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Home: Video University Forums: Marketing & Business:
Need advice on trying to break into the corporate market

szerangue
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Nov 29, 2006, 10:27 AM

Post #1 of 12 (3419 views)
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Need advice on trying to break into the corporate market	Can't Post

I have been a regular on the wedding forums for the past 4 years but have just recently became full time at video. I need a way to supplement my wedding video income. I need some guidance on marketing to the business crowd. Is freelancing the way to go? Who do I market to? Any guidance would be helpful.
Thanks
Miracle Pictures
"If it's a good picture, it's a Miracle!"

"Life Productions, coming out of the dark, into the light"
4EVER GROUP AFFILIATE

videobear
Veteran

Nov 29, 2006, 11:55 AM

Post #2 of 12 (3415 views)
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Re: [szerangue] Need advice on trying to break into the corporate market [In reply to]	Can't Post

You need Hal's "Video Producer Home Study Course"! This is what I'd call Hal's "Flagship product", and he offers a money-back guarantee.

Regards,
Doug Graham
Panda Productions

szerangue
Veteran

Nov 29, 2006, 12:39 PM

Post #3 of 12 (3413 views)
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Re: [videobear] Need advice on trying to break into the corporate market [In reply to]	Can't Post

you think? I gotta say, I am a little reluctant about buying a how to book. I bought the wedding video professional book from Hal and although it was informative, I think I got more out of the forums than I did the book.
Miracle Pictures
"If it's a good picture, it's a Miracle!"

"Life Productions, coming out of the dark, into the light"
4EVER GROUP AFFILIATE

hlanden
The Dean / Moderator

Dec 4, 2006, 3:12 PM

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Sorry you didn't like the Wedding For Profit book.

I wrote and lived the Professional Producer course. For over 15 years I made my living producing business videos. I learned (sometimes the hard way) what works and what doesn't and how to market, sell and contract these services to businesses and non-profits. I guarantee this course will help you profit from these services or I'll give you a full refund.

http://videouniversity.com/course.htm

Hal
401 253 2800
Produce Profitable Special Interest Videos

szerangue
Veteran

Dec 4, 2006, 3:26 PM

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Hal, thank you. It was not that I did not like the book, the book gave me a very good start and a road to begin my travels. But it fell short of actually telling me how to become a wedding videographer. Most of what I learned, I learned from VU and real experience... I am still learning. Thanks again, Hal... I will check out the business course.
Miracle Pictures
"If it's a good picture, it's a Miracle!"

"Life Productions, coming out of the dark, into the light"
4EVER GROUP AFFILIATE

Hulk
User

Jan 18, 2007, 4:16 PM

Post #6 of 12 (2970 views)
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Re: [hlanden] Need advice on trying to break into the corporate market [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Hal. I'm considering purchasing your book because I eventually want to minimize the amount of weddings I do and go to corporate especially if I can make the same amount of money. By following your methods, will I see results. I don't know where to even start.

hlanden
The Dean / Moderator

Jan 19, 2007, 9:41 AM

Post #7 of 12 (2947 views)
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Re: [Hulk] Need advice on trying to break into the corporate market [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Hulk,

My methods work. They worked for me and for many others. I can't promise you that you will be successful. Selling corporate videos is a very different animal from selling consumer videos. I can certainly show you what to do and what works. And I will also help you along the way as I do others who choose to use my home study course.

Give me a call after Jan 25 and I'll be glad to discuss the business with you in more detail.

Hal Landen
Call 401 253 2800 after Jan 25

Professional Video Producer home study course
http://videouniversity.com/course.htm
Produce Profitable Special Interest Videos

Shadow
Veteran

Mar 20, 2007, 11:48 PM

Post #8 of 12 (2525 views)
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Re: [szerangue] Need advice on trying to break into the corporate market [In reply to]	Can't Post

I've done quite a bit of corporate work over the past few years. All of which I got through networking. I had a yellow pages ad, got nothing from it.

My advice would be to join some networking groups. But be mindful which ones. A lot of times they are mainly made up of newbees in self employment and they don't have money to spend. Try to see if you can be a guest at your local chamber of commerce. Many networking groups have it set up so you can come as a guest for 1 meeting. See who's there, try to figure if it is your crowd.

The other thing you can do is create presentation packages for clients you want to work with. For example, if you're interested in doing training videos, create a marketing package geared to them. You might want to consider a sales workshop as well. It's a bit of a different world doing corporate, meeting, putting in quotes, selling your business.

Here's a list of the corporate stuff I did last year - 11 training videos, 1 promotional video, 1 educational/medical video, 5 web videos, a mini-documentary/promotional piece and another couple of different little promo videos. ALL of which I got through people I knew through business groups/networking groups.

If you're going to give networking a go and it is new to you, I'd suggest learning effective networking. The worst is spending an evening at a networking function, getting suckered into hearing someone's life story or being 'sold to' all night and not meeting any prospects or feel that you've started to build a good ground in the group. It's a waste of time and money if that is what happens at the meetings. I hate networking functions, but honestly it is the only way I ever got any corporate gigs.

At one time I tried a small business trade show, I didn't get anything from it.

Good luck with it all.

__________________________

krissimmons
User

Mar 31, 2007, 3:26 AM

Post #9 of 12 (2460 views)
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Re: [szerangue] Need advice on trying to break into the corporate market [In reply to]	Can't Post

7 years ago, I started my video business with Hal's Wedding Video for Profit Guide and Video Producer's Course. (It's been a LONG time since I've cracked those books open so forgive me if I got the titles wrong.) Both worked amazingly well in helping me to get set up and off to a great start. Any educational book can only be valuable if the people who read them actually execute the recommendations made in the book. Of course, our results are based on several other factors as well. (market, business skills, competition, etc.)

I guess my main purpose in this post is to reinforce the fact that these two books assume you already know how to shoot/edit videos. They simply take it several steps further by helping you understand how to properly set up a business so that you can eventually profit from those skills.

It is possible to learn a lot by frequenting these forums. However, getting an organized manual written by industry professionals who have demonstrated success in this business is priceless. I think the cost of the course back in 2000 was around $150 or so. I remember that being a BIG deal to shell that out back when times were tough. However, I made over $30,000 my first year in business so it was definitely worth it to insure I got started on the right track.

The Video Producer's Course WILL HELP YOU build the necessary foundation for getting into corporate work. I remember getting it in the mail a few days after I received my business license. I was so proud of my little 8x8 room in the garage of my rented duplex. It was my time to prove to the world that I could produce a video they were willing to pay for and Hal's course was quickly stained with coffee and cheetos. The rest is history.
____________________________
Kris Simmons
http://www.FEPvideo.com

szerangue
Veteran

Mar 31, 2007, 8:57 AM

Post #10 of 12 (2451 views)
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Re: [krissimmons] Need advice on trying to break into the corporate market [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks Kris,
I have started reading the book in between editing my backlog.. I have made a couple of lame and unsuccessful attempts at contacting a couple of businesses but I realize that I am not yet prepared to offer anyone anything yet. I am planning on doing a few non-profit organization promotional videos for free and am waiting on one to contact me. I think it will happen and I am going to try to get a few of those under my belt while I still have weddings to shoot and produce. At least I will have an income while I am learning about corporate. I have also thought about getting certified for legal work but I want to talk to a couple of court reporting agencies before I invest in that.
Thanks for your time.
Shane
Miracle Pictures
"If it's a good picture, it's a Miracle!"

"Life Productions, coming out of the dark, into the light"
4EVER GROUP AFFILIATE

krissimmons
User

Mar 31, 2007, 11:39 AM

Post #11 of 12 (2445 views)
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Re: [szerangue] Need advice on trying to break into the corporate market [In reply to]	Can't Post

Be on the look out for videotaping/editing corporate meetings and events as well. You'd be surprised at how many meetings are out there that aren't recorded for archival purposes or later distribution. When you are first getting started, you can offer these services dirt cheap in order to build your credibility. Plus, if you aren't working during the week anyway, a few dollars here an there will certainly help you to start paying for all your equipment, software, etc.

Another model that works brilliantly is to offer to videotape and distribute copies of an association meeting for free. Chamber meetings, rotary meetings, PRSA meetings, Advertising Federation meetings, etc. are great places to do this. A large percentage of the audience will be in your target market so allowing them to "sample" your services is a great way to make a name for yourself in a hurry. Just make sure the work is good so the "name" you build for yourself it a good one.
____________________________
Kris Simmons
http://www.FEPvideo.com

szerangue
Veteran

Mar 31, 2007, 6:40 PM

Post #12 of 12 (2434 views)
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Thanks Kris,,, good advice... I will follow up next week on your lead.. thanks
Miracle Pictures
"If it's a good picture, it's a Miracle!"

"Life Productions, coming out of the dark, into the light"
4EVER GROUP AFFILIATE