Become A Video Production Superstar!

Steve Yankee

This is a time when small video business owners are facing increased competition. It's harder to get noticed because the world has gotten "noisier."

Traditional marketing methods like advertising, direct mail, cold calling -- or just sitting around and waiting for the phone to ring -- just don't work anymore.

Here's a way to get noticed -which means cutting through the clutter and addressing the "know you, like you, trust you" factor that is critical to win over today's increasing jaded consumers.

In an interview I recently conducted with business consultant Steven VanYoder, the author of "Get Slightly Famous" told me that his concept is that "the best clients and customers are those who seek you out because they have ALREADY heard of you.

"You do this, VanYoder told me, "by becoming a center of influence within your community and industry -- the one person that people consider first and eagerly refer to their friends."

Here are Steven's six basic steps to become "Slightly Famous."

1. Target the best prospects

2. Develop a unique market niche

3. Position your business as the best solution

4. Maintain your visibility

5. Enhance your credibility

6. Establish your brand and reputation

I agree completely with Steven: Working on these principles is your recipe for getting out of the anonymity trap, creating a slightly famous you, and building a successful video production business!

:::

You can read the entire interview, by the way, in the Video Business Advisor -click here for details:

:::

Along this line of thinking, Dave Solberg of Passport Media Creations, a great marketer and a very active member of the Video Business Advisor, wrote me this last week:

"I was just appointed to a vacant seat on our local City Council and it gave me an idea that your VBA'ers may be able to use.

"The reason they even ASKED me to consider a Council job was my technology experience.

"Here in Clear Lake, Iowa I'm preceived as the "Technology Expert"!

"It started with a "freebie" that I did for the Chamber which expanded to an appointment to the Chamber as VP of Technology.

"I've helped with several projects along the way and not all of them for free. I was then appointed to the Technology Committee for the local EDC and help the local community college develop a new cirriculum for video production/web streaming. I then recruited (sold) the local telephone company and bank to purchase a digital camera for the fire department to help with recruiting and training, then expanded it to videotape the
council meetings.

"It's a lot of work, but it has translated into project$. The touch screen work I've done as an affiliate for the hardware company AND all the programming that has brought me, a video and training program for the Sanitary District (I've already heard all the jokes!), and numerous commercials.

"You've talked before about networking, this is similar but actually positioning! VBA'ers need to get involved and
demonstrate their technology expertise and establish the idea that THEY are the person to go to for ANY technology question or problem. It works."

:::

Darn right it does, David.

One way to start establishing your own reputation as the video go-to-guy (or gal) is to start getting your name out
to your local media. You can do that easily with this tool.

And if you're in the wedding video business and looking for a real boost to your reputation, check this out.