Category: Mainstream Video Video

This week on Behind The Stream, we’ve cooked up something special—four Thanksgiving-themed videos, each showcasing a unique style of storytelling and editing.

Just like Thanksgiving dishes, video styles aren’t one-size-fits-all. Whether you’re craving something heartwarming, hilarious, or just downright creative, there’s a style here to satisfy your appetite.

Ready to dig in? Pull up a seat, grab your fork, and let us know—which video style would you bring to your Thanksgiving table?

If you’ve created videos but haven’t seen the results you wanted—or if you haven’t even started—I can tell you (after 10 years in the video production business) that it usually comes down to one of three reasons.

Today on Behind the Stream, we’re featuring our new training, 3 Ways Marketing Professionals Get Video Content Wrong—and How to Fix It.

The best part? This video is training you while I’m off doing something else. Ahh, the power of video!

Thank you to everyone who came out to rock the vote! It was a very close race, and in the end, I think we were all winners. I’m talking about our recent Behind the Scream contest, of course.

Did you know we’re running a promotion this week? Whether you’re already aware or just hearing about it, it’s the perfect segue to discuss the Rule of 7.

The Rule of 7 is a theory from 1930s Hollywood that suggests people need to see a brand’s message at least seven times before deciding to make a purchase. Since then, many articles have suggested it might actually be more like 20 or more times across different platforms due to the overwhelming amount of information online.

Video creation doesn’t always have to be all business, right? With Halloween just around the corner, we decided to get into the spirit here at Mainstream by having a little fun. Each member of our team created their own spooky video, and now we need your help to decide which one is the scariest!

We’ve completed over 20 shoots for our Mainstream Video: Behind the Stream series, and each one has taught us something new—we learn something every time! Last week, we explored our on-screen appearances and discussed ways to improve (spoiler alert: nobody is as obsessed with you as you might think!). This week, we delved into our workflow, identifying what worked, what didn’t, and the adjustments we made along the way. Creating consistent video content for your brand should be an evolving process. Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for your team to be efficient while maintaining the highest quality—so you can achieve that sweet, sweet video ROI!

One of the biggest reasons more brands aren’t using video is the fear of not looking good on camera. But the secret to looking confident and natural on video is simple—it’s practice. More specifically, it’s the skill of watching yourself on screen, just like you would in a mirror, without being able to make any immediate adjustments. It can be tough at first, but the more you do it, the better you get.

And here’s the good news: once you push through that initial discomfort, the benefits are huge—more conversions, more social shares, and more online sales. At Mainstream, we go through this process every time we shoot. We review what worked, what didn’t, and make improvements from one project to the next. This week, we’re taking a look at our process and discussing what we adjusted from our last shoot to this one—new content, a new setup, and brand-new shirts.

The more you practice and adjust, the better your videos will perform. Check it out!

A great shot in the video world starts long (and I mean LONG) before you ever turn on a camera. What makes video such a powerful marketing tool (social media posts with video get 1,200% more shares than text and images combined) is that it tells a story.

When planning your next video, think about the story you want to tell, and then plan out what visuals would best communicate that message. This is the storyboarding process, and it gives you all the practical information you need to create a production schedule—a plan for getting those perfect shots.

One client who does this VERY well is the Colorado League of Charter Schools. Last week, in our #BehindTheStream video series we talked about the purpose of their video. This week, we cover how we chose to shoot just a few hours of their multi-day conference. A little planning saves a lot of time and money!

One of the most powerful principles in marketing is audience analysis. Knowing exactly who you’re trying to reach, what their pain points are, and how to speak to them gives brands a major advantage. You’ve heard the elusive term “The Algorithm”— it’s the social media mega data machine crunching the numbers to figure out who you are and what you like to see on your feed. That’s what makes it so powerful (and sometimes addictive).

While mastering communication can keep us glued to our phones, it can also benefit business owners and organizations trying to get their message in front of the right audience. A great example of this was done by the Colorado League of Charter Schools. They’ve been creating promos for their conference for years, but this year, they changed their target audience. Instead of focusing on attendees, they wanted the video to speak to sponsors.

If you’ve got a phone and a social media account, you already have access to more tools for creating broadcast-quality video than it takes to bake a cake. But just because we can bake a cake doesn’t mean we don’t value having the pros step in when it really counts. And when you don’t have an unlimited budget for professionally made cakes, learning how to whip one up yourself can be a game changer.

This is a metaphor for video production (obviously). Last week, we shared how Michele Ashby with Ace Consulting ensures her message gets out there, no matter the circumstances. In this week’s Behind the Stream, we dive deeper into the smart production choices she made for her latest video—a personal meet-and-greet designed to connect with her website visitors. See how Michelle leveraged DIY with professional touches to elevate her brand presence.