Life Lessons from My Dog

If you have a dog or are a dog lover, I think you’ll appreciate this post.  When I decided to work from home and run my business full-time, my husband thought it’d be a good idea for us to get a dog.  I was never allowed to have a dog growing up, so this was new to me.  We started our search for one that would fit our lifestyle.  We’re both active, high-energy and love to laugh.  Well we found it in our miniature pinscher, Cisco.  It was love at first sight and has been an adventure since day one.  He is such a character and truly matches the description we read about min-pins. 

People take things so seriously, but there are some lessons we can learn from our four-legged family members that will keep us grounded and keep us laughing.  Here are a few things I’ve learned from my buddy, Cisco:

How to Create the Ultimate Dream Team

Last year I decided to create a TV show called Reinvent You to help people transform their lives.  I started planning the production of a show that would deliver big results.  My wish was to use my resources, time and skills to make a difference in three people’s lives.  This makeover show would be just what the people of metro Detroit needed in these difficult times.  I had the production equipment and blueprint to produce a TV show, but I was missing something;  I wasn’t skilled at doing personal makeovers.  That’s when I realized I needed a good team and that’s when the real work began. 

I started seeking a team of people to help carry out the mission.  I needed a life coach, hair stylist, image consultant, resume writer and makeup artist.  It seemed overwhelming in the beginning, so as I started the process, I asked God to lead me to the right people.  He always comes through and within three weeks I had created an amazing transformation team of experts to help bring this BIG idea to fruition.

How to Make Your Website Videos More Effective

The home page of your website is the perfect place for a video.  It offers a great opportunity to communicate with your visitors and allows them to see what you are all about.  You can present a simple welcome video, explain how a product works, or tell what your service offers.  The bottomline is, people are reading less and watching more videos.  A video is much more inviting and interesting than a stagnant webpage full of text.  So as you plan your next video, here are some key pointers to keep in mind to ensure your video is effective:  (Then continue to see the web video example at the end of this post).

CRAFT YOUR MESSAGE  ~ Prepare and practice your on-camera presentation.  Repeat it until you’re comfortable and it flows.  In your script, include a brief description of your business, tell what makes you stand out, and mention the benefits of using your product or service.  Remember to be personable, be energetic and smile. 

4 Simple Ways to Revamp Your Business

Last year I felt like my video business was standing still so I decided to make some changes, which came with a new name, website and service menu.  Since then, I’ve experienced a tremendous boost in my business.  I don’t suggest such extreme measures for everyone, but you can get positive results from making some minor changes.  Here are 4 small action steps you can take today to reposition your business.

1. FOLLOW THE TRENDS ~ Take a look at your industry and find out what people are interested in.  Times are changing fast, so reassess and align what you offer with what’s hot and will bring in more business.  Don’t step too far out of your specialty or brand, just tweak so you can stay competitive and profitable.
2. GET RID OF THE BAGGAGE ~ If you have a service or product that doesn’t sell, get rid of it.  Don’t put time, energy or money into what’s no longer working.  Put more focus on what is working and watch your profits increase.
3. WAKEUP YOUR WEBSITE ~ The word for attracting new clients is “ENGAGE.”  When visitors come to your website they want valuable information, they want to be entertained and they want to interact with you.  Enhance your website with tools that will keep them coming back (i.e. articles, blogs, giveaways, social media links, monthly specials, etc.).  And of course, don’t forget to add video!
4. BEEF UP YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE ~ If you haven’t already, start blogging and using social media to make connections and keep your audience informed.  There are numerous ways to reach people online.  Your social activity will allow you to promote your business, distribute content, position yourself as an expert and attract new clients.

Rejuvenate your business by implementing these tips and I’m sure you will reap great rewards.

http://www.unisonmediallc.com

3 Overlooked Ways to Distribute Video

The one question I’m asked most often by my clients is “What can I do with my video other than put it on YouTube?”  Although I’ve grown to really like this platform, it isn’t the only destination to display your video.  There are many creative ways to show your audience what you have to offer and share your expertise.  Here are 3 ways most people overlook for video distribution:

• SPEECH OPENER ~ At your next speaking engagement make an explosive connection with your audience.  If you speak on a regular basis, invest in a dynamic video that tells your story.  If there is a setup to do so, have the event host play it as part of your entrance.  This will surely add excitement, hype the crowd and boost you to “rock star” status.  Trust me…they’ll never forget it!
• TRADE SHOW EXHIBIT ~ Wanna attract more people to your booth?  Setup a flat screen and set your promotional or demonstration video to continuous play.  This is a great opportunity to show people how your product works, testimonials of people who have used your service or an overview of what you offer.  With this video playing show attendees will be curious and stop by to watch.  This strategy grabs their attention and keeps them at your booth longer as well.  Make the most of your trade show experience and investment.
• ITUNES ~ When most people think ITUNES they think audio or music.  Well this is a great platform for your video blogs or webisodes.  There are viewers who go there looking for new online programming and content.  If you aren’t already there you are missing out on a huge population of people who love watching videos.

I’ve given you three fun, easy and effective video distribution ideas that can help you maximize your videos and share your message with a larger audience.