Tag Archives: video

Video Production and Editing

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Video is a very powerful medium. We spend so much time consuming it ourselves and the internet has only increased that.  A video can tell a story so much better and can help your business stand out from the crowd. In this guide, we will look at why you should consider using video. What is involved in video production and editing and how you might go about producing a video.

Corporate or business video production is the end-to-end process of making a professional video for communication to external or internal audiences. Content may be used as promotional videos and video marketing, recruiting videos, and for learning and development, or sales.

WHY should you consider using video?

The exponential rise in video adoption across the internet – especially on social media – has inspired businesses to implement video in ever-new and exciting ways. From sales and marketing, right through to internal communications, training and human resources, organisational functions are transforming the way teams communicate with engaging, effective business videos.

Viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video, compared to only 10% when reading text. (Source: Insivia)
78% of people watch online videos every week, with 55% of viewers watching videos every day. (Source: HubSpot)
By 2022, online videos will make up over 82% of all consumer internet traffic – 15 times higher than in 2017. (Source: Cisco)
90% of users say that product videos are helpful in the decision process. (Source: HubSpot)

Videos can be made to help convey the following:
  • How-to videos
  • Tips & tricks content
  • Recorded webinars
  • Behind the scenes videos
  • Customer testimonials
  • Stories that showcase your products or services
  • Business overview

WHAT is involved in video production and editing?

The thought of filming a video can be quite intimidating whether it be a camera pointed in your face or all the equipment perceived to be needed to make it look professional.

To end up with a successful video that will help your business there are 4 key steps:

  1. Planning (or preproduction)
  2. Shooting
  3. Editing
  4. Distributing
Planning

This is the most important step. Long before a camera is even switched on you need to be clear on why you want a video and then come up with the idea for the video. Part of this planning process is also understanding how you will enable people to see the video which might affect how long it is and the creative idea. Next step is to create a storyboard or video plan template which may or may not contain a script depending on how structured the video will be.  This process will help you determine what shots you need to ensure you record everything you need to convey your message. Download a video plan template here.

Shooting

This is where you will shoot or record what you have outlined in your video plan template. Ensure your presenters or interview subjects know what is expected of them and at your selected location look for an interesting backdrop.  Another key consideration is lighting which can be provided by natural light or using artificial lighting.  Never put the sun behind your subject.

Your talent may not even be the star of your video it may be a product or a process. Gathering what is referred to as B roll footage enables other shots to be inserted during editing whilst you still hear the presenters voice.  Stock B roll footage may also be purchased if it is impractical to get the shot.

Before you finish filming ensure both your video and sound is good by playing it back as it will be much easier and potentially cheaper to do a second take then, as not all mistakes can be corrected in editing.

Editing

Editing is the process of taking all the footage you have taken and assembling them in a logical sequence to convey your message. To edit video a video editing software package is required. Free trials are available to help you find one that suits. If you have no experience then you can learn to do this but it does take a certain skill to deliver a professional result.  Be careful not to over-edit with too many transitions between shots and effects. 

The soundtrack is just as important as the video, music and effects can be a useful addition to the recorded speech. Additional voice overs can also be added at this time.

Distribution

Now that you have a video it is time to get people to watch it.  This might be used only for a private audience like training through to anyone on the internet.  Consider who will see it and who should not.  If making the video public consider your audience and where best to display the video which may be multiple places. Some ideas include your website, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

HOW do I create a video?

Now that you understand what is involved you may be feeling confident and you may not. You have some options.

The first option is to outsource the entire project.  A video production company can do everything for you and a short corporate video will probably cost around $5,000 to $10,000.

If you have experience or are feeling confident you can have a go at doing the entire production yourself.  You will need a camera (a modern high-end smartphone has an excellent camera for recording video) and a tripod. If your budget allows a wired or wireless microphone and video light will immediately improve your results. As discussed above video editing software and a reasonably powerful PC will be needed. More details can be found in our guide on buying a PC. Editing a video yourself will take time to learn how to edit then time and patience in to produce the final video.

A third option is available through an innovative Australian company Shootsta who offer a service to provide you with equipment and guidance to shoot the video yourself and then they will edit it professionally within a few days.  They also will take your video footage from your smartphone and edit it. They also offer many instructional videos to help you get that professional result.

HINTS

Great video guides to learn how to make videos can be found here.

According to HubSpot the ideal length of a video used for social media should be:

  • Instagram: 30 seconds
  • Twitter: 45 seconds
  • Facebook: 1 minute
  • YouTube: 2 minutes

You may love a popular song but putting it in your video without permission may put you in court.  Ensure you use royalty-free music and sound effects in your productions.

SUMMARY – Video Production and Editing

Video footage has been proven to enhance a business message. They not only can be used in sales and marketing but also for training.  Always start with a solid plan on how the video will be used and turn that into a checklist to get to that outcome in the video’s production. Your steps of video production include Planning, Shooting, Editing and Distribution.

Having professional help or support in the process will raise the level of your production and increase your chances of the video delivering on the reason you made it in the first place.

D-Link’s Vigilance Series answers Surveillance Needs

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D-Link’s Vigilance Series Surveillance Solutions cater for those needing a reliable, high-resolution business monitoring solution.  This solution does not rely on the internet or Wi-Fi. Instead uses a network video recorder and six different types of surveillance cameras that can be relied upon day and night.

What’s so special about Vigilance Series?

It’s a combination of their functionality, simplicity and ease of use. Traditionally business surveillance solutions have been expensive and complicated. The new D-Link Vigilance Series is the opposite. 

The DNR-4020-16P H.265 PoE Network Video Recorder provides powerful, professional-grade surveillance supporting up to 16 cameras and their power requirements. With up to 4K Gigabit Ethernet Network port which ensures sufficient bandwidth and reliability.

Cameras can stream in real-time, as well as record and playback footage anytime, anywhere. It also supports ultra-high definition 4K giving viewing experiences of the highest quality.

The DNR-4020-16P network video recorder also features support for H.265 (also known as High-Efficiency Video Coding) for improved storage efficiency, saving up to 50% more storage space than previous standards.

This is a big deal as, over time, most businesses generally demand more cameras and higher-quality footage. The DNR-4020-16P supports a storage capacity of up to 16TB via its two internal 3.5” HDD SATA slots. This is enough for most businesses to enjoy a reasonable period of retaining their footage for later use.

D-Link’s new Vigilance Series Surveillance Solutions also have an accompanying free JustConnect+ Mobile App, enabling easy on-the-go viewing and management.

Without going into too many tech specs, each Vigilance Series Camera features a 2, 4, or 8-Megapixel progressive CMOS sensor, which means they deliver superior quality video. They are also IP66 weather-resistant to maintain maximum performance in outdoor environments.

D-Link have more smarts, too, with a Wide Dynamic Range that ensures that imaging is clear in high contrast lighting conditions and 3D Noise Reduction, allowing the camera to capture clearer videos even under poor lighting conditions. They also have something called “30M IR illuminators”, which in layman’s terms mean the Vigilance range of Cameras presents a clear image even when in complete darkness.

Finally, features such as Corridor Mode provide vertically oriented streaming for the maximised field of view when users need to monitor areas such as hallways, staircases and tunnels. You can also block out sensitive areas with the Privacy Mask feature. Their in-built Motion Detection helps to save bandwidth and makes it easier for me to review footage.

All in all, as a small business owner who wants a cost-effective, reliable, high-resolution business surveillance solution D-Link’s new Vigilance Series provides an excellent choice.

Small Business Answers has a buying guide on Video surveillance for Security.

Video surveillance for Security

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Securing your business can take three forms physical, visual, and digital. Physical security is the ability to lock or bar access. Digital security is all about keeping your data safe, make sure you read our essential guide on data security. Video surveillance is the subject for this guide in which we will look at your options and help you make a decision as to what will suit you best.

Video surveillance systems are one or more video cameras on a network that send the captured picture and audio information to a certain place. The images are not public like television. They can be live monitored or stored for later viewing.

WHY should I consider using video security?

Small businesses need to protect their assets by taking measures to ensure they are not stolen, vandalized, or tampered with. A video security surveillance system can provide you that peace of mind.

With a video surveillance system, you can use your camera’s motion detectors to prevent employee theft before business hours. You can record customer interactions to catch potential shoplifters during the day. And you can check-in via your mobile device after closing time to make sure your office is secure.

An extremely useful feature is receiving an alert on your smartphone if movement is sensed during certain hours allowing you to check the footage and respond appropriately.

Video surveillance can assist with the following situations:
  • Alerts of intruders
  • Prevent theft day & night
  • Video evidence of an incident
  • Audit of employee behavior
  • Night vision footage
  • Remote monitoring
  • Police evidence
  • Entry door person identification
  • Carpark security and liability surveillance
  • Congestion monitoring
  • Vandalism monitoring
  • Safety and false claim evidence
  • Progress tracking

WHAT are the video surveillance options available?

Modern innovation and mass production have meant what has been traditionally cost-prohibitive for a small business is now possible.  Traditionally you would have had professional surveillance cameras installed at great expense and have a similar cost hurdle to monitor any activity. This is still an option for you and can be explored by contacting a commercial security provider.

However, now you can buy a solution at your local electronics retailer and have it installed and operational yourself in as little as 20 minutes.  Then with the use of smartphones and the internet, you can receive real-time alerts of suspicious behavior.

The cost per camera starts around $100 and depending on your storage requirements a monthly fee may also be applicable.

Two key features will determine your search for your solution:
  1. Connection – This is how the camera physically connects within your business.
    • Wireless – Means no cables.  A camera will need power and the ability to transfer the image.  Some cameras use Wi-Fi and a battery so they are completely wireless, others plug into power but transfer the picture via wireless. These solutions are easy to install as no new cables need to be run.  They also increase your installation location options.
    • Wired – A physical cable carrying image and power is required to be run between the cameras and a control unit – a more robust solution with no battery needing to be charged and not relying on a Wi-Fi solution but harder to install.
    • 4G –4G refers to the mobile phone technology, this solution is a complete stand-alone solution allowing video surveillance to occur on a site with no fixed internet connectivity, such as a building site.  If bundled with a solar panel all that you need to also consider is a mobile data plan/SIM from a telco.
  2. Storage – All mainstream solutions will not only allow you to have a live feed but also provide various options to store recordings for later viewing. Video stored can be set as continuous or by a triggered event.
    • Local – This could be via an SD storage card within the camera or via a base station with storage. This allows for recordings up to your storage capacity i.e. a larger SD card capacity will allow more footage to be recorded (once full it starts to wipe the oldest content). The advantage is no ongoing fees and potentially having a longer archive of the recordings.
    • Cloud – This is a cloud-based solution with more details available in our cloud solutions guide. Camera vendors will offer a cloud-based storage solution which means the vision from the camera is captured in the cloud for remote viewing from anywhere even if the camera has been disabled. Some offer free storage but upgraded monthly subscriptions will allow you to have footage for longer and have a continuous record if required.

HOW do I decide which security camera is right for my small business?

There are a growing number of brands in this space and picking the right one is dependent on your business’s specific needs.

Below is a list of features you should consider when making your decision;
  • Weatherproof – Indicates the camera can be mounted outdoors as well as indoors. Indoor-only cameras are cheaper.
  • Viewing angle – represented in degrees of vision the camera sees. 180 deg would be a half-circle showing anything in front of the camera, 90 degrees would be quarter of a circle centered by the direction the camera is facing.
  • Activity zone – This is the ability to set movement triggers to activate recording only to certain portions of the screen.  If a camera has some parts of a road in its field of vision you may not wish every car passing to trigger a recording/alert event.
  • Image quality – refers to image resolution. HD or 4K resolution is best if you want to clearly see a face or number plate.
  • Motion detection – This is a sensor which senses movement or sometimes heat to trigger recording/alert –  some models can distinguish between a pet and a human.
  • Night vision – The ability to record in low light settings without a spotlight
  • Cloud storage – Review which plans if any will best suit your needs.
  • Wireless – Some cameras will use your Wi-Fi, others will set up their own separate wireless network. The latter will mean less congestion on your Wi-Fi network.
  • Battery life – With battery models understand how often the battery will need to be removed and charged.  A spare battery can simplify the process.
  • Solar Panel – Allows a battery camera to work outside without charging.
  • Playback options – Review the smartphone app to ensure it meets your needs. Some additionally support Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.
  • 2 way – This may allow light or a siren to be activated or speech via 2 way talk.
  • Expandability – Check the number of cameras each solution will support.
  • Specific solutions –  May be available including baby monitor, doorbell, security light, and camouflage options.
  • Support – If you need help or things go wrong what support is available?

HINTS

A surveillance camera is not just about having the ability to watch and record footage. It is also the fact that individuals can see they are being watched, so it acts as a deterrent as they believe they may get caught doing the wrong thing.

Position camera’s so they will protect what you want to secure like cash registers, entrances and items of value.

SUMMARY – Economical business video surveillance

Beyond locking the door and protecting your computer files a video surveillance solution can help protect your business, your staff, and your customers.  Economical self-installed solutions are available with easy smartphone access.  Visit our sister site Gadget Guy for reviews on different models available.