So, it’s possible to communicate a lot of value in a short amount of time, if you’re:

1. Clear on your customers’ pain and what they care about
2. Have a clear storyline that communicates your vision or value
3. and have engaging visuals.

The digital world is only getting noisier, but there is still room for captivating video done well. 

Here’s the whole Applied Frameworks finished animation video  and Soleno animation video case study

Want a complimentary strategy session to plan how to attract & delight your customers?

To begin our second half of 2021, we’re giving away a complimentary video strategy and planning session for the first 3 people who reach out and sign up. They’ll go fast, so register now here: https://calendar.x.ai/teraleap/30stratsession

The post How to attract and delight customers in a noisy world? appeared first on Your Local Studio.

I hate that we had to stop our plans for last year – but, we adapted.

And you know what, I’m excited now!

We began this extraordinary time in our history a year ago, dealing with a worldwide pandemic, and at that time we sent our last vLetter. Now it’s closing in on the end of the first quarter of 2021 and what a year it’s been…

Zoom Calls, Time at Home, Loss and Opportunity

What happened to your plans?

Some of our plans for Your Local Studio and the Key5Conferences came to a screeching halt. Then we talked with many and many more of our business partners, clients, and friends – on Zoom calls, of course. After that, in response to the needs of our clients, we even did a brief webinar training on how to do video at home like a pro!

Watch the video above to learn more about how Your Local Studio adapted and grew.

One of our shifts was a new brand: TeraLeap. Right now, TeraLeap’s first product is about capturing remote testamonials across the world. Curious? Click here!

Another shift I’m excited about is that we’ve interviewed over 140 business leaders all over the world for the UpTech Report, and more are being added weekly. I’m excited to learn from these leaders, and there are insights I’m sure you’d be interested in also.

After a bit of reflection I am excited.

Yes, all of us at Your Local Studio are thankful and feel blessed to come out of 2020 strong.

How about you?

What have you had to stop, what new things have you begun? Taking a moment of reflection, what blessings can you see?

Send me a note at Team@YourLocalStudio.com and let me know – I read every email.

We all wish you a great 2021!

The post I hate that we had to… appeared first on Your Local Studio.

One way to do that is to get rid of that shaky footage. We’ve got a couple of tools you can use to fix that and get you smoother-looking video footage.

Stabilize this

The best way to get rid of that shake is to invest in some stabilization. There’s plenty of options out there, from traditional tripods to fancier handheld gimbals. The good news is, most stabilization for smartphones is pretty affordable, with most options being under $200.

One of our favorite tools is Joby’s Gorillapod. With its bendable legs, you can literally stick this thing anywhere–even strapping around a tree branch (if you’re into that kind of thing). Or, by closing the legs together, you can hold it with one hand and move around if you need to. 

Either way, it’s small enough to stick in a backpack, making it easy to transport. Check out Joby’s website for different sizing options of the classic Gorillapod.

Small but rugged

Another option that’s smaller (and cheaper), is Benro’s MK10 tripod. Unlike the Gorillapod, it needs to be set on a stable surface, but the legs can collapse and act as a monopod. It comes with a BlueTooth remote that lets you roll a camera on your phone remotely, and the top even extends to transform into a selfie stick. 

It’s small enough to fit in any size bag and definitely won’t break the bank. This may be a better option if you just need some form of stabilization, but don’t necessarily need the flexibility of a Gorillapod.

If going over $100 works with your budget, and you need something fancier than a simple tripod, consider investing in a gimbal. Gimbals are handheld motorized tools that automatically balance your camera to create ultra-smooth, cinematic-looking footage.

 It might sound complex and intimidating, but most smartphone gimbals are easy to set up and start shooting with (don’t worry, a physics degree is not necessary).

With a little investment, you can start upgrading the quality of your smartphone videos and get rid of that shaky footage.

We created a video course for people just like you, to walk you through step-by-step on creating business videos with your smartphone. Check it out here!

The post Best tools for getting smoother smartphone footage appeared first on Your Local Studio.

We’ve got some tips on how to make sure things are properly lit in your footage (and one of them is free!)

Don’t worry! There’s no affiliate link in this post. We’re just sharing with you lighting solutions we’ve used and really enjoy.

You have a free lighting source!

If you don’t have any means of getting lights, there’s a free light source you already have access to the sun!

Natural light can have a nice soft look, so use this option if you can. If you’re shooting indoors, have your subject stand next to a window. Don’t use windows as a backlight though, otherwise, your subject will turn into a silhouette.

Shooting outside on an overcast day can also result in soft lighting. Sunny days will give plenty of brightness, just pay attention to any harsh shadows created by the sun.

Lights for smartphones

The problem with sunlight is that it’s completely out of your control. So if you want a solution that gives you more control, you can invest in some lights.

An extremely cheap option is Arkon’s LED ring light. It’s rechargeable via USB, and clips right onto your phone. For about $20, you’ve got a simple lighting solution that has the ability to dim and change the color temperature of the light.

There’s plenty of other options out there. Most are small and plug into or clip onto your phone for under $100. You can still buy regular lights mounted on light stands if you have the budget, but if not, you can still get great-looking lighting without breaking the bank.

We created a video course for people just like you, to walk you through step-by-step on creating business videos with your smartphone. Check it out here!

The post Best solutions for getting better lighting with your smartphone appeared first on Your Local Studio.

You’ll need a way to capture good audio so your viewers will enjoy your video content.

We’ve got you covered–keep reading for some tips and tricks on capturing good audio on your smartphone.

Don’t worry! There’s no affiliate links in this post. We’re just sharing with you audio solutions we’ve used and really enjoy.

Use what you got

You might not know this, but the built-in microphone on your smartphone is actually pretty good.

For most situations (especially quiet ones, such as an indoor location), the built-in mic will work just fine for you. Just make sure the phone is about an arm’s length away from your subject and you’re golden. Any farther away than that, and the audio quality will start going down.

If you want to start making business videos with your smartphone right now, or don’t have the money to invest in an external mic, stick with the built-in mic.

Take things up a notch

If you want to get even better audio quality, then buying an external mic for your phone is a good option. And most smartphone mics are pretty inexpensive!

The simplest option is something like Rode’s Videomic Me, which just plugs into an iPhone’s Lightning port (there’s also an older model that plugs into the headphone jack). If you need to change the direction of the mic, simply pull it out, and flip around, and plug it back in.

Like the built-in mic, you’ll need to make sure the phone is an arm’s length away from the section.

There’s also Rode’s SmartLav+, which is a lavalier mic that plugs into your phone on one end, and clips to your subject’s shirt on the other. This is great if you can’t get close to your subject, or if your subject needs to move around a little bit.

External mics like these are great for noisy environments (especially the VideoMic Me), as they’ll filter out some of that sound and focus only on the subject’s voice.

While the built-in mic on your phone will work fine, for under $100, you can get great-sounding audio for your business videos!

We created a video course for people just like you, to walk you through step-by-step on creating business videos with your smartphone. Check it out here!

The post Best tools for capturing audio with your smartphone appeared first on Your Local Studio.

These are just some of the questions we’re asking because we love new technology (one of the reasons we first got into the video production business). This is why we’re diving into a new business sector – Software as a Service (SaaS).  And we’re pleased to share what we’re discovering and learning with you!

UpTech Report

As part of our deep dive, we’re building new relationships, interviewing SaaS owners and experts, and examining all kinds of disruptive technology. Our goal is to better understand the details about the technology, the issues, and challenges being faced, and the opportunities for growth. Of course, we’re capturing it all on video!

There is much to be gleaned from our interviews with SaaS experts and business owners. Our video content will explore how new technology is disrupting and transforming entire industries.

We invite you to subscribe to our new YouTube channel — the UpTech Report.

Our goal is to make this channel the go-to place for news, updates, and more on some of the biggest trends in disruptive technology, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing, and more.

Visit our new channel and subscribe today. We’ll do our best to keep you updated. 

UpTech in your ears

For those who prefer to listen to rather than watch these interviews, we have also launched the new UpTech Report podcast.

Here, we’ll cover the same great content in audio form, with new episodes every week. You’ll find it on your favorite podcast app.

We’d also love to hear your thoughts on this topic!  Be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Now, Your Local Studio not only helps you make better business videos, but we also produce relevant video content on disruptive technology.  To stay updated, subscribe today to the UpTech Report!

The post Launching UpTech Report Podcast appeared first on Your Local Studio.

You’re probably thinking you need to invest a lot of money into a big, expensive camera and other gear.

What if we told you there’s a different option, and it won’t cost you anything?

The camera in your pocket

The truth is, you already have a professional camera in your pocket.

That’s right! We’re talking about your smartphone. Most smartphones these days have pretty impressive camera tech (just check out the iPhone 11 Pro!) and shoot in 4K resolution for maximum quality.

But can you create great-looking business videos using only your smartphone?

Absolutely! It’s so convenient and easy to use because you already take it with you. No need to lug a heavy camera bag around. There’s nothing stopping you from whipping out your phone and shooting your next video.

It’s all in how you use it

Maybe you’re balking at this. Professional films are shot on really expensive cameras–don’t you need similar stuff to create professional-looking business videos?

Nope. After all, cameras (whether it’s a DSLR or your phone) are just tools that capture light. That’s it.

And it’s all in how you use it.

Directors and filmmakers are starting to understand this. Steven Soderbergh created the feature film Unsane (starring Claire Foy of The Crown) entirely on iPhones! Indie film Tangerine won awards at film festivals a few years back. The cameras of choice? You guessed it–iPhones.

The average person can’t tell the difference between smartphone footage, and DSLR or cinema camera footage. Check out the video below and you be the judge on whether its “professional” or not.

The future of mobile video production

Recently, Apple released the iPhone 11 Pro, boasting not 1, but 3 rear cameras.

3 different lenses offering you 3 different options on angles. And to make things even better, the filming app Filmic Pro (in a forthcoming update)  will allow you to capture from 2 lenses at the same time.

That’s like having 3-4 cameras on a shoot but using only your iPhone. That’s incredible!

There’s nothing stopping you from creating great business videos right now. You don’t need to invest money in expensive gear. 

You can start right now with the camera you already have in your pocket.

We created a video course for people just like you, to walk you through step-by-step on creating business videos with your smartphone. Check it out here!

The post You can make awesome videos with the camera in your pocket appeared first on Your Local Studio.

There’s 1 type of content out there that will help you do more of that right now.

Let someone else toot the horn

Whether you’re a seasoned speaker running your own speaker or a business owner who’s looking to grow their influence through speaking on the side, conversions matter.

In previous videos, we highlighted the importance of awareness, consideration, and decision. That last part is the most important though. Without conversions, you make no money.

So how to get them to move from considering you to choosing you?

One type of video content will help that process:

Testimonial videos.

These videos can tell meeting planners what they can expect from you, from another’s person’s perspective. It’s one thing to tell someone you’re an engaging speaker. It’s another to have someone else say it.

Testimonial videos can be so powerful. These are what moves someone from consideration to decision.

If you want to start creating testimonial videos, we created a video to walk you through the steps to make better testimonial videos that will get you results.

Make sure they’re targeted

Testimonial videos can be great if they’re targeted towards a specific audience or industry you want to focus on.

But they can backfire otherwise.

If you’re speaking at an automotive conference, but want to move into the marketing world, you don’t want to use a testimonial from someone that overly focused on the automotive industry.

You’ll want to pick and choose content from it that could function as a “generic” testimonial.

If you’re looking to get a library of great testimonial videos and professional footage of you speaking, we created a conference just for you. Show up, speak on-stage, and walk away with a library of video content. Check out Key5Conference.com to learn more.

The post This 1 Type of Video Content Will Convert More Leads appeared first on Your Local Studio.

There’s 1 trick that can fix those problems (and start making you more money) right now.

Narrow it down

In previous videos, we talked about awareness (people learning that actually exist), and the beginnings of consideration (people thinking of choosing you over the other speaker). 

But how can you really make sure that they actually choose you over that other speaker?

There’s one trick that can help with this action:

Get a niche in your speaking business. Focus on one industry or topic.

Most people assume that helping everyone with their business is the best place to be.

The reality is, if you’re trying to reach everybody, you’re actually reaching nobody. No one feels like you’re “for them”. You don’t stand out in the speaker crowd.

But the more focused you can be, the more results you’ll actually see (yes that rhymes, and no that was not intentional).

Be for them

When you focus on one audience, that audience feels like you’re for them when they visit your website or watch your speaking videos. 

They get me, they understand me.

This is the kind of connection you want to build in those who may want to hire you for a speaking gig. 

But you can’t create that connection if you’re trying to reach everybody.

One way to help with this is to create separate landing pages for your different audiences you speak to or topics you speak on.

You can even separate clips from your speaking footage that would be relevant to respective audiences and embed them on each landing page.

If quality, professional speaking footage, testimonials, and other footage is something you need, we created a conference speakers just like you. Check out Key5Conference.com to learn more.

The post Fix your sales issues right now with this one hack appeared first on Your Local Studio.