What Software Do Video Producers Use?

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Video content has come a long way and some of the videos we see today have incredibly beautiful cinematography. Although a good portion of a high-quality video is dependent on the camera you use, many of the video characteristics you see and love are done in the post-production phase. Editing is a crucial aspect of creating video content, even professional video production companies have to edit their footage to make it look as good as possible.

There’s a lot of different editing software out there, but there are a few common ones that most video production companies use. If you are looking for quality video editing software to use yourself, here are some of the best ones.

Adobe Premiere Pro

Premiere Pro is probably the most common video editing software and is known as the “industry standard.” Most video production companies are going to hire individuals who know the ins and outs of Premiere Pro, and bonus points if you know other Adobe programs like After Effects, Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator or InDesign.

Why is Premiere Pro so common? Well, it’s compatible with both Mac and Windows machines and it has the best selection of video editing features. You have unlimited video tracks, 3D editing, 360º VR content and Multicam editing. Not to mention it’s fairly easy to learn, especially if you are familiar with other Adobe programs.

Final Cut Pro X

Final Cut Pro is Apple’s top video editing software. Unfortunately, Final Cut Pro is only compatible on a Mac but if you use a Mac then Final Cut Pro will be your best friend. Because it was created by Apple, it syncs with your iTunes and Photos collection to help you import content. Video production companies love Final Cut Pro for this reason alone.

Some of the best features that Final Cut Pro offers are different effect options, simple ways to add and edit audio, and keyword tag media. Final Cut Pro is a great option for beginners and is very easy to learn. If you are a beginner and don’t want to spend the money on Final Cut Pro, Apple’s iMovie is very similar and free for Mac users.

Adobe After Effects

As popular as Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro are, they can’t do everything. Adobe After Effects is a program for creating motion graphics. Once you create a motion graphic in After Effects, you can easily import it into Premiere Pro and add it to the rest of your video. Video production companies love to use motion graphics in their videos to display a logo or add some moving text.

By using these video editing software, you can create beautiful videos and really transform your online image. Video production companies like us at Fusion 360 can help you create an incredible video (or videos) to boost your online image and help you stand out amongst your competition. Contact us today to get started!

Are TV and Radio Still Effective?

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The words “traditional media” are starting to get a bad rap in the marketing and advertising world. Traditional media includes print, TV and radio. There are some marketing companies that think traditional media like TV and radio are old fashioned and not effective in today’s digital world. Although many people spend the majority of their time online or on their mobile devices, traditional forms of media are still widely used. If you are planning a new marketing campaign for your company, here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t throw out traditional marketing efforts.

Still Relevant Platforms

Radio and TV have been around for decades, and are still around even with all the technological advances. There’s a reason they haven’t been replaced yet and that is because they are still used frequently. Many people are still using radio as it is an almost free service (as long as you have a device to listen to it). There’s also the popular trend of podcasts and online radio stations where marketing companies can display radio ads.

TV has and always will be popular with so many individuals watching shows and movies. With online streaming sites like Hulu, advertisements can be displayed on these sites before, in between and after your favorite shows. In addition, many of our favorite TV shows are still broadcast on popular networks like NBC, ABC and Fox. Think about how many TV’s are in your own house. People still rely on TV stations to get their news and weather updates. By choosing to advertise on TV and Radio, you are still reaching a pretty wide audience and, depending on your campaign and target audience, you can outperform some of your digital marketing efforts.

Major Brands Still Use Radio and TV to Advertise

If you are watching TV, you will notice that a lot of the ads you see are from big companies like Apple, McDonald’s, Google and Microsoft. If these big brands are having success using traditional forms of advertising, then you will too. TV is one of the best ways to advertise, and you are making a mistake if you think that it won’t be effective for your brand. Radio and TV have the power to introduce people to a new brand or product. Chances are if someone sees your ad on TV or hears about it on the radio, they will have their phone or computer next to them to do some research on your product.

Traditional Media Pairs Well with Digital Marketing

Many marketing companies believe that traditional forms of advertising do best when paired with online efforts. Social media and other online platforms actually have the ability to boost TV and radio results. You can create a marketing campaign that covers many different platforms and mediums and they will all support one another. The most successful campaigns are the ones that are spread across different mediums.

One great example of this is Apple. When they come out with a new product, they create billboards, TV ads, web ads and even social media ads to get people aware and hyped about their product. They spread their new product across multiple platforms, getting the most awareness and leading more people back to their website or other online spaces.

Don’t get too caught up in the digital side of marketing. Although it is successful and leads to quick results, there is still a lot of good that can come from TV and radio. There’s a reason that traditional media is still in play, and that’s because it’s effective. If your company is in need of a traditional advertisement or even digital help, marketing companies like ours, Fusion 360, can help create an ad that perfectly captures your brand.

Three Ways to Set Your Brand Apart

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One of the biggest challenges that marketing companies face today is standing out from their competition. In a world where thousands of brands are trying to set themselves apart as a unique business, it can be hard to find a niche that isn’t already being explored and marketed, but we have a few tips that will help.

Setting your brand apart from the competition is a key part of building a successful brand. While there is an overwhelming amount of competition across the board, there are still methods of separating yourself from said competition and becoming a leader in your industry. Here are just three examples of efficient ways to set your brand apart.

Clearly Develop the Voice of Your Brand

Something that marketing companies focus on most when doing work for their clients is developing a clear voice for the brand. Today, companies might be in such a rush to get their name out there that they might be ignoring one of the most important aspects of a successful business: a clear voice. Developing a clear, consistent voice will help you target your audience efficiently through well thought-out content, and you’ll be able to really let potential clients know what your brand is all about.

When first finding your voice, analyze your psychographics and demographics to determine what kind of voice your current customer base will respond positively too. Of course, still add your own personal flair to the brand, but take inspiration from your audience’s interests as well.

Make Your Brand Personal on All Aspects

Aside from developing a clear and concise voice, your brand should also have a strong, visual presence. A good example of this can come from something as simple as an email address or a URL. For example, if your company is using a Gmail, AOL or yahoo email address, you might not get as much business as a brand who has a personal email address. People tend to look for professional presentation when shopping around for a brand, and marketing companies will tell you that if you have a personal email address and a professional URL, you’ll almost always beat out someone using a standard email address being hosted by Google or Yahoo.

Show Consistency in Your Services

When potential customers are drawn to your brand, it’s because they see potential and quality in your work. One of the best ways to set your brand apart is by staying consistent with your work in order to maintain that trust with your current consumers, who will in turn recommend you to new potential consumers.

These three tips are going to be some of the most efficient ways to set your brand apart, and if you’re looking to thrive in your respective industry, marketing companies recommend that you do all that you can to be different. If you need help finding your voice, contact us here at Fusion 360 ⎯ we’ll help you not only stand out from the competition, but also help you become the flagship company in your market.

How SEO Works

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When it comes to building your brand’s image, you want to show the public what you are all about in the best possible way. A good way to do this is through efficient, on-brand marketing. It might seem simple, but it is more than just plastering ads everywhere and building your social media presence. One of the most important things you can do to build your brand is to use SEO. In order to use SEO you have to know how SEO works. Marketing companies use SEO to effectively build their brand’s image.

So, if your company is still learning the ropes of content marketing, here are some pointers when it comes to SEO.

What SEO Can Do

Implementing SEO tactics is the organic way to increase the visibility of a company’s link on search engines. This includes image, video, news, academic and local searches. If a company takes time to optimize their site, it will be seen as more reputable by search engines. The more SEO content you create, the higher you will rank and the more you will appear in relevant searches. Marketing companies use the tactic of Search Engine Optimization heavily in order to keep your business on top. The SEO process is a measurable, repeatable process used to send signals to search engines indicating that your site is worth showing in Google’s index.

Optimization

So, how do you optimize a website? Creating high-quality infographics, video, images and blogs that include keywords is the first step. After that, marketing companies can edit a site’s HTML and associated coding to also increase its relevance through keywords. Search engines look at factors like these in order to analyze where a site should fall in its search results.

How to Utilize SEO

Another element considered in SEO is the speed of the webpages. If your site doesn’t load quickly, visitors won’t stick around and search engines won’t appreciate it either. Marketing companies use these tools in order to utilize all the benefits that SEO can bring for a company. These basics are determining factors in SEO and can greatly affect your website’s traffic.

If you are looking for a professional digital marketing company to manage your SEO campaign, it is important to find a marketing company that can help you. Marketing companies like Fusion 360 can help you to build your SEO and in turn, successfully build your brand’s online image.

The Benefits of Hiring an Agency

By | advertising, content marketing, digital marketing, SEO, Social Media, Utah | No Comments

When it comes to your brand’s image, you want to show the public what you are about in the best possible way, and the only way to do this is through efficient, on-brand marketing. Sounds simple, right? Just start plastering ads all over the place; spam your social media and bother the living daylights out of people online. Well, it doesn’t quite work like that. There are proper ways to market your brand, and some of the tasks that come with it might be best if left to professional marketing companies.

So, with that being said, here are the benefits of hiring marketing companies like Fusion 360 instead of trying to do everything on your own.

You’ll Save on Salary Expenses

Let’s face it, you can’t just dump all of the marketing tasks on your current employees — they have other things to do and doubling their workload will burn them out. The next option that you may consider is hiring a team to do marketing in-house but that might not be the best idea either. Unless you’re prepared to shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, this idea might not work. By hiring a marketing company, you won’t have to pay a yearly salary, all you have to worry about is the contract pricing.

You Get a “Package Deal”

When it comes to marketing companies, you’re paying for a wide array of services that are going to boost your brand’s image. Agencies are usually comprised of content writers, SEO teams, social media experts, graphic designers, web designers and videographers. If you choose to build an in-house team, that’s a lot of salaries you’ll have to cover, and if you want the best of the best, they won’t come cheap.

You’ll Get Top-of-the-Line Tools

Marketing companies don’t mess around when it comes to their client’s success. Hiring a marketing agency will guarantee you the latest tools and technologies in the world of digital media so you can reap the benefits of beautiful content. These tools aren’t cheap; your company will save big on these tools by hiring an agency.

Marketing Companies Don’t Need to be Trained

If your current employees don’t possess the necessary marketing skills to successfully market your brand, you’re going to spend a lot of time and money as you experiment with your own marketing ideas. Instead, just hire a marketing agency ⎯ they require no training, which means you can get to marketing your brand sooner.

You’ll Benefit from an Outside Perspective

Lastly, by hiring a marketing company, you’re going to benefit from an outside perspective on current techniques, style and branding. By bringing in a marketing agency, they can help you brainstorm new ideas and provide their input on what you can do to improve your brand.

There are so many benefits that come with hiring marketing companies rather than trying to do everything yourself. If you’re in need of a marketing agency to help build your brand, contact us here at Fusion 360.

Apps and Sites to Track Your Social Media

By | advertising, content marketing, digital marketing, SEO, Social Media, Utah | No Comments

The most successful marketing companies are constantly tracking their social media statistics in order to achieve greater success online. Social media stats help brands see what they’re doing right, as well as what they can improve on to boost their engagement. This is why marketing companies help their clients by utilizing proper tools provided online.

If you’re looking to expand your social media arsenal, we can tell you what tools to look for.

In-App Statistics

Social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook provide companies with in-app statistics that they can use to get a general idea of how their content is doing. These stats will show you things such as website and profile clicks, as well as impressions. The reports are not as detailed as a full web report but they still give you quick and convenient information.

Some of our favorite apps include Analytics Pro, Hootsuite and Reports Plus.

Google Analytics Pro: an app for the popular web application Google Analytics that presents data in a meaningful way, rather than just simply listing your data in an unorganized fashion.

Hootsuite: A Social media management platform used to submit messages to a variety of social media services including Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus.

Reports Plus: An app that allows a business to securely access and transform data to gain new insights on content performance.

Website Tracking

If you’re looking to get a more detailed social media report, you may want to consider using websites to analyze your statistics. Marketing companies often opt to use websites such as Social Bakers, Sprout Social, Report Garden and Google Analytics to examine social platform growth. Another great thing about these websites is that they can self-generate a report for you, which compares growth from all your accounts.

Social Bakers: A global, AI-powered social media marketing company that measures everything from social media to your audience in one simple place.

Sprout Social: A website software that helps your brand improve in social engagement, social marketing, customer care and data intelligence.

Report Garden: Aids marketing companies in creating performance reports, invoices, campaign budgets, site audits and more.

Google Analytics: Perhaps the most popular statistic tracking website out there; it tracks and reports all website traffic.

There are tons of tools out there that are available to help marketing companies track their statistics. While these are some of our favorite tools, you should definitely experiment with several apps and websites to find out which one works best for you. If you need help managing your social accounts and tracking analytics for your accounts, make sure to contact us here at Fusion 360, we can help take your company’s social media to the next level, it’s what we do.

Three Ways Pinterest Can Dramatically Spike Your Engagement

By | advertising, content marketing, marketing, SEO, Social Media | No Comments

Pinterest might not be the first platform that comes to mind for most businesses looking to grow their social media presence, in fact, a lot of companies solely focus on platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. However, did you know that Pinterest can significantly spike your engagement?

In order for your engagement to skyrocket, you have to build a connection with your audience. You have to provide them with valuable information within your content that they’ll love in order to earn their trust. So, how exactly can Pinterest help you achieve amazing engagement rate? Marketing companies have narrowed down the three major ways that Pinterest can be beneficial to your brand.

You’ll Reach a Younger Audience

It’s important to understand what kind of audience you’ll be reaching on the social media platform that you’re marketing on, and when it comes to Pinterest, marketing companies have found that this platform reaches younger demographics. The average age of the audience on Pinterest is usually under the age of 40. With over 100 million users, 80 percent of people on Pinterest are female — there is, however, a growing male population. As you use Pinterest, you’ll notice that it also offers businesses an analytics tool. This tool allows marketing companies to examine the demographics, as well as engagement numbers.

Higher Share Rates

On Pinterest, shares are called pins and marketing companies have found that around 80 percent of pins on Pinterest are repins of already created content. This being said, original content on Pinterest is bound to get a crazy number of shares; on the other side of things, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, where original content is flooding the platforms.

It’s Easier to Find Informational and Visual Content on Pinterest

While Instagram is the go-to for video and picture content, you’ll hardly find things like infographics and visual diagrams. This type of stuff may not sound exciting, but there are a lot of people looking for these items based on their own research needs and sheer curiosity. Sure, Instagram is a good platform to browse if you’re just mindlessly scrolling through; it’s a platform that is filled with pictures and videos of people’s lifestyles, adventures and hobbies. However, when people want informative visuals, Pinterest is usually the place to go. Marketing companies know this and create infographics specifically for Pinterest, which directs more engagement to their brand. Like the other platforms, marketing companies will tell you to use relevant hashtags and keywords to increase the chances of your content being seen.

Pinterest is an underrated platform when it comes to digital advertising, but it will give your brand a boost over the competition if you can utilize it properly. If you’re looking to grow your social media following and want to see more engagement, contact us here at Fusion 360 for your social media needs.

How a Green Screen Works

By | advertising, digital marketing, SEO, Utah, video production | No Comments

Today, we are faced with thousands of new technologies that can help us achieve incredible feats. From the medical field to the world of digital media, industries across the globe have benefited from these advanced technologies. When it comes to video production companies, there have been significant advancements that have given these establishments a chance to thrive in their industry. Everything from cameras to microphones and even software, the advancements have reached new heights that people 50 years ago would have never predicted. One of these technologies is the green screen.

A mysterious piece of equipment, the green screen has helped filmmakers create stunning visual effects that can greatly enhance a scene. Green screens are commonly used in news stations to help project an animated weather map, and in some cases, a digital news set. They have also become common amongst YouTubers, but video production companies still value this technology when it comes to film making. The question is, how do they work? Here is everything you need to know about how green screens create visual magic.

The Color is Crucial

You may be thinking, why Green? Why not red, purple or black? Well, green is used because it’s easy for modern cameras to pick up due to the color contrast, which gives the video editor the cleanest image possible. It’s also used because green has been shown to be one of the less common colors worn in clothing and as a result, the on-screen talent does not appear as if their heads are floating.

The Science Behind Chromakeying

Using a green screen is known as color making or chromakeying — the process of singling out a specific color in an electronic image. When video production companies utilize chromakeying, like green screens, they are able to use editing software to make the background color transparent. This then makes room for another image of your choosing to show through the now transparent background; an illusion is created in the background as the subject of the shot stands in front.

Going back to where green screens are most used, news stations use green screens to create a digital weather map. The meteorologist stands in front of the green screen, while producers use chromakeying to isolate the green screen. Then, using advanced editing software, they turn the green transparent to allow the image of a weather map to show through. The viewers then see the meteorologist appear in front of the digital weather map.

In the Film Industry

Video production companies use these green screens for more than just weather maps — they use green screens as an integral part of special effects in high-end Hollywood blockbusters. For example, in a superhero movie such as Superman, the actor may have to lie on their stomach in front of the green screen while a fan blows on them to give viewers the illusion that the actor is flying through Metropolis. The editing team then just has to chromakey the green screen to replace it with an image of the city.

Green screens are still one of the most popular and useful tools in the world of film, and properly using one can help elevate your videos beyond anything you’ve done in the past. For help creating your best video yet, contact a professional video production company like Fusion 360! We can help you with any of your video needs.