Ask Camcorders

Word of mouth is the best form of marketing. It creates trust. People often will pass up a better deal to work with someone they trust will do the job and do it well. One very effective way to accomplish all of this is doing mass marketing with your own DVD or CD.

You’re probably thinking this could be expensive. Well let me show you how this works. You can get yourself a cheap camcorder on Ebay. After you videotape yourself you can have it transferred for twenty dollars on to a DVD. You can then have one thousand mass copied for seventy eight cents each or less. I will show you the process.

Before I do let me explain something important. People will throw away an ad before looking at it. But people will have a hard time throwing away a CD or DVD before looking at it or listening to it. They will feel obligated to check it out. We grew up that way. We all feel that CDs and DVDs are expensive. You just don’t throw away a Disc!

Now this next part is interesting. Because they have now invited you into their home by listening or viewing your disc, you have seriously become a bit of a celebrity. It’s the way the mind works. By hearing your voice they will feel like they know you. If you keep your presentation within fifteen minutes and fill it with information about your service or what you do then they will be interested. Do not sell them on anything. Teach them.

Even if it is something they are not interested in they will remember you. When they are talking with someone who is interested or needs your service they will bring you up. This is how the mind works.

To produce your own DVD first get yourself a cheap camcorder. You can get cheap ones on Ebay. Put the device on a stand or get someone to hold it for you. Like I said before, keep it within fifteen minutes and don’t sell your audience. Teach them. Show them what you do and what you have to offer. Knowledge will sell. We are built to learn. It’s good for us. It’s interesting.

Then go online and do a search for “Video Transfer” in your area. On the left side you will see a list of people hungry for your business. Find someone who will transfer video for no more than twenty dollars. Next go online and do a search for DVD duplication in your area. If you go to the store and buy your own cheap DVDs you can find someone who will burn one hundred for you for one dollar each. If you want a thousand you don’t need to buy your own DVDs. They can mass replicate them with full color graphics on the face of the DVD for less than eighty cents each.

This is a great way to market yourself. People will know you. They won’t forget you and deep downside they will appreciate the information you have given them. It’s interesting how much we hold ourselves back from learning about things. Knowledge always gives us possibilities and opens new doors. All of our hopes and dreams are limited to only what we know. All our decisions are based on only what we know.

Here is a list of basic equipment that you should start assembling if you want to market using videos on the web.

1. There are many video cameras or camcorders that will serve you well. However, don’t just go out and buy the first pretty one that hits your eye. You will have to look very hard to find a video camera that has a MIC IN jack.

Why is that so important? Your videos will sound more professional. If you don’t use an external microphone, the microphone on the camera will pick up the ambient noise, the echos of the room and you will probably sound like you are inside a barrel when you make your videos. That is very distracting to the listener.

2. If you check carefully, you can find great video cameras on eBay Video Camcorders, make sure you get a camera that has an external Mic In Jack. (I am serious, don’t make the mistake of getting a camera without one.)Start with an affordable used camcorder, if you must. There are numerous digital video or Mini DV cameras available that will fit the bill. Look for the PV-GS300 digital video camera. If you watch carefully and consistently, you will find them become available for auction on eBay. It should be in the $300 to $600 range.

The Canon GL2 camera that I use is more that satisfactory. It is a 3CCD mini DV camcorder. They are available new for about $2,000 and used for about $1,500 from bhphotovideo. They are also available for much less on eBay.

I would avoid the new AVCHD type video cameras for the time being. Most of the video editing software will not work with this format yet. You want your camera to record on to Mini DV tape.

Check bhphotovideo for a good assortment of new and used video cameras. You can obtain a warranty with most of your purchases, also.

3. To record that professional sound, a lavalier mic is the best choice. A lavalier mic that is very affordable is the Audio-Technica Omni directional ATR35s. It works great and it has a very long cord so you can run it up your shirt and even down your pant leg.

Check mics on ebay You will find one for about $25. It works great, too. (Remember, that is why you were smart and purchased a video camera with an external mic connection.)

4. Don’t forget, video lighting is important to the success in video production. We have all watched too many videos that were lighted poorly on YouTube and many of the other video sharing sites. The common mistakes are: * Not enough light — too many shadows * Back lighting from a window, causing the face to be in shadow * Fuzzy images because the aperature is wide open and there just isn’t enough light to do the job * No tripod employed to help with the steadiness of the picture * Poor color accuracy because of poor light color temperature. Room lights look yellow in many videos

You can fix that lighting problem quite simply and inexpensively. Here is an affordable light system that you will find works fantastically well. Be careful: Don’t accidentally buy a lighting system designed for still photography. You want a steady light for video. Again, on eBay you can get these lights: PHOTO LIGHTING BOX – photobox video umbrella photography 2 Tripods, 2 Light Holders, 2 Photoboxes,2 Bulbs,1 CASE for approximately $150 to $180. Mine are from StillShot2 and they are an excellent value.

We are almost done with the list. Hang in there.

5. Next, you must have a tripod. While you are at it, get a fluid head type tripod. It helps you when you are panning a scene. This type tripod isn’t that much more expensive than a regular tripod, but it is essential to making good videos.

OK, this is the last item.

6. Sony Vegas Video 8 or 9 software is fantastic. (You can most likely get by with the non Pro version.) It is easy to learn and very empowering. It will be able to do much more than you will probably need – certainly at first.Here is a logical comparison for you to consider. If you use Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Word, you probably use 20% of the total capabilities of either Excel or Word. This is also true of Sony Vegas Video. You won’t need all the features of the software, but as time goes by, you may, in fact, use the other capabilities. If you are a Mac user, Final Cut Express is the way to go.