The Video Business Guru - Kris Simmons

I had a conversation with a business woman the other day about my video services. She indicated that I should come up with some low cost solutions so that smaller businesses who can’t normally afford me would have the opportunity to work with me.

My response: WHY?

Why should I change my business model to cater to clients with lower-budgets when I’m doing just fine with large budget clients?

Her answer: Because if I don’t create a way for small businesses to work with me, they will go to other lower cost videographers in the area.

My response to her answer: That’s great. Let the other videographers get all the low-budget, high-expectation, time-wasting, pain in the butt work. That will make it easier for me to get the large-budget, huge profit, time liberating projects and that’s what I prefer anyway.

She was confused and since there wasn’t really any reason to ellaborate, I didn’t talk any further about it. However, since you are hopefully a videographer who wants to figure out how to get your piece of the large-budget pie, I’ll tell you why I responded in that way. Read the rest of this entry »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

I’m not usually an advocate of giving away free video production services to non-profit organizations unless there is a direct marketing benefit for your video business. If you are wondering whether to say yes or no when a non-profit requests your services on a pro bono basis, ask yourself the following questions: Read the rest of this entry »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

If you do a lot of work for a client, particularly a large corporation, do you have to wait in the lobby for someone to come out, sign you in, and escort you around the building while you shoot? Also, when delivering DVDs or whatever to this client, do you simply drop them off at the receptionist desk at the front of the building and walk out the door? This is how corporations usually work but to really dominate that account, you need to have the freedom to come and go as you please, to walk anywhere in the building without needing an escort. You need to be able to deliver things directly to the desk of the recipient, to walk the hallways and rows of cubicles saying hello to everyone you know and recognize. Read the rest of this entry »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

This week was one of the best weeks I’ve had in a while. On Tuesday, I produced a major corporate meeting for one of my largest clients and the keynote speaker was Magic Johnson, the famous point guard who used to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. Out of every sports celebrity I’ve ever wanted to meet, he was #2 on my list. Michael Jordan is #1. I grew up loving the game of basketball and they, along with Larry Bird, were my idols.

After the meeting was over, I was able to get a basketball signed for my son which I believe has elevated me to “Best Dad Ever” status at least for a week. I’m sure once the novelty wears off, I’ll have to start looking for other ways to regain my status

With large corporate meetings in mind, I thought I’d focus my latest insights on what you can and should be doing to enhance your video business as it relates to producing AV presentations at large corporate meetings and/or special events. Read the rest of this entry »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Are you buying into all this economic doom in gloom that we are supposedly experiencing here in the U.S.?

GET OVER IT! Seriously.

There is more than enough money being spent out there and you can get your fair share of it. Most of the competing videographers in your area have pretty much given up so its time for you to start calling on their customers to show them that the economy isn’t hurting your business. Tell everyone that business is just fine and you will start to turn some heads.

In fact, don’t be surprised if you start getting calls from the paper or a few local magazines because they want to interview small business owners who are surviving this so-called storm. Businesses that are spending money on video services right now want confidence that their vendor will still be in business by the time the project is over. Put on your suit, get to some of the high profile business events in your area, and give the impression that you aren’t phased by this economy. Read the rest of this entry »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Do you have a LinkedIn profile? Are you using it to strengthen relationships with your customers, colleagues, prospects and referral partners?

I hope your answer is “yes, yes!”

When I first heard about LinkedIn, I thought to myself “not another social media website that will take forever to figure out and result in zero positive benefit for my video business.” So, I ignored it for almost two years.

Then, I started hearing my customers talk about it. They were asking me if I had a profile so I started to perk up to the idea of at least digging a bit deeper to see what LinkedIn is all about.

Within the first ten minutes, I figured out that I could do a search for professionals within various companies. I saw numerous people I already know and tons that I’d really like to get to know.

So, I signed up for a LinkedIn account and got to work on my profile.

Visit my MindYourVideoBusiness LinkedIn profile >>>

After two months of active participation, I’ve been able to grow my online network to over 250 professionals and have set up multiple meetings with prospects that have already resulted in new sales for my video business. Read the rest of this entry »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

When it comes to preparing demos of your work, there IS a difference between a marketing demo and a sales demo.

A marketing demo is a DVD or sample reel that includes short clips compiled from your absolute best work. This is what works to show prospects that you are worthy of consideration for their upcoming video project. Most videographers only have a marketing demo. You can separate yourself from the competition by also having sales demos. Read the rest of this entry »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Do you struggle when it comes to finding professional voiceover talent for your video projects? Would it give your video company a competitive edge if you had access to thousands of national and international voiceover artists that were all willing to work with you for the same or less than local rates?

One of the easiest and most effective ways to increase production value for your clients is to use professional voiceover talent. At the same time, one of the quickest ways to position yourself as the better video production company is to communicate to clients that you have access to thousands of professional narrators and that you can send them auditions via email within days of starting any project.

Read the rest of this entry »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Do you know the difference between a decision maker and a decision influencer when it comes to getting your video projects and budgets approved?

When it comes to marketing your video business, the best people to spend time with and on are decision makers. However, decision makers are often very hard and expensive to reach. In many cases, it is much easier to target your marketing to decision influencers. Read the rest of this entry »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

How far are you willing to go out of your way to help your clients?

I think we often forget as videographers what motivates our clients to hire us again and again. After all, there are plenty of video producers out there that do what we do. However, successful videographers understand that clients choose us because we do whatever is in our power to make their lives easier. To stay up late at night to make sure a project gets completed so they have the opportunity to sleep. To arrive early at a meeting to test the audiovisual equipment before the client plays your video in front of an important audience even though they haven’t paid you to be there. Read the rest of this entry »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

How do you go from making a nice profit on a video project to losing your shirt? Easy, you make revisions per your client’s request at no additional charge even if those changes fall outside the scope of your original agreement. We are all guilty of doing this in one form or another but we must do our best to break this habit. Clients need to understand that if they want to make changes that are above and beyond what was mutually agreed upon in the early stages of the project, they will be charged for the additional time required to make the revisions. Read the rest of this entry »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Are you losing revenue opportunities because you aren’t offering interactive cd-rom design services? Could you do more work with advertising agencies and corporate marketing departments if this service was part of your creative tool box? The answer is a resounding YES! Read the rest of this entry »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

We spend so much time racking our brains trying to figure out what marketing strategies to employ in our video businesses and how much money to spend in the process. It doesn’t have to be that complicated! In this podcast, I reveal the secrets of asking for and using testimonials and referrals as the cornerstone for marketing your video business. Read the rest of this entry »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

When you are spending all your creative time and energy working on video projects, it makes it almost impossible think creatively about how to improve your marketing so you can attract more clients and increase sales. This podcast focuses on the importance of building your video business in a way that allows you to spend less time in the trenches and more time improving your marketing and sales strategies. Read the rest of this entry »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

When it comes to marketing your video business, do you have more time than money? Are you looking for low-cost marketing strategies that will help you effectively promote your products and services? Of course you are….we all are!

Here’s part of an email I received recently from a MindYourVideoBusiness.com member with the same concern.

———————

“Right now one of our biggest challenges is determining the best marketing mix to use given a very limited marketing budget. I am sure there are a lot of other videographers in the same situation and I expect you may have faced the same situation previously. I know that the answer is very dependent on the market you are in etc., but some guidance of what worked for you in the beginning would be very interesting I believe. When you are on a tight budget it is scary when you are trying to pick the right prospects to market to and then choose which marketing tools have the highest probability of being successful.”

———————

In a sluggish economy, it’s difficult to justify spending even one dollar on marketing your video business. So, with that in mind, I’d like to introduce a few marketing tactics I’ve used over the years that will take time for you to implement but will be easy on the check book. Read the rest of this entry »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

There are many factors that go into how and why a client with a large budget chooses one video production company over another. In today’s article, I’m going to focus on one reason and give you a few suggestions on what you can do to overcome it.

How can you position yourself to win more of the large video contracts in your area? Read the rest of this entry »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

One of the fastest ways to grow your business is to perfect the art of the mid project up sell. This week’s video success tip focuses on a simple, yet very effective strategy I use to double and even triple the amount of income generated from each video client. Enjoy!

Want to stay informed with my latest and greatest video business success tips? Join my email list and I’ll keep you “in the know.” I’ll also send you a free copy of my “How to grow Your Video Business” eBook.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Are you looking for fast ways to grow your video business?
Check out my video business information products!

“The Six-Figure Videographer” eBook

The Ultimate Video Proposal Writing System

SPECIAL REPORT: How To Network Your Way To Video Business Success

Sample Script and Finished Project: Police Department PSAs

Sample Script and Finished Project: Mortgage Company Marketing Video

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Stay in touch!!

Follow me on Twitter

Join my network on LinkedIn (I’m hoping to get thousands of videographers in my network by the end of the year so please forward my profile to EVERYONE you know in the video industry.)

Listen to my podcast on iTunes (If you like what you hear, let me and the rest of the world know what you think by leaving a comment on iTunes. A lot of comments equal great search rankings in their podcast directory.)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Let me know what burning questions you have related to running a more successful video business. Send an email to videobusinesscoach@yahoo.com and you may see your question answered in an upcoming blog post, newsletter or podcast episode.

Have a great day!

To Your Success,

Kris (a.k.a. The Video Guru)

“Helping You Attract More Video Clients With Bigger Budgets!”

MindYourVideoBusiness.com

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

In this 3-part radio series entitled “Around and About,” I discuss the ups and downs of growing my video business over the past 7 years. Enjoy!

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

In this 3-part radio series entitled “Around and About,” I discuss the ups and downs of growing my video business over the past 7 years. Enjoy!

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

In this 3-part radio series entitled “Around and About,” I discuss the ups and downs of growing my video business over the past 7 years. Enjoy!

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Want to Make More Money With Your Duplication Services?
I enjoy the manual labor associated with duplication orders about as much as I love to hang curtains for my wife. (I abhor hanging curtains!) However, every videographer from time to time has relied on the extra income, albeit negligible in many cases, to pay a few bills until the bigger checks come in or the clients start calling with more profitable work. Read the rest of this entry »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

SHOW NOTES:

Email Newsletters - 60 Day Free Trial

First off, let me say that if you aren’t sending a newsletter to your customers, prospects and referral partners, you are missing out on an extremely effective marketing opportunity. Communicating via newsletter is a great way to stay in touch with your current clients and to build credibility with those who have not yet decided to purchase your products and/or services. Read the rest of this entry »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

If you are like most video businesses, you struggle to get video customers to give you what is needed to hurry up and finish a project so you can get paid!  In this week’s “Success Tip,” I discuss the concept of setting deadlines for your clients and offer ideas for how to structure your production agreements so that they will have to pay you more money if they are responsible for project delays. Read the rest of this entry »

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Want to stay informed with my latest and greatest video business success tips? Join my email list and I’ll keep you “in the know.” I’ll also send you a free copy of my “How to grow Your Video Business” eBook.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Are you looking for fast ways to grow your video business?
Check out my video business information products!

“The Six-Figure Videographer” eBook

The Ultimate Video Proposal Writing System

SPECIAL REPORT: How To Network Your Way To Video Business Success

Sample Script and Finished Project: Police Department PSAs

Sample Script and Finished Project: Mortgage Company Marketing Video

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Stay in touch!!

Follow me on Twitter

Join my network on LinkedIn

Listen to my podcast on iTunes (If you like what you hear, let me and the rest of the world know what you think by leaving a comment on iTunes. A lot of comments equal great search rankings in their podcast directory.)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Let me know what burning questions you have related to running a more successful video business. Send an email to videobusinesscoach@yahoo.com and you may see your question answered in an upcoming blog post, newsletter or podcast episode.

Have a great day!

To Your Success,

Kris (a.k.a. The Video Guru)

“Helping You Attract More Video Clients With Bigger Budgets!”

MindYourVideoBusiness.com

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

In this episode, I talk about my transition from a freelance service provider to a full-blown corporate video production company in the second year of running Fire Eye Productions, Inc.

Want to stay informed with my latest and greatest video business success tips? Join my email list and I’ll keep you “in the know.” I’ll also send you a free copy of my “How to grow Your Video Business” eBook.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Are you looking for fast ways to grow your video business?
Check out my video business information products!

“The Six-Figure Videographer” eBook

The Ultimate Video Proposal Writing System

SPECIAL REPORT: How To Network Your Way To Video Business Success

Sample Script and Finished Project: Police Department PSAs

Sample Script and Finished Project: Mortgage Company Marketing Video

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Stay in touch!!

Follow me on Twitter

Join my network on LinkedIn

Listen to my podcast on iTunes (If you like what you hear, let me and the rest of the world know what you think by leaving a comment on iTunes. A lot of comments equal great search rankings in their podcast directory.)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Let me know what burning questions you have related to running a more successful video business. Send an email to videobusinesscoach@yahoo.com and you may see your question answered in an upcoming blog post, newsletter or podcast episode.

Have a great day!

To Your Success,

Kris (a.k.a. The Video Guru)

“Helping You Attract More Video Clients With Bigger Budgets!”

MindYourVideoBusiness.com

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

In this episode of the MYVB Podcast, I discuss the experiences I had in the first year of running my video business, Fire Eye Productions, Inc. Some of these experiences included working as a freelance camera operator for Georgia Tech, editing wedding videos for videographers all over the United States, producing/editing an Atlanta based local access television show and creating an online real-estate video tour product that I thought was going to be the greatest thing to ever hit the streaming video market. (Key word being “thought”)

Want to stay informed with my latest and greatest video business success tips? Join my email list and I’ll keep you “in the know.” I’ll also send you a free copy of my “How to grow Your Video Business” eBook.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Are you looking for fast ways to grow your video business?
Check out my video business information products!

“The Six-Figure Videographer” eBook

The Ultimate Video Proposal Writing System

SPECIAL REPORT: How To Network Your Way To Video Business Success

Sample Script and Finished Project: Police Department PSAs

Sample Script and Finished Project: Mortgage Company Marketing Video

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Stay in touch!!

Follow me on Twitter

Join my network on LinkedIn

Listen to my podcast on iTunes (If you like what you hear, let me and the rest of the world know what you think by leaving a comment on iTunes. A lot of comments equal great search rankings in their podcast directory.)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Let me know what burning questions you have related to running a more successful video business. Send an email to videobusinesscoach@yahoo.com and you may see your question answered in an upcoming blog post, newsletter or podcast episode.

Have a great day!

To Your Success,

Kris (a.k.a. The Video Guru)

“Helping You Attract More Video Clients With Bigger Budgets!”

MindYourVideoBusiness.com

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

As I was cleaning out my iTunes library, I came across a podcast in which I was featured in back in April of 2007. The ClearCast podcast was titled “Innovative Conversations” and was sponsored by PointClear Solutions. Below is the summary they put together for the clip.

————————-

This is a great Michael Dell story in the making. Maybe not as largesse as Dell but with more than a few similar characteristics. Kris Simmons graduated from college and decided to avoid corporate America to follow his passion. The result is a successful entrepreneur who is building an exciting and different type of media company. The backstory is that while he was strong on technical skills early on, in less than 10 years he has successfully become a savvy CEO. Every would-be entrepreneur should listen to Kris’ story.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

In this episode of the MYVB Podcast, I discuss how I first became interested in video and how the experiences I had in middle school, high school and college prepared me for success as a video business entrepreneur.

SHOW NOTES:

ChannelBlue - Health Care Web Channel

Fire Eye Productions, Inc.

Carson Newman College

Aardvark Interactive Studios

Rich Dad Poor Dad (Click Thumbnail)

Visit the Rich Dad Website

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

In this episode, I discuss the importance of becoming a better entrepreneur in order to accelerate the success of your video business.

Want to stay informed with my latest and greatest video business success tips? Join my email list and I’ll keep you “in the know.” I’ll also send you a free copy of my “How to grow Your Video Business” eBook.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Are you looking for fast ways to grow your video business?
Check out my video business information products!

“The Six-Figure Videographer” eBook

The Ultimate Video Proposal Writing System

SPECIAL REPORT: How To Network Your Way To Video Business Success

Sample Script and Finished Project: Police Department PSAs

Sample Script and Finished Project: Mortgage Company Marketing Video

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Stay in touch!!

Follow me on Twitter

Join my network on LinkedIn

Listen to my podcast on iTunes (If you like what you hear, let me and the rest of the world know what you think by leaving a comment on iTunes. A lot of comments equal great search rankings in their podcast directory.)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Let me know what burning questions you have related to running a more successful video business. Send an email to videobusinesscoach@yahoo.com and you may see your question answered in an upcoming blog post, newsletter or podcast episode.

Have a great day!

To Your Success,

Kris (a.k.a. The Video Guru)

“Helping You Attract More Video Clients With Bigger Budgets!”

MindYourVideoBusiness.com

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!