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Here’s a video done with a conceptual artist for Halifax Nocturne this year. We projected it onto the wall of The Round Church in Halifax recently and are planning more pop-up projections.

I wrote a rough script and shot this video with several members of the Halifax chapter of Business Network International for a nation-wide contest. I had a great time and members loved it. We thought it was a winner, but other members showed a surprising amount of video talent and our entry wasn’t chosen.

I wrote the script, shot and edited this video several years ago for the International Language Institute in Halifax. As our student had a strong accent I wrote a script for her and had her read one sentence at a time. The original video was lost after the school was sold so you’re watching a version rendered in low resolution to improve load times.

I put two of these videos together in about 30 minutes. The third, on the right, took longer. All would work well on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter

A video is one of the most powerful assets you can have on your website or social media accounts. It engages viewers who are reluctant to read. It keeps them interested for longer periods of time, which increases your search engine ranking. It builds trust if your delivery is clear and factual, it’s a positive influence on buying decisions and it even be shared by viewers if they find it entertaining, warm or funny.

Best of all, videos don’t take any special equipment or skill. You can shoot them on your cell phone. You don’t have to produce video at all– just use snapshots instead. There are lots of free programs you can use to convert your snapshots to usable, effective videos.

In this space over the next few months I’ll explore some methods of making your videos effective at a price anyone can afford.

You don’t need an expensive camera to produce a top-notch video. In fact you don’t need a camera at all! All you need is a source of good stock videos and some imagination. I put this video together in a few hours using clips from a source called Storyblocks. It’s a subscription stock media site and, since this is a demonstration, I just used the proofs, which is why the clips are watermarked. Listen closely to the soundtrack and you’ll hear somebody shouting “Storyblocks audio” every 30 seconds or so.

Like many branding videos, this is a soft-sell item. There’s almost no information but you get a warm fuzzy feeling that’s transferred to the realtor character who pops up at the end. Because they are primarily emotional they’re widely shared on social media. They’re a great way to reach out to new customers and would work for a variety of service professionals from dog-walkers to dentists.

Interested? Let me know. The price will surprise you!