You have a great business, or you are in the process of starting one. Beyond building a well-functioning website, how can you create an attractive visual presentation for your company?
What Can Photography Do for You?
Photos are appealing. People love images. Most of us can imagine a scene from a description, but as a business, you do not want to leave everything to the imagination. You want to show what you have to offer, and photographs do not lie. Yes, image editing is an option—but is it wise?
It works for McDonald’s hamburgers: in photographs they look like juicy masterpieces, but in practice they are often rather soggy. Photography provides visual support. If you offer a product online, you can be certain that no one will buy it if they cannot find any photographs of it. That is simply how it works.
What Does Video Add?
Video is photography in motion: twice the fun and twice as useful. Suppose you want to create a visual instruction manual. You could choose a sequence of individual photographs showing the result of each step, but it is much more useful to show the action itself in a video. Video also adds entertainment value, especially when you include music. There are many ways to create an effective corporate video.
How to Build Customer Loyalty
Suppose you organized a fantastic event. Once it is over, it is over—unless you have an aftermovie made. An aftermovie gives visitors something to share: a record of the event that can also be shared with people who stayed home.
An aftermovie highlights the event’s best and most attractive features and makes those who missed it enthusiastic about the next edition. It is an effective way to grow your customer base.
Even the Rough Edges Can Look Good
Suppose your event is a washout—literally—and everything goes wrong. Even then, making an aftermovie can be worthwhile. Why? It can bring you and your customers closer together: “This was our experience” and “We’ll do better next time.” There are always memorable moments, and even moments that are not beautiful can still be filmed attractively.
Should You Get Behind the Camera Yourself?
Why not? You may be very successful, or you may not. No one can tell you what you may or may not—and can or cannot—do. However, filming it yourself carries risks: before you know it, you may have spent a great deal of money and gained a frustrating experience, only to end up with a final product that is not worth the effort.
Unfortunately, the cheapest option often costs more in the long run. Even if you are a talented amateur filmmaker, handing the project to someone else can save you a great deal of time. Professionals will keep working until everything meets your expectations.
What Should You Consider When Making a Corporate Video?
Your story needs to feel authentic. You want to show something about your company, but be sure to do so in a tone of voice that fits your business. A childcare center calls for a very different tone than a law firm.
There is no single formula for success that can be applied to every company. Even if there were, it would be far from ideal: everything would start to look alike, and viewers would grow bored with an endless stream of sameness.
Storytelling Is Gold
Do not keep it generic—make it personal and tell your story. Whether you went straight to the top or got there through trial and error, viewers appreciate it when you open up and offer a behind-the-scenes look. This can still be presented very professionally. “Messy” can also look polished.
