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Retro Revival
Hold on to that shag carpet and rotary phone! Kathy Basil from Hirshfield’s Design Resource talks to Kim Palmer of the Star Tribune about the revival of retro.
How Long Should Your Online Video Be?
We’re asked this question quite a bit and the answer varies depending on the audience, but by and large, we think brevity is the key when posting online content. For example, this video is a speedy 28-seconds!
Ed Heil is the owner and president of StoryTeller Media & Communications an inbound marketing and public relations agency and video production company based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Ed blogs on topics related to inbound marketing, social media, media relations, news media, video production and crisis communications.
The Secret to Running Faster, Longer
I’ve never considered myself a runner. I enjoy working out in moderation, but I’m not the kind of person who hops on the treadmill with the intention of running for X amount of miles. You see, I find running hard. It’s more work than walking and I don’t necessarily enjoy how uncomfortable I feel after more than about five minutes of it. But still, I’ve always wondered how other people could do it. How could they run tirelessly, mile after mile, while I’m huffing and puffing after just a few minutes?
Well a few weeks ago I came across a blog post titled, “How to run longer and faster.” Needless to say, I was intrigued. I was hoping this article would have a quick-fix that would give me the secret to becoming the runner I had always wanted to be. So here’s the secret:
The women on the treadmills around me, seemingly the same age and in the same shape that I was, were running comfortably at 6.5 and above. Why couldn’t I do that?
It was then I realized that in order to run longer and faster, I had to run longer and faster. … I had been running the same distance and at the same speed for years, definitely NOT pushing myself to the limit, and thus, wasn’t growing as a runner.
Duh. In order to run faster and longer, you have to push yourself. There is no quick-fix. Here I was thinking it would just happen – that the uncomfortable feeling I get when running would just magically go away, that the other people running around me were doing so by some sort of magic, not because of their own hard work.
Lately, I’ve found myself repeating this new-found mantra, “If you want to run faster and longer, you have to run faster and longer,” not just while I’m on the treadmill but also while I’m at work. If I want to become a better PR professional, I have to become a better PR professional. Sure, it may feel uncomfortable to push myself to try new things, speak up when I would normally keep quiet and make decisions that I would rather get a second opinion on, but how else am I going to keep up with the other PR pros running with me?
Are You Trustworthy?
Who do you trust? Do you trust the personal injury attorney selling his services on t.v.? Do you trust the special advertising section in your favorite magazine? Do you trust that the newspaper is giving you unbiased information? Do you trust that the television news reporter has the “facts straight” in his report? Do you trust strangers? Do you trust the timeshare sales person? Do you trust the print ad with the fine print? Do you trust the deal that’s just too good to be true? Do you trust your mechanic? Do you trust a commissioned sales rep? What makes someone trustworthy and what makes someone completely untrustworthy? Now think about your company’s presence in social media. Are you trustworthy?
Ed Heil is the owner and president of StoryTeller Media & Communications an inbound marketing and public relations agency and video production company based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Ed blogs on topics related to inbound marketing, social media, media relations, news media, video production and crisis communications.
Great Use of Editing and YouTube
A friend of mine showed me this video last week. Not only was I completely blown away by the way it was put together using stop motion, but it’s author, who goes by the name MysteryGuitarMan, has done an amazing job of working with the YouTube format. He posts regularly, every Tuesday and Thursday, and speaks directly to the camera in his videos, creating a bond with his viewers and giving the videos a very personal feel. Also, in each video, he has links to at least two of his other videos.
Check out his YouTube channel when you have the chance. It’s very impressive.
Video From the 2010 MIMA Summit
For the third year in a row, StoryTeller has had the pleasure of partnering with the Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association to provide video services for its annual summit. For those readers who don’t know what MIMA is, it’s an organization made up of members who work in web-based marketing, design, publishing, development and promotion.
The 2010 summit was held on September 27 and 28 at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. More than 1000 people attended the event, where more than 60 speakers presented.
We put together a 2-minute highlight video showcasing the summit. Check it out. It might just entice you to get on board for next year’s summit.
Technology in the Classroom
Now that we’re in to a new year, I’ve made it a priority to start sharing more of our video work via our website. Often times, we get so busy doing the work we do that I don’t make a point to share it with those who aren’t directly involved with the project.
The video I’m sharing today is one we shot, produced and edited for the Eden Prairie School district. It’s one of several videos we did for the district in 2010. The district wanted to show prospective students and their families, as well as parents of current students, how the schools are using technology to increase learning in the classroom. Teachers are using everything from smart boards and tables to iPads and iTouches to get students interested and involved in what they’re learning. Check it out.
Midwest Living Magazine’s Best New Places to Eat, Play and Stay
The February 2001 of Midwest Living highlights the top ten best new places to eat, play and stay in the Midwest. If you’re in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, be sure to check out Aperitif – It was included in the magazine’s best new places to eat!
Need a New Year’s Eve recipe? Try Jerk Chicken Fondue
Chef Kevin from Redstone American Grill shared his recipe for Jerk Chicken Fondue with Jason Matheson on the FOX 9 Morning News. This is a fun, interactive dish – perfect for entertaining!
Tim Russert and Balanced News Reporting
I miss Tim Russert. What I liked most about “Meet the Press” in the Russert era is that I never could tell if Russert leaned to the left or right, politically. It seemed guests from both sides of the aisle equally appreciated the longtime moderator and if he ever showed his political allegiance, I never saw it. I only wish there were more journalists out there who were like him.