Wanda Allen, business expert and Follow-Up Savvy author

San Diego’s video production leader, BizVid Communications, loves helping small businesses succeed. Besides crafting powerful videos for the web and other purposes, our weekly produced SBA Radio broadcasts  have guests with tips to help companies sell their products or services better. This blog features tips for improving your business follow-ups and increasing the conversions from sales prospects to happy customers.

Our recent SBA Radio guest, Wanda Allen, is an expert in helping entrepreneurs, business owners and salespeople enhance relationships, increase client retention and become more referable by understanding the importance of effective follow-up.  Wanda was a business banker for about 25 years and has had extensive training on business development, maintaining client relationships and customer service. She is the author of Follow Up Savvy and a Senior Manager with SendOutCards.

In this interview the host, BizVid’s Caz Taylor, and guest expert, Ruben Garcia, District Director of the Small Business Administration, have Ms. Allen provide tips from her popular book, Follow-Up Savvy.

This segment should help business men and women understand why they may be struggling with poor follow-up practices. In this interview, Wanda offers an action plan to help improve follow-up efforts immediately.

You’ll learn how effective follow up will strengthen your relationships, protect clients and prospects from your competition, and make you memorable. BizVid Communications’ principals Bill Gruber and Caz Taylor know from experience that being awarded a video project takes more than just having your name out there. We hope the content of this blog will serve as an inspiration to our small business friends and help you attain the success that your hard work and diligence deserve. To hear the full interview, visit BizVid’s SBA Radio landing page through wsRadio.

BizVid's SBA Radio Spotlight on Author Stephanie Chandler

San Diego Video Production Company, BizVid Communications produces a weekly SBA Radio broadcast. A recent guest and topic seemed like a good blog topic. Meet author and entrepreneur Stephanie Chandler as she discusses her book’s content. It’s entitled “Own Your Niche: Hype-Free Internet Marketing Tactics to Establish Authority in Your Field and Promote Your Service-Based Business” (Authority Publishing, February 2012).

After leaving behind a career in the Silicon Valley in 2003, Stephanie began leveraging the internet to build her business. Her website has grown steadily over the years thanks to practical marketing strategies. She doesn’t believe in hype or hard selling, and instead focuses on marketing great content with authenticity.

In the SBA Radio interview Stephanie discusses-

• The importance of cultivating a community to build your audience—and why many business owners miss this opportunity
• Simple steps to optimize your website yourself (yes, really!)
• Why a blog is essential and how to develop and promote yours

Stephanie is the author of several books including LEAP! 101 Ways to Grow Your Business and From Entrepreneur to Infopreneur: Make Money with Books, eBooks and Information Products. Stephanie decided early on to avoid internet marketing tactics that didn’t pass her internal “gut test” and despite her refusal to comply with the masses, she has built several successful businesses, is a frequent speaker at business events and on the radio, and has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, Wired magazine, BusinessWeek, and many others. She is currently a blogger for Forbes and can be reached via several of her business and book websites, or on Twitter.

Hear the complete interview at these two links. SBA Radio broadcasts live on Thursdays from wsRadio, the worldwide leader in internet talk. BizVid Communications has been producing this show for over two years.  It is part of our vision to help small businesses succeed.

Life with blooper Bill

As the San Diego video production leader, Bizvid Communications understands the problems and benefits attached to bloopers. Yes, they are more common than one might expect. This is true even with the professionals, so amateurs take heart.  There’s a way to turn lemons into lemonade, and in these cases, hams into hambone soup. Partner Bill Gruber is one of the most polished pros you’ll find in the industry. Even so, this ten-Emmy-award-winner has his moments. Leave it to his partner Caz to seize the moment and not pass up the opportunity to make fun. Here’s a blooper example from a recent Bizvid blog attempt, where Bill planned to instruct viewers on the nuances of post-production.

As some may remember from decades past, the cutting edge “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In” television show realized the value of bloopers, as they included them as part of their program’s content.  One way they become cutting edge was by not cutting mistakes. They left them in as part of the comedic content. While video clients may not go that far, we can learn a valuable lesson from this.

Enjoy your bloopers and use them to ease tensions and make the entire production process flow smoothly. Don’t freak out and scream and yell. That makes for more mistakes.

So, the next you’re engaged in a production of some sort, keep your mobile phone video camera handy. There’s no telling when a golden opportunity may rear its comedic head.  While the original product or topic (which was of utmost importance at the time) may become irrelevant to the laughs you can recall and recount time after time. Also, remember there are a growing number of programs that seek this stuff. America’s Funniest Videos with Tom Bergeron comes to mind.

As a jingle open to a ground breaking television show from many years ago stated- “Hocus pocus, you’re in focus. It’s your lucky day. SMILE, you’re on Candid Camera.”

SBA Radio with BizVid's Caz Taylor and SBA's Ruben Garcia

As the San Diego video production leader, BizVid Communications has an ongoing relationship with many small businesses and small business resources. One of our great pleasures is to work with Ruben Garcia, District Director of the Small Business Administration in San Diego and Imperial Counties. For over two years, BizVid has joined forces with the SBA’s Garcia and wsRadio to produce and host the SBA Radio show, providing insights and assistance to small business owners and employees. The following video illustrates some of the products and services offered by the Small Business Administration as presented by Ruben. The SBA is a federal agency and has locations throughout the nation.

Every week Ruben Garcia and Caz interview guests with tips and innovations to help small businesses. Sometimes we’ll speak of the newest branding ideas  to help a business grow. Other times we’ll forewarn of workers’ comp issues or offer search engine optimization tips. Often, we’ll bring in well-received economists to provide business forecasts , or copyright lawyers, or international entrepreneurs. The one hour show is broadcasted live nationally, on Thursdays at 11 am, Pacific Time. This program gives Garcia a platform and an opportunity to declare the values of numerous SBA small business loans to thousands of loyal listeners.  We spend a great deal of time featuring entrepreneurs and resource providers to provide directives and support to small businesses during these challenging economic times.

From our ongoing relationship, we’ve come to realize how well connected Ruben is, as we interview government leaders, along with CEO’s of predominant companies in the United States and Mexico. If the reader is tied to a small business in any way, it would be of value to check out the resources and relationships that the SBA offers. A quick visit to their website will reveal many opportunities for growth and education.

SBA's Ruben Garcia on remote for SBA Radio

San Diego video production company, BizVid Communications, has been in business many years and is fortunate to be able to list a variety of clients who represent many different industries.  It is this aspect of our business that we enjoy very much.  And, while we at BizVid bring production expertise to the process, every video production project is a collaborative effort.

We learned a long time ago that no one person or organization can take full ownership of a video project if it is to be successful.  There are so many aspects to consider and so many things that can “fall through the cracks” if not orchestrated carefully.

In this video blog, we introduce you to Amber who talks a little about what she and her company brings to the table.  In her case, she is the liaison producer who is responsible for the crafting of the script, the hiring of agency talent, scheduling the arrival times of her company personnel and, most important, making sure the food arrives at the appointed time. A hungry crew and staff is not a good thing.

One might say, “all of this is no brainer.”  That might be an obvious answer but the fact is that it is extremely important to distribute the duties so that a smooth flow of events is guaranteed.  It is then incumbent upon BizVid to combine what the client brings to process with the skills and elements we bring to the process.  When it all works together the result is a satisfied client and a continuing business relationship.

As a leading San Diego video production company, BizVid Communications is frequently called upon to video tape projects in a variety of locations.  Where that location happens to be is dictated by the requirements as outlined in the written script.

Over the years, we have taken our cameras to many different locations.  They include, Europe and the Middle East, the ocean and on lakes, in corporate offices and manufacturing plants in surgical centers and dentist offices.  All of these areas are rife with certain audio and lighting challenges.  This is not the case in a studio environment which is our favorite place to shoot.

The studio, besides having a glamorous ring to it, is the perfect environment.  Unlike outdoor locations where uncontrollable light and sound are big issues, the studio poses none of these problems.  All elements are perfectly controllable.

To illustrate, I will use the example of what happened recently.  We were at an outside location taping a company CEO.  Her duty was to deliver some dialogue then turn and walk off camera.  This action was not her strong suit and we were several takes into the process when it looked as though we had finally achieved success. But, just as she was about to say the last words of the dialogue, a very loud airplane flew overhead and the take was ruined.

In this instance, the studio environment would have been ideal.  Because of its sound integrity, there would not have been an interruption and the take would have been successful.  And, while it is nice to travel and visit different locales, we prefer the  sound stage and the control it affords us in the production process.

Find Waldo or Bizvid's Bill or Caz in CND wrap pix

Your leader in San Diego video production, BizVid Communications offers this rather obvious word of wisdom for growing your business: One’s reputation often hangs with whom one affiliates.  We do a lot of quality video work with clients nationwide. The clients on our sample reels and our other business affiliations speak highly of the work we offer and of our character.

For over two years now, BizVid has produced a radio program entitled “SBA Radio”. It is hosted by BizVid’s Caz Taylor, with ongoing guest expert, and good friend Ruben Garcia of the Small Business Administration.

Ruben is the SBA’s District Director of San Diego and Imperial Counties. Producing this weekly show can be labor intensive but it has proven an invaluable tool for inviting small businesses to be interviewed, along with small business resource companies. Everyone wins in this arrangement. It gives Ruben a higher profile through the SBA, as well as gives him the opportunity to help his resource partners by bringing them on the air periodically.

It helps guests by providing them exposure from a nationally broadcasted program. These guests can then use the interviews for their own marketing purposes. It helps radio affiliate, wsRadio because it broadens their listener base and carries the value of being tied in some way with small businesses and the SBA.

Other invaluable partnerships for BizVid include SpearHall Advertising. Both BizVid owners have had longtime relationships with this marketing and public relations firm. Referrals are often exchanged and marketing and video insights shared.

Another proven partnership is our ongoing relationship with our Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. We often offer our services at reduced rates to remain “top of mind” when video-related needs arise from within their vast business membership.

If you are a small business owner or entrepreneur, the idea of establishing solid partnerships is nothing new. It is, however, valuable to remind you from time to time. BizVid Communications can truly be judged by the company we keep.

San Diego Video Production has its ins and outs for BizVid Communications.  Hi there, this is your blog buddy from our on location site at Our Mother of Confidence Catholic Church at Regent Road and Governor Drive in San Diego.  In mid September, we were producing a Bible conference series for Logos Bible Study, where Dr. Bill Creasy launched a twenty four session study entitled Portrait of Jesus.

We prepared this blog from outside of the church building the morning of the production.  We did so to give you an idea of some of the different kinds of environments from which BizVid Communications produces videos. In this venue, BizVid had a full production crew inside the large and somewhat cavernous auditorium. It consisted of three HD cameras and cameramen, an audio technician overseeing three microphones, a grip to supervise and troubleshoot, a director synchronizing the shots and a producer who coordinates and interacts between the crew, the client and the patrons.

Since many of our sessions take place outside, as well, BizVid has crews that adapt to the elements, too. Of course equipment varies slightly, particularly the lighting. Lights often give way to reflectors and silks to redirect sunlight or filter it. Budget helps determine the crew and equipment, also. The budget at this Catholic Church venue allowed for three cameras and a director calling the shots and switching from one camera to another. Some of our larger outside sessions, like when BizVid produced the Night of Light drama at Skyline Church required a mobile production truck with a live switcher, several cameras and extensive microphones to capture the actors and the choir.

Sometimes we shoot our productions in what we call a “film style” format. Here, we will use a smaller crew, perhaps only three people. We’ll use a single camera, stopping down often to set up different angles. Once these various scenes are captured and brought back into post production, BizVid editors will compile the various scenes in such a way to make it appear several cameras were used. It is called film style, because, by in large this is the same technique used by film crews when shooting full length motion pictures. Each scene is produced separately and then edited together produce a sequence that looks like one continuous activity.

Thanks for joining us as we offer behind the scenes insights into the exciting profession of video production.

Caz Taylor Hams in Guatemala, using Cucumber

As a video production leader in San Diego, BizVid Communications knows that a happy crew produces good video.  Snacks and good lunch breaks are more important than you think. We’ve learned this from experience from foreign lands to home port in San Diego, California. When every crew member answers their call time and prepares to work, having some snacks, juices and water handy helps motivate. Our crew is professional and pretty self sufficient, but can become cranky when there’s nothing to nibble on. We illustrate this in an on location session for Logos Bible Study.

One of our friends and crew members for years runs our teleprompter. She always makes a habit of bringing fresh cookies or mixed nuts to BizVid owners Bill Gruber and Caz Taylor. You can bet we have her join us whenever we can.

One of our favorite clients is CND, Creative Nail Design. They are a class act in every way and food is one of those ways. While it is typically the job responsibility for the video company to feed the folks on a long shoot, this beloved client always caters. And it ain’t no little pizza fest… it is generally from a very well-known caterer. Sometimes it’s from specialty restaurants, sometimes even sushi. I know that when our crew discovers they will be at a CND session, their mouths begin to water.

At our recent venue, the client catered a beautiful spread with specialty foods for their attendees. They were kind enough to include our crew. The challenging part was that we had an assignment to interview attendees during the lunch break. I’ve never seen a crew work so quickly and efficiently, to make sure they finished in time to be sure some of the sumptuous menu items remained.

As a BizVid producer, sometimes the task of bringing food falls on me for the morning goodies. I joke that I try and bring snacks with high sugar or fructose content, so we can be sure the team is a bit hyped by their sugar highs to perform more quickly. It’s not true of course. Want a candy bar?

As a video production company in San Diego, BizVid is pleased to recognize some of the people that make a big venue go smoothly. When BizVid videotaped the first few of a 24 part teaching, held by popular Bible teacher, Dr. Bill Creasy, we saw teamwork in action.

Of course we deal with teamwork with each production. Most of our crew have worked together for many years and it shows. We set up a challenging stage and cavernous auditorium quickly. Most of our crew members know their jobs (sound, camera, lighting, grip and so forth), but each has worked in some of the other positions, as well. That means they willingly help out others if their tasks are more demanding because of the setting.

I was pleased to observe the organization put in play by the Logos Bible Study team as they planned for and presented to nearly five hundred at Our Mother of Confidence Catholic Church recently. Much of this coordination comes from relationship. Many have followed Dr. Creasy’s teachings from his days as a UCLA professor of religion, history and literature.

Attitude means a lot when you’re working with people in this type of environment. One can be assured that not all things will go exactly as planned. It seemed that the team of a dozen or so knew their jobs and worked as efficiently as possible. People hate standing in lines and at one time the line was pretty extensive. I did hear one attendee wishing out loud that they didn’t have to stand in such a line. The organizers were attentive to this, and though little could be done at this juncture, notes were made and additional strategies would likely be applied the next time out.

At the close of the venue, it was clear from the faces of the attendees that they enjoyed their full day learning about the Bible in this Portraits of Jesus series.