The demo reel goes by different names such as demo tape, demo disc, show reel.
Update your reel with your latest projects when they will show off a new, different or better-looking aspect of your work.
Make sure your email, phone number and/or social media site is clear and easy to find. After all the whole point of the reel is for people to contact you.
Keep it less than two minutes. People don’t watch demo reels longer than that.
Ask friends and colleagues for an honest appraisal of the reel. The more the better. Listen closely to their feedback. Give credit at the end to all who contributed to the reel.
Your reel should be prominently linked on your website.
Produce different reels for different markets. A corporate client is not going to be interested in your wedding videos and vice versa. A cinematography reel will be very different from a producer’s reel.
If your reel is to sell your services to small businesses, you might consider designing it as a case study: problem/solution. This may appeal more to the business owner rather than simply showing eye candy or bells and whistles.
I like your comment “you might consider designing [your small business videos] as a case study: problem/solution. This may appeal more to the business owner rather than simply showing eye candy or bells and whistles.”
But I don’t really understand what you mean and would benefit from a longer explanation. Give an example.
Hi Ondy,
Thanks for your comment. The technique is often seen on video producers websites as they talk about how a video they produced helped a client overcome lagging sales, misunderstanding from their clients’ clients, etc.
Here’s a number of videos that use case studies to help market a client’s products and services:
http://www.simplyzesty.com/Blog/Article/January-2011/10-Of-The-Best-Social-Media-Campaign-Video-Case-Studies
The case study approach can be a great way to help your clients’ businesses with video.