Video has always been king. This week Instagram rolled out it’s latest major updated with IGTV. This will allow users to upload videos of up to one hour in length. Previously users could only upload videos of a limit of one minute. Users can access IGTV Video on the Instagram homescreen or download the standalone app. This is a game changer for creators and marketers alike. Creators will be able to develop their channels with different videos that users can subscribe to and even put links in the description of their videos to drive traffic to their personal website or elsewhere.
Currently, there are no ads on IGTV, but in their announcement of the update, Instagram did mention that ads could eventually end up here. But that doesn’t mean this is not an additional place for brands to create and distribute long form videos.
The 2017 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros kicked off on Tuesday night. The fall classic, no matter who is playing in it grabs my attention. Baseball is America’s past times and October baseball is one of the greatest sports joys. Clearly, one of the biggest stories from Game 1 was an ad, and it was the talk of social media during the game. The most prized ad real estate is the backstop behind home plate, it is the most visible spots in all of sports, as that spot is shown during every pitch of the game. YouTube game up with a clever way to utilize that spot, by having a banner advertising their YouTube TV.
Creating videos has always been an interest of mine, ever since I was a little kid I thought I would end up as a TV broadcaster. I have been extremely fortunate to be able to incorporate my interest in video into my marketing career.
Music is a lifeblood. These first 2 videos were music videos I masterminded during my 9 years at Visit Lake County. The first one of the final video to the Lake County Song search that I created and generated 75K views on social media the first week of the videos launch. The video is set to the tune of the contest’s winning song, sung by Dylan Kroll. The second one is the first music video that I orchestrated was set to the tune of the American Authors hit single, Best Day of My Life, that we had Lake County artist Justin Yates sing.
Lake County Song Search final video. You can read all about it here.
Visit Lake County - 'Best Day of My Life' Music Video
I was able to put my broadcasting knowledge and reporter dreams to use during my 9 years at Visit Lake County, as the mastermind behind their video strategy and host of the Enjoying the Ride Around Lake County webisode series.
I was finally able to do a Facebook Live video recently on an organization’s page. I was more excited about this than I probably should have been. I have been itching to do a ‘Live’ Facebook video ever since I heard they were launching it. I couldn’t wait for Facebook to feature live video beyond celebrities and verified pages, so that everyone can get in on the bandwagon. Live streaming has been around for a couple of years now, but really caught steam with Meerkat, and Periscope. Before I even used it, I thought this would be huge, especially when I was at Visit Lake County. Pages were already seeing an uptick in engagement when you uploaded a video directly to Facebook vs. posting the Youtube link. Read more →
Viral Videos. They happen all the time but one simply does not go viral. Believe it or not, I hear, ‘we have a video coming out tomorrow, can you share it because we want it to go viral’. I do not laugh or shake my head, it is the new normal and they just may be taking orders from the higher ups. How can you blame them for wanting eyes on their video? Everyone wants that when they publish a it to Facebook or YouTube.
I believe that many videos that go viral, do so because of timing, current events and luck. With that said, the goal should never be to go viral. Too many marketers and brands go for the Hail Mary, rather than utilizing Google Analytics and social insights to drive more engagement. Usually, the video that is launched is not backed with the appropriate content strategy or fits within the current strategy. Brands, marketers and upper management are obsessed with the big view video that ultimately has a short lifespan. Read more →
When new technology comes out or becomes hot, I like to test it personally and then figure out how it can be used for the brand. I think of what I would do with it to promote the brand, how it will benefit the brand and do we have time to incorporate it and do it well instead of just doing it because everyone else is doing it. If this is another social network, I think about how it will be incorporated in our strategy and how we will get people to follow us on this new network and be relevant.
Recently, for the first time, I decided to add Periscope to our wheelhouse and do some live videos when we are out filming creating our YouTube videos for Visit Lake County. The first video I did was 2 weeks ago, and it was on Six Flags Great America making their announcement of a new coaster coming in 2016. I figured this was a pretty easy and I could potentially have a decent attendance, especially with some coaster enthusiasts. As it turned out, I was quite surprised with how it went and the amount of people who were watching us live and interacting us. Read more →
The 2017 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros kicked off on Tuesday night. The fall classic, no matter who is playing in it grabs my attention. Baseball is America’s past times and October baseball is one of the greatest sports joys. Clearly, one of the biggest stories from Game 1 was an ad, and it was the talk of social media during the game. The most prized ad real estate is the backstop behind home plate, it is the most visible spots in all of sports, as that spot is shown during every pitch of the game. YouTube game up with a clever way to utilize that spot, by having a banner advertising their YouTube TV.
I was finally able to do a Facebook Live video recently on an organization’s page. I was more excited about this than I probably should have been. I have been itching to do a ‘Live’ Facebook video ever since I heard they were launching it. I couldn’t wait for Facebook to feature live video beyond celebrities and verified pages, so that everyone can get in on the bandwagon. Live streaming has been around for a couple of years now, but really caught steam with Meerkat, and Periscope. Before I even used it, I thought this would be huge, especially when I was at Visit Lake County. Pages were already seeing an uptick in engagement when you uploaded a video directly to Facebook vs. posting the Youtube link. 
