Using video to tell your story

According to the article “5 Tips on How to Explain a Business to the Masses with Video” by contributor Seth High on Entrepreneur’s website, consumers prefer to watch videos about products than to read about them. High says, “One of the easiest ways for businesses to harness the power of video is through animated “explainer” videos, which quickly grab an audience’s attention and tell compelling stories in as little as 60 seconds.” As such, High offers five tips for creating a business narrative video:

• Don’t sell a product — tell a story. Instead of listing a string of benefits about your product or service (which is actually boring to more consumers), create an interesting narrative that both educates consumers and entertains them. You can add benefits into the story, but your primary objective should be to show how your product or service solves a problem. Telling a story makes an experience more relatable to people.
• Craft the video around a single, key message. If you cram too much information into a 60-second video, chances are your consumer will forget what they learned within 10 minutes, High says. Instead, figure out the key message you want your audience to take from the video and build it around that theme. The climax of the narrative should align with this single, strong message.
• Create the video from the consumer’s point of view. Instead of making a story from the company’s point of view, i.e. explaining how great a product is, make it from the consumer’s point of view, which allows them to discover how a product or service can benefit them. High notes that one of the best ways to do this is by telling the story from a third-person point of view.
• Use helpful and familiar metaphors. Using metaphors about something an audience is familiar with not only helps viewers understand complex concepts better, but it also creates a key visual point you can use that will help them remember better what you’re telling them. The more creative the metaphor, the more it distinguishes your business’ video.
• Learn how to explain. If you don’t have the resources to hire a script-writing agency for your business narrative video, you should at least look at some resources to help you learn how to write a narrative script.

Read the full article here.

3 tips for networking at trade shows

According to the article “Pro Tip: How To Maximize Networking At Conferences” by contributor Carrie Kerpen on Forbes’ website, who you know is just as important as what you know in the world of entrepreneurship. For Kerpen, attending conferences and trade shows are great learning experiences, but what she finds even more beneficial about them is that they’re great opportunities to meet others that can help your business grow. As such, Kerpen offers three tips on how to get the most out of a trade show:

• Skip out on some sessions. While there’s no doubt learning is invaluable, it’s also something you can do by simply reading what you want to know on your phone. According to Kerpen, it’s best to mill around in the lobby when there’s a session going on because there will be fewer people hanging around, which makes it easier to go up, introduce yourself, ask how they’re liking the trade show and start talking. It’s also a great time for setting up meetings with other attendees.
• Get numbers. While there’s nothing wrong with swapping business cards, Kerpen says that a great way to network is to get cellphone numbers and start a text messaging rapport. Don’t abuse the texting relationship, but if you meet someone, it’s easy to take out your phone, get a number and say, “I’ll text you after this session so we can meet up and talk more.”
• Network with attendees, not necessarily just the speakers. Kerpen, who has spoken several times at conferences, notes that while it’s a great feeling to talk with attendees afterwards, it’s difficult for each one of them to make a last impression on her, the speaker, simply because there are so many attendees and only one of her. Kerpen’s advice is to email the speaker after the event, detailing specifically what you liked about his or her presentation, and ask if you can get together to talk or if the speaker can offer any advice. At the same time, focus on connecting with other people at the trade show. With so many people around you, you never know what will come of the relationships you start there.

Read the original article here.