Accidental Information Evolves

Evo.lu.tion: a process of change in a certain direction: unfolding; a process of continuous change from a lower, simpler, or worse to a higher, more complex, or better state: growth.

The world evolves constantly. So do our environments. There comes a time with a blog must do the same thing. It's been a great run sharing my views, voice and the various ideas that spring into thought. During my journey of sharing, learning and connecting, one interesting thought stood out. So it's time to turn this idea in to reality and chart a new course. By adding a lot of passion and some elbow grease, I'm about to share the next stage of life for Accidental Information (AI).

So what does this all mean? In a few weeks, Accidental Information will be all new and transform from a communication-based blog to something bigger and better. This new destination will deliver unique and interesting information and some much needed fun. 

Excited to see what's next? Connect with AI now and be the first to know when the new site is up. Here's how to reach us:
  
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IABC 2011 World Conference Recap

Communicators talk a lot! And that’s a good thing. 1400 communication, marketing and social folks chatted, networked, learned and saw some sights in San Diego last week. The IABC World Conference was full swing in and offered much of the same things in the past, a place to share and learn. I was lucky enough to co-facilitate a session on Sunday sharing three hours of open space to collaborate hot topics and network our butts off. I stayed for the rest of the conference and took advantage of sessions, interesting keynote speakers, and my favorite part of any major event, meeting new people, like-minded or not. 

So what did I get out of the event? I’ve categorized my experiences in bite-sized nuggets for your scanning pleasure. But don’t just read and close the page. Share a few highlights of your own in the comments section. Isn’t that half the point of going to a conference? Share the wealth!

Best lines I heard or overheard:
“Your brand is what your employees say it is.”
“Value is in the eye of the beholder.”
“…prune your garden.”


Takeaways and Reminders
These are key points that resonated with me in the sessions I attended. Most are not new. But they are terrific reminders to be true and stay on point for successful approaches.

• Biggest theme: Make it simple (write in plain, simple language) 
• Integrated communications: Focus on blending plans and tactics vs. a singular approach to marketing, social media, executive communications, etc. 
• Emotional connections: Connect with employees emotionally to drive overall engagement and passion. Make it personal. 
• Drive traffic: Want better adoption? The best way to drive traffic to your site is to put the must-have items on it. i.e. pay stubs, schedules for hourly employees 
• Multiple approaches: One fit does not work for all regions and employees. For example in a sustainability program, employees in Asian Pacific markets prefer group contributions vs. employees in the US which usually prefer to contribute individually. Know the audience and be nimble in your approach.
• Offer outcomes: Understand the outcomes of your communication plans and services so you can focus on offering a service with an expected outcome to clients. This addresses that problem or situation a client wants to tackle. Clients too often are focused on services and something fun without understanding the best approach to solve their problem. 
• Think big about your brand: You really only have one brand. Or at least you should. Even sub-brands are okay as long as they deliver on your brand and promise. Everyone that touches this brand is now part of a brand system. Connect these people and initiatives to drive one brand message. If everyone is working together in a brand system, the message stays clear. And a clear message helps employees understand the company and their role. 
• Find the gaps: Communicators are in the perfect position to spot the gaps in strategy plans. We can look at it from all angles (employee, leaders, and consumer). Find the gaps and point them out. This is usually when communications can connect plans and ideas. 

Happy Improvements
I wrote a post last year recapping the 2010 conference including a few things I’d like to see changed. Guess what, people listened. Here are a few of those things as well as others that I believe worked nicely.

• Case studies: I was happily surprised to see more case studies and real experiences vs. an onslaught of vendors. I walked out of sessions with not only some knowledge, but most of the time with a new contact to share future ideas with. 
• Social media: There were session about it and a lot more attendees using tools while attending the conference. This was the first year I didn’t feel like the ugly duckling (swan…get it?) because I was tweeting and not many others were. Yay for embracing a current technology and rhythm. 
• Digital copy: It was nice to see a digital copy of the schedules and programs. I will admit, I actually do like the printed brochure. But digital was a step in the right direction. By the way, the right direction is listed below in the mobile app bullet. 
• Vendors: It was nice to see a few new vendors. I always like to know about new options. Maybe think about getting a Foursquare, Jive or Yammer there. They make perfect sense! 

Thoughts for Next Year

Call it what you will, challenges, learnings, whatever you do don’t do this again, or just plain that could be even better – all ideas to make 2012 an even better conference experience. 

• Collaboration: I am so glad IABC attendees had the option of joining an online group to share and interact around the 2011 conference. Now I’d like to see a permanent place instead of a one-time instance. Sad but true, the current Ning site will probably fade away. Why not use a place that IABC folks are already visiting, like LinkedIn. Make use of the space and do not create another place to distract. Adoption will also be better. Or if Ning is the ticket, make it a on-going living space in the IABC website. Connect them!  
• Mobile app: Take the digital schedule and resources and turn them into a mobile app. A digital version of the schedule can only do so much. Let me tag my schedule, build one, connect to the online collaborative space, see the twitter feed and more. Build it and we will come! 
• WiFi: You knew I was going to say this, right? I was okay without it this year because we were in the US. But for our non US folks and the attendees with WiFi only tablets, WiFi is a must. Make some magic. 

I end with a big smile and a resounding, “I’m glad I attended”. IABC is evolving and I can see it. I look forward to sharing, learning over the next year and seeing everyone at the 2012 conference. Who knows, maybe I’ll even throw my name in the hat for a session I’m cooking up. Interested?

Keep sharing and connecting!
   

A New Communication & Social Media Adventure

The countdown is over. I've said goodbye and now I'm ready to start a new adventure to expand social media and interactive communications to a whole new audience. Yes this does mean my time with the Mouse has come to an end. 

I am happy to officially announce to the greater public, that I've accepted a position with Avery Dennison. In my new role, I'm tackling interactive communications and social media for the Company. I'll focus internally toward the employees through the Intranet and technology outlets like mobile devices, touch panels, and more. Additionally, I will focus heavily on social media platforms, best practices and campaigns for the internal audience and externally to consumers and clients. Once I jump in and become immersed, get ready to hear more about this exciting journey. 

About Avery Dennison
Avery Dennison continues to evolve while embracing trending communication practices and continues its strong commitment of innovation. Avery Denison is probably a lot more than you might think. Take a glimpse into our world and see how Avery Dennison is all about Inspired Brands and an Intelligent World: 2010 Year in Review

As I said farewell to the Walt Disney Company, I shared a brief video to Disney colleagues. Here's a copy of that video.

How to Communicate a Clear Message: An Ad by KLM

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines just released a new video showcasing a social experiment they conducted. What if someone was in your personal space? Would you feel uncomfortable? Of course you would. This simple and easy to understand video explains that KLM knows what it's like to feel uncomfortable with someone in that protected space. The real message - we listen, we get you and we have a new program on European Business Class flights. Personally, I was sold with the new perk of an empty seat next to me. Now that's priceless. 

Yes, this video summarizes a new program. But it's with simplicity of human behavior and a soothing pace that makes this perfectly toned ad a winner. But this is just an ad, right? Well I of course think about how to apply this to employees of an organization. What if we set a soothing tone, listened more intently and said we get you to our employees? It would be one step closer to engaging our colleagues - honest and simple. Now watch for yourself.  

   

How to Build a Mobile Intranet Roadmap

Who's ready to redo their intranet again? Every couple of years, we communicators seem to take another stab at finding the right equation for the perfect intranet. I believe that 2011 will be a big another year for Internal Communication folks. This is the year we add real mobile access to our intranets.

Employees are quietly demanding access to their tools when and how they want them. Us consumers are doing the same thing with outside sources, like Facebook, newspapers, maps, etc. So it makes sense that employees expect the same experience at work. Since intranets are a lot more than just company news typically, including resources like employee directories, office maps, business applications, and commissary menus, employees will greatly benefit from mobile access. 

There are many ways to deliver a mobile Intranet experience. There are also many devices and ways to digest this mobile information. The variables and tools almost seem endless. Now let's take a dive into what information should be mobile, the tools available and important variables.

Should everything be available on a mobile device?

It would terrific to have all of our tools from the office in our palm, right? It would also be cluttered and time consuming. The beauty of a mobile app, they are easy to use, simplified and work well with our favorite mobile device. We can find what we need very quickly. Apply this same thinking and ask yourself, do I really need instant access to everything on the Intranet? Not really. Less features will allow for better usability. Use the following questions to help identify what top items should be on your list for mobile access:

• Will employees be able to take action on their device vs. having to go to their desk?
• Are there important messages employees need to know immediately? (i.e. safety)
• How will employees use specific information while away from there desk?
• Will access to specific resource or information make the employees job easier?

Need a head start? Here's a few must-haves:

• Employee directory
• Location directory
• Enterprise workflow approvals (i.e. travel & expense, purchasing, time off)
• Safety messages (think push notifications)
• Social interaction (if you have something like Jive, make it easy for employees to connect)
• Brief learning courses

All-in-one, separate site or individual apps?
There are a few ways to offer mobile solutions to employees. 

• Simple design: The first idea focuses on only one build with a very clean and easy user interface that allows for ease of use on multiple devices and browsers. This offers a consistent experience. For example, if you have a two column design, the site will be much easier to navigate on smaller devices and the full screen version will be less cluttered. Intranet tools are starting to add mobile options.
• Mobile site: If your intranet is brimming with resources and you're required to keep it as is, then a separate mobile site might be the answer for you. By creating a separate version of the intranet for mobile devices, a clean and unique design can be applied. They key here is make it feel easy and make it work on multiple devices and browsers. A possible draw back may be when you hear employees loving the mobile site and complaining about the full site.  
• Mobile apps: Most of us are familiar with mole apps now. If you have a smartphone, mobile apps have saved you time and delighted you with surprised ease. In this option, you can deliver multiple apps to allow your employees to access parts of your intranet. If you are a large company with enterprise workflow, you'll probably need an app just to manage this process. Then you can offer another app for directories and important contact information. Be smart about the apps you create and only add ones that make sense. There is a limit to having too much of a good thing.      

Variables aplenty

The explosion of smartphones and tablets is very exciting for consumers (employees) and businesses. There is also the variety of browsers, operating systems and security. Does your company use BlackBerry, iPhones, Android, Windows 7, or something else? Different devices have different browser options as well. When creating or reinventing an intranet, its important to build and design for the varied options. If your business only allows one platform today, will that be the case in a year? Chances are employees will bring their personally owned devices in to the office and want to connect to the intranet. Be smart and plan for multi-platforms. Do your homework and find options that can expand. Lucky for us, the enterprise app trend seems to be focusing on apps that can cross platforms.

Are you taking the plunge with a mobile intranet soon? Will it be a big bang launch or will you test the waters with a fun and ultra desired app? If you've had some challenges, share! Tell us your nuggets of wisdom or ask your questions here.

Happy building!
  
Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.   
   
   

The Emotional Connection

Have you seen the newest VW commercial with a little boy dressed up as Darth Vader? It's a viral hit that was even aired during the American Super Bowl. If you haven't seen it, watch it here. When I saw it a couple weeks ago, I immediately loved it. What's not to love - Star Wars, a child dreaming with a big imagination, and sweet caring parents. The point, I felt emotionally connected with the images and story. If you break it down a little, Star Wars is a pop culture reference that touches people in many cultures. A lot of us feel nostalgic toward this reference. Then we have a child dreaming of being something great, an icon with super powers. A lot of us remember and wish for those carefree moments today. Next, the parents, especially the dad, with a subtle movement, supports his son with a moment of believing. How could I not love and feel something toward this message? Now how do I feel about VW? I believe they care. They get me. I feel nostalgic and happy all at the same time. It's the same feeling I get when watching a bad 80's sitcom - Safe and content. 

Why is an emotional connection important?
We have all seen great marketing that is smart, hip, interesting, provocative, etc. But even the most interesting marketing sometimes doesn't have the impact one would hope. This often happens because of the lack of emotional connection with the audience. It's an easy equation; people make decisions based on the way they feel. See, I said feel, not think. An emotion will drive thinking and a decision. Look at politics, I make choices I think are morally right, not because it's the facts and I am not connected emotionally at all. I feel close to the ballot measure and my thinking follows. So if we want people (our employees) to do something, we need to find out what they really want and deliver our messages that relates to them emotionally.

How to do it
This isn't rocket science at all. You probably have seen this a million times. Now it's time to put it in place. Start with powerful images. Use images that strike a strong feeling in you when you see them. Why an image? People usually react faster and stronger to images more than to words. Of course, use strong text statements to connect the image with the audience. Here's an example of introducing a new vacation policy at a company. See if you have a much bigger reaction to the first or second example.

Text version of the policy:  

Enjoying the simple part of life

Effective June 1, 2011 our company will introduce a new vacation policy. A change in the vacation allotment has been simplified for ease of use and understanding. More information will be coming soon. 

A version with an emotionally-based graphic:

Enjoying the simple part of life

Effective June 1, 2011 our company will introduce a new vacation policy. A change in the vacation allotment has been simplified for ease of use and understanding. More information will be coming soon.

Telling the truth (my example)

Recently I've come to the conclusion that employees really want three things at work. They want to belong, feel proud of their company and get their job done. Sure there are many more elements. But these simple statements help me center on how to connect with my colleagues. Here's a real-life example of something I'm doing in my group and company.

Throughout the company, employees have many options, tools, resources, and information to help them grow and to complete the many tasks within their job. But employees cannot easily find the stuff they need or find the people that can help. Easy tasks like entering an expense report became a frustrating nightmare. Employees have become angry and at some points even disengaged. As I work to fix the issue of creating easy paths to tools and resources, it's not enough to send a message and say here it is. No one cares or believes it now. Instead, I share the honest truth, it's been tough and you deserve better. We're listening and we know it's time we made your life easier. By using images that make this statement and that remind them of our honesty, employees are hearing their voice heard. Isn't that what most of us want, to be heard?
   
The next time you design a marketing plan or create a presentation, remember to tell a story and connect with your audience on an emotional level. A clear message and just the facts will not deliver the real message and change behavior.

What are you doing?
Who's had a successful presentation or marketing plan using emotionally connected images? Are you using less words and more picture-driven story making? Share some examples!        

A New Twist on Social Media and Video

I recently stumbled upon this video of a guy (Todd) in NY that found a role of film in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. Not that interesting, right? But then he developed the film and was engagement by what he found - interesting black & white photos that spoke to him. Todd has now started an adventure by one single video, searching for the photographers and hoping to connect. This video was posted on 1/17/2011 and at the time I saw it on 1/25/2011 at 8:07 PM (PT), it had received 1,143,618 views. It seems Todd has created an adventure and an entire new community for more than one million people. Social media and the human spirit are clearly alive. Small actions can lead to large impact. Now let's find these people.

  

Video Storytelling: Editing Basics

Welcome to part three in my "Video Storytelling" series. Remember these are the basics to get you motivated and experienced when storytelling for your employees. Since we've covered the top-level how's and why's and the basics of shooting video, we're left with the fine tuning of "Editing Basics". Bob Grace has joined us again to share his take on the basics of editing. He points out the 5 things you need to be aware of when sitting in front of your computer and ready to piece together your video clips. Now sit back, read, and hopefully learn something new. Intro to Bob...

So you've just finished capturing a bunch of footage and now want to turn it into something amazing.  Time to get into the mindset of a video editor.  Editing is much more than just cutting shaky shots and boring parts.  More than anything, it’s about creating the elements to tell a clear and cohesive story and engage your audience.  

The first step is choosing a video editing software.  There are so many options, all at different prices and offering different features.  If you are new to video editing, I suggest starting with either iMovie (Mac) or Windows Movie Maker, which come pre-installed on computers.  Both of these applications are intuitive, easy to use and - best of all - are free.  Also make sure you have enough space on your computer’s hard drive.  You’ll be surprised how much space video sucks up!  If you’re running low on space, you may want to consider buying an external drive.

Next, get acquainted with your editing software.  You don’t have to know all the ins and outs, but at least cover the basic functions (such as importing video and adding it to your project) and know where to find the different tools and features.  

Ready to get started?  Here are five tips to keep in mind as you begin editing:

• Review first, then import: Many novice videographers shoot many takes only to find that a handful of them are usable.  Rather than import all of the clips from your video camera, just import those that you may potentially use in the final edit.  Think of it as your video ‘pre-screening’ process.  It will save time and valuable hard drive space and help keep your clip folder less cluttered.  
• Use sound to tell a story: Audio is just as important as the visuals when it comes to making an effective video.  You can use voiceovers to emphasize specific points, sound effects to add humor, and music to help influence the mood and flow of your project.  Be careful not to use copyrighted material; there are many royalty-free options available as an alternative.  Also, pay close attention to the audio volume levels so one sound element doesn't drown out another one (e.g. music vs. subject’s voice).  Most editing applications have a helpful audio level meter.  If you see it jumping into the red zone, adjust the levels. 
• Experiment with tools and effects: Even if you’re using an entry-level editing application, there are quite a few features to explore.  The title tool is useful if you want text to appear on screen.  Transitions as well as speed (fast/slow motion) and color (black and white) effects - like music - can help determine the mood and pacing and dramatize certain parts of your video.  Of course, just because your software may have many options doesn't mean you should use them all.  If you want your video to look professional, go easy on the effects.  Still images and graphics can also be a great addition to your project.  As with audio, be mindful of copyright issues when using images.  I've found that istockphoto.com is a fantastic resource for royalty-free stock images.   
• Awkward edits - avoiding jump cuts: A jump cut is an immediate transition between two shots that are very similar.  They are often jarring and unpleasing for the viewer.  Rather than try to explain it, this video does a nice job showing examples and solutions.  Avoiding jump cuts is easy and will go a far way in making your video look better.
• Share and collaborate: It’s important to to take a step away from the project and let someone else look at it.  Whether it’s your boss or your buddy, you’ll get a fresh perspective.  Maybe the other person will notice something you've missed or suggest a new approach.  When I worked on videos at Disney, Christopher and I each provided input and bounced ideas off each other.  I have no doubt our videos turned out much better than if I had worked on them alone.  

There you go, five tips to consider while you edit.  As with anything, it takes lots of practice to become a good editor - learning the rhythm and flow of a good video production, telling a compelling story, and effectively using the tools your software has to offer.  With that in mind, get creative and have fun editing!

Share!
If you have already started editing video, what has your experience been like?  Do you have any other tips beginners might find useful?  If you’re just starting out, what questions do you still have?


 

How Will I Communicate in 2011

2011 is just around the corner and my thoughts now move toward my next communication adventures. This new year brings new possibilities and challenges. I'm excited to jump in to new projects, share my knowledge, learn from others, and experiment with new styles. Since I'm a "list man", I've started a list of the key targets in my scope to help me plan my year. What can I say, "A type" personality suites me well. So dig in to my list and then share what your're doing to move communications forward. Excited about the new year as well? Then share your ideas and see where we can make changes together.

Work Projects (Disney)

• Launching not one, but three additional employee-focused web-series
• Developing measurement dashboards, capturing all forms of communications
• Creating a new over-arching brand; a stamp of approval; connecting with emotion
• Re-defining intranet sites, by reshaping the spaces, content and user adoption
• Piloting mobile apps and an app store internally - managing marketing and communications.
• Further development in community spaces - beyond just come and chat. Learn, laugh and share! 

Freelance Projects

• Developing a marketing/communications strategy for Willow Tree Bakery. Building brand identity and awareness.
• Who is Christopher Swan? Developing an expanded approach with video.

Speaking Engagements

• IABC/San Diego Chapter - March Speaker 3/16 : Creating An Engaging Communication Video Series
• IABC World Conference 6/12: Open Space: Communicate Now!  Co-facilitating an open forum and think camp for communicators, new ideas and real-life communication issues.

Getting Involved

• Social Media Breakfast Los Angeles is launching. I'm excited to share the word and meet other social nerds. Let's ramble and share the love.
• IABC Los Angeles - The chapter is getting better than ever and I'm excited to get further involved. Speaking, sharing and whatever else moves us.
• Internal Communications Community (at Disney) - This community is growing and I am leading the efforts to bring us together. Only as a community will we change and be a force for the better.  

 
Experiments & Styles

• New video styles: Interview, learning, and promotional.
• Using music and big Hollywood/Intranet-based styles in all new ways for Internal Communications. Entertainment is king!
• Flash mobs and/or real-time meets. Figuring out how employees of walks-of-life embrace unique events, challenges, contests, information sharing, etc. 

So there it is, the beginning of my 2011 Communication "to do" list. I'm excited and ready to do it all. Who's ready to start a new project, join me in a community or share their ideas and projects?  I'd love to hear from my fellow communicating junkies. Share the love!

Checking in at Work: Location-based Services in the Enterprise

Did you “check in” today at the office?  Or maybe it’s not your thing.  Guess what, it is your employee’s thing.  Employees around the world are curious, just like us consumers about location-based check in services.  Now folks everywhere are checking in to your office, retail store, warehouse, and break room. 

Let’s take a step back – why check in at all?  Consumers are finding different reasons - enticed by gaming elements (badges, mayorships), discounts, recommendations and another way to share the details of their day. If you're still new to location-based services, look up Foursquare and Gowalla for a few examples.  

2010 has seen location-based services and options jump in popularity.  At first it was just Foursquare.  As time went on, Yelp and others crept into the space.  Employees seem to be keeping up with the options and kept adding their work location into the mix.  Then real changed happened – Facebook added “Places” check-in with incentives.  Now Facebook users could receive benefits and share all of their locations with the world.  Let’s face it; Facebook is the giant gorilla that is bringing this nonmainstream check-in to everyone’s mother.  Soon mom’s visit to my office will probably show up in Facebook for all of her friends to see.

Why should we care?
An opportunity is presenting itself to connect and share our company culture and the many stories hidden within the halls of our buildings.  The challenge, harness the option and actions to actually mean something beyond “Hey, I’m here”.  I’ve been putting some thought in this new hot topic and have a few suggestions to test in your company.  I’ll be doing the same.

New hire orientation - Employees will rejoice with a new option of learning and interacting with a wealth of company information.  Sitting in a full day of orientation is overwhelming and let’s face it, a bit dry.  Let the employees roam around the company locations while gathering useful information all around them.  Create a challenge and let the employee discovery certain facts and bring it back to the group to share.  Many applications will let you add tips and other information per location.  Employees could learn about where departments are located, what they do, significant cultural points and emergency information. 

Team outings – It’s time to get the team out of the conference room and in new locations.  Lots of companies have outings for departments and teams.  Why not add a geo location scavenger hunt in the mix.  This would be great for team building and learning about new topics.  A product called SCVNGR, provides challenges, points, rewards, and can be customized for your company.  I am also looking at scavenger hunts and challenges to take online communities into the real world.   

Maps & Location – With geo location, comes maps.  Why not try to beef up the employee directory with maps and useful information.  If you’re on a large campus and need to know the name of the building you’re standing in front of, just check in to see the location.  Probably destined to be a favorite, provide suggestions to the best places to eat or host a lunch meeting near the office.  Even in the consumer world, recommendations are far underused. 

Who’s nearby – Imagine a new way to locate and meet nearby colleagues and employees.  If you’re in a large conference (or at another office location) and want to meet a few like-minded folks, just open an app and see who is there.  I easily do this today with Foursquare and Facebook at work already.  Why not step it up and frame it as a networking opportunity.  With some thought and planning, I think this area can be developed further.  

What are you doing? Share your thoughts.
Have you been watching what your employees are doing with these check in services?  Are you starting to think about a plan to integrate a service in to your communication or business plans?  What other ways would you use these services for employees and vendors?

Video Storytelling: Shooting Video Basics

In my last post titled Video Storytelling, I shared my thoughts and provided guidelines for creating good video as part of an employee communication channel. This was a great first step. To round out the subject, I want to highlight the basics for shooting video and editing. Instantly my former colleague and friend Bob Grace came to mind. He has a lot of experience in this area and could share some real insight. I asked Bob if he would be interested in sharing his knowledge and becoming my first guest blogger. Thankfully for all of us, the following post is all Bob.

I’m thrilled to be the first guest-blogger here on Accidental Information!  I worked with Christopher on launching an employee-focused web video series at Disney.  We started with nothing more than a Flip cam, simple editing software, and a few good ideas.  Here are some tips and techniques I found particularly useful as we ventured into the world of video storytelling, specifically shooting video:

• Come prepared: Before you even hit the record button, be sure to prepare a storyboard and script.  It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it will give you a good idea as to how your video will progress and, more importantly, will save time during the filming process.
• Multiple takes: Don’t feel pressure to get it right the first time.  Whether your on-camera talent flubs a line or you accidentally shake the camera while recording, slip-ups are bound to happen.  Even if you think you got the perfect take, record one more as a backup.  It’s always nice to have a few good takes to choose from, but try not to record so many takes that you’re spending all of your time reviewing footage when you begin editing.  Also, try to resist the urge to delete or record over bad clips.  Who knows, they may come in handy for a blooper reel at the end of your video!
• Shot variety: Imagine watching a video that uses the same type of shot the whole time.  Boring!  Make an effort to get a variety of shots and angles.  Wide shots show the subject in his or her setting and give viewers a sense of location.  Medium shots frame the subject from the waist up.  Close-ups focus in on your subject’s expressions or emotions.  Getting a variety of shots will give you more to work with when you begin editing and will help make your video more dynamic.  This page takes a closer look at shot types and what they look like.
• Minimize movement: Many video novices like to walk-and-film only to discover the video turns out far shakier than it looked on the screen while filming.  It’s best to just keep your feet planted and stick to static shots or slow pans.
• Framing: There’s a simple technique that even most seasoned videographers use.  It’s called the Rule of Thirds.  Know it and you’ll be on your way to composing more interesting, professional-looking shots.  Here’s a video I found that does a great job demonstrating the Rule of Thirds. 

Now for two of the most important aspects of video.  If nothing else, make sure your sound and lighting is good.

• Sound: The on-board mic on a Flip cam (and most consumer video cameras) will pick up everything - wind, an airplane overhead, even the hum of a refrigerator.  Just be mindful of ambient noise - whether you are shooting inside or outside - and keep the camera close to your subject to record their voice at a good level.  And if you have a fancy camera with an input for an external mic, even better!
• Lighting: There’s a reason I saved lighting for last... it’s the trickiest.  Generally shooting outdoors is more difficult than shooting indoors.  A few tips:  Avoid shooting your subject under direct sunlight, as this results in overexposed shots (and can be very uncomfortable for your subject).  Also avoid shooting with the sun shining behind the subject since this will darken him or her.  Instead, try positioning your subject so the sunlight comes in from the sides instead of directly above (early morning or late afternoon is ideal) or shoot in the shade where the sun’s light is softened.  Check out this video for a quick outdoor lighting tutorial, including how and when to use a reflector.

Of course these are just guidelines, not hard-and-fast rules.  Feel free to experiment and get creative with the camera!  Next step - editing.  I’ll be back with another post soon featuring tips for easy and effective editing.

Video Storytelling

Video is everywhere these days. You can find it in blogs, anchoring an intranet, on your phone, really it's anywhere there's a screen. Remember the phrase; a picture is worth a thousand words. I think video is worth a million. We are in the age that communicators, leaders and employees are armed with at least one video capturing device. If you have a mobile phone, chances are you've recorded a video.

What does all of this mean to a communicator? There are key points to be aware of in this trend - we must embrace video, video is still storytelling, connect with the audience and small budgets work just as well as large budgets.

Thoughts & Guidelines

• Communicators must embrace video - don't fear it. Video can be used in a variety of ways to share your message, engage your audience and bring value to your organization. It will be up to you to decide what content is made into a video vs. a written communication. The point is to expand your communication channels. I also keep hearing from other communicators and social media leaders that video will become even more important in communication planning. 
• People love storytelling. Just like when we share a personal story in a presentation or tell an employee story in an interview for the intranet, video beckons for the same type of storytelling. Have you ever watched a good documentary without some storytelling? If it didn't have a story to it, you'd probably turn it off. Same goes for the videos we create for our employees and consumers. For example, if you need to tell employees about a new time HR policy, wrap it up with a story (think a skit) vs. having a corporate leader ramble on for 10 minutes without even shifting his posture. Talking Heads are for the 80's, not today. Also, this concept applies to news-style videos. Look below for an example of a story driven video I created to launch a new employee community.
• Connect with your audience. If you're not speaking their language nor sharing your message in a way that resonates, no one will listen. There are a few ways to connect. First choose a set, dialogue and theme that mean something in your organization. If volunteering is important to your employees, blend charity concepts into your story (i.e. film at a food bank). Now think about your spokesperson. Whenever possible, use employees in the video so they can tell story. If it's difficult to find an eager employee to help, make it minimal. Employees can just be an extra or adding bits of commentary. A nice bonus, this also helps with viral sharing. Lastly, humor goes along way if done right. Contrary to some advice I'd received, I suggest using humor where appropriate. Of course, be mindful of the humor you focus on. Always avoid the obvious items like, politics, diversity, etc. Just think, people watch YouTube videos for a reason - it's mostly to be entertained and laugh.
• Don't worry about your tiny budget. I've started an entire employee focused web-series on a zero budget. I borrowed a camera and used free tools and resources. For example, Windows and Apple offer free video editing tools that I used. I was able to add effects and music. Easy and professional. Success can really boil down to motivation and determination. If you plan well (previous points), find free resources (Google it!) and learn best practice techniques for filming and editing, you'll end up with a something your audience will watch. Believe me, you're not going to hear, "I bet they didn't have a budget". 

Real-life Example

Using all of these key ingredients, here's an example of a video I created for the launch of a new employee-based community.

Now what? Share your feedback.
Are you creating videos? What have you learned? What was a success or challenge? Or, are you just starting - what questions do you?

conferences, web sites, and travel, oh my

Hello communication and blog world. I've been in the midst of launching a new web site, hosting a two day conference and have been on the travel train. I'm back from the Twilight Zone of busy and will have some insights to share soon. Currently tinkering around in my head:

• Community sites and engagement
• Personal branding
• Video storytelling
• Location-based services at the office
• What should and shouldn't be in your social media plan

Community Overload: Overwhelmed with Too Many Options

Finally there’s an online community at the office for me to share my ideas about employee benefits.  Oh nice, now there’s a community to talk about healthy options as they apply to my employee benefits.  Hmm, here’s another invite to join the community for employees to talk about work life balance.  So now I have three communities just to talk about benefits at work?  What about the other communities I’ll want to join to share my ideas about my job, or locating information and other work-related interests?  Will I end up belonging to a hundred communities just at work? 

Employee-based communities and groups are being created everyday around every subject at the office.  That is unless the company and the community/communication manager has a strategy for natural community growth.  That’s a big IF. 

If you’re a company that has recently implemented social media tools that allow for communities or groups, then you’re the prime candidate to be affected by this problem.  So let me dissect this community overload problem.  Companies (and certain employees – early adopters, mandatory participation folks) often jump in to the community space, building and creating without much planning.  There’s no roadmap, organizational structure, business function grouping, business flow grouping, etc.  All of the sudden, communities are created for anything under the sun and even worse, there’s no hierarchy or structure.  Companies literally end up with duplicate communities for the same discussions and sharing of resources.  Community creators mean well, but the magnitude of available communities ends up being overwhelming and many of the spaces lack interaction and useful information.  Sound familiar?  It’s the same story of a bad intranet from a few years ago that we all know so well - too many sub-pages with static information.

Fixing the problem before it starts

So how do you go about not letting this community weed patch overgrow and smother the real social garden you’ve dreamed up?

1. Get to know your organization:  Take a step back and holistically review your company to find the common and natural threads.  For example, if your company is segmented by different businesses, yet has HR Business Partners residing in each business, create a community for all HR Business Partners company-wide.  This way, all of the HR Business Partners can share and network throughout the company, not just within their business unit.  Remember, communities allow for great networking based on shared interests.
2. Create a plan:  Start with a long-term strategy and then create a plan for today.  For the long-term, think about what you want to see in a year or two from now.  Also, what value do you expect to grow from creating over-arching communities?  Once you’ve determined what you want in the long haul, create your short list plan of tactics to get you started.  Plans that include month-long objectives work best for me in projects like this.  I suggest starting one or just a few communities and getting those right first. 
3. Connect the dots:  Just like when you create organizational charts for your company, build a similar template for your communities.  Which communities will be on the top?  What will the sub-communities be?  Communities can be more than just connected top to bottom.  Connecting communities by relation is also helpful.  Related should be used when a community doesn’t speak to the same subject of another community, but may share some of the same ideas or concepts.  This will help employees find other spaces of interest.  Think of that phrase we always see when registering for a conference, “You may also be interested in”.
4. Who will create the communities:  There are two schools of thought here.  You can choose to let only a select few community managers own the process of setting up communities.  If you do, I suggest building in a process for employees to request new spaces to share and chat.  If employees are not involved in creating their own social world, you’ll have less engagement.  The other option would be to let all employees create communities.  The negative here is a giant mass of communities that may not work.  The positive to this option is possibly more employee participation.  I would challenge you to find a happy medium. 
5. Be nimble:  There will undoubtedly be communities that have not been set up.  In fact, it should be part of your plan not to know everything.  You should be asking yourself, how will these communities grow and stay current?  As community requests are received or the current community structure seems out of shape and misguided, take a fresh look at your social garden.  Maybe you need more of one thing vs. another.  It’s normal to adjust and tweak as you go.  Just like your company, your communities will take new directions.    

As you can see, it’s not rocket science at all.  Of course, these are my thoughts based on my experiences.  I’ve seen bad examples and I’ve seen some good successes.  The real trick is creating a strategy, laying out the community outline before you start to build, and be part of the success.  Repeat after me, plan and be nimble.