Kicker Blog

Putting together a Web Video doesn’t have to mean putting yourself on camera. Our very busy animation practice at Kicker is proof of that. Here’s an example. A web video for a proof writing firm. Huh? Yes indeed. And what an amazing service. Kicker was contacted to help this Denver-based firm articulate its value proposition. We were inspired by thoughts of an editor looking at pages and pages of content — so we opened up the drawer – grabbed a pencil and started drawing. Here’s the piece that is now driving online sales for this very happy Kicker client!

When a Boston-based software firm wanted to drive leads for its new client relationship application – it had a choice:  bang out long-winded PDF with description, value proposition etc and create another webpage.  Or create a short, focused web video.   The choice was clear to the Director of Marketing.  So Kicker was engaged to bring to life Brookeside’s amazing new application called INSIGHT.  And thanks to some “insightful” research by Kicker,  it became clear the CEO is a great champion for INSIGHT – so we decided to interview him in his Boston office and create an engaging web video:

Kicker’s Calgary-based team has shot video in all 10 Canadian provinces and nearly 25 US states.    Contact us for a free video proposal!

OnStage Leadership is a successful training company in Dallas, Texas.   Its founder wanted to increase sales.  Cold-calling wasn’t working.  The executives and mid-level managers OnStage was calling simply don’t have the time to read proposals.  They want information quick and fast.  So our creative team pitched OnStage on a fun, retro animation piece that speaks to the audience.   The result?  A disarming, fun but powerful new marketing piece that is already driving new sales!

Looking for a web video to drive new leads and sales for your company?  Request a free proposal today!

Thanks to TAG Advertising for choosing Kicker to produce 4 new TV spots.   We assembed our “A” team for TAG’s client SARRC (Sask Association for Resource Recovery Corp.).   Shot on the RED Epic camera with a crew of 15 and edited in 2 days…the spots are coming soon to a TV near you.  Thanks again to Todd Sloane of TAG and the good folks at SARRC!

Some photos of the set:

Paying for standard SEO? You might want to think again. Here’s how we got our website to the top position in one of the most competitive keywords out there: Video Production.

It’s called VSEO (Video SEO). Our team at Kicker decided to pursue an “experiment”.  It started with the production of a couple of marketing videos (which is what we do at Kicker) and then we optimized, syndicated & nurtured. We then created more short videos. We tinkered some more. Did it take time? Yes. Did we learn a lot? Yep. We also learned that WHERE you host your video is critical. Many so-called “video hosting” companies claim their video application auto optimizes and makes videos  more easily found by search engines. But our “experiment” proved many of those claims are misleading.

So what’s the takeaway? Google tends to rank video content MUCH higher than old-school SEO techniques like article submissions, white paper syndication, blog posts etc.     We also discovered that Google may not actually display the videos in the search rankings – but still award the top positions to those with web video content.    Are we experts now in VSEO?  Far from it.    But I’d say our “experiment” was successful.

Want to get higher search rankings? Starts with creating some professional web videos (you need them anyway for your website and online marketing efforts)   — then initiate a proper SEO campaign with video leading the way.

When a Boston-based, well funded startup approached us to produce a pitch video for Singapore Telecom (SingTel)….we jumped at the chance to create something memorable. Our Calgary-based team was tasked with writing the copy that would speak to SingTel execs…. not the general public. So we delivered. Result? The pitch team with Spotlight loved it & SingTel provided some great news.

Kicker credits:

Producer: Paul Writer: Jenn Animation: Steve Sound: Brian

MAGTEC is a market leader in transportation security. The Calgary-based tech firm has been vetted by the US Dept. of Homeland Security, the US Dept. of Transportation and FEMA. One of the key challenges faced by the executive team was to demonstrate how MAGTEC’s products work without having to drive their demonstration vehicle all over America. So MAGTEC called Kicker…and the rest is history. We produced 2 web videos that act as virtual demonstrations of the technology. MAGTEC’s key US sales team (which happens to be the worlds largest security firm) now uses the videos to resell the products to its customers worldwide. Kicker is now producing 6 more web videos to help drive sales via other sales channels. Contact us at Kicker if you want to drive sales with video.

Kicker credits: Video shot on Canon 5dM2 (featuring LensBaby glass)

Producer: Paul Camera: Al Editor: Terry.

TAB is an international records management company that engaged Kicker a few years back. Since then, we have produced a half dozen web videos for TAB which help its target audience better understand TAB’s market-leading enterprise file management systems. Our latest video, for TAB’s FusionRMS software, proves that a properly produced video – with a concise story-line, can deliver incredible results for the marketing team. The best part is this style of motion graphics and screenshots is very cost effective! Have a software or web app that needs an “explainer video” to drive sales?

Kicker credits:

Producer: Paul Writer: Ross Animation: Steve

We’re privileged to work with a lot of fast growing companies. The Optimus US Real Estate Fund is one of them. Even as the US real estate market hits the bottom, more and more saavy real estate investors are turning to Optimus to take advantage of this terrific opportunity. The executive team chose Kicker to produce marketing materials, a website, an online marketing plan – and a couple of web videos like this one to help drive new leads. Optimus recently issued a news release saying it had raised $25 million from Canadian investors.

Kicker credits:

Producer/Writer: Paul Animation: Steve

We were thrilled to land Calgary-based Air Partners as a ongoing video client.   In this web video, the Director of Marketing wanted to showcase his entire team and to explain why executives should be flying private.   Now,  our camera guys immediately thought they were shooting limos, fur coats and “rock star parties”. But as producers, we suggested  the look and feel should be about confidence, safety and a key selling feature about private aviation,  productivity. The entire video was shot on a Canon 5dM2. As an additional flare, we elected to create original music for the piece.

Kicker credits:
Producer: Paul Camera: Josh Post: Ron