Tips and Tricks for Effective Video Marketing

I am happy to welcome back Shane Walsh as a guest contributor.  Shane Walsh is a friend and colleague with more than 25 years experience in video production. He is a storyteller at heart, and I’m excited to share with you some of his tips for effective video marketing.  So, take it away, Shane…

It has been a couple of months since my first article on using video as a marketing tool for modern dental practices.  So, take a few minutes now to read it and refresh your memory.  It’s ok…I’ll wait.  Good, so you recall that in the first article I reviewed​ the benefits of using video as part of your marketing and promotional toolkit​. T​he article​ ended​ with a link to a recent video project I completed for a dental office in Minneapolis

In this article I would like to highlight the thought process of creating that video. One of the first things that Dr. Horn and I spoke about was the look and feel for the video, what she wanted to convey to potential patients.  It was during those exploratory conversations​ that I got a real sense of her style and the way she uses color in her office as well as the architectural choices she made in designing the layout of the practice. 

One of the wonderful things about her practice is the way everything flows from one space to the next.  There are plenty​ of rounded walls that lead not only your eye, but also your pathway. With that in mind, I suggested that we bring in a small crane to create that same sense of fluid motion within the video. A crane is a device where the camera hangs at one end of a long bar and the camera operator stands at the other end controlling the camera. It helps to create beautiful, large sweeping motions which suited her office perfectly. You can see the crane in action a few times in the video. 

Another important element we spoke about was lighting and the visual mood of the office. We opted for a soft, warm lighting which mimicked the lighting in the office.  If you take a look at the testimonial videos you can see the soft pastel color palate we selected​ and how it creates a sense of calm and inviting. 

In the end, Dr. Horn was thrilled with the final products, from the testimonial videos to the office tour.  She has received many positive​ comments on the videos, and in many cases those videos by themselves resulted in new patients setting up first time appointments.  

Creating videos that are unique to who you are not only as a ​clinician​, but also as​ a​ practice​ owner​ can help set you apart from the competition and let potential patients know what to expect before they even step foot in your office.  Spending the time upfront to reflect on your brand​ and what makes you different will allow you to in​fuse​ that differentiation into all of your marketing materials, from your business cards, to your social media pages, to your website​, and, of course,​ to your videos.​  Need help creating your own video projects?  Let me know and let’s discuss.​

 

About the author:Shane Headshot 2012
Shane Walsh’s career in film and video began more than 25 years ago in the great city of Chicago.

During his travels, he has been lucky enough to work for some of the best film companies in the world, including Paramount Pictures and The Walt Disney Company. Shane has also had a chance to do work for some of the finest brands in the world including Panasonic, Toshiba and Verizon.

Shane creates everything from commercials to mini documentaries to features to instructional videos. The thing he loves most is telling stories. Shane loves getting to know a company and learning about what makes them special. Communicating unique and interesting stories is what drives us as humans​. From the earliest cave drawings to modern television shows, we learn best through story.

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2015 OSAP Infection Control Leadership Awards

OSAP LogoYou know the old saying, “Cleanliness is next to”…well, everything.  In a dental operatory or surgical setting, there is likely no stronger truism.  And because of the importance of infection control, OSAP, the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention, is recognizing current and emerging leaders in infection control with their 2015 Infection Control Leadership Awards.  Please submit your nominations and help bring awareness to the importance of infection control and the work leaders in this field do for dental safety on a daily basis.

Nominations are due by April 24, 2015.  More information on the 2015 OSAP Infection Control Leadership Awards follows from their recent press release:

The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP), the advocate for The Safest Dental Visit™, is seeking nominations for three leadership awards, which will be presented during the OSAP Annual Infection Control Symposium in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 28-30, 2015. The awards are the Crawford Award for lifetime achievement in the field of dental infection control, the Schaefer Award for superior service and contributions to OSAP, and the Emerging Leaders Award for new infection control ambassadors. Individuals can nominate themselves or another person. The deadline for nominations is Friday, April 24. Additional information is available at OSAP.org.

The Dr. James J. Crawford Award is named in honor of one of the founding fathers of dental infection control. The annual award recognizes lifetime achievement in the field. Awardees have made major contributions in science, education, or public policy related to OSAP’s core competencies of infection prevention and control and patient and provider safety.

The Milton E. Schaefer Superior Service Award is given annually to OSAP members who have rendered superior service and contributions to the organization. The nominee should have an active and effective commitment to the growth and empowerment of OSAP in its ability to provide information and education for the dental community. This award recognizes either contributions over a period of time or singular accomplishments that have advanced OSAP’s mission to be the world’s leading advocate for the safe and infection-free delivery of oral health care.

This is the first year for the Emerging Leaders Award. The goal for the new award is to help develop and promote the next generation of stars in the field of dental infection prevention and safety by identifying outstanding new infection control advocates. Candidates can be clinicians, educators, consultants, students, or members of the dental trade.

After the April 24th deadline for nominations has passed, the winners will be selected by the OSAP Awards Committee and the OSAP Board of Directors. This year’s committee consists of Jessica Wilson, Hu-Friedy (Committee Chair); William Neumann, MDSI/First Impressions; Timothy Dowd, DDS, Ralph Johnson VAMC; and Tracy Glenn, KaVo Kerr Group.

All three awards will be presented at the annual OSAP Symposium, the premier infection control education and networking event in the dental industry. Nationally and internationally known experts discuss current and emerging issues relating to infection prevention and safety in oral healthcare settings, and provide attendees with essential resources, valuable tools, and new approaches for better protecting patients and staff. Call 800-298-OSAP (6727) or 410-571-0003 or visit OSAP.org for symposium registration information.

Celebrating over 30 years of service to the worldwide dental community, OSAP is a growing community of clinicians, educators, students, policy-makers, and industry representatives who advocate for safe and infection-free delivery of oral healthcare. OSAP focuses on strategies to improve compliance with safe practices and on building a strong network of recognized infection control experts. OSAP offers an extensive online collection of resources, publications, FAQs, checklists and toolkits to help dental professionals ensure that every visit is The Safest Dental Visit™ for patients and the dental team.

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Mirror, Mirror on the Screen

SmileMe smile image

At the Chicago MidWinter Meeting of 2014 I was introduced to a new product from Remedent.  This treatment simulation and patient education software platform was called SmileMe Mirror.  Over the last year, the software has undergone quite a bit of development.  As the company prepares to introduce it to the US market, I wanted to share a short demo video of some of its features.  While there is no sound, I think you can get the gist of the offering.

I will be watching this one closely.  I am curious to find out what you think.  Is this an interesting option for cosmetic dentists?  Please reply to this post or drop me a note to let me know what you think.

Thank you for reading.

Posted in Dental Technology, Digital Dentistry, Marketing, Products | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment