To Camcorder Enthusiastกs: What Does ‘Reality TV’

To Camcorder Enthusiastกs: What Does ‘Reality TV’ Really Mean? Great News for the camcorder user!

by: Mark Sturge

Reality TV is experiencing an upsurge in popularity and its presence has conditioned the publicกs acceptance of a number of things:

That lead actors being trained and polished กperformersก is no longer a necessity.

Camcorder movement. As the use of กdolliesก, กjibsก and even กsteadycamsก to obtain smooth motion/tracking shots are often at odds with site and time constraints.

Reduction in production values of video, lighting and audio.

Whilst a ‘reduction in production valuesก may not inspire confidence, it bodes as a positive to the small time camcorder operator in reduced production costs. And the savvy camcorder operator can make up any shortfall with a little imagination and a lot of ingenuity.

กAnyone can be a video producerก, says Mark Sturge, of KMS Productions ‘technology has delivered the tools and there is an emerging group of people who know that (don’t tell anyone this) video and even television production is easy, if you have the right plan.

กDesktop video is a huge opportunity.ก Mark goes on to explain กEveryday people are looking for special memories to be preserved on video tape or DVD. That family occasion/party/wedding or their childrenกs sports events filmed with a camcorder. And now getting their favourite sport or hobby on TV is possible. Yes… possible. And you can be the video producer that does it for them!ก

Most people think that it takes big bucks to produce video for television or commercial release. The inside secret is that you can produce quality video productions with a relatively small investment and having the right plan that can take you stepbystep through the process is a crucial component. Here are the steps Mark suggests you should follow:

Get yourself a high resolution camcorder.

Learn how to use your camcorder to produce กcompellingก video (this sounds obvious, but it can be where the majority of operators กdrop the ballก).

Engineer cost effective solutions to produce professional production values (in particular the areas of lighting and audio).

Polish your production with your desktop editing system.

Submit your production to program managers that accept public submissions, create a professional looking DVD series to sell etc..

So what are you waiting for? Pick up that camcorder, boot up your pc and กSay It With Videoก!

About The Author

Mark Sturge

Mark Sturge is the owner of KMS Productions and webmaster at http://www.videoproductionmastery.com/camcorder.html A site where visitors can find information, training videos and manuals that help people to better their video techniques or discover ways to earn an income from their video taking hobby.

This article was posted on September 05

by Mark Sturge

What Makes Your Online Ads Persuasive?

What Makes Your Online Ads Persuasive?

by: Lil Waldner

The first impression that the people get from your ad decides if they click or skip. This shows that writing really persuasive ads is not easy. Writing irrestisible internet ads needs some skills. You can acquire these skills, if you follow some rules.

Simplify your message

Focus on your customers need! What are they looking for? What is special on your website for your customers? Write a simple language with common words. Use verbs more often than nouns. Using verbs makes your texts dynamic. Propagate a positive message and avoid hype.

Follow the AIDA rule:

Attention:

Your ad needs to catch the attention of the audience. The title has to be determined with caution. Look at the title of this article as example. Why have you clicked to view this article? Does it exactly offer what your are looking for? Your ad title has to meet the people’s need. You can use a question to awake the curiosity of the audience. You can use Overture and Google Adwords in order to find out popular phrases for your ad title.

Interest:

Your ad text should be convincing. You praise your produce or your website. Why should the people use your produce? What is special? How does your offer differ from others? What is your USP = Unique Selling Proposition? You may describe your produce with strong words, e.g. amazing, ultimate, superior, incredible, guaranteed.

Decision:

The audience has to be lead to a decision. Some advertisers give the impression of urgency. Here are some examples: ขJoin today and get a free ebook.ข ขSign up and receive a bonus.ข ขBe among the first 500 to join.ข ขLimited time offer!ข All these kind of phrases try to persuade the customers to make up their minds.

Action:

Every ad has to call for action. The people should know what to do. Following phrases might help: join now – sign up today – click to view – visit the homepage – etc. It is recommendable to address the audience directly with ขyouข. This makes the readers feel that the message is written to them.

Repeat and repeat

The people usually do not join or buy if they see your ad the first time. Your ad has to be displayed again and again. Some people visit your website several times, study your offers and deliberate before they decide. Look at TV advertisements! Even the famous brands with great marketing budgets have to repeat their ads again and again. The people have to get familiar with your ad, they need to gain confidence. Do not forget: Your ad text should be credible.

About The Author

Lil Waldner is a business economist. She is experienced in project management and marketing. She has worked as editor of newspapers and she has written booklets and essays with economic and public issues. Visit her web sites: http://affiliatechain.com/GetASite.asp?ID=51105 or http://www.storeowner.com/owner/lwmall

This article was posted on August 29

by Lil Waldner

What Makes Your Online Ads Persuasive?

What Makes Your Online Ads Persuasive?

by: Lil Waldner

The first impression that the people get from your ad decides if they click or skip. This shows that writing really persuasive ads is not easy. Writing irrestisible internet ads needs some skills. You can acquire these skills, if you follow some rules.

Simplify your message

Focus on your customers need! What are they looking for? What is special on your website for your customers? Write a simple language with common words. Use verbs more often than nouns. Using verbs makes your texts dynamic. Propagate a positive message and avoid hype.

Follow the AIDA rule:

Attention:

Your ad needs to catch the attention of the audience. The title has to be determined with caution. Look at the title of this article as example. Why have you clicked to view this article? Does it exactly offer what your are looking for? Your ad title has to meet the people’s need. You can use a question to awake the curiosity of the audience. You can use Overture and Google Adwords in order to find out popular phrases for your ad title.

Interest:

Your ad text should be convincing. You praise your produce or your website. Why should the people use your produce? What is special? How does your offer differ from others? What is your USP = Unique Selling Proposition? You may describe your produce with strong words, e.g. amazing, ultimate, superior, incredible, guaranteed.

Decision:

The audience has to be lead to a decision. Some advertisers give the impression of urgency. Here are some examples: ขJoin today and get a free ebook.ข ขSign up and receive a bonus.ข ขBe among the first 500 to join.ข ขLimited time offer!ข All these kind of phrases try to persuade the customers to make up their minds.

Action:

Every ad has to call for action. The people should know what to do. Following phrases might help: join now – sign up today – click to view – visit the homepage – etc. It is recommendable to address the audience directly with ขyouข. This makes the readers feel that the message is written to them.

Repeat and repeat

The people usually do not join or buy if they see your ad the first time. Your ad has to be displayed again and again. Some people visit your website several times, study your offers and deliberate before they decide. Look at TV advertisements! Even the famous brands with great marketing budgets have to repeat their ads again and again. The people have to get familiar with your ad, they need to gain confidence. Do not forget: Your ad text should be credible.

About The Author

Lil Waldner is a business economist. She is experienced in project management and marketing. She has worked as editor of newspapers and she has written booklets and essays with economic and public issues. Visit her web sites: http://affiliatechain.com/GetASite.asp?ID=51105 or http://www.storeowner.com/owner/lwmall.

[email protected]

This article was posted on August 29

by Lil Waldner

Modern Marketing With Postcards

Modern Marketing With Postcards

by: Bob Leduc

Postcards may be one of the best kept secrets of modern marketing. They produce even better results now than in the past. Thatกs probably because postcards deliver information the way people want to get it today …fast and with little or no effort.

Use Postcards to Generate Website Traffic and Sales Leads

A brief captivating message on a postcard with an enticing offer sent to the right prospects will generate a flood of traffic to your website or a large number of sales leads.

Keep your postcard simple. Make it look at first glance like a message from a friend instead of like an advertisement. This creates a pleasant emotional response from readers even though they quickly realize that it is a commercial message.

State the biggest benefit you offer to customers. Then briefly add a few other advantages or features you provide. End with a compelling reason for prospects to contact you ..or to go to your website for more details. Itกs that simple.

Tip: Don’t try to close sales directly from a postcard. Thereกs not enough space on a postcard to provide all the information your prospects need to make a buying decision.

People Read Postcards

Almost everybody will read a postcard even those who usually throw out other direct mail without opening it. Thatกs because itกs almost impossible to throw out a postcard without looking at the message.

This high rate of readership is the main reason why postcards produce a bigger response than other types of direct marketing. With other types of marketing you often lose prospects who would have responded to your offer but they never saw it.

Tip: Postcards are an excellent lowcost alternative to email. People get so much email today that even legitimate messages are getting deleted unread. But they get few if any postcards. Your message is guaranteed to get their attention when itกs delivered on a postcard.

Postcards are Cheap to Produce

Postcards cost less than 2 cents each to produce if you print them using your own computer. You can print postcards individually on blank 4 x 6 inch index cards or print 4 postcards on 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of index card stock and cut each sheet into quarters.

Your postcards will cost between 4 cents and 9 cents each to produce if you use a commercial printer …depending on the number you have printed and the quality you want.

Postcards are Cheap to Mail

Even the postage for mailing postcards is cheap 23 cents each to send them by First Class Mail in the US. The only requirement for this special rate is that the dimensions of your postcards must be at least 3 1/2 x 5 inches but not over 4 1/4 x 6 inches.

Tip: Always use a real 23 cent stamp on your postcards. It produces more replies than a printed indicia (imprinted postage) …probably because people associate a printed indicia with junk mail.

Don’t overlook postcards the next time you want to drive a huge amount of traffic to your website or generate a flood of new sales leads. They’re simple to use, highly effective and very lowcost.

Copyright 2004 Bob Leduc http://BobLeduc.com

About The Author

Bob Leduc spent 20 years helping businesses like yours find new customers and increase sales. He just released a New Edition of his manual, How To Build Your Small Business Fast With Simple Postcards …and launched *BizTips from Bob*, a newsletter to help small businesses grow and prosper. Youกll find his lowcost marketing methods at: http://BobLeduc.com or call: 7026581707 After 10 AM Pacific Time/Las Vegas, NV

This article was posted on April 15, 2004

by Bob Leduc

A Newsletter Is Worth A Thousand Words – Part 1

A Newsletter Is Worth A Thousand Words – Part 1

by: Janice Byer, CCVA, MVA

There are many, many ways of marketing your business that don’t have to cost an arm and a leg. They are all great ways of ensuring that your contacts are aware of what you do and whom you can help. One of the best forms of keeping your name in front of the eyes of your clients, your associates, and others that may be in your target market is a newsletter. It allows you to show them that you are more than just someone who is looking for projects to work on. It shows that you are also willing to pass on information that will help them run their own businesses.

Think about how many newsletters you read each week or month? For instance, the newsletter you are reading right now. Do you enjoy getting and reading it? Do you find the articles and other information helpful? Do you know who or what company produces it? Of course you do 🙂

Newsletter Formats:

Newsletters can be produced in several formats. For businesses, the most economical and most readily acceptable formats are plain text emails, HTML emails, HTML page on your website, PDF, and print. Each format has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Format Pros Cons

Plain text email · Easy to format· Size remains manageable and easy for readers to open· Costs only your time · Limited to text only· Cannot include graphics or fancy formatting

HTML emails · Visually appealing· Costs only your time· Allows for creativeness · Restricted in size as it takes a while to load· Can only be fully viewed while reader is online· Some readers may opt to receive only plain text emails so won’t see your creativeness

HTML webpage · Endless possibilities for design · Room for lots of content & graphics· Can be as big as you like· Don’t need to send as email attachment· Costs only your time · Takes time to design· Reader has to be online to view

PDF · Endless possibilities for design· Room for lots of content & graphics· Can be as big as you like· Can send only a text email with a link to the page· Readers can save to their computer and read or print at their leisure· Almost everyone has the free Adobe Reader in order to view· Costs only your time · The larger the format, the longer to produce· Need to have the full version of Adobe to produce or a PDF printer driver

Print · Endless possibilities for design· Room for lots of content & graphics· Can be as big as you like · Costly to print and mail.

Deciding which format to produce your newsletter, and the frequency which you publish it, may be a process of trial and error. For instance our newsletter, Virtual TidBits (www.docutype.net/news.htm), started as a monthly text only email. This was done by formatting it in either Word or Notepad. The only essential formatting that needs to be included in text emails is that it is kept to 65 characters per line. This didn’t take very long to put together, only about 2 hours a month.

For creative types, plain text just didn’t seem to be appealing enough. So, we tried designing it in HTML. Well, they turned out very visually appealing but seemed to take a long time to produce. You see, we would design the newsletter in Word and then transfer it to HTML using FrontPage, a longer process than we had hoped. It took about 45 hours to produce each month. Eventually, we changed our publishing schedule to bimonthly, which seemed to justify the time it took to produce.

But, it still didn’t seem to be exactly what our readers or we fully enjoyed reading. So we made yet another change. Our current format for Virtual TidBits is PDF and feedback has shown that everyone loves the new format and the freedom to add in as much as possible. It does take quite a bit of time to produce but, when you enjoy being creative, it doesn’t seem all that bad. We use MS Publisher to design the newsletter and then convert that to PDF. If you have the full version of Adobe, you can choose to distill it or print to file. Distilling it leaves the hyperlinks in place while printing it to file will require that you go into the newsletter in Adobe and reinsert the hyperlinks.

If you do not have the full version of Adobe to accomplish this, you can choose to use one of the many PDF printer drivers that are on the market today. Some of those can be found at http://www.visagesoft.com/easypdf/, http://www.pdfzone.com/, & http://www.win2pdf.com (I used this one before getting the full Adobe and was very happy with the results). The only drawback of some of these printer drivers is that some of them (if not all) do not allow for hyperlinks to be active.

In Part 2 of our article on newsletters, we will look at what to include as content, where to find the content, and how to promote your newsletter. See you then.

About The Author

Janice Byer is the founder of DocuType Administrative & Web Design Services (http://www.docutype.net), a professional Virtual Assistance and Website Design company, specializing in helping small business owners get ahead. She is a certified Canadian Virtual Assistant and Master Virtual Assistant and winner of the Most Successful Start Up 2000 and Home Based Business of the Year 2000 Awards

[email protected]

This article was posted on January 11, 2004

by Janice Byer, CCVA, MVA

Who Had The Better Brushes Leonardo or Michelangel

Who Had The Better Brushes Leonardo or Michelangelo?

by: Robert Hartness

Ordinary photos of dull subjects do actually sell, but the dramatic shots generally have an unusual element that makes them stand out from the crowd. They are wellcomposed and they carry no excess baggage.

One of the best photos Iกve seen was taken many years ago in New York Central Station (1928) Itกs quite famous and youกve probably seen it. Sunlight streams in through the windows dominating the scene, while people mill about the expansive floor in a hustlebustle atmosphere.

Photographers of yesteryear were past masters of judging the best exposure for a dramatic shot, without the benefit of modern gadgetry. I just wonder about that when I hear the death knell being tolled on the use of film.

We’re told that 60% of the income of Kodak UK came from digital cameras last year, as Kodak announced big job cuts. Immediately, the media produced a kneejerk reaction that claimed film is dead. True the public are totally won over by the shortterm gains of the digital camera, but what about the professionals?

Many studio photographers may well switch to fitting a digital back on to their Mamiyas, but what about fieldwork? Big shots with view cameras and 6ก9กs, not to mention the use of long lenses for wildlife and sport, will still be dominated by film rather than digital.

Digital cameras are great for the mass market, where shots are generally taken with the subject a close range. Some of the photos of flowers that Iกve seen for example, are quite exceptional. In many cases, using film for these shots would be beyond most average users because judging the best exposure would be too difficult.

The public are happiest when they can they can just point and shoot. The modern digital camera allows them to do this and produce exceptional pictures of family events, so they’re happy. However, put these same cameras to a stiffer test and film wins hands down. Even the latest, best and most expensive cameras still fall short of the best that film can produce, especially where the subject is at a fair distance e.g. most landscapes.

Coming back to oldtime photographers, I just can’t see anyone producing, or rather reproducing the same quality shots of say, Ansell Adams, using a digital camera instead of film. For Ansell Adams, substitute Man Ray, or a host of other cult photographers and youกll soon catch my drift.

Regarding photos that sell, the type of camera used is irrelevant when the client looks at the final result. Iกm sure that Michelangelo never crossed swords with Leonardo about who had the better brushes. Itกs the masterpiece that counts, not the tools used to produce it.

And yet this epic battle between digital and film cameras is important, because a lot of time and effort can be wasted, trying to produce shots that sell with equipment that just isn’t up to the job.

Without being prescriptive or dogmatic, it seems to me that any prospective Freelance photographer must weigh up the pros and cons of digital versus film carefully. It is the nature of the photograph being attempted that should decide the matter rather than personal prejudice.

Another key factor is, of course, the preference of the client. Where the customer is happy with small digital images then convenience may suggest using digital. So, for someone who shoots a range of photos it seems sensible to become conversant with both. Digital and film cameras are totally different beasts, especially with regard to exposure ก rules of thumbก.

After excellent composition, shots that sell need perfect lighting so the modern freelance photographer should use the best tools, digital or film to achieve the perfect shot of his chosen subject. Thatกs the kernel of truth Iกve yanked out of the splinters of this hoary old chestnut for you.

About The Author

Robert Hartness

One of a series of articles by Robert Hartness, successful freelance and author of an hotlinked, flipover, ebook, published on the web in October 2004. It offers a stepbystep guide to those on the threshold of freelance photography and is illustrated with 40+ published photographs. Acclaimed as a great reference source for serious freelancers. More information and order link http://www.cashfromyourcamera.com

This article was posted on October 19, 2004

by Robert Hartness

Does Money Grow On Trees?

Does Money Grow On Trees?

by: Terry Gibbs

กMoney Doesn’t Grow On Trees.ก

Some of us even believe it. An orchard owner would say the statement is wrong.

His profits grow on trees…

As small business owners we are similar to tree farmers. We plant and nurture trees knowing that they will bear fruit. Some business owners grow trees with the idea of selling them when they start to produce fruit, but most of us build our orchards with the intention of selling the fruit.

In the early stages the trees require much tending. Later as the trees mature, they require less effort and produce more fruit.

How many trees are in your orchard?

My trees are designed to produce a constant stream of fruit with little oversight. This means once I have planted the tree I can move on to the next project.

Hereกs an example. I write ebooks. These are simple, tightly written reports on specific subjects. People buy them and then download them to read them. Each ebook explains a solution to a problem or a outlines a method to accomplish something.

For example my eBay Consignment book explains consignment sales and includes material on finding consignors. There are also contracts, templates of ads, and inventory sheets. Basically everything is included a reader will need to successfully start an eBay Consignment business.

This simple ebook sells itself. Or rather, there is a small army of affiliates who promote it constantly. It took me thirty hours to write the book and about 20 hours to get the marketing push started. It still sells well and I still harvest the profits.

The eBay Consignment book is just one tree in my orchard. Every six to eight weeks I plant a new tree. Some trees die before bearing fruit, others are stunted and produce weak fruit, and a few trees produce large amounts of fruit.

Years ago I was focused on the big trees. In fact I was so focused on the big trees I would chop down any trees that did not produce spectacular results. I never really got anywhere. I made money, but constantly switched from one project to another abandoning them as I went along.

I never spent the time to nurture and grow my orchard. I actually abandoned projects that were producing thousands of dollars in monthly profits because I wanted something bigger.

Two years ago I saw the error of my ways. I looked back on the things I had dropped and realized that as a group I had a nice collection of income streams. The whole group as an orchard was a good thing to have.

You see, I had the common misperception of entrepreneurs. I suffered from the wage slave lottery mentality. I thought the only way to break out was with a big one. Kind of like the guy working at WalMart. His only chance of getting anywhere is to win the lottery. I wanted the big one. The project with the huge payoff.

Anything less than spectacular was not good enough. My expectations were too high.

This is not how it works. You have to plant your trees learn your craft, and hone your skills.

Many new businesses fail because owners do not spend the time to nurture them. Years ago, I read a book called Acres Of Diamonds by Russell H. Conwell. It is actually a motivational speech Conwell gave thousands of times.

Anyway, Conwell shares a story about a many who sells his land to go elsewhere and search for diamonds. The man was obsessed with finding diamonds and becoming rich. After traveling for years the man gives up and commits suicide. It turns out the land he had sold to go prospecting was filled with diamonds.

The man spent years looking for something that was right in front of him. Conwell goes on to share stories of people who found immense success right in front of them.

This is not uncommon. Many of us learn to look for success outside of ourselves. When it is standing right in front of us.

I have changed my attitude and now look at myself as an orchardist. I tend my orchard, planting new trees and nurturing the fruitful. As my orchard grows so does my income.

Plant your trees and nurture them.

Terry Gibbs

About The Author

Terry Gibbs is the author of 13 books and writes a free monthly newsletter about creating and selling information products. You can read more about Terry and sign up for his newsletter at: http://www.nalroo.com

This article was posted on March 17, 2004

by Terry Gibbs

Book Review: The Nondesigner’s Design Book, Secon

Book Review: The Nondesigner’s Design Book, Second Edition

by: Grannyกs Mettle

One of the books I strongly recommend for nondesigners like me is Robin Williamsก กNonDesignerกs Design Bookก. It is a must for dummies who want to have a career on graphic designing even without the formal education. The book is a good primer for novices and amateurs to help them produce layouts that can catch attention.

The Book provides a practical introduction to the basic principles of design, which makes it more appropriate for those who need to put together a media material such as a presentation, a newsletter or a flyer, but doesn’t have the degree or even the background in design.

Written in a pamphletsized, 200page book, the author explores designs for the printed page.

Robin Williams has put into this book the basic principles of good design and typography. It explains stepbystep the concepts and methods to help aspiring graphic artists to begin producing more sophisticated, professional and attentiongrabbing pages right away.

The book is written in a relaxed manner full of humor and free of graphics jargon usually found in other books. To help readers produce great materials instantly, Williams has infused her book with exercises, quizzes, illustrations, and dozens of examples to make learning a snap.

She gamely discussed the concept of layout around four (4) basic design principles, namely: Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, and Proximity. Each of these has its own chapter with several examples that can be done even in the comforts of your home.

The typography section, on the other hand, explains the principles of Concord, Conflict, and Contrast. The three (3) principles have been based by Williams on typefaces by style, weight, shape, and spacing.

Totally clueless on graphic design, I wanted to have knowledge, even if the most basic, on the good and bad of designing. This book definitely provided me with the basic technical ability to do so. Suggestions on creating onepage designs for simple newsletters, brochures, or business cards have been an eyeopener for me. Also, it has given me helpful and useful insights on the world of layout.

Mind you, the book does not make you an instant expert and professional designer who is capable of producing sophisticated works of art. For this, you really need to have a formal degree to achieve this.

However, if your goal is to be able to have the ability to produce easy and decent media pieces, this book can help you on that department. Maybe someday I can venture into the graphics design business.

Provide yourself the time to read the book and do the exercises. It will definitely help you improve your designs. I know mine did.

About The Author

Grannyกs Mettle is a 30something, professional web content writer. She has created various web content on a diverse range of topics, which includes digital printing topics, medical news, as well as legal issues. Her articles are composed of reviews, suggestions, tips and more for the printing and designing industry.

Her thoughts on writing: กWriting gives me pleasure… pleasure and excitement that you have created something to share with others. And with the wide world of the Internet, it gives me great satisfaction that my articles reach more people in the quickest time you could imagine.ก

On her spare time, she loves to stay at home, reading books on just about any topic she fancies, cooking a great meal, and taking care of her husband and kids.

For comments and inquiries about the article visit http://www.ucreative.com

[email protected]

This article was posted on March 11

by Grannyกs Mettle