Hardwood Floors Oct/Nov 2019

Why Aren't You Using Video? (Continued)

Several of these tools include audio tracks and the ability to customize the colors, photos, background music, and font sizes and styles. Choose an app or platform and start playing. To determine which one is best for you, visit the website and look at samples, check sites like G2Crowd for unbiased reviews, and read comments by actual users. Many options offer a free trial period, so you can log in and start playing immediately. Even if you choose a paid option, most platforms don’t require a long-term contract. That’s one of the benefits of software as a service. Once you’re comfortable with these “starter” apps, you may want to graduate to a more sophisticated program like Adobe Premiere, Avid Media Composer, Filmora, Final Cut, iMovie, or Windows Movie Maker. “ Video is beyond our budget.” The video platforms mentioned in the previous section are relatively inexpensive; many offer free basic subscriptions. Paid options start as low as $19 per month. But you have other options. Hire a local freelancer. Check with your local university, community college, or high school for production clubs or students who take on projects for class credit or extra cash. Browse online marketplaces. Fiverr is perhaps the best-known site for hiring freelancers for graphic design, animation, voiceovers, and of course, video production for as little as $5. Other alternatives are crowdSPRING, DesignCrowd, Freelancer, Gigbucks (which caps projects at $50), Guru, Microworkers, PeoplePerHour, Upwork, or Work Market. No matter where you look, consider these guidelines for working with freelancers. • Look at examples of their work and read reviews from clients. Read their terms and ask a lot of questions about deliverables and costs. • Start with a small project. See if you work well together and if you’re comfortable with the process.

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• When assigning a project, provide background about your target audience, goal, and strategy, so he or she knows what you’re trying to accomplish. • Communicate clearly about your deadlines and expectations. Put it in writing. • Be upfront about your preferences – show samples of pieces you like. Discuss what key points, photos, or images you’ll provide. • Outline the project parameters including style, length, and format. Those companies with a more generous budget might consider working with a professional video production company or videographer and editor. Companies like Gisteo, Explainify, and Video Explainers will produce explainer videos for a fee. Also, local television stations and cable companies sometimes offer video production for fee, without requiring a media buy. Still not convinced? Video is growing in popularity. Depending on which study you read, by 2020, video will account for somewhere between 75 to 85 percent of the United States’ mobile data traffic. (Sources include Cisco and Entrepreneur.) Also, according to the Cisco study, by

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