Video Business Accelerator Podcast

Hey there, aspiring videographers and business enthusiasts!

Have you ever wondered about production fees and whether you should charge them on your video projects? In today's episode, we're diving deep into the production company fees.Whether you're a one-man band or running a full-fledged production company, understanding production fees is essential to pricing your projects correctly and making more money. We'll talk about what production fees cover, why they're vital, and how to articulate them to your clients. Spoiler alert: It's probably easier to charge a fee on a 15K project than a 5K project, but hey, there's no reason you shouldn't try!From line items to margins, office expenses, and even justifying the cost of your filmmaking addiction (trust me, I know the struggle), we'll cover it all. And I'll take you through an example of a real conversation I had with a client about production fees. It's all about being fair and transparent, providing excellent service, and making sure your business thrives.Whether

In today's episode, I'll be sharing some cool tricks for keeping the conversation going on LinkedIn. We've talked about connecting with prospects organically, but what do you do when the conversation gets live? I'll show you how to nurture the relationship with curiosity and make sure the dialogue keeps flowing.One common question I get is about following up with leads without sounding desperate. It all depends on who you're talking to. If you have a specialization or niche, personalize your follow-up by mentioning a recent project that would interest them. Engage their curiosity and ask if they'd like to see it. This approach keeps the conversation going without being pushy.When targeting agencies on LinkedIn, remember that you're not the only one vying for their attention. Stand out by offering a personal touch. Let them know you just finished a project that's relevant to their industry and ask if they'd like a link to check it out. By intriguing them, you make t

In today's episode, I dive into a topic that makes many filmmakers uncomfortable: marketing. I totally get it! We all hate being spammed or bombarded with unwanted messages. But here's the thing: if you don't put yourself out there, you're guaranteeing no results. Remember what Wayne Gretzky, the famous hockey player, said: "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."Join me as I share a valuable coaching call clip where I discuss the specifics of marketing and how to conquer the fear of promoting your work. We'll explore how to get comfortable with marketing and overcome the fear of annoying potential clients. Trust me, most people won't even see every piece of marketing you put out.I debunk the myth of spamming and highlight the importance of targeting a specific audience. I'll share insights from our email marketing tests and how frequently you should engage with your clients through email. Plus, I'll reveal the power of consistent content creation and

In the dynamic world of video production, it's common to experience ups and downs in your business. But how can you effectively manage those slow periods and ensure a consistent flow of opportunities? In this episode, join me as I dive into the specifics of sales and marketing strategies that can help you prepare and maintain a steady stream of business growth.This insightful discussion was extracted from a live coaching call within the VBA Elite program, providing you with an insider's perspective on our methods. Sales lulls are natural and don't necessarily indicate a decline in your video business. Instead of panicking, take a moment to gain perspective through activities like meditation or going for a walk. Then, approach your marketing efforts systematically by focusing on making meaningful connections rather than relying solely on email blasts with low click-through rates.I share the importance of prospecting and leveraging your warm leads and existing clients to uncover new opportunities

In this episode, I want to tackle a common concern among videographers: taking time off and worrying about the state of your business while you're away. Recently, one of my clients decided to take a month off to shoot in Europe, and we had an insightful discussion about how to prepare for such a break.Join me as I share a clip from our VBA Elite Mastermind, where we support a member making a big decision in his business and planning for time off. We dive into the anxieties that arise, the challenges of managing a business remotely, and strategies to ensure a smooth operation in your absence.As creatives, we often think that no one else can handle our clients and projects like we do. But in this episode, we explore the idea of transitioning your business into a self-sustaining entity, where you can step back and trust others to take the reins. We discuss the importance of systemizing workflows, delegating tasks to capable team members, and positioning yourself as an international business.You'll also

Hey guys! Today's episode is a real-life scenario of a client pulling out of a gig just days before it happens. Ever faced a situation like this? I'm sharing my personal experience of how we tackled this in the VBA Elite Mastermind. Learn how to turn these situations into valuable business lessons and effectively navigate cancellation policies. We'll also discuss striking a balance in negotiations to ensure a fair outcome for all parties.Find out how we've worked towards minimizing our actual out-of-pocket expenses and managed to bring down the cancellation fee to 25% of the original budget. Discover the art of negotiating with grace while preserving relationships with your clients, even in sticky situations.Lastly, we'll delve into the power of community, particularly among video business owners, and how it helps you rally around in challenging times. Join us in this journey and see how you can also leverage these experiences to build a more robust video business.Support the showConn

Hey, it's Den, back at it again! I'm breaking down how to transition a client from a one-off project into a long-term partnership this time. I'll share some insider tips from an actual conversation with a client where we discussed establishing a retainer or monthly partner package deal. You'll learn how to price your services correctly, maintain control of the project, and understand the benefits of a monthly relationship with a client.I also discussed a real-world case where a client wanted to repurpose existing footage for new video content and how I handled that. You'll get an insight into a simple client retainer tracker and how to keep track of hours worked, prices, and remaining hours.But that's not all! I also talk about asking the right questions to understand your client's needs, the importance of being present in sales conversations, and establishing trust with your clients.Support the showConnect with Den on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/denlennie/Get more

Hey, it's Den, back at it again! I'm breaking down how to transition a client from a one-off project into a long-term partnership this time. I'll share some insider tips from an actual conversation with a client where we discussed establishing a retainer or monthly partner package deal. You'll learn how to price your services correctly, maintain control of the project, and understand the benefits of a monthly relationship with a client.I also discussed a real-world case where a client wanted to repurpose existing footage for new video content and how I handled that. You'll get an insight into a simple client retainer tracker and how to keep track of hours worked, prices, and remaining hours.But that's not all! I also talk about asking the right questions to understand your client's needs, the importance of being present in sales conversations, and establishing trust with your clients.Support the showConnect with Den on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/denlennie/Get more

This episode shares some of my fave marketing strategies for video business owners looking to improve their lead flow.   I'm a huge fan of organic marketing and believe LinkedIn is a goldmine for connecting with potential clients without costing you a dime, just a bit of your time.My advice? Get on LinkedIn and make 20 new connections each day. Stick with it and don't lose momentum. To back up what I'm saying, I've got some real-life success stories from my clients who've been doing just this and landing some super awesome projects.The key here is to play it cool and not jump straight into selling. Instead, build some solid connections first. We even have some neat follow-up scripts we give to our paid clients to make things a bit easier.You might be thinking, "This sounds slow." And yeah, it can take a while - anywhere from 3 to 9 months. But trust me, the results are so worth it!Another cool trick I discuss is 'niching down'. This basically means becoming the go-

In a slowing economy, it's essential to identify and capitalize on opportunities within your marketplace. In today’s episode, we’ll explore strategies to not only survive but thrive during challenging economic times. We'll dive into understanding market sentiments and leveraging them to your advantage when engaging with clients. Learn how to stand out from the competition and uncover where the real opportunities lie and seize them with confidence.Support the showConnect with Den on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/denlennie/Get more great resources over at https://www.denlennie.com/

The topic of rates is often avoided in our industry, with many filmmakers reluctant to share what they charge. But by sharing this information, we can better understand the market, help each other make informed decisions about our own rates, and collectively work towards a more transparent industry.The survey consists of questions about your editing system, rates for a day of editing, rates for shooting without kit, and rates for gear usage. We're also keen to learn about the kind of camera gear you're using and how much you've spent on camera gear and accessories over the past three years. Finally, we're interested in understanding your average monthly revenue generated from your video business.You that you can participate in this survey anonymously if you wish. Please click on this Link to take the 90 second survey - https://denlennie.typeform.com/Videorates2023Support the showConnect with Den on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/denlennie/Get more great resources over at https://www.

If you want to recession-proof your video business, there are some key industries you should be focusing on because it's not all doom and glooms out there. In today's episode, I'm gonna look at seven industries. That  are gonna thrive during an economic downturn. So your business, in turn can thrive and actually do better in a recession than perhaps you might think.Support the showConnect with Den on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/denlennie/Get more great resources over at https://www.denlennie.com/

Struggling to charge what you're worth for your videography skills confidently? In this episode, we'll explore the powerful concept of price anchoring, and teach you step-by-step how to use it to your advantage. Discover the secrets of setting the right prices, creating perceived value, and negotiating with clients like a pro. Don't undervalue yourself anymore – it's time to take charge and transform your business!

Money is a hard thing to talk about but it's the root of the quality of the work you'll deliver. Charge too little and you'll resent the work and the client...It's such an awkward conversation for creatives.Support the showConnect with Den on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/denlennie/Get more great resources over at https://www.denlennie.com/

In today's episode, we'll be sharing insider secrets and strategies that top videographers use to create exceptional value for their clients and stand out in this competitive industry.Support the showConnect with Den on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/denlennie/Get more great resources over at https://www.denlennie.com/

In this economy, videographers need to be creative and resourceful to stay afloat. In today’s episode, Den offers some advice on how to make the most of your business in a slow economy.Support the showConnect with Den on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/denlennie/Get more great resources over at https://www.denlennie.com/

Do you ever get bored being a videographer? In my own career, I've had many moments when I've been on a shoot, and I've just gone, I'm bored. This is not exciting to me. It's not stimulating me. What am I doing? And I've considered a couple of times completely changing careers, and I wanna talk about that today. Support the showConnect with Den on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/denlennie/Get more great resources over at https://www.denlennie.com/

Videographers. It would be best to stop making these mistakes when pricing your jobs. If you're a videographer struggling to get clients or get paid what you're worth, there's a very good chance you need to correct some things in how you price your jobs. You're probably not charging fully for everything you're actually delivering.In this episode, I will show you the biggest mistakes videographers make when pricing out their jobs.Support the showConnect with Den on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/denlennie/Get more great resources over at https://www.denlennie.com/

In today’s episode, Den will show you how to 2X your income as a videographer. You will learn practical tips, strategies and techniques that will help you increase your earnings and achieve financial stability. Whether you're just starting out or have been in the business for a while, this will provide the tools you need to reach your financial goals.Support the showConnect with Den on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/denlennie/Get more great resources over at https://www.denlennie.com/