http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Videomaker Community Forums » Tag: clients - Recent Topics en Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:20:11 +0000 http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/7-types-of-clients-you-should-avoid#post-74130 Sat, 21 Jan 2012 10:06:15 +0000 SargeHero 74130@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I found this interesting <a title="7 Types of clients you should avoid at all cost" href="http://www.momeomagazine.com/business-101-disaster-clients-the-7-types-of-clients-you-should-avoid-at-all-costs/">article </a>that talks about 7 types of clients that should be avoided. In my personal experience in the video production world I have stumble upon at least 5 of this clients. In my opinion the worst and most common in the video business are the "cheapskate clients", which are not willing to pay for your hard work and expect a lot of things for less. </p> <p>I would really like to hear how Videomaker community deals with this type of clients. Any awful experience? Any advise for the video business newbies? </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/struggling-to-find-clients#post-70428 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:29:28 +0000 Matthew Costa 70428@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I'm a film student in Boston and a resident of Cape Cod. My dream is to make movies someday, but paying for expenses is nice too.</p> <p>I work very hard to find people who might be interested in my services, which ranges from event video, music videos, and commercials.</p> <p>I've tried to reasonably price my service at $350 per day on production, a $100 consulting rate (which is for people who want help on troubleshooting), and $50 per hour for editing. Which I think is pretty cheap. And lots of people have turned their noses up at it.</p> <p>Posting on Craigslist has found me individuals who won't even pay more than $100 or less.</p> <p>Recently I've just given in and have been marketing my price at around $150 - $200 flat. Which I've begun to regret, but what else can I do?</p> <p>I have no idea how to just simply find and call up places that might require my service. And I have no experience in putting myself out there.</p> <p>Is there any advice someone can give me as to where to begin?</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/ways-to-expand#post-64445 Mon, 27 Dec 2010 09:21:57 +0000 mscherrah 64445@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Hello everyone!</p> <p>This is my first post, and I am going to begin by telling you a little about myself.  I have been doing video production (in some for or another) since I graduated college in 2001.  Two years ago, I got laid off of my job (along with the entire video team) and decided that I wasn't the biggest fan of "working for someone else", and I, along with 1 partner started our own production company.  </p> <p>The first year and a half, as could be expected, was soul crushingly slow and unproductive, but as time progressed we were fortunate to get some work here and there.  We are now producing 3-4 :30 second commercials per month.  While that is MUCH better than when we first started, it is not nearly enough to survive.   Let me explain how we got this work.  We were on a listserv, and as far as we could tell were one of the most inexpensive companies around.  We were not getting work, I think, because the agents selling the work had never heard of us.  We decided to cut our prices in half for the last quarter of the year, and, as we expected the calls began pouring in.  But now, as our rates are expected to rise to normal in JAN, we are a little worried the calls are going to stop.</p> <p>Now for my question.  I am looking for different ways to either gain more clients, advertise our services, etc.  Is there any advice people who have been doing this for some time can give?  I will be grateful for any tidbits of info.</p> <p>Thank you in advance!</p> <p>Matt</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/please-provide-feedback-and-your-recommendations-thank-you#post-57259 Sat, 10 Apr 2010 04:43:10 +0000 oseeit.com 57259@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Your feedback is appreciated on how to best spread the word to videographers regarding letting them know that <a href="http://www.oseeit.com">http://www.oseeit.com</a> is another great reference to use as to why their business clients and prospects need to have a professionally made video.  Please visit my website and please give me your recommendations on how best to let everyone know about this great marketing website that will also help the video industry.  Thank you very much.    </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/clients-south-of-heaven#post-55139 Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:40:30 +0000 composite1 55139@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>A while back, Video Chick had a post about 'Client's from Hell'. Here's a humorous account from Stephan Sargent and his 'Client from Hell'.</p> <p><a href="http://dv.com/article/91752">http://dv.com/article/91752</a></p> <p>If you've been doing this for a living or you plan to you have had or will have such encounters. Share your 'pain' and hopefully we'll all have a good laugh.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/a-web-site-marketing-tip-especially-if-you-dont-have-a-site-yet#post-44507 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:27:46 +0000 Text-to-Art 44507@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ </p> <p>I just posted this to another question, but you will never find it with the particular header, so I thought it would be helpful to give it a more descriptive header:</p> <p>Here are some every day marketing issues we all face and how you can easily solve them:</p> <ul> <li>If I don't have a web site yet, how can I include a simple, short web address on my literature so prospects can easily view sample footage?</li> <li>Or maybe, all I have is a myspace web site. Can I use that as my web site?</li> <li>What if I don't have any web site? Can I upload my sample footage as a YouTube video and use that as my site? But that is going to be a really long url!!!! No one is going to type all that in. Is there a way around this?</li> <li>I eventually want this particular URL, but for now, I only have one of these other sites (myspace, facebook, YouTube, etc.). How do I get around having to reprint all my literature (business cards, brochures, etc.) twice? Once with my current url and later when I build my new web site?</li> </ul> <p>------------------------------------------</p> <p>Here was my post to Rob:</p> <p>------------------------------------------</p> <p>A myspace site, YouTube Video, or the like, may be better than nothing at all, but in all cases, make sure you design your site to be client centered and not "I" centered.</p> <p><img src="http://www.text-to-art.com/images/graphics/number-1.png" alt="Electronic Business Card, Video Business Card" />If you look through your bio, it has "I did this" and "I did that." I would suggest changing that to, "In 2004, so and so came to us and we developed a video for them <strong>that helped them to</strong> . . . The following year, the video we created for ____ won 3 awards that directly brought them 12 new clients . . ." Talk about the types of things your prospects can expect to receive from you once they choose to do business with you. In other words, what's in it for your potential clients. I realize that you have that in a round about way on your site, but it can be more direct. Instead of, "Look at what we have achieved," say, "Here's what we will do for you."</p> <p><img src="http://www.text-to-art.com/images/graphics/number-2.png" alt="eBusiness Card, Video Business Card" />You also may want to consider replacing the photo of your editing desk with a professional photo of yourself. People like to see and feel like they know those they are doing business with. Remember, they will assume many things based upon your photo so make it professional and sharp. You could also take a photo of you in action, but look sharp and have your subject look like they are having fun. Every one is smiling and laughing.</p> <p><img src="http://www.text-to-art.com/images/graphics/number-3.png" alt="eBusiness Cards, Video Business Cards" /><strong>A Marketing Tip!</strong> consider placing your video on a <a href="http://www.text-to-art.com/">Video Business Card or Electronic Business Card</a> and handing that out instead of your regular business card <strong>and include this little trick!</strong> First, decide on a domain name and come to us ( <a href="http://www.text-to-art.com/">Web Design at Text-to-Art</a>) or any web hosting company, purchase the domain name and set up an account. You don't have to create a web page at this point, just the account, <strong>BUT WHAT YOU DO IS</strong> create a redirect from your domain name to your myspace page.</p> <p>Here's how this helps you. When they view your CD and click on the link to your web site, instead of ending up on a regular web site, they will be redirected to your myspace site. Then, in the future, when you have time to develop your web site, you just remove the redirect and any time they type in your url, they come to your new site instead of your myspace site.</p> <p>Once you purchase your domain name and set up your redirect, you can print your web address on all your literature (brochures, business cards, etc.) and not have to worry about reprinting your marketing literature later when you get your new site.</p> <p>Whatever you do, you have to remember that prospects are trying to decide who to do business with and they base their decision on what they see.</p> <p>Of course, they base their decision on your video samples, but also on how you present yourself and your company. If they view you as some guy who does some good work, they still aren't sure if you are going to show up on time and do an equally good job for them. You have to present yourself as one of the top professionals in your community. Unfortunately, people often assume professional companies have such things as, a professional web site.</p> <p>So, yes, a myspace site 'MAY' be better than nothing at all, but you may still loose business because of it. Prospects see your myspace site and then your competitors professionally designed site. If you are pretty close in pricing, who do you think they will choose?</p> <p>Here's how I tell clients to think about it, Text-to-Art can <a href="http://www.text-to-art.com/">design a professional web site</a> for far less than what it is going to cost you in lost sales. In other words, companies pay for a web site one way or another. The only difference is some companies pay once and end up with a web site that generates new business. Other businesses opt to not have a web site, but they pay for it anyway over and over and over again in lost business.</p> <p>It's something to consider.</p> <p>Brad Simon</p> <p><img src="http://www.text-to-art.com/images/graphics/T2A-Logo-100-39.jpg" alt="Electronic Business Cards / Video Business Cards" /></p>