Speakers Videos: Clothing do’s and don’t’s

So you are preparing for your Speakers Video shoot! What are some of the do’s and don’t’s? What clothing hints and tips do you need to consider? This is equally valid for photo shoots. Following is a combo of ideas found online:

Here are some things to avoid:

1. These colours: black, red, yellows, oranges. Attention should be on your face not your clothing colours. The film will not colour your face naturally.

2. Distracting fabrics: avoid fabrics with loud patterns, bold stripes. Tight stripes cause a wavy, moiré pattern. Large designs will distract from your face.

3. Bare skin: again keep the focus to your face. Exposed arms and legs can be a distraction.

4. Jewellery: Avoid hanging  jewellery as it will jangle in the mic. Avoid flashy jewellery as it reflects the light.

What works well:

1. Contrast top and bottom: wear colour for high contrast. Keep colours in the same colour palette.

2. A top with an interesting collar or neckline: as it is near your face it will direct the viewer’s eye well.

3. A textured top: adds depth to the shot.

4. Solid colour: keeps the shot simple but strong.

5. Simple jewellery: low fuss to no fuss jewelery.

6. Clothing you feel comfy in: Your comfort or lack of will show in your body language.

7. Hands, feet: if the photo shoot will include full or half-length shots then pay attention to how your shoes and hands look.

8. Wear makeup:It has the practical purpose of reducing the glare of TV lights. Women: use natural toned lipstick rather than rich reds or lip gloss. Yes, even for the menfolk! TV lights can penetrate several layers of skin. You can’t shave close enough to prevent whiskers from showing without makeup. Remember to put makeup on receding hair lines or bald heads.

9. Glasses: glasses work fine so long as you don’t have shiny frames. Tip the bows of your eyeglasses up slightly off your ears. This angles the lenses down to reduce glare from lights.

10. Find out what background colour will be used so you can dress in colours to complement.

Written by Jenny Wilmshurst, Tweet Twins Social Media Strategist, Consultant and Speaker

What is holistic IT? holistic Social Media consulting?

What is holistic IT? holistic Social Media? holistic organisation?

To you what would an organisation look like if it took on values of holistic IT? holistic Social Media? holistic organisation? holistic HR? holistic operations management? holistic marketing?

Does this sound like jargon? or the possibility of thinking about how we manage businesses differently or maybe even better?

I read an article in CIO.co.nz and a reply to an article by a member of NZ’s IT sector. These prompted me to write on this subject again. I see this from the bigger picture. In a forum (it’s a private group so I can’t quote a name or content), the member challenges the notion of a COI reporting to a CFO:

I agree wholeheartedly based on how I see needs for holistic views of business needs and business planning, when major services are required. Here is my reply:

…the business’ core values, mission and financial state can also be part of marketing, operations and HR’s leadership view, and in fact in aevery aspect of the business’ very being.  In some cases depending on who holds the reigns of a holistic view of the business also. Is it not a team effort ideally? Why does it have to be siloed in this way? It doesn’t and shouldn’t be. Do you agree or not?

Since my earliest start in Social Media between 2008 & 2009, I was forming the concept in my mind of how I saw the Social Media movement as one of an organisational change. Social Media’s concepts are about change management and a positive & communicative ethos that can potentially permeate a whole organisation. I looked at how Best Buys used this ocncept to serve employees and the market so well.

It led me to this. When I consult on Social Media ideally my angle is not drilled down with a starting point of the Social Media (or from a digital and marketing viewpoint). Ideally, to serve a company in the way that provides long-term viability and provides synergy in the business and marketing plan, I seek the opportunity to give a holistic service. I enjoy that approach as it fits my ethics: that I am doing the best for the company’s interests before my own, and providing the best results possible. To do so it must fit the business plan.

It also fits the precedence of best business and Social Media practice. Another influence is because  I also have years of business planning, market research (globally published & used by government for policy) marketing and online marketing and Social Media that I can draw upon.

The downside is that it seems most of the market seeks a quick fix and hires the ‘Social Media person who is a great sales person with too little depth and breadth, or results’ (and oh how many are there in my industry!!) or who provides the communications planning for Social Media or even less still the profile graphics and set up. In other words most clients and prospects have not caught up with what they really need to do to get results beyond building networks & relationships.

The parallels of this corporate and market dilemma is not much different to the scenario IT sector member describes in his proposition: that it is the CEO role, and IT projects must be seen holistically.

What are your thoughts on IT consulting with a holistic approach? or Social Media consulting with a holistic approach? Do you think such ideals are too lofty?

Written by Jenny Wilmshurst, Tweet Twins Social Media.

What you Must Know to Create Professional Speaker Video

What you MUST know to create a decent professional speaker video.

Looking at creating professional speaker videos? Do you need a quick fix or are you solving a long-term need?  What technical things do you need to know before you hire?

For those of you who budget, information, read on.

 Here are several things you must know before you create a speaker video, or arrange for  the opportunity of using professionally shot video.

1.       Video Format – how it will be used short and long-term?  what  format will it be filmed in, edited, and output in? How will it suit your end purpose? How will you display your video? e.g. on YouTube and other hosting/submission sites? Use on a projector? On your computer (for client presentations)?  Will you need high definition? Low definition? In multiple widths? What quality? Will it be filmed in one format then provided to you in another format you can repurpose?

2.       Video Cost – Recently an organisation discussed getting a group together for professional video filming at $75 an hour. It’s a great offer. To be realistic – it could cost more than $75 to do what you want and really need, depending on the outcomes you need and how smooth the ‘takes’ are (the person being filmed). To keep longer term costs low you need to have a video donut (intro and outro) made so that you can reuse it. You would add your own new videos to it. Otherwise if the videographer keeping your film and only keeps it in a film production format, then you will have to go through all that production cost EVERY time you need another video. You need him to supply the donut in a version suitable for YOUR computer so you can use it for video edit yourself time and time again. It’s good value for money.

So you need to  have a really good idea of what you are getting into before you start hiring a film guy. The costs of doing intro and outro and a small video shoot & production can range to $1000. For example we did training on creating a simple video intro and outro, shooting multiple takes, a sample of shots in a 2 hour period. All at a heavily discounted rate. It was way too fast but that was all the client could afford. 

 3.       Styles of video – Professional speakers need all sorts of versions of video

1. Formal promo video – with quality lighting & set up
2. In action speaking video – with quality lighting & set up
3. The informal ‘this is the real me’ Social Media video

You need lots of video – yes – lots and lots. Of each of these types.

Why?

1. Google has changed its ways and favours lots of original content. In the last 6 months it has upped the ante on this. Google has cleaned up. It is called Google Panda or Google Farmer. Many sites with a history of great traffic, rankings, response for years are now relegated to lower spots. The ones that raised their rankings were those with high quality, regular, unique content. 

So you need to become  content creator. The more high quality, regular content, the better your results.

2. Video converts incredibly well. Compared to many other online tools, video converts to enquiries / sales the best and tops the search engines well. Video is highly influential in the decision-making process.

Why tell you this? In my partnership is 30 years of audio and video production experience (from the simple to high quality advice that is sought by major AV & event suppliers globally). When Kevin  is not available I have a very talented younger person to take care of the video work. We also have an immigrant from South Africa with oodles of talent who we can tap into.

We’ve been incredibly successful in creating and using video marketing combined with Social Media

• 1. A 2 step tactic that gets a call from a Fortune 50 Head Office for a $ multi million deal within 5 minutes of posting the video ( a coup for the little guys with the big guys! Small businesses are on a level playing field with big companies online now.)

2. Video drives so much enquiry that the businesses we have set video up for, run flat tack with enquiries. You have to know how to work it though! I want that for you too!

I say this that I have been in the shoes of one who did not know to ask certain questions. You don’t know, what you don’t know you need to know, do you?

Be prepared! Ask questions! Be informed!

Hopefully you will have a  greater inkling of what you must know about technical things before you create a Professional Speaker video. This is how the video AV guy’s sidekick sees things. Hey, I’m really the Social Media Consultant!

 

Written by Jenny Wilmshurst, Tweet Twins Social Media Consultant, Social Media Speaker, Social Media Strategist