We used to do short films for clients that took weeks to plan, weeks to shoot and edit and never came in for less than £30k. Now we’re experimenting with ‘guerrilla video’ — planning and shooting in a few days, editing in a few more and getting it straight on to the web.
Instead of a 5-6 person, two camera crew, we’re sending out a camcorder and a lavalier (lapel) microphone for interviews — it’s amazing how much better a video ‘looks’ if its sound is strong and clear (something the mic on the camera can never give you).
The point of guerrilla video is to shoot first and ask questions later. If the footage is disappointing or the experiment is a failure, you’ve lost very little. If you get good footage, you’re ready to edit.
With broadband now ubiquitous, it’s easy to justify video content for B2B websites. If you’ve got a story to tell, a product to demonstrate or an idea to evangelise… talk to us about getting it on screen quickly and cost-effectively.
And talk to Roger about using this video content for boosting SEO by spreading the love beyond your own site.
While we’re at it… a big shout out to the folks at VNL – Pär Almqvist, Anil Raj and Elise Alpen – for the courage and spirit to dive in where traditional marketers fear to tread. Watch this space.
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John Gillett May 30th, 2008
The guerilla video concept is new to B2B, but sounds like an ideal way for startups to create brand awareness and to breathe new life into tired brands or products.
Doug Kessler June 5th, 2008
Exactly — the idea is to drive down the barrier by hitting the sweet spot where production values and costs are balanced.
Just came back from a shoot in rural India where we used two camcorders, one tripod and a lapel microphone. We got fantastic footage for the client which we’ll turn into a whole range of video tactics — from short clips for presentations to a long version for internal staff and recruits.