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IUT de VELIZY chooses trakAxPC
Tuesday, September 28, 2010

imageWe are proud to announce that the Department of Communication Networks (SRC) (Le département Services et Réseaux de Communication) of the IUT de VELIZY, a public university located just outside Paris, has chosen trakAxPC as their preferred media creation software for their upcoming communications and media course this academic year.

This follows on from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) choosing trakAxPC as their preferred media editor (click here to read why the BA Media Programme Director, Antoni Roig Telo decided to use trakAxPC in this course).

If your educational institution is interested in using trakAxPC, this academic year, please see our “trakAxPC for Education” area to learn more and receive a tailored quote for volume purchases.

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Posted by SysAdmin in trakAxPC in Education  TrakAx News   |  Leave a comment line
The Top 17 Websites for Royalty-Free Video Footage
Tuesday, September 21, 2010

When you are creating a video for your small business, you can run into the issue of having the right footage. If you can’t capture it yourself, royalty-free footage is the way to go. For example, when I created this video for trakAxPC, I purchased 6 or 7 royalty-free videos. I have put together my top 17 resources for royalty-free video below.

iStockphoto

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http://www.istockphoto.com/video
Always a great source for high-quality videos (and photos).  There is a huge range of videos and the standard is normally very good. Prices have increased over the last year, so don’t expect too many bargains. The minimum you are looking at for “small video” (320 x 180px) is 15 credits (12 credits cost €15.75) but for better quality, you will probably want to work with at least “big video” format which start at 25 credits (640 x 360px). HD prices start at around 90 credits (120 credits cost €151).

Shutterstock

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http://footage.shutterstock.com
Excellent choice and high standard of video clips. Prices start at $10 for low-resolution MPEG’s. HD clips cost around $50. Definitely one to look at.

Video Hive – Stock Footage

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http://videohive.net/category/stock-footage
Probably the most affordable choice of footage with prices starting at $6. Although the choice isn’t amazing, what footage is there, is normally good quality and available in HD.

Pond 5

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http://www.pond5.com
I hadn’t seen this site before and it has some really great clips at very affordable prices. HD clips can cost as little as $10 (although clips featuring people tend to cost more). I was very impressed with the choice of clips and the quality of the footage.

Anistock

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http://www.anistock.com
A range of mainly animated video clips – can be useful for video intros or abstract clips if you are explaining business concepts that don’t lend well to actual footage. Prices are around $11 per clip.

Free Stock Footage

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http://www.freestockfootage.com
The name is slightly misleading as medium res clips cost $14.50 and high-res cost $24.50. The quality is very mixed, with some very average clips, but may be handy if budget is very tight.

Wavebreak Media

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http://www.wavebreakmedia.com
The video clips are quite professional on this site - if a little generic. Prices are around €50 to €199 for HD clips and anywhere from €10 to €45 for low-res clips.

A Luna Blue

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http://www.alunablue.com
Some very interesting nature and time-lapse footage, but the choice is limited. Prices are around $40 per clip. If you are creating a Faith or Religious video, you may find this a useful resource.

Clip Canvas

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http://www.clipcanvas.com
Impressive range and extremely good quality. From what I can see all clips are HD and prices start at around €49 onwards (which is pretty good for HD clips).

Artbeats

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http://www.artbeats.com
A more expensive choice but some interesting documentary style and vintage footage. Low res clips start from $49 to $99 / $199 for high-res and HD clips.

DVArchive

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http://www.dvarchive.com
Some interesting video clips and many have a real TV quality about them. Prices start at $59 for low-res and continue to $199 for high-quality / HD footage.

BBC Motion Gallery

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http://www.bbcmotiongallery.com
It is the BBC, so quality is second to none. The majority of clips are rights-managed, but there is a large selection of royalty-free clips. Prices are quite expensive – low-res clips €79 and high-res or HD from €199 to €249, but you are getting some of the best clips out there.

Always HD

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http://www.alwayshd.com
Some interesting footage, but the small print was slightly confusing. Quite a few clips did not have model releases or claim “Any non-editorial use may require additional clearance” which sounds slightly dubious. However, there are some interesting “real life” clips and prices range from around $50 to $80 or so.

BigFoot HD

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http://www.bigfoothd.com
Some really interesting footage with a real documentary feel. Although the prices often reflect this - I saw some interesting “city” and “leisure” footage costing around $50, but prices often soar to $600 / $700 plus.

Thought Equity

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http://www.thoughtequity.com
Although used mainly for rights-managed footage, Thought Equity is a great (if expensive) resource if you need extremely high-quality, professionally produced content. Prices vary depending on the clip, but low resolution clips start at €79 and go from €399 to €999 for high-res / HD clips.

Footage Firm

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http://www.footagefirm.com
Rather than individual clips, the Footage Firm sells bundles of clips together. Prices vary from $149 - $249 per bundle. The quality does vary from some nice documentary style footage to some cheesy graphic-style footage, but still worth a look at.

Royalty-Free HD

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http://www.royaltyfreehd.com
Clips are placed in themes such as People, Places, Things, Business etc. The footage is all very good quality although I found the choice quite limited. Clips cost $149 (HD) or you can buys a pack of clips in a theme for $499 onwards.

Let me know if I missed some sites or if you can recommend any, please drop me a comment below.

Remember trakAxPC can be used for all your video editing needs. Take advantage of our lowest price - buy trakAxPC today for just $24.95.



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Inspiration Videos – 5 Ways to Use Video to help promote your Health, Fitness and Wellness Centre
Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Most people would love to exercise, eat healthy and feel good about themselves. However, not everybody likes the idea of going to the gym. A lot people get confused about healthy foods and what to eat. In short, your potential customer may lack motivation and information. Why not create a short video showcasing your premises, display the equipment you have and provide customer testimonials. If you are a personal trainer or instructor, you could demonstrate some of the classes you hold. Why not provide tips on healthy eating. If you have a physio rehabilitation clinic, why not show the facility and explain how you can potentially treat a client. By creating a video, you may just light that spark of motivation necessary to help get that customer through your doors and sign up for a better life, and increase your profits.

In the videos below, we will see some examples of businesses and individuals using video to promote their company but also inspire people to get healthy, exercise and improve their lifestyles.

1. Overview of Fitness Centre.

Thresh Hold Climbing and Fitness Centre is an excellent example of a business who has used video to help create awareness of not only their business but a really exciting and adventurous activity. This well made video provides some great ideas that any business or individual could implement in their own video creation. They highlight their facility and show you their climbing walls, fitness centre, yoga studio, Wi-Fi lounge etc. Most notably, they show actual members using the facility and feature customers from every demographic. You get a real feeling there is a community spirit in the place and that members share their expertise and experience. After watching the video, I wish there was a centre like this near where I live. What is great about creating a video such as this, is that you can grab footage whenever you can and not worry too much about having a linear storyboard – just edit together some footage that shows your centre in the best light and add an appropriate soundtrack.

What you’ll need:

2. Promoting your Centre.

In this interview style video, we get a great insight into the goals and objectives that RakSa Wellness Centre wishes to achieve for their customers. The owner, Apinya Pokachaiyapat, explains to us that the RakSa Centre helps nurture the mind, body and soul. We get an overview of the 3 elements of the centre; Sala for the body helps customers develop their body movements through Yoga, Tai Chi, workshops etc. The café provides quality organic produce which helps to nourish the body. Finally, the wellness centre offers a variety of services from acupuncture, massages, astrology, etc. which help cleanse the body and mind. Most importantly, the video projects to customers a feeling of calmness and well-being and would be a great place for people wishing to increase their holistic lifestyle. Interview style videos can be great because they can put you at ease when talking about your business, as you are covering one point at a time. People also love to see the owner / manager talk about their business, as it shows you are not some faceless organisation.

What you’ll need:

3. Instructional Video / Be an Expert.

A great way to connect with potential customers is to create instructional videos for video hosting sites like YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, etc. or simply for your own weblog. In this video, we see Yoga teacher, Les Leventhal, demonstrate one of his Yoga classes. These types of instructional videos are a great way to highlight your own talent and skill but also promote and market your business. It also provides potential clients the opportunity to visually see the classes and instructor and decide whether it is something they want to pursue. If you create a well made, informative video and it is already something a potential client is interested in, more than likely they will pay a visit to your establishment. A video such as this can be super simple to create – the only issue you may need to think about is lighting; your studio or gym may need a few extra lamps if natural light is scarce.

What you’ll need:

4. Promoting your Product.

If you are a small business selling health and fitness products, a video provides an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your product offering in front of customers and potential investors. In this video, we see John, co-founder of JourneyGym, highlight and demonstrate the many uses and numerous exercises one can achieve with their product. Text can be used to highlight important product features and you may want to look at using some stock footage (such as iStockphoto) if you need some extra clips to help your sales pitch.

What you’ll need:

5. Customer Testimonials.

This short 30 second video is a great way to attract new customers as the use of testimonials is a great way to build your reputation, credibility and sales. Gathering and using testimonials is one of the easier yet more powerful ways to build your business and attract new customers.  FitCorp Fitness Centre have used their customers to help highlight their key advantages such as excellent classes, experienced and helpful trainers, lots of equipment and a great atmosphere. The video also shows people of different ages and body types working out and would make any potential customer feel at ease. A great advantage of a video such as this, is the ease that you can create it – simply set up your camera on a tripod and interview some regular customers who are willing to be recorded (some nice goodies may help with getting volunteers – some free merchandise etc.). Edit your clips together in trakAxPC and you’re done!

What you’ll need:


Remember trakAxPC can be used for all your video editing needs. Take advantage of our special price - buy trakAxPC today for just $24.95.


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Posted by Colm in Tips for Small Business   |  1 comment line
Inspiration Videos – 5 Ways to Use Video to help promote your Flower Business
Monday, September 06, 2010

Opening a florist boutique can be a daunting experience, especially if you are located in a big city with many competitors or a rural village with little traffic. However, if you develop a successful marketing campaign, it can also be very profitable as there are always events, celebrations and holidays that require flowers. There are also long term contracts which can be established with local churches, hotels, hospitals, restaurants and other businesses, who need flowers delivered or arranged on a regular basis. So how do people search or find the right florist for their event or special occasion in their area? Why not create a video demonstrating the flowers you have on offer, the bouquets you design, the custom services that you provide and your location. All this information will help potential clients choose your outlet or designs, as well as building brand awareness and presenting your business as being professional and accessible.

In the videos below, we see a range of florists who have used video to help promote and market their businesses, as well as highlight their skills, services and flowers on offer.

1. Overview of Florist Shop.

If you are a florist located in a large city, an excellent way to market your business is to create a short video giving an brief overview of your business. The Windsor Florist in New York is a great example of a business which has exploited the opportunities of video to promote their business but also highlight their location, services and their specialty products. Sam Karalis, part-owner of Windsor florist, makes us feel welcome and establishes a personal connection with potential clients. We discover they have been in business since 1936, specialise in orchids and are Zagat rated. These simple pieces of information convey to the client that they are a creditable and reputable outlet and if I were in the neighbourhood, I would certainly pop in to say hello.

What you’ll need:

2. Location.

Before you select the location for your florist shop, be sure that a market exists for your flowers in that community. You should find out how many consumers are there in your marketplace? What is their income? How old are they? How often do your target customers buy flowers? Where do they live?etc. If you are located in a small neighbourhood or city, a promotional video, as part of a marketing campaign, is a great way to target these customers and highlight your location, services and unique designs on offer. If you are successful, you can become rooted (excuse the pun) in the community and develop long lasting relationships. Norwood Florist and Gift shop is one such example. Firstly, they show us where they are located and explain to us the services they provide. However, you get this overwhelming feeling that they are an important part of the community and they really consider their clients as friends and are honoured to share their special moments in their lives. What a great way to make a connection and attract new customers.

What you’ll need:

3. Weddings & Special Events.

Providing flowers for weddings and special events can really help increase your brand awareness and in turn increase your profits. Beautiful flower arrangements at a wedding or special event can be a real conversation piece. After the wedding dress and food, the next major talking point is the flowers. Get this right and people may come to you for their own flower arrangements or spread positive comments through word of mouth.

In the first video, we see Beth Leon Guerrero of WildFlowers Inc, who specialises in weddings and special events. From the outset, we get a clear understanding that they take care and pride in their work and their goal is to bring their client’s vision to life through beautiful arrangements. As they cater for events, they also provide flower accessories, lights, fabric, furniture rentals, etc. Most importantly, this video highlights the passion they have for their work and clients, which a printed brochure can never convey.

In the second video, we see an excellent example of a florist taking the initiative and actually recording and presenting their work in a real life situation. The people at Dutch Bloemen Winkel show evidence of their work in a real setting and would give any potential client a reassuring feeling that they can achieve your vision and make it a truly special day.

(Tip: If you are providing flowers for a wedding or event, simply ask the bride or organiser if you can take some footage before the guests arrive).

What you’ll need:

4. Create a Slideshow.

Are you running your florist by yourself? Are you stuck for time? Are you on a tight budget? Then why not use some of your photos to create a slideshow of your creations.  Lisa Foster Floral Design is one such example of how to create a slideshow of your work. If you have professional photos lying around why not use them to make a photo slideshow. If you don’t have any photos and are on a tight budget, use a digital camera or borrow one from a friend and take some yourself. This is a very quick and cheap option, nevertheless it is a great way to promote your business and allow potential clients to view your work. To achieve a similar effect to the video above, add some “Zoom” effects and keep your font choice crisp and simple (see here for more ideas on fonts).

What you’ll need:

5 . Become an Expert.

As mentioned in previous blogs, creating a weblog for your site or video hosting sites like YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, etc. is a great way to promote your business and share your knowledge and experience. If you constantly submit quality content, not only will you soon become recognised as a local expert in your field but also enhance your creditability while increasing your web traffic and search engine rankings. Here we see an expert from ProFlowers.com, a flower delivery service, explaining to us how to prep and position a wonderful rose arrangement. This is a great way to promote and market proflowers as you can visually see the results that the vendor can achieve. It also provides great tips to clients on how to present their flower arrangement.

What you’ll need:


Remember trakAxPC can be used for all your video editing needs. Take advantage of our special price - buy trakAxPC today for just $24.95.


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Posted by Colm in Tips for Small Business   |  1 comment line
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