3 ways to better connect with your audience in 2014

Beyond the mandate, the mundane, the routine, or the motivating and congratulatory need to communicate…serious legal matters, downsizing, budget cuts, human crises, and critical emergencies require timely communication. 

After all the New Year celebrations are over, serious news in 2014 may call for engagement more than anything, and here are some of the best basic ways to connect with an audience across all communications channels.

Examples, scenarios, case studies

Even during times of seriousness, perhaps more so, it’s important to use STORY to communicate. Authentic situations and characters, or anecdotes, to which your audience can relate make the impossible-to-imagine, the abstract, and difficult-to-swallow subject matter RELEVANT.

Hearing from someone who matters

Hearing from leaders (and I don’t mean CEOs necessarily) is also an important way to convey the seriousness of the subject matter. A respected expert in the field, a company “hero,” a celebrity or other high-visibility individual who has a stake in the outcome or cares about the subject matter…these are potential messengers of important information—as long as the messenger MATTERS to the audience.

Stay focused on the outcome

Yes, recognize and acknowledge the seriousness of the situation. But instead of focusing on reduced funding, challenging markets, or critical safety violations…it’s important to stay focused on WHY you are communicating with your audience. What is the vision, the endgame?

• Have a problem with product quality? Communicate to let your employees and the customers/public know what happened, what you are doing about it, how soon it will be fixed, and how you are going to ensure quality going forward.
• Facing budget cuts and downsizing? Communicate fairness, transparency, responsibility, and transition.
• Have a tragic workplace act of violence?  Communicate to inform, to comfort, to support, and to try to make sure nothing like it ever happens again.
• Have safety issues on-the-job? Communicate to let your employees know their safety is your first priority, what you’ll change to support that, and to assure management/congress/stockholders/taxpayers that you are taking action, and how.

However serious the current situation, it does not DEFINE the company, the organization, the agency, or the employees. Whether you're communicating from a combat zone or a corporate boardroom, make a New Year's resolution to...be timely, stay relevant, make it matter, and stay focused on the optimal outcome. 

For more on media and communications, go to: www.MajorMotionPixels.com.

What do you mean, Happy Holidays?

It's occurred to me that holiday greetings and salutations are similar to business communications. We have to consider our audiences, know our intent, and communicate clearly focused on the desired outcome.

In the movie, Love Actually, arguably a modern day Christmas classic, Mark finally blurts out his true feelings for Juliet via cue cards at her doorstep.

Our holiday greetings don't need to be a confession, but if we peel away the layers of every variation of Happy Holidays, Joyeux Noel, Buon Natale, and Mele Kalikimaka, they all have something in common...an intent to wish something good, as Tennyson said, "...peace and goodwill to all mankind."

Say what you mean, and DO what you say. Express it in the best way you possibly can.

Sharing and spreading those wishes are my intent here too. Beginning with the most basic peace and joy that I possess, I give to you:

"We have within ourselves
Enough to fill the present day with joy,
And overspread the future years with hope."
--William Wordsworth

All the very best to you and yours this holiday season and in the New Year!

More about media & communications at www.majormotionpixels.com.

Ready for "Action!"

How to spend a little, and get MORE when producing corporate video? Here are two of my favorite ways:

People who know me have heard me say: "Put 10% of the budget into AUDIO mix, music, sweetening, and it'll make as much as a 40% improvement in the finished video/animation."

There's another way to spend a little, but get a LOT MORE for your money. Disproportional value, in the right direction. I like that.

By CASTING the right talent, you'll not only get a superior performance, you'll make more progress on set, get more accomplished, avoid overtime, and deliver a top-notch product of which you and the client can be proud.

How to do it? It starts as a conversation with your talent agent or casting director:

1. Be clear about the project, the expectations, how it will be used...broadcast, internet, trade show, print, mobile.

2. Precisely describe what you are looking for...gender, age, ethnicity, "look." 

3. Is the shoot date firm? Don't look at talent who will not be available to you.

4. Don't low ball...but be realistic. Be honest about budget limitations, but this is an area you DO NOT want to cut corners. (IF you start low ball, and then don't get what you need, you'll end up throwing more money at it, but have less time before the shoot date to commit the best talent.  An undesirable trade off for sure.)

5. Communicate, communicate, communicate with your casting director or talent agent. Make sure details of the agreement are in place.

6. Relationships matter. Use a trusted source. 

Think about these guidelines, and be ready for "Action!"  End result:  Happy client!

Thanks to Nanci Washburn at Artist Management in San Diego for providing MMP with great choices for this spokesperson lead, and other actors for our recently-produced scenarios. They made an ambitious production do-able, with uncompromised quality, completed on schedule and on budget. 

Q&A Your Way to Stellar Service

Getting to YES, as quickly as possible, helps customers appreciate and remember stellar service.

Janet Dahle & FANTASTIC friends,
ready for the paparazzi!

A weekend meet-up with long-time friends last weekend at The Beverly Hills Hotel reminded me that there is no substitute for well-staffed, well-trained, genuine, cordial, attentive customer service.  That every member of the staff was contributing to a most memorable weekend experience for us, is what made our stay at this famous hotel exceptional. A little shopping, a little sight-seeing, a LOT of relaxing and catching up with each other...pure bliss! My gal pals had flown in from Australia and the Northwest, so we were very happy to spend time together.

Stellar service began with questions and answers...

Can we order breakfast (at noon)? Of course...24 hours a day.

Could I have sliced tomatoes? Sure.

Could I have those grilled? Not a problem.

Can you come set my iPad up with your wifi? We'll send someone right up.

Is it okay if we check out a little later? Why, of course.

Then, beyond mere Q&A, the concierge, the bell hop, the guest shop clerk, the pool boy, the wait staff...all were willing to not only answer "yes" to every question, but ready with conversation and recommendations. Making it personal. By the pool: "What's that for?" (Shade, would you like me to put it in place for you?) In the Lounge: "May I have another club soda?" (Yes, but you may be interested in trying our juices...) To the Concierge: "We have a car...can you tell us where to tour by celebrity homes?" (We have maps, let me show you...) "What's the most unusual thing a guest has ever asked?" (We once had a woman ask us to get her a role in a movie during her stay).  WOW!

Stellar Service...YES!

Sadly, all good things must come to an end--until next time. Having the car brought up to valet, and our bags already packed away in the trunk for us upon completing checkout...we drove away and I exclaimed, "That was FANTASTIC!"

More importantly, it made me want to share the experience.

No matter what business you're in, you'd probably agree..."FANTASTIC" is the response we'd like to get from our clients, customers, users, or guests.  So start with YES, then make it personal.

(By the way, the juices featured in The Polo Lounge were the best I've ever had...if you're interested, www.pressedjuicery.com. Fantastic and FRESH...who knew kale and spinach could taste so good?!)

Happy Hour: You're welcome.

Consider this a cross between professional development and a contribution to your personal welfare.

For your welfare, click here if you want to be:  Content, satisfied, happy.

And as professional development, and for a different kind of "content," consider this:

According to Wikipedia:  The word "content" is often used colloquially to refer to media. However, content is more accurately used as a specific term in that it means the content of the medium rather than the medium itself. Likewise, the single word "media" and some compound words that include "media" (e.g. multimedia, hypermedia) are instead referring to a type of content. An example of a type of content commonly referred to as a type of media is a "motion picture" referred to as "a film." The distinction between medium and content is less clear when referring to interactive elements that contain information and are then contained in interactive media, such as dice contained in board games or GUI widgets contained in software.

I like to ponder the semantics of "content"...my favorite motion media content is Major Motion Pixels; it makes me happy.  How about you?

Ethics: How to mind your multimedia production manners

Doing the right thing is often connected to doing things right.

While I am not an attorney (and don't play one of television, either), there are some tips and recommendations I can make to help any corporate communications professional involved in producing video or motion media. Make sure your corporate ethics are mirrored by your creative and production vendor partners.  Here are the basics:

• If you use licensed music, footage, animation, or graphics, ask to have a copy of the licensing agreement for your project file.
• If your voice or on-camera talent isn't a "buy out" (a buy out means the talent's recording can be used for any purpose for as long as you like--as defined in an agreement/"dealmemo"), make sure you get a copy of the contract, so you can see and adhere to whatever "use" limitations there might be.
• If confidentiality is important to you, make sure your contract with your vendor partner has a non-disclosure agreement clause that ALSO covers all their subcontractors and employees.
• If your production contract is based on time and materials, make sure you have documentation from your vendor to justify the hours/days spent by their employees and sub-contractors on your project.
• If your production contract is a Firm Fixed Price or Not-to-Exceed basis, make sure you spell out the specific details in a Scope of Work.
• Make sure you have "talent releases" for anyone featured in the video, whether they are professional talent or employees/managers/executives, or people on-the-street. There are some exceptions to this in public venues...and other ways of notifying the public that their image or voice may be used in a production.
• If filming on location, make sure you have "location releases" that acknowledge the imagery of that location may be used, and whatever other details are necessary.
• Often, large companies or government entities require a Certificate of Insurance from production vendors, with their organizations listed as additionally insured. There is typically no/low additional charge for these to be drawn up by the insurance agent, beyond the annual policy carried by the production company...unless you require more business liability coverage than is carried by the production company (typically $1,000,000).
• And finally, make sure proper permitting has been arranged...this can get complicated, i.e. city, county, state, federal government property and facilities sometimes overlap. Coastal commissions, airport/port authorities, DOD/Navy/USMC/USA/USAF military bases, Parks, etc. 

And, it's always a good idea to run your contracts and arrangements by your attorney or corporate counsel.

Particularly in the era of social media, instant video uploads, and user generated content...minding your manners is much more complicated than "please & thank you."  Poor choices can risk the organization's reputation, their brand, and even their stock price.  

• The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) has a Code of Ethics that I think is exemplary. Check it out here.Click to see SPJ Code of Ethics.
• The American Society of Commercial Producers (AICP) also has The Universal Principles of Engagement. You can check it out here. Click to see AICP Universal Principles of Engagement.

Any other tips or lessons learned? Leave a comment!

A bridge to new ideas...

Moving forward:  I am happy to announce that I am expanding my client base AND am now able to bring about more creative and strategic support than ever before.

As of August 1, my company, Major Motion Pixels Inc., will be focused on providing outstanding creative design, production, and distribution of video/motion media content for Marketing/Sales, PR/IR, and HR/Training/Learning clients in the public and private sector.

A bridge:  While in Nebraska for business last week, I saw this metaphoric image…a symbol of my own professional transition. In this case, the bridge crosses the Missouri River from Nebraska to Iowa. And as we all know, Iowa may not be heaven, but I saw what looked like the Field of Dreams. A nice way to view a very positive move.

Better value and results: We are looking forward to working with our extended network of clients and creative talent to look at things in a new way, aimed at producing fresh and promising communications tactics and tools.

Stay tuned and stay connected!