(203) 936-7761 Find our Address contact@miceliproductions.com

business

Home / Posts tagged "business" (Page 2)
07
Sep
2016
Considering Video Production for Your Company? Download our E-book with proven, helpful advice
Posted On September 7, 2016  By Jennifer Blessing Miceli  And has No Comment

Considering Video Production for Your Company?

branding, marketing and advertisingYou’re fresh back from a marketing workshop and have the idea to bring your company into the 21st century with a series of videos.

…or you’ve been charged by the CEO to come up with a plan to freshen your company’s marketing.

…or you’re the CEO looking to shake your marketing department out of the doldrums with fresh ideas.

…or maybe you’re just looking for an excuse if you get caught watching YouTube videos at work again!

Whatever your reason, if you need authoritative ideas on how to launch a video campaign for your company, this is a great time to download our e-book, “Using Video for Business.”

In five brief chapters, we will take you from learning the basics of video content through advice on hiring a video production company, with valuable information all through the journey.

using video for businessChapter 1: Video Content Basics

Considering Video Production for Your Company? Video Content Marketing is a key feature in the emerging field of Content Marketing, and the key is ensuring your content is valuable and relevant. Get an overview of what types of videos are possible for your company. We’ll provide a list of questions for your initial brainstorming session to get your team focused and on the best path for your company’s needs.

Chapter 2: Types of Videos to Use for Companies

Square red button with word video and play symbol on itYou’re not inventing the wheel here. In considering video production for your company, many have traveled down the same path. We share with you what kinds of videos have succeeded. Each company is unique, has a unique story to tell, which can be told in a company overview. Do you tell your story through interviews? Do you need a sales pitch? Will a product overview be more appropriate.” You’ll learn about all these types of videos and more, then apply them to the questions you answered in Chapter 1 to develop a plan for your business.

Chapter 3: A Discussion of Where and How to Use Business Video

Wordle on Video Content Basics, Miceli Productions offers video production and video marketing services.

Considering Video Production for Your Company? Read “Using Video for Business” for ideas on how to launch a video campaign for your company.

Finding the right platforms to connect these videos with your target audience is the next step in the planning process. Do you need to share information with your stockholders? Are you trying to reach millennials in their online world? Do you want to create a commercial to air on the Super Bowl? All of these platforms will require a different type of production.

Statue of an American Indian Chief looking off into the distance with his hand raised to shield his eyes. Statue is located in Bushnell Park, Hartford CT. Photo by Miceli Productions.

Photo by Miceli Productions.

Chapter 4: I Want to Use Video for Marketing my Business … Now What?

You’re convinced video is the way to go! Congratulations! It’s time to get real about these plans. First, what resources do you have to begin video production? Is there staff in-house who can start the process? Do you have the equipment? What kind of budget will you need to meet those questions you answered back in Chapter 1? How much of your video content will require professional production, and how much will be shared through social media, where a polished, professional look isn’t as necessary? Now, you’re ready to bring in a professional to help answer some of these questions.

Chapter 5: Finding and Choosing a Great Production Company

Now, you need to find the right production company to match your company’s needs, your company’s personality and your company’s budget. This is not a decision you make lightly. Like all contractual service, you’ll want to research and interview different companies to find the right match. All reputable video production companies will sit down for a free consultation and offer ideas and cost estimates for the work you want to accomplish, or tell you what can be done in the budget you’ve set. You’ll want to check out their portfolios, talk with references, meet with the people who will actually work with your people.

The Tools, The People, The Experience

The Tools, The People, The Experience – Miceli Productions PHOTO + VIDEO

You’re starting on an exciting journey. Take the first step today and download our free e-book, “Using Video for Business,” then contact us about how Miceli Productions can assist with your video production needs.

Read More

15
Aug
2016
Professional Photography or Stock Images? How to Choose.
Posted On August 15, 2016  By Jennifer Blessing Miceli  And has No Comment

Professional Photography or Stock Images? 4 Considerations For Your Business

Melinta Laboratories and Scientists.

Melinta Laboratories and Scientists. Photo by Miceli Productions.

The verdict is in: to be successful in raising awareness and revenue, your business needs to have a visual presence. Countless statistics show just how important images are to supplement and feature your message, both on your website and on any other type of advertising.

That leads us to the next question: how should you go about making sure your marketing efforts have the visuals to stand out? In most cases, it comes down to a simple question: stock photo or your photos – should you be buying stock photos or engaging a professional photographer to capture images of your business?

Which benefits you most? Here are 4 considerations when choosing between stock images and professional photography for your business.

 

Photo by Miceli Productions.

A bit more generic – Garden center pottery. Photo by Miceli Productions.

1) Competitive Distinction

Consider the process in which you seek out stock images: you go to one of the many stock libraries, enter your business or product name, and see what pops up. Now, imagine how many of your competitors are doing the same thing.

Nothing is worse than coming across an ad for your direct competition, and discovering that they are using the exact same images you are to promote their business. Given that 90% of information transmitted to our brains is visual, you will have little chance to stand out in your audience’s mind and memory.

2) The Quest for Authenticity

How important is authenticity to your marketing efforts? Given the above, chances are it’s pretty high on the list in trying to establish a unique brand personality. Consumers consistently rate authenticity among the most important measures they use to evaluate businesses.
The Quest for Authenticity - Should you use stock photography or get professional photos?By focusing on your business, and your business only, professional photography allows you to increase that authenticity. Instead of showing generic images that could stand for any business in your industry, you can showcase the aspects of your brand that make it stand out.

Consider showcasing your product or service in a unique way. Show the people “behind the brand” — allowing customers-to-be to establish relationships both with your brand and the personalities behind it. The right professional photographers don’t just come in, snap a picture, and leave. They will spend time getting to understand what your business stands for.

3) Telling a Unique and Consistent Story

Think closely about your visuals. Consider all the places in which you will need visuals to promote your brand — it quickly becomes clear that a single image spread out over multiple channels just does not work. You will need several images for your website, others to help you promote your brand on social media, some for print media, possible advertising and elsewhere.

In other words, you need images that are connected closely and that will tell your brand story. And that story needs to be consistent so your audience can connect it back to your value proposition — all without seeming repetitive.

Photos taken by Miceli Productions PHOTO + VIDEO for Rex Forge image library.

Photos taken by Miceli Productions for Rex Forge image library.

In our experience, stock images cannot accomplish that; you’ll either use one image over and over, or multiple images that have little to do with each other and are clearly dissimilar. Professional photography allows your business to be more expansive, creating a series of visuals that make sense together while highlighting multiple aspects of your business.

4) The Question of Price

Finally, we have to mention the obvious: you can buy stock images that are cheaper than engaging a professional photographer. You can even get many free.  If you’re on a shoestring budget, you might think that should be your only choice.  Our advice?  Choose a small package from a professional photography to get images of your people, your location and your products. As your needs for visual marketing and advertising, you can add more images. And these images are a great investment in your brand and will serve to differentiate you from your competitors, giving you an advantage.Should you use stock photos or get professional photography?

Look at your visual media as an investment, rather than a cost. Professional photography can go a long way toward magnifying your brand personality and increasing your reach. The initial costs may be higher, but so will the return on your investment. To learn more about the benefits of professional photography for your business, contact us.

Read More

29
Jun
2016
6 Excellent Benefits of Video Customer Testimonials
Posted On June 29, 2016  By Jennifer Blessing Miceli  And has No Comment

Generate #LOVE for your brand with video customer testimonials.

One of the quickest ways to earn your audience’s trust and build your brand’s credibility is to upload customer testimonial videos. Trust and credibility are important elements in the buying process. A person is more likely to convert when they trust you and perceive your brand as credible. Let someone that has had a positive experience with you share the benefits of working with you! Existing customers can get to the heart of the real-world positives of your product in a way you can never really do for yourself. Give your sales process a leg-up by letting them speak for your business. Continue reading to learn how video customer testimonials can benefit your company.

Gain Exposure

Good video testimonials can increase a person’s interest in your business to the point that they share it with others on social media. People are also more inclined to share videos than text-based content. That means a video testimonial is more likely to be shared than a text-based customer testimonial. Ideally, you should have both — text-based content + sharable video testimonials makes for great SEO and social marketing.Walt Disney Customer Service Quote

Increase Credibility

Video testimonials add credibility to your business because people naturally feel more trusting when they can see the customer giving the testimonial as well as witness them speak about your product or service. They can observe the person’s facial expressions and behavior in the testimonial while listening to their voice. These important visual cues cannot be replicated through text and images. (Note: this is also why choosing the right customer to give your testimonials is key.) Remember, the camera sees all the small details, so customer testimonials by individuals that are well-spoken and passionate about your brand are key.

Humanize Your Brand

When a customer visits your website, they are not face-to-face with sales associates like they are when they walk inside a brick and mortar store. To meet a ‘face’, they usually have to click on your “about us” page. That tiny picture of you doesn’t really have the same effect as an employee greeting them when they walk through the door. A way to humanize your brand online is to add customer video testimonials to your website. (Note: It’s also best practice to have a great company homepage video.)

Jim Rohn Customer Service Quote

Trigger Emotion in Your Audience

Another benefit of video customer testimonials: they trigger emotion in your audience. A video testimonial will help show them how your business can solve their problems and why you are the best choice for helping them. The way they do this is by capturing a satisfied customer that is passionate about the solution you present. Purchase decisions are largely emotional, even if the customer is taking the time to consider their options. Hearing from real people who have tried the product, or service, appeals to the emotions more than reading a page of copy because there is empathic synergy. Although you can create emotion with text, it’s easier to connect with a live person speaking. And if your business uses both, it’s double the impact.

Increase the Confidence of Potential Customers

Video testimonials increase the confidence that potential customers have in your brand and product. If another customer was happy enough with your service to create a video testimonial for your brand, then a new customer can make the assumption that you’re credible. That’s how potential customers see it. They will think about whether or not your business would be a right match for them too. The more they can relate to the customer in the video, the more likely they will be to think your solution is best for their problem.

Appeal to Multiple Customer Segments

Another great benefit of video customer testimonials? You can provide the perspective of numerous customers who fit into different customer segments. This allows you to quickly appeal to multiple customer segments because video customer testimonials are typically short, so visitors will watch more than one. When it comes to the written word, you often need to write separate pages for each target market for best results. With video testimonials you can post and share in numerous places and keyword appropriately to easily reach multiple customer segments.

Conclusion

There are many types of videos you can use in your video marketing. Testimonials are a great return on investment. Because you may not commonly see video testimonials on other websites, you may have dismissed this marketing method. Yet, video customer testimonials are a powerful way to boost your credibility, increase conversions, and humanize your brand.

Contact us for help with filming effective video customer testimonials that will trigger emotion inside your target audience.

Read More

23
Jun
2016
5 Video Metrics You Need to Know for Effective Video Marketing
Posted On June 23, 2016  By Jennifer Blessing Miceli  And has No Comment

Look at your business goals to determine your video marketing strategy.

Many beginners to video marketing mistakenly assume that view count is an accurate judge of how well they’re doing. However, view count is not always the video metric you should pay the most attention to. How do you know which metric is most important? Look at your business goals for the year. They will tell you which video metric you need to monitor.

Wordle on Video Content Basics and Video Marketing

Before shooting a video, you should set a clear goal for it. Ask yourself, what do you aim to accomplish with that video? Do you want people to click the link in the description box? Do you want people to subscribe to your YouTube channel? Or do you want viewers to take action on your advice? Knowing the purpose of the video will help you shape it in a way that accomplishes your goal. In turn, the video’s purpose will indicate which video metric is most relevant for that video.

Now that you understand the importance of aligning video metrics with your business goals, you’re probably wondering which metric represents which type of goal. Here is an overview of five video metrics and how to use them effectively:

  • View count: Most people perceive view count as the judge of a video’s performance. When your goal is to reach as many people as possible, then view count IS the most important video metric for you. If reach isn’t the priority, then you don’t want to let yourself be distracted by view count.
    Video Views

    Know when view count is important in your video marketing strategy.

    For instances in which reach is important, secondary metrics that you may want to monitor are completion rate and recirculation rate because they reflect whether or not the audience you’re reaching is enjoying your video.

  • Comments: You might think that only comments measure engagement, but they represent your viewing community. Building a community for your brand is important for success. Comments will show you how well your video is resonating with viewers and whether or not a community around your brand is developing.

    Comments indicate there is a viewer community. Engagement indicates you are reaching your audience.

    Comments indicate there is a viewer community. Engagement indicates you are reaching your audience.

  • Engagement: The quality of a video is measured by its engagement and is measured by the percent of a video that a viewer watched. If viewers don’t finish watching your video, then they might not be finding it helpful or interesting enough to hold their attention. Another possible reason for low engagement is they’re seeking a quick answer to a particular question. Once they get the information they need, they leave the page. Because it helped them, your video still counts as high quality. Therefore, you must take context into consideration when you analyze engagement.
  • Social shares: If word of mouth marketing is a key component of your marketing plan, then you’ll likely find social shares to be the video metric you must track.
    Social shares are an important metric in video marketing.

    Social shares are an important metric in video marketing.

    Social shares indicate word of mouth marketing. Don’t just look at the number of social shares your video receives; read some of the comments people make when sharing your video as well.

  • Play rate: The percentage of visitors who click play help you determine relevance. In order to have success with your video, it should be positioned where users find it worth playing. If you have a video embedded on a page and it doesn’t receive many plays, then consider changing its position on the page or inserting it on another page of your website.

Conclusion

In order to continually improve your video marketing, you must understand what each video metric measures and how to glean the right information from those metrics. The video metrics you prioritize must be in alignment with your business goals as well. If increasing your reach is your number one priority, then you need to primarily pay attention to view count. However, if you’re trying to build a community, then don’t be fooled by a high view count. Your real measure of community is the number of comments and content within those comments. Ultimately, you must choose the right metrics for your business goals.

Contact us for assistance with accomplishing your video marketing goals.

Read More

04
May
2016
6 Quick Tips Why You Need Professional Business Portraits
Posted On May 4, 2016  By Jennifer Blessing Miceli  And has No Comment

Professional Business Portraits are keystone content in your branding portfolio.

YOU know you need them… Just get them done!

There’s so much evidence on the benefits of using professional photographers for business portraits. It’s amazing how many business professionals still overlook how important portraits are. There are many reasons why professionals in any industry should consider purchasing their own professional portraits. Great biz portraits allow you to put your best foot forward, present a professional brand, generate awareness, and foster trust with those who view it. Here are six reasons why you should consider professional photography for business portraits.

Put a Face to your Brand  

Business Portrait 5 by Miceli ProductionsFor small businesses, it can be hard to stand out from the competition. One of the best ways to stand out is to put a personalized touch on everything you do — from the way that you interact with your customers to the way that you present your products and services. A professional business portrait of yourself and other team members can help create personalized connection with your viewers. Customers like to know that they are working with real people. Professional portraits can help you to do this AND put a professional touch on your brand.Business Portrait 2 by Miceli Productions 

Personal Branding

Business portraits are NOT just for business branding. They are also an excellent choice for personal branding as well. Remember, as a professional, you have to extend your brand beyond that of your business to you as an individual. Being able to use your professional portrait on future projects and platforms (like LinkedIn) could lead to high-value opportunities down the road. Personal branding is one of the most important reasons that all business people should consider using portraits.

Professionalism

Business Portrait 4 by Miceli ProductionsLet’s be honest – when you come across a company and it looks like their head shots were taken with a phone from 2005, you are going to make judgements about their business as a whole — consciously or unconsciously. Presenting yourself and your business in the most professional way is pivotal for fostering first impressions that will help your business grow.  

Multiple Uses

One overlooked reason to consider investing in professional business portraits? You will find multiple ways in which they can be used for years — until you have aged or changed your look enough to warrant a new portrait being produced. A good, professional business portrait can be used on your website, in your bio, on LinkedIn, in your e-mail signature, on your business card, for conference announcements, advertising, and generally anywhere you want to promote yourself.Business Portrait 1 by Miceli Productions

Foster Trust

When you’re courting new clients and customers, always present yourself as professional and trustworthy. A low quality, unprofessional photo certainly isn’t going to give that vibe. Professional portraits help establish trust with your customers and show that you are willing to invest in your own career. Too often professionals forego business portraits in favor of low quality, “selfie” solutions and do not realize that the trust-factor with their customers is suffering as a result. 

You’ll Need Them

Business Portrait 3 by Miceli ProductionsDepending on your career, you may be asked for business head shots many times. Knowing that you have one that you like can ensure that you are able to send it over when requested, without scrambling to have one taken. As your career develops, you’ll find that there are a large number of reasons why you need a portrait and it’s always good to have one on hand, ready to send when required. 

Interested in learning more about how a professional head shot could help further your career? Contact us today to schedule your free consultation. We help professionals capture portraits that establish trust and create positive first impressions.

Read More

14
Apr
2016
Creating an Image Library for Company Use
Posted On April 14, 2016  By Jennifer Blessing Miceli  And has No Comment

Creating an eye-catching image library for company use is an important investment for your business.

They say a picture speaks a thousand words, and in today’s culture that’s even more true. Photos and video have a much bigger impact today than they did years ago, especially since the explosion of social media and online resources, as well as the increased quality of prints, online images, and video productions.

The days of text-only or mostly text websites are gone. Many are moving to magazine style sites that involve large numbers of pictures as well as video content, and these sites are connected to Facebook pages, Instagram, YouTube channels, and the like. People want eye-catching visuals, whether in photo or video format. They want them online and they want them in print. This is why creating an image library for company use is a such an important investment for your business.

Photos taken by Miceli Productions PHOTO + VIDEO for Rex Forge image library.

Photos taken by Miceli Productions for Rex Forge image library. View more of our work on their new website at RexForge.com

Since many businesses have both an online presence as well as a physical one, a variety of vivid, customized photos are important for use in either arena. They can be re-purposed across many platforms.

Physical Use

Having a custom image library is indispensable for creating brochures, flyers, trade show images, and prints for display at your business site. They can also be used to create a particular brand image that your business is known for. Other great uses for photos are business cards, refrigerator magnets, calendars, and the like, that all speak volumes about what you represent and have to offer.

Online Use

New Rex Forge homepage with photography by Miceli Productions PHOTO + VIDEO. Rex Forge delivers Critical Forged Steel Production.

New Rex Forge homepage with photography by Miceli Productions PHOTO + VIDEO

Your custom photos will serve you well on your website, providing eye-catching images for viewers to take in. Whether they are displayed in your header banner, or are used for page entries and blog posts, great photos will keep customers on your pages longer. It’s a well-known fact that a catchy photo may mean the difference between someone actually reading the post that goes with it or scrolling on by to something else.

You will do well to create a custom icon and image that is associated with your business, as well as to be used for your avatar when commenting on other people’s sites to draw them to your own site. Custom photos are also useful for Instagram, Facebook, email newsletters, and articles you may publish online.

One thing to keep in mind about the photos that you put into your library is that you want them to be original. Stock photos or photos that are free on the net are fine for some applications, but to really stand out, your photos should be original to your business. Be authentic. What if someone saw a photo associated with your business that they saw on another website? It simply makes for a lack of originality and conveys that you may cut corners. If people think you cut corners in one area they may not trust you as a business.

A second item to pursue is the quality of the photos you use. Every photo needs a strong composition so that it grabs the eye, proper contrast between light and dark, clarity and focus, as well as proper coloring and lighting. Knowing what to focus on and what the photo is saying are also very important to quality photos.

Finally, you will want to consider who should take your photos and what subjects should appear. Having your photos done professionally is an excellent choice if you want to have maximum impact with the least amount of wasted time and effort. Professional photographers put their lives into creating great photos. They know all the nuances involved and what works and what doesn’t. It’s experience that you can tap into.

Miceli Productions has the technical expertise, imagination and insight to bring your vision to life through your photos. We are a small team who works hands-on with every client to make sure your custom image library fits your business and applications. We provide high quality commercial photography that will take your business presence to the next level. Contact us to learn more about what we can do for you.

Read More

22
Jan
2016
How to make valuable impressions with awesome Business Card Video
Posted On January 22, 2016  By Jennifer Blessing Miceli  And has No Comment

The Business Card Video: What is it and how can it make an impression on a world of potential clients?

During a networking opportunity, exchanging business cards is arguably the most essential part of the whole encounter. It’s what you take away with you and is a reminder of why you want to follow-up with that person. Business cards have been a cornerstone of meetings for a long, long time. If you have a remarkable business card and make a good first in-person impression, the other party will be that much more likely to call, connect with, and hire you. There’s nothing like having a business card that stands out – clean finish, creative design, and all the necessary information to get the potential client in contact with you.

We all know how difficult it is to remember names and faces — especially at a fast paced networking event, trade show or after a long day of meetings. Video is proving more useful than ever. And video as a tool for the every-day business person is now part of our 21st century reality. It’s time to marry video with your business card. Take the whole process up a notch and create a business card video that will generate SEO, increase conversions, trigger social shares and promote yourself over competitors.

Business card videos are tremendously useful in relationship based businesses where you want your PERSONALITY to resonate with prospects — examples include real estate agents, life coaches, financial planners, personal trainers, designers, home service providers, stylists — but they should really be used by all professionals.  Video provides a great way for someone to remember who you are and a business card video can provide a valuable return on investment. There are no recurring fees, you can share your best message and it’s easily sharable in your email signature and on social profiles.
Miceli Productions has produced business card videos for many clients, including several real estate agents at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New England Properties. The video business card allows the agent to give an overview of their location, the areas they serve, and how they offer above and beyond service to satisfy their clients. These videos are usually between 60 and 90 seconds and are branded at the beginning and end with the Berkshire Hathaway Home Services slate containing their name, office location, and phone number. Potential clients get an immediate positive impression and can follow up with the agent by clicking thru or calling.

 

 

Business card videos offer an exclusive link to the customers of today’s world because of the way we are all connected by the Internet. Unlike a traditional business card, the business card video can be used in multiple instances. Where the traditional business card is usually only useful during face-to-face meetings or word of mouth, the business card video can be set on the agent’s homepage, emailed in a newsletter, posted to social media, in email signatures, on company About Us pages and even come up in Google searches when someone looks up “real estate agent near me” or similar phrases specific to an industry. This way, the info isn’t just spread one person at a time through a single card, but can reach the entire world at any time via the Internet. This increase in exposure allows you to sign on with more clients, which is exactly what business cards are made for!
Read More

30
May
2014
3 Compelling Video Ideas For Your Business
Posted On May 30, 2014  By Jennifer Blessing Miceli  And has No Comment

We all know that video is key in today’s marketing strategies, but what types of video can you create? Many businesses know that they need to promote video; however, they don’t know where to start. Here are a few ideas for creating meaningful video content that will reveal your business’s “human” side.

Square red button with word video and play symbol on it

Demonstrate a product or service. Marketing 101 teaches “Show. Don’t Tell.” Show your customers how your products work. They can be a demonstration of people using the product or “how-to” videos. These should be short and engaging. The more professional the video, the more credible the video for a demonstration.  However, short video clips taken with your phone for YouTube and Vine are great if you spot someone using your product. Imagine if you saw Kevin Pollack using your widget at a Starbucks in town. Of course, you should ask Mr. Pollack’s permission, but how cool would it be to have a short video of him using your widget that you could blast immediately on social media? Even if it wasn’t a celebrity! Both forms of video can work simultaneously to increase your credibility, engage your client base, and boost your marketing efforts.

Customer Testimonials. There is no better form of promotion than real people telling real stories about using your product or service. Professional video is key here. It adds to your credibility not only with the people giving the testimonials but for potential consumers watching the videos as well.

Sharing Your Donor Dollars. Tell a compelling story of the organizations your business is donating to. Show the need for charitable donations, what the problem is, and how donations help remedy it. Real. Engaging. Compelling. Human. Viewers are very, very interested in a story. Consumer makes purchasing decisions based on emotional responses. Toms does an exceptional job at this.

Why is this important to you?
Our extensive experience crafting video can help you get great results.
Got a project in mind?  Give us a call, (203) 936-7761.

Read More

20
May
2014
5 Tips for Optimizing Instagram for Business
Posted On May 20, 2014  By Jennifer Blessing Miceli  And has No Comment

Many people are ditching social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter for Instagram. According to comScore, as of October 2013, there were over 35 million selfies posted on Instagram and the average Instagram user spent 257 minutes accessing Instagram, compared to 169.9 minutes spent on Twitter. Businesses can utilize Instagram in a number of ways. Below are some tips for optimizing Instagram.

1.      Complete your profile. Make sure you fill in all the sections on your profile. Leave a link to your Facebook page, twitter page, and website. Your prospects will want to check out your various profiles to find out more about your services/products. This will lead to more followers on your other platforms.

2.      Show off your products. Everyone loves to browse products, so use Instagram to allow your followers to do some window-shopping. Having your followers interested and engaged will fully maximize the potential of Instagram. See how brands are harnessing the power of Instagram here.

3.      Introduce your employees. Humanize your brand by using Instagram to introduce your fans to the people behind your company. It’s a great way to show your the personality of your brand.

4.      Take your followers with you. If you are going to a trade-show or conference, use that opportunity to take your fans with you by sharing interesting photographs. Your fans might not be able to attend, but through you, they will be better able to share the experience.

5.      Take relevant photos. Whether they are photos of your company, employees, or current events, make certain that they are relevant and current. Every photo you take isn’t going to fit with the identity of your company. Make sure that you are taking and posting the right type of pictures that accurately reflect your brand.

 

Sources

Got a project in mind?  We always answer our phone, live, in person.
Give us a call (203) 936-7761.

Read More

02
Apr
2014
Just Say “No” to a Stock Photo
Posted On April 2, 2014  By Jennifer Blessing Miceli  And has No Comment

happy suit

This is one happy guy in a suit.

We need to tell you something, as a friend. While we specialize in photography and video, we are not just saying this to get your business. But someone needs to tell you, and it might as well be us.

Please, please, please stop using stock photography on your websites and in your marketing materials.  Any time you go looking for a stock photo for your website, video, or other, say this chant to yourself, “Just Say ‘No’ to the Stock Photo!”

There are a plethora of reasons why stock photography is not good for your business. Here are just a few.

 

awkard

Awkward.

Stock photos do not represent your company.  Often, when you are looking for stock photography for a website or some marketing material, you end up settling because the photo is never quite what you are looking for. A weird high-fiving company photo is not authentic. A strange man in a suit mid-air does not suggest enthusiasm. It invokes discomfort. We are saying this as your friend.

 

Remember this stock photo? This woman became the branding face of HealthCare.Gov.

Remember this stock photo? This woman became the branding face of HealthCare.Gov.

You never know who else is using the same stock photo. The photo you decide to use for your business may be used for another business. That is the nature of stock photography. However, do you want your business to have the same photos as another? Anyone can use these photos, and these photos become associated with a brand.

What if you choose a photo that is the same photo that used on a hemorrhoid cream website? That is a little extreme, but it drives the point home. Using stock photography does not differentiate you from the crowd. It makes you part of Generic-a.

Consumers and clients are more interested in the actual people who work at your company.  If you are using stock photography that is being used by another company, you are representing yourself in a nonspecific fashion. People are drawn to real people, real stories, and authentic voices. Use those instead.

What is even happening with his arms here?

Real people are more interesting.  We, as humans, are drawn to the real story, the behind-the-scenes info. A photo of your actual staff (even if it is just you!) speaks volumes. Photos of real people, doing their real work is not boring.

What if you had a photographer come and just unobtrusively take photos throughout the day? A photo-journalist approach? Now that would be cool and different on your website. That would make you stand out from the competition.

 

Stock photography is a growing market, and for some things, is highly useful. Stock photography definitely has its place. But should a generic, stock photo represent your company? Represent you? It is something to seriously consider. So, when you reach for a stock photo of co-workers giving a weird high-five, think twice: “Just say ‘no’ to a stock photo!”

In 2010, Miceli Productions worked with Connecticut fiction writer Matthew Plourde on the completion and promotion of his new book EDEN. This was the “making of a fallen angel.” This “behind the scenes” look at what really happens at Miceli Productions is far more interesting and exciting then stock photography!
Behinds the Scenes images for the photosession for the book Eden. © Miceli Productions Photography

Watch the results below!

 

 

 

 

Read More


Page 2 of 6