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522 made the LIST

Have you ever had that feeling where you need to be pinched because life’s too good that you must be dreaming? That’s us right now!

Every year Inc. 5000 compiles a list to rank the country’s top 5000 fastest-growing private companies. The 2017 Inc. 5000 list was released, and guess what? We made the cut. That’s right, 522 Productions is one of fastest growing private companies in the country!

It truly is an honor to be included on this list, and we couldn’t have done it without our staff, network, and of course, our clients. Thanks to our clients we are able to do what we love every day. Being trusted to tell their stories through our lenses is an honor all in itself, but we aren’t finished growing yet. We want to help more companies utilize video and we believe every organization deserves great video. Whether it’s an about us video, product demonstration, corporate or anything else you can think of, let us create it with you.

We’d like to thank the Inc. 5000 for including us on this year’s list among other notable companies, including Halo Top Creamery, Orangetheory Fitness, S’well, and Bitly. The Inc. 5000 list has included many amazing companies in the past that are now household names, such as Under Armour, GoPro, Microsoft, and Patagonia to name a few.

Take a look at the list for yourself to check out the other 4999 fastest growing private companies in the country.

6 things to remember when developing your next training video

Whether it’s safety training or a specific process that you want to relay to your employees, you have most likely put a lot of thought into your training video production needs. You probably even have your training information in order and you just need to start shooting your video. But, wait. There are some things you should consider about the video production first. Many training videos fall short because some important issues are not considered during production.

Before you begin, don’t forget to consider these elements when producing your training video:

  1. Assess Existing Training Materials
    Assessing your employees’ training needs is usually the first step when developing a training video. Just because you’re developing a brand new video, doesn’t necessarily mean that the existing material should be thrown away. Before getting too far with concepting and script development, it’s important to do an analysis of the existing training materials. During the review, determine what is and is not useful.
  2. Relate to Your Audience
    One of the most important things about video is the ability to relate to your audience. And, for the most part, your audience is never a single person. So, don’t assume that your audience has limited knowledge. On the hand, don’t gloss over topics that may require explanation either. Overall, you should consider presenting your information in a way that is applicable to slightly different knowledge levels. If you find a large gap in the awareness levels of the audience, then you may want to develop different types of videos.
  3. Avoid Focusing on the Negative
    If people remember seeing someone doing something dangerous, then that’s what they will remember. This point can be crucial when producing a safety video. When improper techniques are presented at all, they should be followed by a clear explanation of what should be done instead. You want to emphasize the right way to do things, rather than what not to do.
  4. Cast Your Presenter or Speaker….Carefully
    Actors, narrators, and presenters can provide another dimension to your video and keep the information interesting. They can instruct employees on what to do and say, especially if you have a business involving regular face-to-face interaction with customers. Using actors is also helpful for safety training and for demonstrating interpersonal relations skills. At the end of the day, it is important to find a presenter or speaker who relates to the audience (see point #2 above).
  5. Use a Mix of Visual Elements
    Let’s face it. Training content isn’t always the most exciting material to cover. In addition, the audience normally expects a traditional approach. So, in order to keep the audience engaged, it can be helpful to integrate a variety of visual elements. Keep the video interesting by switching between text, graphics, on-camera talent, etc. Training material can be delivered effectively with a balance of contextual information, people interacting, and relevant graphics and statistics.
  6. Encourage a Conversation
    Don’t let everyone run out of the room as soon as the video ends. After a training video is finished, it’s important to follow-up with a conversation. An engaged audience has more to offer after an effective training video. Encourage viewers to share their own experiences and insights. If the training video is distributed online, then build a forum or share a blog post to enable comments.

Summary
So, that outlines some key considerations for beginning a training video. And, if you’re wondering how to get started with any type of video production, we’ve got you covered there too.

Now that you’re ready to make an effective training video, be sure to download our guide to B2B Marketing. This guide explores helpful tactics to take your business marketing to the next level.

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How to Create an Effective Testimonial Video

Want to know a secret? No one trusts what you have to say about your business. Don’t take it personally, but the reality is that consumers are wary about self-promotional material. This is why potential consumers need to hear great things about your brand from other people – and this is where testimonial videos come into play. Continue reading “How to Create an Effective Testimonial Video”

Questions to Consider When Starting a Video Project

Starting a video project can seem like a big task – there are a lot of moving parts and many things to consider. The first (and perhaps the most important) step is to get organized and focused during your planning stage so you can create a great video that accomplishes your goals. In order for your company’s message to be delivered to the right people at the right time, there are a few questions you should consider: Continue reading “Questions to Consider When Starting a Video Project”

10 Things to Consider Before Tackling a DIY Video Marketing Project

Since the invention of smart mobile apps, more businesses are considering trimming digital budgets by tackling DIY video projects. While DIY videos may provide some immediate benefits, they are often not the best way to convey a brand’s story. Before tackling a DIY video marketing project, review the following risks. Continue reading “10 Things to Consider Before Tackling a DIY Video Marketing Project”

How to Make Training Videos Fun Again

Whether they’re used to introduce new software, procedures, or company objectives, training videos are a valuable tool for businesses. Unfortunately, most employees who hear the words “training video” head for the door screaming – the opposite of the desired reaction. Instead, spend a little extra time and effort producing training videos employees want to see. For a little help, review the following four tips. Continue reading “How to Make Training Videos Fun Again”

How to create a Kickstarter video that yields results

Whether you’re trying to raise money to start a new business or are fundraising for a philanthropic cause, a Kickstarter video is going to be your primary tool in convincing potential donors to support your efforts. The beauty of crowdfunding is that it allows independent artists and entrepreneurs the opportunity to grow their dreams while building an audience. But creating a video to convince people to support your efforts can be a major challenge. So how can you make a Kickstarter video that helps you reach your fundraising goals?
Continue reading “How to create a Kickstarter video that yields results”

3 questions to ask before hiring a video production company

We often hear about the challenges or fears about outsourcing your video production team. Outsourcing is a powerful strategy for businesses because when used correctly, it can be an opportunity to find a strong partner to help your organization grow, especially in areas where resources are limited.  Every business at some point in time has outsourced a function to leverage a higher success rate. As a strategic “outsourced” video partner for many organizations, if we don’t deliver consistent quality, communication, culture, brand, story, and creative talent, 522 wouldn’t be celebrating our 15th year in video production.

Engaging in video marketing is one of the most rewarding endeavors you could ever pursue for your business, but doing so effectively requires incredible planning, hard work, and insight into successful video marketing strategies. This is why the video production company you choose to work with can make or break your marketing efforts.

By asking a potential video production partner key questions before you begin working on a project together, you can ensure that they’re the right match for the job. After all, video marketing is a critical component to maximizing any strategic initiative for your company. So, it’s imperative to take your time in selecting the perfect video production company.

Key questions to ask include:

What kind of video production do you specialize in?
Some companies specialize in specific products such as weddings, live events, nonprofit videos, short films, etc. If a production company specializes in what you’re looking for, then you have a potential good fit. However, many companies specialize in a range of production abilities, so it’s okay if they don’t have any specific type of video they work with. This could mean that they have a visually stunning compilation of creative ideas that would work across a variety of spectrums.

What ideas can you offer?
Many video production companies take a passive approach. In other words, they’re there to film what you tell them to film and edit in such a way that makes you happy. At 522 Productions, on the other hand, we prefer taking a hands-on approach and working closely with you to creatively collaborate on ideas to make the best video possible. We’re passionate about helping you tell your story through the medium that video has to offer. We understand that it’s ultimately your story, so we’re here to help you showcase the qualities that make you unique.

Do you have examples of your work?
You’ll always want to ask a potential video company if you can see samples of work that they’ve completed for previous clients. This will allow you to see their professionalism and attention to detail on screen. If they’ve successfully worked with clients, then chances are that they will successfully accomplish your goals. At 522 Productions, we’re proud of the work we’ve done for previous clients and are excited to help others achieve the same results.

How to Prepare for a Consultation with a Video Production Company
As you prepare to meet with a video production company to ask these questions, it’s important to understand what you want your project to accomplish. While you obviously don’t need to have every single detail of your project determined, you should have a general vision of how you want the project to unfold. By being able to explain your goals and the purpose of the video you’re trying to create, you can better ensure that you and the video production company are on the same page.

During the consultation process, you’ll also want to make sure that your “chemistry” mixes well and that you can see yourself working with this team for the duration of the project. Because your story and marketing efforts are on the line with this video production, it’s crucial to ensure that the team is passionate and excited about the work you’re doing together. At 522 Productions, we’re passionate about your goals, your story, and your vision.

If your partner fails at any of the above, time to move on. Or call 522. 

Caution: Avoid these 5 mistakes in your explainer video

If you’ve ever wanted to create an explainer video to showcase your products, services, and business, or explain what you can do for clients, you’re not alone. It seems that explainer videos are everywhere these days – but most brands are approaching them the wrong way. By focusing on the right way to create an explainer video, you can boost sales and grow your business.
Continue reading “Caution: Avoid these 5 mistakes in your explainer video”

Open minds = A better final product

There’s a lot that plays into creating a great final video. Having the right team members is the most important piece of the puzzle. One of the best qualities you can find in an artist is an open mind. This is especially true when dealing with video production. Why? Continue reading “Open minds = A better final product”

The Roles and Hierarchy of a Video Production Team

Updated for 2018/2019!

When working on any video production, it’s important to know the roles and hierarchy of the team. This way you know who to approach with questions and which person leads what department. There’s somewhat of a standard to this, but each crew operates a little differently. This post shows the typical hierarchy for video production, following the structure we typically use at 522 Productions. Continue reading “The Roles and Hierarchy of a Video Production Team”

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