TurnHere Highlights Video Production for Publishing

We recently launched a new internet video ad that showcases our work in the publishing business and the success that video has in capturing the "stories behind the stories" of your favorite authors and publishers.  The ad features Leslie Jonath, director of creative services, Chronicle Books; Steve Colca, manager of internet marketing, WW Norton; and Anne Watters, associate marketing director, Broadway Books sharing their success with video and how it helps drive awareness, business, and differentiates their titles from the competition.

If you want to learn more about how video can help your author and book promotional efforts contact TurnHere today.

Chronicle Books Details Success with Internet Video Produced by TurnHere

Chronicle Books and TurnHere announced today the extension of their successful relationship that has seen book sales skyrocket with the help of promotional book videos produced by TurnHere.  These results are validation that book videos create awareness, reader and media interest and drive sales for publishing houses.  The versatile book videos work for Chronicle Books in many ways including: public relations outreach, direct-to-consumer marketing, added value for retailers like Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble, and additional author promotion.

From the release highlighting the success of TurnHere book videos for Chronicle Books:

Online video has been an important strategy for Chronicle Books and will continue to be throughout 2008. The company believes that its short author videos, including Amy Nobile and Trisha Ashworth’s “I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids”, have played a vital role in securing television publicity opportunities, driving interest from online retailers and significantly increasing sales. The Nobile and Ashworth video caught the attention of NBC’s “The Today Show” and landed the duo on the popular morning show in 2007. Following the appearance, Chronicle saw orders for the novel jump nearly 300 percent. Other Chronicle titles for which TurnHere has produced videos include “Fashion Makeover”, “The Armchair Quarterback Playbook” and “Mastering the Grill”.

“Our decision to work with TurnHere was an invaluable marketing move,” said Darcy Cohan, director of publicity, Chronicle Books. “Not only have the videos garnered us an increased media presence — online, on television and in print — but we have also seen a direct return on our investment due to the added exposure garnered by the videos and the subsequent increased sales after media coverage appears.”

Chronicle Books saw the opportunity early and we couldn't be happier for them that it has paid off.  If you want to learn how book videos can help your publishing business watch our demo video.

TurnHere Congratulates Network-Filmmaker Kelly Whalen

Longtime TurnHere filmmaker Kelly Whalen just secured a festival premiere slot for her new feature documentary "Tulia, Texas" at the upcoming South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin. Congratulations, Kelly! View the trailer at the film's website.

You can view the show times for Kelly's film at SXSW here.

At TurnHere, we are huge fans of Kelly and love the range of work she has done for us, including beautiful property videos at Lake Tahoe, travel videos in the Wine Country and InterContinental videos in Mexico, among many others. Here are 3 samples of her TurnHere work:

Video and Travel are great partners

Producing great video often relies on an intriguing subject and visually appealing footage.  There may be no better opportunity to capture both than in video for exotic and unique travel destinations.  TurnHere produces videos for hotels, tourism boards, and other unique travel-properties across the country and around the globe.

From large hotel brands to small independently-owned and operated businesses; TurnHere is rewriting travel video by leveraging our 3,200+ global network of filmmakers to drive down production costs to a point where video makes sense for travel-based ventures of all sizes.  From producing and distributing 700+ pieces of micro-media video for InterContinental Hotels to in-depth profiles for the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, TurnHere creates captivating video that drives viewer interest and ultimately travel.

By using TurnHere's signature ad format travel businesses create an authentic experience for online video viewers.  Rather than an over-produced advertisement, viewers are guided on insider tours of the destinations by local filmmakers and hosts who know the best restaurants, shops, and must see spots that give viewers real insight to make travel decisions.

InterContinental took advantage of the low video production costs to create more than 700 videos featuring their concierge's from properties around the world.  Each video features a InterContinental concierge leading viewers on their top picks for dining, entertainment and sight seeing from around the properties. 

This video from InterContinental Hong Kong showcases this format:

The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau promotes the different colors of the islands in their Go Hawaii video campaign.  They took advantage of TurnHere's video distribution channels including a branded YouTube page to highlight their videos online.

TurnHere Internet Video Snags Three Industry Vets and Opens New York Office

Today we announced the opening of our new New York City offices.  They're located at 215 Park Ave South, Suite 1101, New York, NY 10003.  The new offices will help us better serve our clients in the publishing, media and travel industries that are based in the Big Apple.

Much more exciting than the new office space, however; is the announcement of three people that we've hired to lead the growth of the New York operation.  All three have deep backgrounds in their respective fields and we're ecstatic that they've chosen to join TurnHere.  With backgrounds in publishing, production and video strategy they are talented individuals that will help grow and extend TurnHere's  business.

The  new additions to the TurnHere team are:

• Claire Israel, director of business development – A publishing industry thought leader and speaker, Claire joins TurnHere from Simon & Schuster’s Digital Group to drive TurnHere’s  publishing business;       
• Andrew Bennett, director of corporate development – An Emmy Award-winning producer, most recently from HBO, Andrew will drive the growth of TurnHere’s filmmaker network and guide the development of new product offerings;       
• Meg Crumbine, director of business development – A video communications specialist with over 20 years of experience, Meg will drive business growth in the travel and hospitality vertical.       

From the release:

“Our New York presence will strengthen our existing business relationships, while focusing our efforts strategically in the fast-growing vertical markets that are largely centered on the East Coast,” said Bradley Inman, founder and CEO of TurnHere. “The addition of respected industry veterans to our growing team and the expansion of our operations is indicative of the great demand that both major brands and small businesses have for TurnHere’s studio-quality, low-cost videos produced in our signature authentic and relatable style.”

So join us in welcoming Claire, Andrew and Meg to the team and stop by and see us in the Big Apple sometime soon.  And if you want to learn more about how TurnHere's of online video production and  distribution platform can help your business feel free to contact one of them.

How To Videos Make You the Expert

How To videos are getting a lot of attention these days.  According to a recent Kelsey Group blog post, more than 2.5% of all searches are for "how to" information.  That 2.5% represents a massive number of opportunities to showcase your expertise to an audience looking for your services. 

In fact, 2.6 percent of all searches are “how-to” in nature, according to Hitwise, and 5 percent of traffic from the top 10 how-to searches goes to video sites (mostly YouTube).

All of these people looking for information represent a massive opportunity to service and solutions providers to show their stuff and build a lasting impression on a viewer who may just decide that it's easier to have the firm solve their problem than tackle it on their own.

How to videos harness one of the major benefits of video - demonstrated proof of excellence.  It's easy for anyone to say they are experts in lighting, plumbing, legal services or home cleaning; but the results are impossible to judge unless the potential customer can see them for themselves.  Video solves this typical service-provider dilemma by providing proof prior to asking for customer commitment - removing a painful customer hang up in the process.

The TurnHere video production style adds authenticity and credibility to claims made in video.  Instead of a slick, over-produced commercial, viewers hear direct from the business representatives, building a personal connection.  This relationship leads to a more committed customer, and lays the foundation for a business relationship based on trust instead of skepticism.

This How To video does a great job at showcasing the friendly nature of the plumber who not only can diagnose what makes the toilet run; but also helps viewers envision inviting that plumber in to their home and using their services in the future.

This lighting video lets viewers know that this lighting company really cares.  Their passion for their business makes you confident that they'll treat you well, care for your home, and do a superior job.

Using Video to Sell Real Estate

Video makes a ton of sense for those in the real estate profession.  The demands of the industry synch well with the benefits that online video production from TurnHere provides.  Online marketing for real estate has morphed over time from listings, to listings with images, to fishbowl virtual tours and now to video. 

Joel Burslem at Future of Real Estate Marketing called video the number one trend in real estate marketing for 2008 for good reason.  Let's look at how video aligns with needs of real estate agents everywhere:

• Authenticity - Let's face it, real estate agents face an uphill battle in the trust/authenticity department.  The current housing market isn't helping.  Real estate agents can overcome the hurdles that home buyers and sellers have when trying to choose an agent they can trust.  Using video lets you present yourself as the trustworthy expert you are.  And using TurnHere's authentic, first-person narrative format lets potential clients see you, the authentic, real person; not some over-produced disingenuous ad.
• Compelling Visuals - Videos thrive on compelling imagery.  Beautiful homes for sale are the perfect video shoot locations.  By taking viewers through a personal tour of the property you build an emotional bond that creates viewer action.  Instead of lifeless images you can capture the home in a unique way by presenting its best attributes and features.
• Stand Out from the Competition - If you've ever looked for a home online you know how fast your eyes can glaze over trying to read the details of endless MLS listings. Slide shows and clunky virtual tours do little to make your home listings stand out.  Using a compelling video production can connect viewers with the property (and more importantly you) on an emotional level that compels them to take action to learn more.  Why show a virtual tour when you can take viewers on a personal, guided tour for roughly the same cost?

Here's a great sample real estate video that positions these agents as experts in the exclusive, ultra-competitive East Hamptons, NY marketplace.  These pieces are longer in length than a typical agent profile and really immerse viewers in to the lifestyle of the community:

Video also works well to introduce yourself to your community.  Short agent profiles such as Pete Morgan's below help connect you with potential clients on a personal level.  This bond is far superior to the strictly transactional relationship formed through other means of marketing.

If you're a real estate agent or a broker contact TurnHere today to learn how our real estate-focused online video production and distribution services can help grow your business.                      

TurnHere Receives $7.5 M in Funding from Venrock, Hearst Interactive Media

We announced today $7.5 M in funding from Venrock and Hearst Interactive Media.  From our press release announcing the funding issued today:

The funding will enable the development of new, innovative online video products and services for TurnHere customers, as well as enhanced tools for the growth and expansion of the TurnHere filmmaker network and in-house production team.        

“TurnHere is an Internet video pioneer, developing a unique style and approach. The company has transformed online video advertising, producing high-quality online video that is affordable for companies of all sizes – from local merchants to national brands,” said Rich Moran, partner, Venrock. “Given its achievements working with companies across several vertical markets, we believe TurnHere is well-positioned for future growth.”

We're of course excited about the funding as a validation of the approach TurnHere has taken towards online video production.  Creating lean-forward, online content that is engaging, relevant, authentic and searchable has proven to be an effective and exciting form of online advertising for businesses of all sizes and types.

"This financing validates TurnHere’s success in pioneering a new form of video creation that is authentic, relevant and provides demonstrable benefits to our clients,” said Bradley Inman, founder and CEO, TurnHere. “Both Venrock and Hearst Interactive Media share our vision to further broaden our offerings and enhance our leadership position in the market.”   

“TurnHere has developed a solid business model unmatched in the industry, based on the tremendous value of its global filmmaker network and its superior platform of video production and distribution,” said Kenneth Bronfin, president, Hearst Interactive Media. “As adoption of online video continues to increase and companies move more of their advertising budget to the Internet, TurnHere is in a prime position to capture this demand and grow its business.”

If you're looking for more coverage on the announcement there are some great articles at Beet.tv, NewTeeVee, Mashable, VentureBeat, The Kelsey Group, Venture Wire, East Bay Business Times and Paid Content.
   

TurnHere Videos Work for Local Business

My mom, a small-business owner herself, for as long as I can remember has lamented the fact that she couldn't afford video advertising on television.  Her refrain is not uncommon among small business owners who feel locked out of additional business opportunities due to the high costs of creating and distributing video advertising on television.

TurnHere solves this dilemma for small business owners.  TurnHere's video production platform delivers low cost, high-quality video that creates awareness, creates action and most importantly, creates trust through a personal, compelling story.  Our first-person perspective and story-telling video format invites viewers to learn about the people and personalities behind the business. 

These video productions go beyond the "what" of a business and answer the "why."  Why was the business started?  Why does the owner have so much passion about their profession?  It's these types of emotive stories that capture the attention of viewers and earn their business.

Small businesses benefit from TurnHere's partnership with large directory services such as Citysearch, YELLOWPAGES.com, Superpages.com and more to create an online video for their profile that sets them apart from their competition and attracts the attention of viewers looking for their services.

Here's a great video about Cuba, a local New York restaurant.  It's a perfect example of small business taking advantage of online video to create an inviting ad that makes you want to head right down for some Cuban flavor!

Making Online Video Production Affordable

When we explain TurnHere's business model everyone asks the question "How do you guys produce online video so cheaply and yet make it look so good?"  It's a question we love answering because it highlights the unique aspects of TurnHere's video production platform.

Here's how we do it. 

First, we've assembled a 3,200+ member strong filmmaker network from around the world.  This network is based in and has done work in a large part of the world.  This eliminates travel costs and expenses associated with transporting large crews to foreign destinations.  Each one of these filmmakers works with our centralized video production staff to shoot, edit and produce the final video for our clients.

Second, we specialize in the mini-documentary format of video storytelling.  Each of the videos we produce uses a "one-man band" production style that keeps overhead low.  Our filmmakers are experts at capturing the story and personality behind the businesses, products and destinations featured in our video productions.

And that's it.  The result is unique, authentic, relevant, searchable video content for your web site - and ready-made for distribution across the Web.  The low production costs make online video available to every type of business from small businesses to large brands looking for a way to create a memorable experience on the web for their visitors without the cost of typical video production.

If you're looking for ways to stand out from the crowd consider online video production and distribution from TurnHere. 

Don't Fill Up on the Antipasto: Tony Danza's Cookbook Video

Tony Danza's new father-son cookbook is out and he and his son discuss some of their favorite Italian recipes in this new book video produced by TurnHere.  Tony has a great dynamic with his son as a result of their close age; and their camaraderie shines through in this video. 

This book video is a great demonstration of the power that video has in sharing the warmth and personality that make each book title special.  The TurnHere video production style tells the interesting stories  behind the books themselves that otherwise aren't apparent from simply flipping through the pages.