When it comes to digital marketing, video can be an extremely useful tool. Video, if created properly, allows you the chance to captivate your audience and put out a message that will draw more people to your brand and get more views. Doing it right is key. You want to put your best foot forward in creating video for social media.

In addition creating a quick-hitting video that effectively yet quickly gets out the message you want to put out, as well as putting together a creative and lively video that shows your passion for your message, you want to focus on driving up views on your videos in order to potentially attract more business. You want to get people talking about your video. Here are some ways to get more video views on social media.

Tag people and businesses involved in the video

When you post your video to social media, tag the people and the businesses involved in that video. Whether it’s a short shout-out thanking them for their help or calling their attention to their appearance in the video now that it’s ready, you want to catch the attention of those whom you worked with.

Sure, if they follow your page already, they might see your video without the tag. But, in case they wouldn’t see it or they don’t follow your page, you’ll want to tag them.

On Facebook, you can start typing the name in your post, if you follow that company or person’s page, and it will pop up in a drop-down below, or you can use the ampersand. On Twitter and Instagram, you’ll want to search the company or person beforehand to find their handle and then when you know their handle, type it with the ampersand in your post.

Collaborate with another business on your video

In sports, there’s a phrase that goes, ‘Teamwork makes the dream work.’ While that refers to winning a championship, it’s a saying that fits well in the business world. When you have a video idea that you feel might benefit both you and another business if you work together on it, do your best to make that collaboration happen.

Working with another business on video will help you both gain exposure. You’ll be able to merge your ideas into a creative video that will showcase you both. Do it well, and you’ll show that you can work well with other businesses and are open to other ideas.

As was briefly mentioned above, working with another company allows for more ideas to flow. When planning the video, you’ll have more creative voices working together to combine their ideas and visions into a strong video that will benefit both companies instead of just a singular set of ideas. It will open up the possibility of fresh ideas and a new direction that perhaps neither company has gone in before.

Use Facebook Boost

On Facebook, you can use the Facebook Boost option to get more views. This will cost you money, but if you’re willing to invest those costs, boosting could pay off for you. Here is some more information on Facebook Boost.

When you go to boost a Facebook post, you have options on how much you want to pay that depend on how much you want to boost your post.

Facebook must approve your boosted post. Facebook says it will usually review the posts in under an hour. Facebook also gives you the option to schedule a post in order to get your boost approved in the timeframe that you want it approved.

Facebook also says that you can be charged for your boosted post before it’s approved because it’s already up, but the social media site says if the post is not approved, the site will not charge you more.

Creating your video

The key to getting views, as mentioned above, is a creative and quick-hitting video that will get your message across in a brief, effective manner. Whether you create your own video or go with a production company, you’ll need to keep it short. People do not want to sit and watch long videos on the web.
If you’d like to know about our video services at Visual Element Media, visit here for more information. Contact us if you feel you want to use our services.

The post How to get more video views on social media appeared first on Visual Element Media | Ebensburg, PA.

In starting your own business, it’s important to have clients. Without clients, you don’t have a business. Part of a business is making money. Without clients, you don’t make money.

So how does a business go about getting clients? 

You close leads.

When building and closing leads, you must know that you have good leads. But what makes a good lead?

Businesses that need yours

When you hear that your business has been referred to others, know the difference between a potential lead and a good lead. If friends say they heard someone say that their business could use your services, ask for more details. Ask whether they know that business person definitely needs and will use your services or whether that friend thinks that person has expressed interest in possibly using your services.

If your friend says the person told them directly they want your services, pursue the lead. If it’s a situation where your friend just thinks that person expressed interest in your services, perhaps by jumping to conclusions over that person saying, well, we need to focus on this area of our business, but did not specifically mention looking into your services or another company’s similar services, do some more digging.

You could ask your friend for more information about the person they heard say that their business could use improvement in areas that your services would help in, but didn’t specifically mention looking for your business or some similar business to help them. You could take that information, contact that person, find out what they’re looking for, what their budget is and what their timetable for addressing that area of their business is.

If they’re not in any hurry, then keep them in mind, but move on in the meantime. If they find that they want your services, they’ll contact you.

Pursue the good leads right away

For those leads where you have information that specifically says someone is interested in your services, follow up right away. Contact that person or that business and set up a meeting. Do what you can to close a deal.

If they’re strongly interested, the deal will get done sooner than later. You don’t want to sit on good leads because if you wait too long, the person or business may move on to another business that offers them the same services for a better deal. Sure, some deals will take some time to close, but the sooner you pursue your good leads, the better off you will be.

The post What is a good lead? appeared first on Visual Element Media | Ebensburg, PA.

Visual Element Media took some time on Tuesday and Wednesday morning to host a pair of free digital marketing workshops.

The workshops took place each morning from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday’s workshop happened at the Ebensburg Borough Building. Wednesday’s took place in the U.S. Hotel Tavern in Hollidaysburg.

We hope those who attended got a lot of useful information that you can put to use for your business.

For those who didn’t make it, we’ll review what we talked about.

Importance of digital media in marketing

Scott started by highlighting the importance of using digital media in your marketing approach. Here, he explained that digital media is important because it’s around to stay. If you’ve not embraced digital marketing yet, it’s a good idea to start now. Technology is rapidly changing, but digital media will be around for good. Scott mentioned some emerging technologies that developers are working on.

Scott said digital marketing takes a personal approach, especially to the younger generations. He explained that millenials and Generation Y use social media to feel connected to the world. Because of that, it’s important to get onto social media to market yourself and hopefully build your customer base or audience through digital media.

Along with these points, Scott also broke down how you should market your business over social media: 10 percent selling something, 70 percent community posts, 20 percent branding. He said it’s important to show that your business that supports fellow community businesses. He said it’d also help to show that you know what’s going on in your community.

Affordability

Scott also talked about digital marketing being affordable for small businesses. Here, he talked about finding social media campaigns that work for your business. He mentioned a variety of social media management and creation software programs that are either affordably priced or offer free versions. He briefly explained Trello and touched on Hootsuite, Send Social Media and others.

Video

Scott spent a good portion of the time talking about video. He went over the variety of options that small business owners have for shooting video and mentioned that 2017 has been called the year of video. He explained the ease of shooting video on a cell phone and explained a couple different cameras that you can use to shoot video. Along with that, he briefly went through shooting video on a DSLR and on a broadcast-level camera.

Scott explained the the variety of media that video can be posted to, including blogs, social media pages, YouTube and email.

Scott said you can add a nice touch by giving your customers or audience a behind-the-scenes look at your business.

Ads

Scott touched on using Facebook and Instagram Ads. He mentioned how you can specifically target your audience as wide or as narrow as you would like in Facebook Ads and that what terms you enter into Facebook Ads will affect how widespread or how niche your audience is.

Analytics

While Scott didn’t mention much on this topic, he also talked about tracking how social media is going for your company. He spoke briefly of analytics, specifically Google Analytics.  He also touched on Facebook Business.

It is important to use a system that tracks your social media profiles. You’ll have some concrete evidence to show you how your digital marketing through social media is performing.

Thank you

We thank all the businessmen and businesswomen who took time to come out and learn more about digital marketing. If you’d want our help, contact us here.

The post Visual Element Media Hosts Free Digital Marketing Workshops appeared first on Visual Element Media | Ebensburg, PA.

Attention local business owners,

Are you looking to get going with digital media? Maybe looking to take your digital marketing to the next level?

Join Visual Element Media Wednesday, March 29, for a Digital Media Workshop at the U.S. Hotel Tavern in Hollidaysburg.

What will be covered?

Scott will be discussing how to organize a digital media strategy, how to get more likes, comments, and shares, how to provide a great customer experience via digital media, and cheap ways to start producing videos.

Want to know how to drive up not only page views, but engagement on social media? This workshop is for you.

Curious as to how Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+ can help your business? You’ll find out here.

Scott will discuss these topics from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. This is an opportunity for learning that you won’t want to miss.

Join Scott to learn how to keep up with emerging trends and stay ahead of the ever-evolving digital platform.

2017 has been named the year of video. Learn how to use video to your business’ advantage, as well as how to get a step ahead on the competition.

How will a digital marketing strategy help your business? Stop by to learn how it will benefit you in today’s technology age.

Also learn how Visual Element Media can help you with your digital marketing at prices that you can afford. Learn about our services and how we work for your business and your budget. We’re here to help you out and to tell your story, and digital media is part of that.

Cost?

The workshop is free, but you’ll need to move quickly to get your spot. Also, breakfast is free. Join us for a wealth of information and a free meal.

How can I sign up?

Visit the Hollidaysburg Workshops tab at visualelementmedia.com to register. Space is limited, so move quickly to reserve your spot. You’ll be glad you did.

The post Free Digital Media Workshop in Hollidaysburg appeared first on Visual Element Media | Ebensburg, PA.

Are you looking to get going with digital media? Maybe looking to take your digital marketing to the next level?

Join Visual Element Media Tuesday, March 28, for a Digital Media Workshop at the Ebensburg Borough Building.

What will be covered?

Scott will be discussing how to organize a digital media strategy, how to get more likes, comments, and shares, how to provide a great customer experience via digital media, and cheap ways to start producing videos.

Want to know how to drive up not only page views, but engagement on social media? This workshop is for you.

Curious as to how Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+ can help your business? You’ll find out here.

Scott will discuss these topics from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. This is an opportunity for learning that you won’t want to miss.

Join Scott to learn how to keep up with emerging trends and stay ahead of the ever-evolving digital platform.

2017 has been named the year of video. Learn how to use video to your business’ advantage, as well as how to get a step ahead on the competition.

How will a digital marketing strategy help your business? Stop by to learn how it will benefit you in today’s technology age.

Also learn how Visual Element Media can help you with your digital marketing at prices that you can afford. Learn about our services and how we work for your business and your budget. We’re here to help you out and to tell your story, and digital media is part of that.

Cost?

The workshop is free, but you’ll need to move quickly to get your spot.

How can I sign up?

Visit the Ebensburg Workshops tab at visualelementmedia.com to register. Space is limited, so move quickly to reserve your spot. You’ll be glad you did.

The post Free Digital Media Workshop in Ebensburg appeared first on Visual Element Media | Ebensburg, PA.

Video can be a great asset in that digital marketing repertoire. Not only that, but it matters in digital marketing. Why? Let’s explore that topic here.

Video can be the face of the company

Video gives you a chance to show the public your company. Sure, you can put pictures on your site, but video brings that site to life. Instead of just still pictures of products you sell or services you offer, you can demonstrate a product or a service that brings what you do to life on the screen for the public.

It allows you to explain what your business does. It allows you to explain your mission and your philosophy in a human way. Sure, putting a text description on the website or on your social media pages is great, but putting it on video lets your customers hear your enthusiasm about your business. And entrepreneurs should have plenty of enthusiasm about what they do.

Human Element

Using video allows you to interact with the public in unique ways. While social media is a bit more prompt and personal, video can be the same. Use it to interact with the public. You can use it to get conversation going on your social media pages.

Otherwise, you can use video to show what goes on in your offices day to day. You give the public an inside look at how your team works and how things get done at your company. You can even show them how your staff has fun with what they do while on the job.

Let us know what you want

So whether you just want to put your face out there to potential customers on the web, give a human element to your business, or promote a product or service, contact us at Visual Element Media for your digital marketing needs. Check out your options here.

The post Why Video Matters appeared first on Visual Element Media | Ebensburg, PA.

LinkedIn, the social media platform meant for making business connections, has recently become a forum for politics, memes, and personal posts that really have no place there.

So here’s my tip for this Tuesday: keep LinkedIn professional.

Focus on business

What sets LinkedIn apart from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other forms of social media is that it is a place for business connections. So focus on your business. Only put out information that will benefit you professionally, and when you reach out on LinkedIn, keep the personal talk to a minimum. Sure, it can be great to catch up via LinkedIn, but at the same time, know that it’s not a forum to just casually chat with your friends. The other social media platforms exist for a reason.

Keep Politics Off of LinkedIn

One of the hot topics lately, but one sure to start a firestorm no matter who you discuss it with is politics. LinkedIn is not that proper forum to discuss political differences. Leave that for Facebook, Twitter, and if you want to add your personal video, Instagram.

For one, political differences should not make a difference in workplace productivity. But, with as divisive as this last election cycle made us and how heated debates over different issues with this country can get, politics can disrupt any kind of productivity in a business. So no need to put off your virtual business connections on LinkedIn with your political views, no matter what they are.

So unless politics are your business and you’re telling people how you can improve the lives of the people you serve or hope to serve, steer clear of politics here.

Memes? Really? Keep them relevant

Now, I love a good meme when I see one. But LinkedIn isn’t really the appropriate place for them. If you’re going to share memes on your LinkedIn page, keep them whittled to motivational posts or posts that relate to what you do professionally. Again, political memes are not OK here, unless you’re a politician who’s illustrating to the public your plan for improving the lives of those you serve or wish to serve.

Side note

One more thing I noticed LinkedIn allows you to do is to put your marital status. Again, not the proper forum for that. Facebook and a range of dating sites exist for that.

The post Tip Tuesday: Keep LinkedIn Professional appeared first on Visual Element Media | Ebensburg, PA.

By Nick Gueguen

In today’s ever-advancing digital age, having a responsive website for your business is crucial.

The Internet has become part of our daily lives. In fact, the Pew Research Center found last year that only 13 percent of Americans didn’t use the internet.

So when 87 percent of America is going to the web for their information, what will you do to get your business noticed?

Create a responsive website

A responsive website is a website that is user-friendly on multiple platforms. You don’t want to sacrifice content, but at the same time, you want to adjust your content as needed for each device you plan to show the website on. For smartphone readability, your responsive website should not hold too much information on the first page that people see from their smartphones. With smartphones and tablets, finding that balance between text content and image content is key.

The idea with this kind of site is that you show you’re up-to-date with technology advancements. You show that you’re ready to take on the challenges that the ever-changing technological landscape bring. You show that you’ve done your research on how to reach your customers.

With responsiveness on your website, you want to keep your information as concise as necessary, depending on the platform, but you also want visitors to click to other parts of the site. Readability and conciseness will help, but you also still need to get your information across to your visitors. Make sure they know what is most important about your company when they first open the site, but then you want them to continue browsing the site.

Responsive reaches out to millenials

Nielsen found in 2016 that millenials were the top smartphone users. With that kind of data in mind, and with the millenial age group now in the workforce, you want to reach this group. Readability across platforms makes your information popular because you are now on demand for the generation that wants everything now. With multi-platform sites, you’ll reach into this demographic and find success with them.

Read more: 31 Mobile Marketing Statistics to Help You Plan for 2017

With responsiveness on your website, you’ll be able to reach far beyond just computer users, and you’ll be able to find more business for your company.

The post What Is A Responsive Website? appeared first on Visual Element Media | Ebensburg, PA.

By Nick Gueguen

In today’s business world, we hear one particular acronym and how vital it is to operating successfully. And that is SEO.

But, what exactly is SEO?

SEO, or search-engine optimization, is the way a business gets itself searched on top search engines across the Internet. In short, it’s a business’ way of getting digital attention.

In today’s Internet age, SEO gets a lot of attention. And SEO deserves that attention.

With a day where technology keeps advancing and Internet access is becoming more widely available through the advancement of computers and mobile devices, businesses who are not technologically savvy must learn to embrace the digital world. Or, if they are technologically savvy, they must continue to learn and grow digitally in order to not only survive, but to thrive in today’s business world.

And what business doesn’t want to thrive? When used correctly, the Internet can be a business’ best friend. Getting your business noticed on search engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo!, Yelp, and Facebook can be really cool personally, but it also means more business for you professionally.

Read more: 25 SEO Statistics to know in 2017

Put Together Strong Content

So, how do you go about getting this attention? Well, you need to know what each search engine you’re after is looking for. A big part of the SEO equation is making sure your content is strong and is what people want to see. Yes, you want to get your message across, and yes, you want consistency with that message across your entire brand. Michigan Tech ranks the No. 1 way to improve your site’s ranking is to produce content relevant to your business. 

Along with a major focus on content, you want to make sure your website is smooth. You want to make sure it is user-friendly and that it has content that other sites would want to use. So make sure you know what you’re talking about and you present it well.

With an understanding of what SEO is and how to capitalize on it, you will find success in this digital age.

A little bit about Nick Gueguen

Nick came to Visual Element Media in February 2017 with a journalism background. Prior to Visual Element Media, he worked in both sports journalism and college athletics communication. He’s an avid basketball player, sports fan, and Star Wars fanatic. Outside of Visual Element Media, he coaches junior high boys basketball and assists with the varsity and JV boys teams at Bishop Carroll.

You can contact Nick via email at: [email protected] or [email protected].

The post What is SEO and how it effects your business. appeared first on Visual Element Media | Ebensburg, PA.

A New Opportunity

Every morning, we are given a new day. A new opportunity to do something good, to do something we love. When I was little, my dream was to be an entrepreneur and to own a business. Today, like so many others, I have worked hard to build my business.

People say we put a lot of work into our business. I say we put a lot of passion into our business. You see most don’t understand the mindset of people like you and me. That’s okay. We weren’t all created to be the same. We just learn as much as we can and try out. new things We focus on creating a great product or service. Sometimes we fail. But failing is just another way to learn. We pick ourselves up, take a breath and go back to the drawing board. Every time you fail you become one step closer to success. When you look back on your life, will you wish you had given it one more chance?

I was told that I would fail, to get my head out of the clouds. Go get a real job. But I didn’t listen. Yes, I’ve failed, I’ve fallen, but I never gave up and because of that, I have succeeded.

It’s Time to Wake Up Entrepreneurs!

It’s time to wake up entrepreneurs! Your dreams will stay dreams unless you get to work!. You are the writer of your story and today is a new chapter. Start networking, start sharing your dream. Speak it into reality.

Find people that lead by example. Find people who have a deep passion for what they do. Fellow entrepreneurs, help out the next generation of thinkers and do-ers. Chances are someone along the way inspired and helped you. It’s time we stand together. Each day you sit on the sidelines is another day that you don’t live the dream.

Look up

You will face hard times. In those times instead of putting our heads down, we need to look up and pray, “God, show me my way, give me the confidence to trust in your plan and inspire me not to give up. Lord let me use my gifts to the best of my ability. When I fail, let me be humbled. When the competition succeeds, remove my pride and cheer them on for I know my time will come. When I succeed, let me give you praise and renew my focus”

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

It’s time to wake up entrepreneurs because the sun setting.

A little bit about Scott Cunningham

Scott started Visual Element Media while still in college in 2008. He moved his company to Pittsburgh in 2009 where he found that small businesses were at a major disadvantage when it came to digital marketing. Scott wanted to provide small businesses with the opportunity to use video, social media and professional web design, but on a small business budget. In 2015, Scott moved his family back to his hometown of Ebensburg to continue working with small businesses. Visual Element Media now provides video, social media and web design services in Altoona, Johnstown, State College, Bedford, Somerset and everywhere in between!

You can contact Scott and his team at:

814 | 935 | 8037 or [email protected]

The post ‘Wake Up Entrepreneurs’ a motivational video for business owners. appeared first on Visual Element Media | Ebensburg, PA.