the bills and offer the best care possible, and this is why we create web video for doctors.

When patients are looking for a new doctor, what do they look for? They usually do not entirely understand the letters after your name, and they rarely will pay attention to publications or research. While a lot of patients look at degrees and accomplishments, many patients also look for a doctor who has a friendly demeanor and a good bedside manner. This kind of information cannot be delivered easily through a text-based website. Video is far superior for portraying who you are and how you will be with a new patient.

Here are 3 creative marketing tips for doctors using web video:

Office Video Tour - Patients will be relieved to discover that your office is clean and inviting. However, many will not simply take your website’s word for it - they need to see it with a web video. Video tours are engaging and offer excellent opportunities for creativity.

Interview - You can help show your future patients what kind of doctor you are through an interview. You can have someone on our staff or your staff interview you in front of the camera, discussing your style of medicine and what you can offer to patients. This method is extremely successful in easing patient anxiety about finding a new doctor.

Staff Introductions - Good medicine isn’t complete without a competent staff. From the receptionist to the lab tech to the phlebotomist, your future patients want to know they will be taken care of with expert care and respect. You can produce a video that introduces your staff to potential patients.

These suggestions are only the tip of the iceberg for a solid marketing strategy for a physician. If you have some questions or are ready to benefit from web video, call the DC video production experts with the Fairfax Video Studio at 1.877.477.STUDIO.

3 Tips Before Spending More on Your Medical Practice Marketing

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT

If you click through many physicians’ websites, you might find that they all look the same…their medical practice marketing consists of uninteresting pictures with blocks of text. This is not the best way to entice a patient to make an appointment with your office. If you want to spread the word about who you are and what you do, you need to consider web video.

Video offers you more artistic license, flexibility, and impact than any other advertising medium. Video can be used as an introduction, a helpful explanation of a medical issue, or a tour of facilities. Most patients these days are using the web to search for doctors, and most internet users are consuming more video every year. Video is currently having its renaissance in internet popularity; many websites are at a serious search engine performance disadvantage without it.

When planning your marketing campaign, keep these tips in mind:

Offer Valuable Information: A patient surfing the Web for a doctor is not going to be impressed by simple “About Me” sections of a website. The problem is that you can read about 15 of those in 5 minutes just by clicking through doctor websites. Most doctors are going to have impressive credentials anyway. A different approach is to show your patients that you are skilled and knowledgeable by filming videos of you explaining common medical issues. By offering this medical knowledge via web video, you are showing your patients that you are both generous and well trained.

Consider Patient Testimonials: If you can find a happy patient who is willing to go in front of the camera, you will considerably bolster your marketing abilities. Having a video testimonial looks professional, real, and extremely personal.

Don’t Hide Your Office: Is your office modern and sleek? Perhaps more clean and traditional? Whatever the case may be, you better believe your patients are going to appreciate a peek at your office before they make an appointment. Video tours or professional photography (which we also provide) are the most effective ways of presenting your office in its best possible light.

Time and time again, we urge professionals to bring something to the table with their medical practice marketing. You should offer some medical knowledge, provide an interactive office tour, or consider adding a testimonial. These small additions to your website will go a long way toward increasing the volume of patients coming through your door!

Web Video for Physicians and Physician Media Personalities

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Whether or not you are a personal fan of CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta, you have to admit he has made a name for himself. Yes, some are partial to his looks and others applaud his medical accomplishments, but let’s face it - everyone works themselves silly becoming a doctor. Regardless of any physician’s accomplishments, it still takes a special marketing approach to achieving the desired patient volumes and lifestyle. So, what can you learn from someone like Dr. Gupta about your practice’s marketing needs?

What Can I Learn from Physician Media Personalities?
Dr. Gupta gives reports. The public is fascinated by medicine but also quite perplexed by it. There are reasons so much schooling and clinical work is needed to become a doctor, the ideas and techniques are extremely complex. People want to learn what is wrong (or could go wrong) with their bodies, and they often consult the internet and television about their ailments. Dr. Gupta is highlighted in television and web video to give an expert opinion or explanation on a specific disease or bodily process. While this isn’t a sound way for patients to diagnose or manage disease, web video for physicians is a great way for you to get them in to see you so they can be properly treated.

Displaying Your Aptitude
You can also give reports, in the form of web video. As we have done for many attorneys and physicians, we urge our clients to offer web viewers a piece of specialty knowledge. By getting in front of the camera and explaining your specialty, a disease you are known to treat, or just general knowledge about certain illnesses, you are displaying your aptitude to potential patients. Patients like to know who they are going to see before they make an appointment; by offering reports on highly specialized medical information, you can assure patients that you are well qualified to treat them.

An added benefit to offering viewers information via web videos is that you are showing generosity. By offering them helpful tips or explanations, you are showing them you have their best interests in mind. If you are ready to fully exploit the benefits of web video for your practice, give the DC video production firm Fairfax Video Studio a call at 1.877.477.STUDIO.

Social Media for Professionals: The Best Referrals and Free Advocacy

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Social media may seem like a lot of work, but the beauty of social media is making it work for you. By investing the time and resources into services like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, you can enjoy a variety of different benefits. The benefits of social media for professionals can include a higher volume of referrals, creating contacts in your field, and free advocacy from your past or current clients.

Social media is most certainly social. And, just like any social relationship, you must put something into it to get something out of it. Creating profiles, updating friends on what you are doing, responding to comments left by followers, and uploading photos and videos are all necessary for enjoying the benefits of social media. So, what do you get in return? Here are a few (of the many!) benefits you can expect:

Referrals and Word-of-Mouth: Participating in social media increases your exposure enormously. In many law and medical offices, it's now common to see notifications at the front desk asking customers to check out the practice on Facebook. If your clients or patients “Like” your practice on Facebook, their entire network of friends will see your practice and have the option to click on your link to learn more. Some of your clients may have over a thousand Facebook friends... imagine that kind of exposure.

Camaraderie: Services like LinkedIn offer an online social network service for professionals. When you join LinkedIn and make connections on the site, you create a web of colleagues and contacts that can help you. Having a robust LinkedIn account may lead to more referrals, invitations to events, and access to other professionals who you may want to work with. Think of your LinkedIn account as your Facebook for business contacts.

Free Advocacy: Past and current clients can leave comments on your Facebook page or submit “tweets” about your practice. This is an excellent source of testimonials.

At the Fairfax Video Studio, we don't just create excellent video for professionals, we also provide expert guidance on social media and web marketing. We would only be half-delivering if we helped you produce beautiful video yet did not handle search engine optimization and social media optimization of your video.

To learn more about video production, social media marketing, and the evolving web environment, call the Fairfax Video Studio at 1.877.477.STUDIO.

When You Think about Marketing, Do You Show Instead of Tell?

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:00:00 GMT

If you have ever studied creative writing, then you have probably heard the phrase, “show instead of tell.” What does this mean? It means that writers do nothing for the reader if they simply “tell” them a story. Instead, writers should “show” their story to the reader with vivid imagery and tactful narration. When we create video marketing for professionals, we take the same approach.

As a reader, do you typically find the “About Me” section of a website to be attractive, intriguing, and leaving you thirsting for more? It's extremely unlikely. You may have heard excerpts, such as “Blah Blah went to this college and developed a passion for law and therefore started his or her own practice and thus became the best attorney in the area... blah blah blah.” This is insufficient in really showing who you are.

There are tons of success stories. There are tons of Ivy League grads. You don't always stand out because you've checked all the boxes on the checklist; you stand out because you put yourself out there. This is why you need video.

Web video is the ultimate in showing. In creating a video, you are allowing yourself to make eye contact with the viewer. The viewer can now see your sincerity, aptitude, and desire to perform for them. If you have passion, it's now front and center and ready to be devoured by the increasingly mobile, video-watching, and critical web audience.

That clever “About Me” that you wrote? Yes, that is helpful and descriptive and telling. However, how many smartphone users are going to want to squint at all that text? In an age when internet speeds are fast enough to stream high-def video, you can't afford to expect your website viewers to spend a significant amount of time reading text. Video can capture their attention immediately and in the most convenient format.

When you are trying to attract the attention of those searching for services on the internet, it's critical that you show them who you are as quickly as possible. When you are ready to show your potential clients what you are all about, give the DC video production firm the Fairfax Video Studio a call at 1.877.477.STUDIO

2012 Nikon and Canon Professional Camera Rumors | DC Video Production

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 08:00:00 GMT

2012 is promising to be a huge year for photography-related announcements. At our DC video production studio, we use digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras to shoot some of our video and still images. We like DSLR cameras for their portability and large image sensors, but one of the main draws is the ability to use exotic and specialty lenses. We have been using and thoroughly enjoying Nikon's D7000, as it provides excellent video quality and top notch image quality for normal photography.

As with most things electronic, there's always something new on the horizon. Consumer quality DSLR cameras are usually on a 1 to 2 year replacement cycle. The pro quality cameras typically get replaced every 4 years with a minor refresh at mid-cycle. Rumors have been buzzing about which pro quality cameras are to be released in 2012. Here is the latest so far:

Nikon D4 - The successor to Nikon's wildly popular D3 is likely to be released on January 6, 2012 at Nikon's Thailand headquarters. Nikon has created a special press event, which sometimes means a big announcement. It makes sense for Nikon to release the D4 the winter before the Summer Olympics, as the D3/D4 is Nikon's flagship sports camera. Expect the price to hover around $6000 at introduction.

Nikon D800 - We are expecting the D800 to get a mid-January release, possibly at the PMA show in Las Vegas. The D800 is rumored to have a 36-megapixel, full-frame sensor, which is a fairly tall order considering Nikon's last full-frame camera to have more than 12 megapixels (D3X) cost nearly $8000. The D800 is likely targeting studio, landscape, and portrait shooters, while the D4 is for sports, action, and extreme low light shooting. Don't worry about the price though... it should be only around $4000!

Canon 5D Mark III - We aren't even sure of the correct name, but the successor to the 5D Mark II is rumored for a March or April 2012 release. The Mark II was such a success because it brought professional image quality and 21 megapixels at an affordable price. (It currently sells for between $2000 and $3000.) The new Mark III may go in one of two different directions - it will either compete with the D800 with a 30+ megapixel sensor, or it will inherit the 18-megapixel low light sensor of Canon's flagship 1DX camera. Canon is apparently watching the market and deciding how to proceed. We say, why not offer both?

Canon 7D Mark II - The 7D is Canon's flagship cropped sensor camera. Details are virtually nonexistent at this point, but we anticipate a release at Photokina in September 2012. If we had to bet, we would anticipate a Swiss army knife of a sensor (24 megapixels) that caters to both sports and landscape shooters.

At the Fairfax Video Studio, we are always keeping up with technology so we can provide the utmost in video and image quality for our clients. While it may be fun to get excited about the gear, our greatest asset at the video studio is our team of expert photographers and web video marketing experts.

If you are ready to get started with your web video campaign, give us a call at 1.877.477.STUDIO.

Should I Get a DSLR for Home Videos? Will My Compact Do Just Fine?

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Over the past few years, there has been a video revolution in photography. Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras (DSLR) were previously designed as photography tools only - they did not feature a video function. With the release of the Nikon D90 in 2008, all that changed. Now, video capability is one of the most important features of new DSLR cameras.

Compact “point and shoot” cameras have a longer tradition in offering video, but they historically have not offered high quality video. Compact cameras utilize a much smaller image sensor (the digital equivalent to film) than DSLR cameras, which puts them at a disadvantage when it comes to image quality. The desire for high video quality in a camera that can simultaneously produce still images is the main reason why a demand grew for DSLRs to offer video. One question that many are now facing is whether it is worth it to purchase a DSLR for home videos.

For normal home videos that are simply designed to capture the moment, purchasing a DSLR is overkill. Many compact cameras now offer high definition video capture and have somewhat narrowed the gap when it comes to video quality. If you are not going to purchase a dedicated camcorder (which is probably the best option for home videos), then a compact camera will be sufficient. It is more frugal to purchase a camera that can do both stills and video; for many, it is too expensive to purchase a dedicated video camera along with their still camera.

But... what if you already own a DSLR and are wondering if your DSLR can handle home videos? The answer to this question is more complicated than it may seem. Despite the video quality advantage DSLR cameras possess, they have historically had a hard time autofocusing during video capture. They also make noise as they focus, which can ruin the video's audio quality. Recent DSLR camera releases, like Sony's SLT line, promise to dramatically improve the autofocus and overall experience of capturing video on a DSLR.

So, it really depends on which DSLR you are using; some are definitely better than others. If you are interested in doing artistic video capture, the DSLR is highly preferred for its ability to select different lenses. If you haven't purchased a camera yet and are just interested in basic home video capture, skip the hype of the DSLR and grab a compact camera or a camcorder.

At the Fairfax Video Studio, we use a range of photographic and video equipment, from DSLR cameras to professional video camera rigs to green screen studios. We always ensure our equipment is modern and able to produce content that impresses the viewer. If you are ready to get started with your web video campaign, call the DC video production firm the Fairfax Video Studio at 1.877.477.STUDIO.

Social Media Experts? Why You Need Social Media for Your Web Video

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:00:00 GMT

As an attorney, doctor, or other professional, you have probably not considered adding a social media expert to your staff. Facebook and Twitter may sound like something you only use for fun or to pass the time, but these social media services may be generating lots of business for much of your competition. While it’s unlikely you would ever need a full-time social media guru in your office to handle your marketing, it would be wise to incorporate social media marketing into your web video campaign.

According to Social Media Influence, there were only 4,300 job openings for social media jobs in 2009; this number has since grown to 21,000 jobs in 2011. These numbers suggest something very important about the shift in the marketing field toward social media. We have been creating web video for attorneys and other professionals for years, but we've always known that creating quality video content is only half the battle - social media will continue to rise in popularity as the premiere marketing tool for the 21^st century.

So what does this mean for your web video? By optimizing your video with social media, you can:

Broadcast video to an enormous audience: Video on your own website is crucial, but video on social media is just as important. Your video can be shared, tweeted, and “liked” - and therefore passed along to a much bigger audience.

Create a following that you can interact with: Social media is designed to be “social.” When you place a video on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube, you allow viewers to comment on the video. This opens up the opportunity for a dialogue to occur, as you can comment back to viewers and answer questions. You should also aim to post comments about your activities or your work.

Word of mouth: If a client is particularly happy with the services you have provided, then they are unlikely to grab their address book and call every single friend to tell them about their experience with you. However, if you have a presence on social media websites, they can show their friends your content on the web by commenting about you via social media. This is excellent word-of-mouth marketing.

At the DC video production firm the Fairfax Video Studio, we understand social media and specialize in making it enhance web video. Creating great video content does not guarantee a great audience. Our experts can make sure your video is optimized for the ever more social internet. Instead of budgeting out a salary for a social media job at your office, just give us a call at 1.877.477.STUDIO. We can make social media work for you at a price you can afford.

Have we Reached the Point Where Video is Mandatory for Marketing?

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

This question has been buzzing around the Web recently, as the latest statistics have shown a vast jump in web video revenue. Web video revenue rose from $1 billion in 2010 to $3 billion in 2011. According to comScore, 89 million people will watch around 1.2 billion videos per day in the United States alone.

The answer is a resounding “yes!” Web video is now mandatory for competitive marketing. Video is oftentimes more convenient for many Internet users, as they can either watch the video outright or listen to the audio while they browse other pages. A Forbes Insight study found that 75% of executives who participated in the survey watch web video at least weekly, and, furthermore, 65% of them have visited a vendor's website due to a video that they watched.

Video offers convenience, entertainment, and rapid delivery of information. A video also shows the viewer that you are serious enough about your businesses or services to make a video about them; it truly does convince viewers that you are legitimate. Video serves as an excellent vehicle for a positive first impression. At the Fairfax Video Studio, we produce many web videos for professionals, because it has been shown that potential clients prefer to get an idea of what the person is like before making the plunge.

If the statistics do not have you convinced, check out a few YouTube channels of popular companies that you enjoy. Most (if not all) of these companies have invested a tremendous amount of capital in maintaining an informative and entertaining YouTube channel. There is a reason for this - web video is mandatory for a successful marketing campaign.

Upgrade your marketing with web video today by calling the Fairfax Video Studio at 1.877.477.STUDIO.

Web Videos for Physicians can Reduce Patient Anxiety

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Big needles, the ominous odor of isopropyl alcohol, stuffy waiting rooms, the nurse failing to find a vein, and the dreaded stepping on the scale... only a few of the many worries patients possess as they contemplate coming in for a visit. A doctor knows better than anyone that the tiny worries or inconveniences associated with doctor visits are far outweighed by the benefit of being properly medically treated. While you cannot control every worry a potential patient may have about your practice, you can show them how clean and impressive your facilities are.

New patients sometimes need a little encouragement. Many medical practices are turning to web videos for physicians to help put their patients at ease about scheduling an appointment or surgery. A grainy or poorly composed photo of your surgery center will not put a patient at ease about scheduling a procedure with you. Likewise, a lack of impressive imaging of your medical office is likely to push away many potential patients.

At the Fairfax Video Studio, we recommend that physicians consider adding video tours and doctor office photography to their website and marketing campaign. If you have made the effort to provide comfortable accommodations for your patients, then it would be a waste to not display them in their best light.

It's also important to consider the personal impression a web video can leave on a potential patient. By introducing yourself and your practice via web video, you can display your passion for medicine, your personality, and your knowledge. These kinds of videos give those who are looking for a new doctor the assurance they need to schedule an appointment.

To discuss the benefits of web video, doctor office photography, or coming in for a shoot, give the DC video production company Fairfax Video Studio a call at 1.877.477.STUDIO.

Create Product Videos at FVS to Accelerate Your Business

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Similar to the Digital Advertising research study conducted by Break Media and Advertiser Perceptions, Liveclicker, Inc. has recently conducted studies of retailer sales in correlation with retailers' online video. In an analysis of 7,500 videos on 25 e-commerce websites, here are some of the statistics the company found:

Videos less than 30 seconds in length showed the best conversion rates with 4.54% purchase rate immediately following viewing

E-Commerce video for retailers average a rate of $2,026 per video, with an average of $3.74 per video play

The top retail video generated $769,897 in revenue

The average retailer saw number of year-over-year video views increase by 61% in November
(Statistics provided by PRWeb)

With sales numbers large, it is obvious that web video works across many facets of business. Web video reaches wide audiences because it is accessible and instantaneous. At Fairfax Video Studio, not only can we create professional quality videos to market your business or sell your product or service, our studio features a state-of-the-art Green Screen, allowing you to integrate virtually any background/text/etc. into your video.

Check out an example of one of our product videos created by the Fairfax Video Studio! Then call us at 1-877-477-STUDIO to get started creating professional quality product videos for your company, and watch as your business takes off!

NFL Players Using iPads Instead of Playbooks

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have started a trend that is poised to take off in sports: the iPad playbook. Instead of hauling around large paper books of plays and DVDs full of video for game preparation, the players can stream all this data to their iPads.

Apparently, the players love it! The hassle and weight associated with paper playbooks are sure to be quickly forgotten by the Buccaneers, but it seems as if their principle delight in switching to the iPad is the web video. NFL players are required to watch many hours of video of their opponents; they must study movements, plays, and tendencies. The Buccaneers have created a custom application for the iPad that allows them to stream all these videos to each player's device.

The Buccaneers can now watch their videos in the car, train, bus, or plane. Yes, they could have taken along portable DVD players... but these devices have awful battery life, and they cannot also function as a playbook and internet surfing device.

The convenience offered by mobile video-displaying devices, like smartphones and tablets, has been a major priority for the Fairfax Video Studio for some time now. We view video as the new format, one that will be consumed conveniently and more often than any other multimedia format. Smartphones and tablets are focusing on high-resolution screens for a reason - they know consumers are demanding more video.

If you are marketing on the web (and you should be!), you need to incorporate video into your campaign. To get started with your video marketing campaign, contact the DC video production firm Fairfax Video Studio at 1.877.477.STUDIO today.

Liquid Lenses in Your Smartphone?

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

You can expect your smartphone to take pictures with a liquid lens within the next few years. Glass optics (and occasionally plastic optics) have been used for many years in the photography, cinematography, and consumer fields. Glass provides excellent transmittance and clarity, but glass really cannot change shape. A liquid lens, on the other hand, has the ability to shape itself into whatever lens you could possibly need.

So how do these liquid lenses work?
All lenses have a particular shape that allows them to transmit and concentrate light in the fashion the designer intends. For liquid to be shaped into a lens, it is divided into 2 layers: a refractive liquid layer and a non-refractive liquid layer. The conductive non-refractive layer is set to touch electrodes that, when powered, can draw the non-refractive layer toward the electrodes. The refractive layer (the one functioning as a lens) is subsequently drawn toward the non-refractive layer via surface tension. This attraction can be tailored to shape the refractive layer into a perfect optical lens.

Can you zoom?
Well, not yet. Liquid zoom lenses are expected to come around 2014, while non-zooming prime lenses may be available by 2013. The fluid nature of a liquid lens permits it to focus extremely precisely and also to transmit light without much reduction in intensity. Liquid lenses can “stabilize” the image by positioning their electrodes in a certain way; this will make it easier to get blur-free shots without a flash.

The real test for liquid lenses is displaying a proven benefit over traditional glass optics. The hope is that liquid lenses will be able to overcome many of the physical limitations of glass optics with lenses that are of a wider focal length, more telephoto, smaller, and able to transmit light near 100%.

At the Fairfax Video Studio, we are always shooting with the most modern and capable equipment. We stay up to date on all the current trends and advances in image quality so that we can produce flawless video and photography for your project. Give us a call at 1.877.477.STUDIO to learn more about the many services we offer. We create video for professionals, companies, doctors, bands, attorneys, and any individual looking for true professional expertise.

RightsFlow Music on YouTube

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

RightsFlow is a music licensing and royalty service provider which began in 2007. The company has recently been acquired by Google, which will integrate the RightsFlow technology into the YouTube platform. YouTube management will use this as a tool to keep copyright infringement issues at bay – especially after a lawsuit brought on by Viacom a few years back (in which YouTube won the case due to a law that protects companies from infringement suits if content is removed immediately following a violation).

How does the process work? Using the YouTube Content ID system already in place, the site performs an automated search to reveal which content is being used without permission. The RightsFlow system then uses its database to establish payment for the copyrighted music to provide the rightful owner with what they are entitled to. The system handles identification of owners’ rights as well as payments.

This acquisition will likely benefit both companies in the long run. RightsFlow will have the opportunity to expand as YouTube does, and YouTube will have to worry less about copyright issues- especially since music video channel VEVO is the most watched channel on YouTube averaging over 50 million viewers a month.

The YouTube music climate will see a number of changes in the coming months- musicians, artists and labels alike will begin to receive the credit they deserve for their original work. There are many ways to effectively integrate music into your marketing videos – we can help! Call Fairfax Video Studio at 1-877-477-STUDIO to get started today.