What is B Roll Footage in a Video?

 

We include b-roll footage in every video we shoot.  During the last few discovery calls, our client asked, “What is b roll?” as we discussed the details of the video shoot.  Let’s go over it so you know what it is and why it’s vital for your shoot.

 

What it Is:

 

B roll is the video footage that supports the main speaking parts (or A roll).  Examples of this footage include an aerial drone shot of your office, a pan showing your team members collaborating, etc.  It shows what’s being talked about in the video.  We like to use your actual team members as much as possible for b-roll shots instead of stock footage.  We cover how we will get these shots in our pre-production meeting.

 

 

Why it’s Important:

 

This type of footage is important because it helps with the flow of the video. Typically, talking into the camera for a minute or two is boring.

Adding b-roll footage breaks up the video and helps tell the story by showing what you’re explaining.  We recently shot a lighting video for Hawkins Landscape & Outdoors.  Instead of the project manager just talking about the app that controls the lights, we shot footage of him using it to show it in action.

B-roll also does a great job of making the points you’re trying to get across crystal clear, especially for those who process things visually.

 

How We Get It:

 

To build trust for your brand, we’re on a mission to eliminate stock videos and stock photography.  One of the things we cover in your pre-production meeting is how we will be getting the b roll for your video.

This footage can be shot with your team members and/or customers at your office or job site.

We will also shoot aerial/drone footage and/or time-lapse footage to add different levels of creativity to ensure potential customers watch your video all the way through.

 

We hope this helps explain more about the video production process and we look forward to helping you with your next project.

How to Eliminate Ums When You Talk

 

Have you ever listened to yourself talk and realized you said a bunch of “ums” and “likes”?  I know I have and it’s pretty rough. I’ve gotten better over the years, but they still show up here and there.

“Ums” can be distracting when you talk so it’s best to avoid them.

 

Here are 3 tips to help you eliminate ums in your speech.

 

Rehearse:

When we have “ums” when we talk, it’s typically because we’re trying to think of what we want to say.

You want to go over your content and rehearse a few times so you have it down on video shoot day.

This will not only help you eliminate “ums”, but you’ll come off as professional and confident.

 

Slow Down:

 

If you’ve been following our content for a while, you’ve heard this before.  Slowing down your speech pattern will help you eliminate “ums”. If you need to think for a second, you have time to “catch up” without using filler words like “um”, “like”, and “ah”.

Slowing down your speech will help you come off as more trustworthy instead of sounding like a fast-talking salesperson.

 

Take a Pause:

 

If you find yourself at a loss for words, pause to gather your thoughts quickly.  This is strong for a couple of reasons: 1: it eliminates an “um” and 2: people will tend to lean in because they are waiting for what you’re about to say. ex: a dramatic pause.

 

Please keep in mind, that we can eliminate some of your “ums” in our editing process but if there are a ton, the video can come out choppy.

So it’s best to not have them to begin with. This will also help you come across as more confident in your day-to-day conversations like phone calls and networking events.

 

What filler words have you been able to eliminate?

 

 

 

Vertical vs. Horizontal Video: Which is Better?

 

This is a question we get from potential clients from time to time.

When determining whether your video should be shot horizontally (landscape) or vertically (portrait), there are two factors to consider: where the video is going and what its goal is.

Let’s get into it:

 

Website

 

If the video is going on your website, we recommend that you have a horizontal video.  When you embed it from a platform like Vimeo or YouTube, it will look better than a vertical video.

Also, if the goal is for the video to have a long shelf life, you should have it on YouTube and those look best shot horizontally.

These will also look better if you plan on embedding the video in an email campaign.

 

Social Media

 

Here is where it gets a little tricky.  Both styles of video, horizontal and vertical, can look great on social media, depending on the content/type of post.

What we recommend for vertical video:

• Reels (Facebook and Instagram)
• Short Form Video (YouTube shorts, TikTok, LinkedIn)
• Stories (Facebook and Instagram)
• If the content does not need a long shelf

 

What we recommend for horizontal video:

• Promotional Video (Facebook and LinkedIn)
• Testimonial Video: (Facebook and LinkedIn)
• If the content needs a long shelf life

 

Since most of our clients need a variety of videos for their marketing strategy, we can provide both horizontal and vertical video assets so they are covered for their website (long-form content) and social media (short-form content).

If you are shooting your own content, you want to determine where you are posting the videos before you start recording.

 

 

What type of content does your company use most of the time?

How Much is a Professional Video?

 

One of the biggest mysteries regarding creative services is how much you need to budget.  Whether you need a logo, a website, or a professional video, pricing is all over the map.  This has to be frustrating for businesses.

Here at 12 Media Group, we don’t have set pricing, but I want to shed light on how much you need to plan on investing in video production with us.

A video project can range anywhere from $50,000 to $5,000, depending on the scope of the video shoot.

Here are 3 factors that determine the cost of a professional with us:

 

How Many Videos/Assets?

 

 

During our initial call, we talk about the full scope of the shoot.  Sometimes we’re only producing 1 video, but on most occasions, we are providing our clients with several assets (a mix of videos and pictures).

For example: your shoot could consist of a brand video, some short videos you can use for social as well as some still photos.  We recently had a video shoot with Paradigm Roofing in which we provided them with a testimonial video and we also gave them several photos that they can use in their marketing.

The number of assets is a major factor when we are creating a quote for your business.

 

How Many Days?

 

Another factor in determining price is how many days we will be on location shooting.  Most of our video shoots are done in a couple of hours.

Some video shoots require us to be on-site (or at least come back multiple times on the same day) for the entire day.  For the Paradigm Roofing video shoot mentioned above, we got footage first thing in the morning, then shot the testimonial, and then came back later that evening to get more footage of the roof installation.

Some shoots take multiple days.  We are in the middle of a video shoot for a landscaping company where we are getting footage of multiple phases of a back and front yard transformation.  This video will cost more than a video where we are only shooting for a couple of hours.

 

How Many Videographers?

 

Event videos typically require more than one videographer (or at least a videographer and photographer) to capture all of the footage and to be sure we don’t miss a big moment.

These will require more of an investment, but the return (which most of our clients pay the most attention to) is great on a video because they can be used over a over again for years to come.

 

We hope these factors help you budget for your next video project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

When To Shoot a New Brand Video

 

 

One of the first questions we ask potential clients on a discovery call is “Why are you interested in a professional video?”.  A common answer lately has been, “We are updating our website and our web developer asked us if we had any video content for the home page?”.

This huge event typically triggers the need for a new video.  Here are the other main events that may mean it’s time to shoot a new brand video:

 

New Website/Rebrand

 

We just mentioned this above.  When your company updates its website or goes through a rebrand, you may need a new video.

If your old video is outdated, it won’t look consistent with a new website.  Also, if you change your logo, your old video may include old logos, etc.

Web developers that we work with highly recommend shooting a new video to add to a new website or rebrand package.

 

New Office

 

We’re scheduling a shoot for a financial services firm in Frisco that just moved to a new office.  They want a new professional video to show off their company’s culture and its new digs.

Their location is a selling point to attract advisors to their firm, so it’s important to them that we highlight their office interior and the surrounding areas.

If your company moves offices, especially if it’s an upgrade, it may be time to shoot a new brand video.

 

New Key Team Members

 

Recently, we talked to a company that needed new professional videos because their CEO is stepping down and he was in most of the videos on their website.

They wanted to reshoot the videos with their new key team members so there was an accurate representation of their company.  If you’ve experienced turnover with key team members, and the old ones are in your brand video, it’s time to shoot a new one.

 

If any of these events happen at your company, we’d love to get you a quote for an updated brand video.

 

Click here to schedule a call with us: Book Discovery Call

What Should We Talk About in Our Brand Video?

 

This is a common question on discovery calls with professional service businesses.

Here are 3 questions that we ask to determine the best content to include in your company’s brand video.

 

What is Important to You That You Want Your Ideal Client To Know?

 

 

When producing a video for your company, it’s our job to guide you, but ultimately you will know your business far better than us.  You know what makes you different from your competitors and the services your companies offer.

During our pre-production call, we will ask you what is important for your ideal customer to know about your company, based on your years of experience.  This will help us create an outline for you to go over to ensure your content aligns with your brand.

 

 

What Questions Do Your Ideal Clients Always Ask You?

 

 

Chances are if one of your clients has a question, several potential clients have the same question.  Start thinking of questions that you answer day in and day out.  Answering these in your brand video is a great way to build trust.

 

That’s exactly what we’ve done in the articles that we write.  We simply address questions we get on sales calls or production meetings and build content around them.

 

What Are The Main Problems Your Company Solves?

 

 

The last question I ask clients is what pain points and problems their clients have that their company solves.  If you work for an IT company, you may solve cybersecurity issues.

Law firms solve legal issues, but it’s best to be specific.  For example, business attorneys will solve different problems than a family law attorney.

Put yourself in the place of your ideal client.  What pain points do they have?  What problems do they consistently come to your company to solve?  This is the content you should discuss in your brand video.

 

 

Your Next Step

 

Are you ready to take your company’s branding to the next level?  Click here to schedule a call to discuss your brand video project:  book a call

 

 

 

How To Maximize The ROI of a Video

Today, let’s get into how to maximize the return on investment on a video. So when we shoot a video for a client, we don’t just want to produce an incredible video, we want it to perform well and make you money. So I want to give a few tips to ensure it does just that.

 

Put it on Your Website

 

 

 

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