Milestone

10 ways to supercharge your video content

It’s never been easier to make and share videos. But is your business and brand getting the most from this media?

Here are 10 ways to supercharge your video content.

1. What’s the story?

Make sure there is a compelling narrative to even your shortest clips. All good storytelling is about setting up a problem for your character and then taking them on a journey to resolve it. What is the problem your product solves? How can you dramatise the journey to its solution?

2. A human face

Even a simple piece to camera gives the viewer so much more information about you and your brand than static text on a web page. It could be you or your customers talking about your product. But website visitors like to consume information at their own pace. Don’t force video content on them.

3. Simplify the complex

If you have complex products, processes and plans, video can be the best way to communicate with customers and colleagues. Think, how many PowerPoint screens you would need, to get across what a video could do in minutes?

4. The power of search

As well as enhancing the customer experience, video content is given extra weight by search engines assessing your site. Plus, all the description data and links, to and from YouTube/Vimeo, give your search rankings another big boost. Take care with naming, describing and tagging your video files for key word search.

5. Explore the possibilities

Motion graphics, animation, kinetic text, green screen, After Effects, video banners, live drawing, CGI, infographics, 3D. There’s a whole world of video possibilities (and jargon) to explore. There’s no excuse for being boring.

6. Animate the facts

Infographics are a current trend for displaying facts and stats. But how much more powerful could they be when animated.

7. Go viral

True viral videos that spread across the globe are rare. And most commercial examples have big budgets behind them. But you can share video with a just small customer base and generate a big impact on sales.

8. User generated content

With smartphone ownership at 45%, there’s a lot of potential movie makers out there. If you haven’t got time to make your own, get your customers and employees to send you their videos.

9. Production values

Following on from point 8, with a half decent smartphone, script and location anyone can put together a mini-movie these days. But with a little extra care, kit and crew you can create something of real quality. Make sure your video matches your brand values.

10. Short is sweet

How long is a YouTube video? The average is 2 mins 1 second. 2 to 3 minutes is the length of an average news feature on TV, so we’re comfortable watching stories that long. But if it’s good enough why not longer? Unlike real TV, there’s no fixed length for a YouTube video. But, attention spans do seem to be getting shorter.

How Milestone can help.

We can create high impact video and motion graphics for web, advertising, digital media, broadcast, conferences and events.

Our strength in this media is the way we combine dynamic animated graphics with stunning live action, sound and tight scripting. We can create amazing branded short films that convey your most complex messaging quickly and memorably.

Take a look at our showreel and get in touch.

Happy Birthday Russ

Russ Birthday

We’d all like to say happy birthday to Russ, one of our super talented team of creatives here at Milestone. We’re especially happy for him as he came in this morning us with a plate of luxury cakes that Mary Berry would be proud of. Whilst we don’t approve of bribery, it may well help his career prospects in the future. We might even get him InDesign 6 to play with.

P.S. He still won’t say how old he is though. Want to have a guess?

Jump into 2013

Salmon Jumper

Outstanding sales figures for Christmas jumpers this year will hopefully give the retail sector a much needed boost in confidence going into 2013. Indeed, many of our own Milestonians have been seen sporting novelty knits this season. And at one point during our Christmas bash in London we were all diverted into an establishment specialising in sensational sweaters. I’m still smarting that I missed out on this unique salmon backed beauty.

Take a look at our Facebook page for more novelty knits.

Best wishes for Christmas and The New Year from all at Milestone.

Mo Milestonians

This year at Milestone we’re all supporting Movember – even the girls! Thanks to the miracle of Photoshop everyone is now sporting a fine mo on our website.

For every like we get on Facebook in November we’ll donate an extra tenner to Prostate Cancer UK.

Matt has gone for the real thing and is fast turning into Paul Hollywood from the Great British Bake Off.

uk.movember.com

 

Mo Milestones

 

 

 

James Bond in Action…

All you Bond fans out there will be eagerly anticipating the much hyped opening of Skyfall this Friday. What you may not know is Hasbro produced a collectors’ range of James Bond Action Men in the late 90s – with packaging designed by Milestone. Feast your eyes on this retro range. In a bid for authenticity we got the original film poster artists from each movie to illustrate the packs. And all genuine movie prop details were shot at the Bond archives. The finishing touch was an actual frame from a genuine Bond movie reel in each pack. They don’t make them like they used to…

Liimited Edition James Bond Action Man Packs

James Bond Action Man Pack inside

How do you make a Royal Flush?

At Milestone Design we think the Jubilee celebrations call for a creative cocktail. So, here it is – the Royal Flush. Fresh from the Milestone mixologists, it combines red, white and blue spirits in a daring triple-layered shot. Find out what’s in it and see Ian attempt to make one on The Long Walk, Windsor in our short film.

Have a great bank holiday break, from the Milestone team.

Cheers!

2012 RAC Report on Motoring

This year’s RAC Report on Motoring goes live today. There are 30 million drivers in the UK today – the Report, based on the views of over 1,000, shows their attitudes to the cars they drive, the road network, transport policy and the behaviour of other drivers.

Our design for this year’s Report includes many striking infographics showcasing the headline statistics. Each chapter features our own photography which captures the everyday driving stories, incidents, issues and characters on British roads.

Download your copy…

RAC Report on Motoring

The Roof of Africa

Kathryn at Kilimanjaro summit

At the beginning of 2011 I decided that I would set myself three challenges to carry out during the following 12 months, a skydive in March, the London 10k run in July and then the finale – attempting to summit Kilimanjaro.

After a whole year of training and preparation, on the 1st February this year I set off for Tanzania.

It was a grueling but beautiful 10 days on the mountain. Altitude sickness & loss of appetite was an issue from about day 2 but with the help of our leader, medic & fantastic porters I pulled it together! I’m not sure I will ever be able to explain the mixture of feelings & emotions I experienced on summit night & the sheer elation when I made it to the top.

Climbing Kilimanjaro, as I predicted was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life but has also been the most rewarding. I made some amazing friends along the way – we called ourselves ‘Team Lucky’. Everyone looked after each other & kept spirits high.

It has been strange being back home, I missed life on the mountain & the comradeship of our team but Im enjoying a rest from training and am so grateful for the small home comforts I once took for granted!

I’m delighted to say that my 3 challenges have now raised over £4000 for Brain Tumour UK – the leading, caring charity committed to fighting brain tumours. Their work focuses on providing support, funding research and raising awareness.

I would like to thank everyone who has sponsored and supported me & for anyone who would still like to donate they can at www.justgiving.com/kathrynearl

Would I do it again?……. If you had asked me the same question on summit night, I may well have said no! …. but I HIGHLY recommend everyone to do it, it really was a rewarding life changing experience & I’m already thinking about what my next challenge can be!