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One of the most popular uses for digital video at the moment is for viral videos.  YouTube and other sites are full of them, and they seem to be an effective way of gaining attention for advertising, a cause or you personally.  Often these videos have clickable links or an email form embedded in them.  If you have ever wanted to learn how they did it, now is your time.

Traditional marketing methods are slowly losing ground.  People are becoming “ad-blind” where they are tuning out advertising and not clicking through or otherwise converting.  This is causing the advertising and marketing fraternity to think again, and one of their new weapons is the viral video.

Having a clickable navigation option right next to a video call to action is bound to create more conversions to any production.  Making it happen is actually easier than you might think, which is why you see so many of them.

I use a program called Veeple.  You do have to pay for it, but it isn’t much, and the service is excellent.  They specialize in video interactivity and have a number of useful tools for the budding video marketer.

One such tool is the interplay API, which is currently free to use.  It adds a layer to any video within which you can add your interactive options.  This can be a web link, email form, email address link or whatever you can think of.  The beauty of the tool is that the API lets you do almost anything you want to that layer and it doesn’t affect the video.

The website cites an average 24% clickthrough rate on videos that uses the technology, but don’t offer the data to back it up.  Whether it’s true or not, it is an excellent way of adding that little something extra to your productions.

To use it, you simply sign up for the free use of the API and load your video onto it.  It will add a layer at any given point during the file and asks you what kind of interactivity you want.  A simple HTML link is added in seconds and you will be able to check it before it is saved into the file.

The more creative amongst you will be able t take this a little further, turning videos of web pages into actual web pages, or items in the background into clickable items and so on.  This adds a completely new dimension to video editing and one I get pretty excited about.

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I can’t think of one single thing that has become more prevalent in internet marketing than the use of video and audio as a tool to increase conversions and stick rate.

What is “Flair”? Simply put… it’s that added touch of professionalism to your media that separates your websites and products apart from the amateurish competition.

We’ve learned that you don’t need to have a “Guru” budget to achieve professional media flair. As a matter of fact, it’s typically the simple things that most people miss which have a devastating effect in the quality of video and audio production.

We are going to sum it up with a walk through of the resources that you can use to make your flair come together. I’ve seen so many people in forums and blogs make excuses about the poor quality of their recordings. Some of them are justified but ALL of them are easily solvable with some effort and creativity. Do any of these apply to you?

1. “I don’t have a Mac so all my videos suck”
2. “I don’t own any fancy video production or capturing software”
3. “I can’t sound good cause my computer microphone is crap!”
4. “Good camera’s are just way too expensive”
5. “The “Guru’s” have recording studios and I don’t”
6. “I have a terrible accent so people don’t understand me.”
7. “I have a face for radio so my videos look terrible!”

Generally speaking, these 7 excuses appeared to recur in one form or another throughout the forums and blogs I researched so, I’m going to address them for you with the solution and tools that I personally use to overcome these challenges.

1- First things first – it’s no secret that I’m in fact a “Mac man” (like they say… once you go Mac you don’t ever go back) HOWEVER, the notion that one can’t create amazing looking videos on a Windows based PC or laptop is just not true. As a matter of fact, Vista and Win7 both come with “Windows Movie Maker” built in. WMM, is a very simple to use software and you may not even know that you already have it on your computer! WMM allows you to create a movie file out of assorted clips, images and text that you can easily edit together in the time-line. It even enables you to add music and audio narration to your video. You can work on your file, add/delete segments, insert transitions and images etc. Once your happy with the production you can render and export the project as a movie file and upload it to your website for people to see.

The Mac alternative for WMM would be I-Movie, and yes it does have a few extra bells and whistles on it than WMM. For example, it has a pretty exhaustive library of audio clips, music and sound effects. It also has a few extra layering and text overlay features. For the most part, it works the same… you import your video clips,images, crop, clip, copy, paste and stream together your production until your heart’s content. Then export it on a website. I-Movie even has a feature that lets you publish directly to YouTube. Now that’s cool!

2- As far as needing additional software, well depending on what you are trying to do you may need several applications to arrive at your final masterpiece. Most of what you will need is readily available online for free (or practically free.) For example, did you know that Tech-smith has a product called “Jing” that enables you to create 5 minute screen capture recordings for free? Jing is a pretty cool alternative to the elaborate “Camtasia Studio Suite” and Jing allows you to save the screen capture to your desk top which you can then import into WMM or I-Movie for further editing and splicing. An open source alternative is Camstudio.org and you can download it free at Camstudio.org

Additionally, you’ll find that a Google search for the term “Free Video Editing Software” will turn up thousands upon thousands of results for you to try. Most of these will offer 30 day trials of their software so you can check it out before you actually buy the product. You’ll also find some “open source” video editors out there that will put a watermark advertisement on your final production. This may take away from the overall video quality so I would advise you to stay away from those.

3- Audio quality is very important whether it’s narration of a video or a straight up MP3 that you are delivering. Computer microphones typically leave a lot to be desired on playback because they are inherently over-sensitive. I would advise you to invest in a lavaliere microphone for the audio portion of your recording. Lavaliere mics are specifically designed for live narration applications and will cancel out most unwanted noise. You don’t particularly need an expensive wireless lavy… you can get a wired, battery powered lavaliere on eBay for as low as twenty bucks and the sound quality will be better than a computer mic by leaps and bounds. Regardless of the mic you choose, always remember to keep it in a fixed location during recording so that it doesn’t pick up motion noises that take away from your production quality. Also, if you are unhappy with the sound, you may consider importing your recorded audio into Audacity (another free program that you can download) and use the Equalization features to tweak the sound quality and edit out unwanted noises.

4- It’s no secret that a professional camera can be expensive, and the lower priced ones will typically call on you to compromise one thing or another in your production quality. If you’re really trying to get that “Pro Flair” I would advise against built in computer cameras and webcams. You’re better off going with a USB Flip by Mino or a Vado by Creative. These are very fairly priced on Amazon and Ebay as you can get one for under a hundred bucks. Unfortunately, the compromise is that they have no mic input for your lavaliere so you will have to be very conscious of ambient environment noises. Regardless of which camera you use, always – ALWAYS remember to put the camera on a tripod.

The next step up from a USB camera would be a digital camcorder WITH a microphone input. These tend to cost a bit more money but the overall production quality of the video AND audio is well worth it in my opinion. Whether it’s a small desktop tripod or a full stand this is a VERY important part of the video quality.

5- You don’t need a studio to produce a quality video or audio recording and that’s a fact. It all comes down to planning and preparation. Being mindful of lighting and using multiple house lamps to cancel out shadows will help dramatically. Also using household items like throw rugs, comforters and cushions as sound dampeners will remove unwanted reverb from your audio. Ultimately, practice preparation, research, creativity and your calculated effort will make up for the lack of a “pro” studio environment.

6- Ok, now lets address the whole accent thing. This is a tough one so I won’t beat around the bush about it and I’m just going to come at it head on for you. The general rule in all types of sales and marketing presentations is to “Appeal To The Masses”. In order to accomplish that, you will want to sound as clear and comprehensible for your viewers as you possibly can. If you feel that your accent is precluding you from making sales then I would have you consider these options. First, you can try outsourcing the narration to a professional by using pre-recorded clips from VoxFlair.com or ordering a custom audio. Another option would be to use sub-captions in your video or text slides. This way the viewer can follow along by reading what you are saying.

7- So you have a face for radio! Ok, if for any reason you’d prefer not to be on camera yourself the quick and easy alternative would be to create a powerpoint presentation or slideshow and just narrate it. Many marketers do this and they add a photograph of themselves to the slideshow so that the viewer can at least see a picture of who they are listening to. You can also outsource this “on screen” work to a trained actor/actress through various live presenter services that you can find through a Google query.

In conclusion I’ll stress the importance of planning and preparing before recording a video or audio project. Put it ALL down on paper first, not just the script… but rather the entire process. You may consider drawing out a flow chart or process map for yourself first. This will keep you focused and give rise to potential challenges on paper first.

Omar Martin is an internet marketing and sales expert. Omar & his partner J.I. Starr help internet marketers succeed online by adding multi-media to their websites. You can get 22 FREE audio flairs by going to http://www.voxflair.com Direct Selling Conference and Awards Site Launches

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The 2010 UK DSA Conference and Awards will be a great event to Share ideas, Learn to recruit and retain sales teams and Prosper.

We’re sponsoring the Web Design / Online Technology Award and we’ve just launched www.dsa-conference.co.uk the event website.

Posted: December 10th, 2009 in team news by Andi |  »
Tags: direct selling association, dsa, iceni, production, web design, website

KIA MOTORS’ FIRST U.S. MANUFACTURING PLANT STARTS PRODUCTION IN WEST POINT, GA

$1 Billion Manufacturing Plant To Create 2,500 Jobs

• State-of-the-art facility is capable of producing 300,000 vehicles annually
• All-new 2011 Sorento CUV is first vehicle built at the plant

WEST POINT, Georgia, November 16, 2009 /PRNewswire/ — The first U.S.-built Kia vehicle1, a white 2011 MY Sorento CUV, rolled off the production line today at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG), officially opening the first U.S. Kia Motors2 plant. KMMG is expected to produce 300,000 vehicles at full capacity and employ 2,500 people, with on-site and nearby suppliers creating 7,500 additional jobs in the region.

“The start of production for our first manufacturing facility in the United States further demonstrates our commitment to growth in North America and we are proud to be adding 2,500 jobs to the local economy,” said B.M. Ahn, group president and CEO, Kia Motors America (KMA) and KMMG.

Representing an investment by Kia Motors of $1 billion, KMMG will establish new benchmarks for vehicle quality and productivity by utilizing some of the world’s most advanced manufacturing techniques. KMMG’s general assembly area is outfitted with more than a half mile of height-adjustable conveyors to achieve the most favorable installation position for each team member and reduce physical fatigue. Also in general assembly, KMMG is the only plant in North America outfitted with wood flooring, which provides a more comfortable and forgiving work environment for team members.

Built on 2,200 acres, the complex includes a body stamping facility, a transmission shop where the all-new 2011 Sorento’s six-speed automatic transmission is produced, and a two mile test track in addition to the main assembly plant. The plant’s 186-foot-long stamping press delivers 5,400 tons of pressure to stamp steel into 17 different types of vehicle panels for the all-new Sorento, operating at a speed of seven to 15 strokes per minute. The massive stamping equipment spans from almost 20 feet below the floor to 39.4 feet high.

KMMG continues Kia Motors’ aggressive investment in the U.S. market. Since 2002, more than $1.3 billion has been invested in various facilities throughout the country, including a dedicated corporate campus and design center in Irvine, Calif., a state-of-the-art research and development center in Ann Arbor, Mich. and custom-built vehicle proving grounds in Mojave, Calif.

Since coming to market in the United States, Kia Motors, through its US-based marketing and distribution arm, KMA, has expanded to a full product line of vehicles and enjoyed 14 years of consecutive market share increases, including a 50 percent increase through October 2009. Most recently, KMA posted its best sales quarter in company history and is one of only three automakers whose sales are up over their 2008 sales pace.

About Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG) is the first manufacturing site in North America for Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, Korea. KMMG is located on 2,200 acres in West Point, Georgia. At full capacity, the plant will have the ability to produce 300,000 vehicles annually and employ approximately 2,500 team members.

About Kia Motors Corporation

Kia Motors Corporation (www.kiamotors.com) – a maker of quality vehicles for the young-at-heart – was founded in 1944 and is Korea’s oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. As part of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, Kia Motors aims to become one of the world’s premier automotive brands. Nearly 1.5 million vehicles a year are produced in 13 manufacturing and assembly operations in eight countries which are then sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 172 countries. Kia Motors today has over 40,000 employees worldwide and annual revenues of over US$14.5 billion. It is the major sponsor of the Australian Open and an official automotive partner of FIFA – the governing body of the FIFA World Cup(tm) – as well as a EUROTOP partner of UEFA. Kia Motors Corporation’s brand slogan – “The Power to Surprise” – represents the company’s global commitment to surpassing customer expectations through continuous automotive innovation.

1 KMMG vehicles are built with U.S. and globally sourced parts.
2 Kia Motors includes Kia Motors Corporation (KMC) and its affiliates, Kia Motors America, Inc. (KMA) and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG).

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