Prizm as a Time Bandit? Ah, yes!

As we begin a new year, it occurs to me that I have spent a dozen years now with Prizm.  How can that possibly be?  After all, to contemplate 12 years in future tense feels like a much longer span of time than it does to look back on that same number of years.  And the scary part about it is that as I age, time seems to just go faster and faster.  But enough of that conversation, it could lead me down an entirely different path.  Hmmmmmmmm…Perhaps another blog?  Perhaps not…we shall see.

The purpose of this blog, though, is to give you, the reader, an inside perspective on Prizm, and why, as I look back over these past years, it is easy enough to recognize why time here passes so quickly.  There are a number of contributing factors, all of which could be a singular cause of time slippage, depending upon which angle one views life through, at, and with Prizm.  I have decided to list my top five in no particular order:

Editor’s Note: Pre-production is a MUST!

Pre-production is an often overlooked part of the video production process. Many people think videos are thrown together and magically come alive. It’s true, the outcome can sometimes be magical, but is it really worth the money to bet on everything falling together perfectly? What happens when the opposite happens, and the video portrays your company’s message at just a percentage of its potential?

As an editor who works with budgetary constraints on a constant basis, my advice to you is pre-production, pre-production, pre-production! If your company is spending thousands of dollars on a video, I’m sure your boss wants it to have the highest quality, maintain a good retention rate, and be as effective as possible. How do you accomplish this? Pre-production!

The End of an Era

I recently heard something that saddened me more than I could have ever imagined, thus leading to today’s blog, which veers slightly from my usual, more professional subject matter – although not too far I don’t suppose. After all, it still has everything to do with words and writing; but alas, I digress, so back to the subject at hand: they have decided to stop teaching cursive handwriting in our schools!

What everyone should know about pricing professional video

What could possibly be so hard about pricing a professional video project?

From the outside looking in, it may seem simple enough to put a price tag on a professional video, but there are many considerations involved.  Having spent more than a decade working for Prizm, I have learned so much about the process of creating a professional video, and let me tell you, there is absolutely nothing simple about it!

I receive inquiries for cost quotes daily, and frequently find it necessary to help people understand how much really goes into creating professional, award winning videos.   I can’t tell you how many times I have heard:  “Just off of the top of your head, how much does it usually cost to…?” Although I don’t like to say it, there genuinely is not a “usual” cost when it comes to the creation of a professional video.

Capturing professional video for Extreme Makeover Home Edition

In order to receive a true and complete price quote on your video, you must be prepared to provide your production company with answers to some very pertinent questions like these:

1. How long do you want your video to be?
2. What style and quality do you envision for your final product?
3. What delivery medium (or mediums) do you intend to use?
4. What is your deadline?
5. Are you working within a specific budget?
6. Do you want professional actors and/or voice talent to be part of your video?
7. Do you need scripting services?

The answers to the above questions then create more leading questions, which largely influence pricing, such as: 

How much do keywords matter?

My husband and I have always been sticklers for doing research before making any kind of major purchase.  From cars to appliances to electronics, it is important to know that you will be getting the most for your money before committing to spending it.  While it hasn’t been that long ago that we had to go to our local library to peruse the latest copies of Consumer Reports for information, now one has to go only as far as the closest computer with an internet connection to learn everything pertinent to making an informed buying decision.

A while back, I thought I had done my due diligence before making a major purchase – so much that even Dave Ramsey would have been proud!  I actually spent 4 months doing research in my spare time, before making the final choice, which was based on my research.  Here’s where it gets interesting:  I have had quite a lot of trouble with this product, even though everything I read raved about the item in question.  Did I get a “lemon”?  Or was all of my research bogus?  What did I do wrong?!

I continued to contemplate these questions, until it finally occurred to me that every time I did a new search for information, I always used “reviews” in my search.  So, I decided to try an experiment. 

Social Media: Don’t rest on your laurels

I was on LinkedIn dialoguing with colleagues around the world about who considers themselves an expert at social media.  Mind you, these are wise and seasoned marketers themselves.  The wisdom that came from thediscussion focused on a couple of repetitive themes.

Do you HootSuite?

Your business is probably on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and a slew of other social media applications. So how do you keep all of these profiles in check?

Let Your SEO Blossom Through Creative Writing

Creative writing serves a dual purpose as it applies to the web.  It is imperative that your web copy communicates a clear, concise message to the reader, and at the same time the search engines must identify it as relevant content in order to drive the correct audience to you.

50 Ways to Use a QR Code

Can’t think of how your business can use a QR Code? Refer to our previous post and check out this article, which gives you 50 — “Count ‘Em, 50!” — ideas:

50 Creative Uses of QR Codes in Marketing & Communications by Flyte

Our personal faves: