c+p digital

Conversion driven digital marketing agency, focussed on creative content.

video

#58 – Turn Your Podcast into Your Marketing Anchor

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Wake up world, it’s time for another edition of the 4 AM Report! ⏰🎙⏰🎙

This week, we’re going full-on meta, and doing a podcast about doing a podcast. 

In fact, we’ll be doing a series of these, on how a podcast can easily become YOUR flagship marketing property, the 🎁gift that keeps on giving! 🎁

Spin 👏that 👏thing 👏into 👏as many 👏pieces 👏of content 👏as you 👏CAN!! 👏👏👏 

⭐️ Social posts? ✔️

⭐️ Show notes? ✔️

⭐️ Blog post? ✔️

⭐️ Video content? ✔️

Keyword-rich written pieces help drive organic SEO. Which helps drive people to your website. Which helps drive people to get to know you. Which helps drive people to hire you! (well, in a perfect world! 😂)

And voila! Your original anchor property has provided real ROI.

We’re dishing out our special podcast sauce here, folks.

Have a listen!

A Rebuilding Roundup: Key Infrastructure Needed for Our New Normal

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I don’t know about you, but here at c+p digital we’ve noticed our thinking shifting slightly. Dare we say, toward the positive? We’re not naïve, we know there’s a long way to go before we’ll see ANYTHING resembling normal, but it almost feels like we’ve entered a new, never felt before (in our lifetimes, anyhow) stage of this particular Covid-19 grief we’ve all been going though: let’s call it cautious optimism!

Here in Canada, individual provinces are at different stages of re-opening and loosening social distancing restrictions. But loosening they indeed are! Wheeee!!

And that inspired us this week to bring you a special, “rebuilding roundup” of some of our recent 4 AM Report podcasts. Instead of the gloom and doom of March and April, we’re focused on the new normal for businesses. And we wanted to share episodes that would inspire you as you navigate these new, still slightly choppy waters.

Of course, many entrepreneurs and business owners simply aren’t ready to take next steps. We know that. But inspiration only comes to you if you seek it. So, let’s celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit and doing whatever it is you have to do that takes you to the next step and keeps you from jumping off those cliffs!

We’ve curated five episodes we think you’ll learn something from. Let’s get started.

Upending a Successful Business to Follow Your Passion? That’s NUTS! Or IS it?

Sandra D’Souza, Founder and Managing Director of Sandstone Solutions Group, talks about upending your tried and true business networks, what it’s like to feel like a “newbie” while dipping your toes into a new sector, and what it’s like to start again from scratch (sort of).

As an experienced business professional with over 20 years’ experience in senior finance and recruitment roles, Sandra shifted the focus of her very successful business – going from a comfortable money-making space, into new uncharted waters!

Very BRAVE!

That said, it’s not surprising that what keeps her up at night is breaking into a new audience segment and making those solid connections we all strive for in order to grow. 🌱🌱🌱

Why Publishing a Book Can Lead to Serious Business ROI

Be honest. We’ve all thought at one time or another “I should write a book!”…amiright?

Or, maybe you’re looking at the screen cock-eyed right now wondering why a business owner/entrepreneur should put the work in and get a book out?

Well, Scott MacMillan, President and Executive Publisher at Grammar Factory Publishing, brings the receipts!

Of those who wrote a book, 86% of them grew their business, 72% got speaking engagements, and 34% saw their overall earnings double! Plus, being published gave them authority and helped them stand out from competitors.

BOOM!

Building Relationships from Behind the Screen

Video might have killed the radio star, but it ALSO provided many (if not most) of us the ability to continue working during these crazy, Covid times. It’s also added a valuable extra layer to marketing efforts, if done right.

That’s why, on this episode of the 4 AM Report, we did a deep dive into how to slay your next video meeting. This top talk with a video expert – Janine Harris, executive producer at Keyring Media Inc., specializing in video for business – will teach you:

·   Tips and tricks for looking fine on camera.

·   How to jazz up your surroundings so people are focussed on YOU!

·   And how to use video, in general, in your marketing efforts.

Pro-tip – good lighting should be your North Star! LOL

HR and Small Business – Invest in Talent Infrastructure BEFORE Crisis Strikes

We talk a lot about building out corporate infrastructure, most importantly digital infrastructure, that sort of thing. But more and more companies, large AND small, are realizing just how important it is to invest time, energy, and real emotional intelligence in your people.

Life Works Well’s Helen Patterson talks about investing in an often-overlooked part of small biz infrastructure – human resources! What better time, really, when the work-world is upside down!

You’ll learn why it’s so important to have HR policies in place BEFORE a scramble starts. Why the hiring process isn’t the best use of time for a busy entrepreneur. And why compassionate and humane leaders who treat staff with respect will sail through any crisis.

Solid content, and much needed as employees start to return to work.

Sick and Tired of Non-Stop Bad News? Get Ready to Be Covid Inspired!!

Ugh. The news-cycle these days is brutal. And as if 2020 couldn’t get any worse – we now have Murder Hornets!! Murder. Hornets. Ugh. In this episode, rather than doom and gloom and “what’s keeping you up at night?” we shift focus and bring you ALL THE GOOD NEWS!

There are some really exciting and innovative things companies are doing to stay in business and survive Covid-19, and we (Will and Susan, of course!) focused on four categories:

·   The all-in, boots to the ground, search for a vaccine!

·   Health and lifestyle/beauty (Hello! Remember haircuts?)

·   Sports

·   And technology

It’s a nice reminder that there still are great people out there and lots of good news these days. And that’s the type of content I know WE are here for!

We’re of course on Apple Podcasts – subscribe to us – you won’t regret it!

Plus, if you’re losing sleep over a particular marketing/business related problem during this Covid-19 economic uncertainty, or if you have a guest idea on the topic, let us know. Drop us a line at c+p digital.

And as always, sweet dreams…well, hopefully!

Building relationships from behind the screen

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Remember the great Aretha Franklin’s hit 🎶Who’s Zoomin’ Who? 🎶  

Well, lately it appears we’re ALL Zoomin’ someone, often multiple times a day.

During this  pandemic lock-down  Zoom has become the video conferencing provider of choice.

That’s why, on this week’s episode of the 4 AM Report, we’re bringing you top talk with a video expert!

Janine Harris is the executive producer at Keyring Media Inc., specializing in video for business.

She shares:

  • Tips and tricks for looking fine on camera.
  • How to jazz up your surroundings so people are focussed on YOU!
  • And how to use video, in general, in your marketing efforts.

All that, PLUS a special surprise (hint: it involves ukuleles)!

Let’s get started, shall we!

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Video Killed the Radio Star

Video might have killed the radio star, but it ALSO provided many (if not most) of us the ability to continue working during these crazy, Covid times. It’s also added a valuable extra layer to marketing efforts, if done right.

According to a recent Hubspot survey, “…92% of marketers who use video say that it’s an important part of their marketing strategy — the highest percentage of any year since 2015.”

BUT – if you’re adding simple DIY video to your campaigns this year – it better look good. The average consumer will spend more than 80 percent more time on your site if it has video – but will surely bounce if it’s crap.

Let’s take a look at some of what video expert (and executive producer) Janine Harris had to say about video – both in office – AND in your marketing efforts.

A Checklist to Help You Up Your Zoom Conferencing Game

“Lighting is one of them. The first thing that we always look at in video production is how well can we see you. So many people’s offices, home offices are set up with their back against a window. And you just see this halo of dark face and you can’t see them at all. I think setting up a situation where you’ve got some decent lighting, and it can be as simple as just turn your desk around, face your window. And the difference is unbelievable, you get this beautiful glow a light on your face, and it’s perfect. You really don’t have to stress too much more beyond that.”

“The second one, probably for me is the positioning of the camera where you know, a lot of people are on laptops, and that camera is pointing up to us, or you see the face where they’re right at the bottom of the screen and there’s all this headroom above them. So, you want to put your best foot forward. I’m not saying you have to dress up or do anything like that, but you should have should be easy for people to watch you and they shouldn’t feel awkward, you know?”

“Third. Backdrop. There’s so much you can do. When I moved from my office into my home office, I took over what was essentially a storage space. I set up my background with camera equipment and my ukuleles, because I love playing ukuleles and most clients who knew me know that we play ukuleles around the office from time to time. And I collect keys, so they went up on the wall and just things that reflect me! Also, my favorite – a strike of color on the wall, it could be an art print or it could be some fabric. The worst thing to me is the white wall. I think a little bit of perspective, a little bit of personality behind you is a good thing. I have some fun with it.” 

DIY Video Marketing

“There’s nothing wrong with DIY videos. I’m seeing so many people doing great stuff with zoom, and just with their webcam or their phone. But for some people, they do need to take it up a notch to get above the noise. So, I’ve got a few clients who are producing content on their phone. And what we’ve done is created an animated opening and closing just to help make a cohesive brand for them. They’re shooting their videos, and we package them with this opening and closing, it’s super affordable, but it ups their game.”

On the Power of Video to Help Build – or Maintain – Relationships 

“People are leaning towards video to create connections. They don’t even have any FaceTime in person, with people and their employees, especially the larger organizations of companies that have offices across Canada. They have no FaceTime. There’s a reason Why the Prime Minister is on video every day giving us updates. They’re not just putting an article out in the newspaper, right people, people appreciate that human connection. And so, we are so lucky if you think about it, if this had happened 10 years ago, we wouldn’t have had the technology to have this FaceTime with all these people. And I don’t mean FaceTime the product, but I literally mean, being able to get on Zoom or Skype or whatever you’re using.”

Building relationships from behind the screen with Janine Harris

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Remember the great Aretha Franklin’s hit 🎶Who’s Zoomin’ Who? 🎶  

Well, lately it appears we’re ALL Zoomin’ someone, often multiple times a day.

During this 🦠 pandemic lock-down 🦠 Zoom has become the video conferencing provider of choice.

That’s why, on this week’s episode of the 4 AM Report, we’re bringing you top talk with a video expert!

Janine Harris is the executive producer at Keyring Media Inc., specializing in video for business.

She shares:

📹 Tips and tricks for looking fine 💅 on camera.

📹 How to jazz 🎷up 🎷 your surroundings so people are focussed on YOU!

📹 And how to use video, in general, in your marketing efforts.

All that, PLUS a special surprise (hint: it involves ukuleles)!

Let’s get started, shall we!

About Janine

Janine Harris is a Producer, Director and Editor with a passion for telling stories. With over 20 years experience developing and producing for commercial, television series and documentaries, she brings broadcast skill and technique along with web strategies to telling the stories of business. 

From marketing videos to training videos, Janine works with small and mid- size organizations through to large Companies to help them communicate, educate and engage their stakeholders with video.

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Now get yourself over to Apple Podcasts and subscribe to us – you won’t regret it!

Plus, if you’re losing sleep over a particular marketing/business related problem during this Covid-19 economic uncertainty, or if you have a guest idea on the topic, let us know. Drop us a line at c+p digital.

And as always, sweet dreams…well, hopefully!