You know video is important for your business, but you’re over Instagram stories and Facebook lives. Those are easy places to start, but you’re ready for some more original ideas.
Video is huge for business, and today’s guest, Marvin Flavien, has some new ideas for where to use video so that it feels good to you and gets you the return on your investment you’re looking for.
In this episode, we talk about how to get started with video, what it looks like to work with a video pro, what not to include in your videos and why videos will save you time in your business.
Tune in now!
Mentioned in This Episode
About Marvin Flavien
Marvin Flavien is a Video Strategist and a Speaker and is dedicated to Impacting people through business using video. He runs MK Flav Video, a full-service video production company in New Jersey that specializes in creating strategic and dynamic video assets for companies and entrepreneurs who want to make their businesses unstoppable. Marvin is driven to provide innovative videos that give you more opportunities, more time, and even stronger relationships with your customers. As a husband and father of two young children, he enjoys free time playing basketball and watching Youtube videos. He also is the Central Jersey Tuesday together Chapter leader.
To learn more you can follow him on Facebook and Instagram.
Transcript
Abby Herman: If you’re new to the podcast, welcome. I worked really hard to bring you informative and to the point content, because let’s face it, no one has time for fluff these days, or any day for that matter. If you like what you hear, hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss another episode. And I usually release these episodes every Monday morning and every other Thursday morning. However, as we prepare for The Content Experiment Summit, coming up in March, my plan is to release two or three times a week, every week until March 15. What’s the summit you keep hearing about? Well, I talked a lot more about it in Episode 84. But I’ll give you the rundown here too. The Content Experiment Summit is a five day summit for coaches and course creators who are tired of feeling overwhelmed and frustrated by their content. The summit features about 25 speakers who are sharing bite sized tips and tricks on how to get a better ROI on their time and financial investments in content and marketing. There are so many people out there telling you what’s right and what’s not what you should do what you should stop doing. It’s really noisy, and I know it. And often we’re listening to the same people over and over and over again talking about the same things in the same way. That’s what I think makes the content experiment so different.
I intentionally looked for business owners who we haven’t really heard from a lot. Business owners who have amazing ideas, stellar results, and so much knowledge to share. But we don’t hear from them. Because so many summits, conferences, podcasts, and partnerships tend to focus on email list size, social media following, and other really arbitrary numbers that have nothing to do with the impact that they could give you. I believe in letting other voices shine. So I worked really hard to make that happen. Yes, you will recognize some of the names you’ll see on the summit. But I’ll bet you see a lot of new faces too. You can sign up for the waiting list right now at thecontentexperiment.com/summit. Registration officially begins at the end of February. And I’m not sharing who all the speakers are just yet but I will share that everyone you have heard from so far on the podcast this year. They are all on the speaker lineup. And so is today’s guest, Marvin Flavien.
Marvin and I were in a small, small group program together and I knew that he was the perfect person to talk about where and how to use video in your business. I had heard him present before, but he and I have actually never really talked up until this interview. So I cold pitched him and I’m so glad I did. In today’s episode, Marvin and I explore all the different types of video you could use in your business, and there are a lot that you might not have even considered, why video is so important to your business, and why yes, you can use video even if you’re an introvert. I would almost even say especially if you’re an introvert. Marvin Flavien is a video strategist and a speaker and is dedicated to impacting people through business using video. He runs MK Flav video, which is a full service video production company in New Jersey that specializes in creating strategic and dynamic video assets for companies and entrepreneurs who want to make their businesses unstoppable. Marvin is driven to provide innovative videos that give you more opportunities, more time, and even stronger relationships with your customers. As a husband and father of two young children, he enjoys free time playing basketball and watching YouTube videos. He is also the central New Jersey Tuesdays Together chapter leader. Without further ado, let’s hear from Marvin Flavien. Welcome Marvin, thank you so much for joining me here today, I cannot wait to dig in and talk all about video.
Marvin Flavien: Thanks for having me. I’m so excited.
Abby Herman: Yeah. So before we get started, I would love for you to share with everyone what you do and who you do it for.
Marvin Flavien: So I run a video production agency, marketing agency. And the whole basis of it is really just trying to help you know, businesses, we like to say make their businesses unstoppable using the power of video. So we look at your business as a whole and figure out where we can implement video solutions to help solve a problem. So it’s not so much like, “hey, let’s just make something flashy and” like no, we really want to dive in and see like, how can we get you real business results using the power of video? So…
Abby Herman: I love that. So can you talk a little bit about how you work with clients, and how the way that you work with your clients helps you to live the lifestyle you want?
Marvin Flavien: Yeah, I think I like to look at is almost like a partnership and a journey. Because when when you start off, we try to really dive in to understand what your goals are, like, what do you want to accomplish in your business. I just don’t want to make you one video and then we don’t talk to each other for a long time. It’s really I want it to be like an ongoing thing, helping you get results and moving into helping you step into, like, where you want to be in business, you know. We all have dreams, we have goals. And the thing we like to say is we’re unstoppable, you know, and I kind of see that in the type of clients that we work with, you know. They want to do more. They want to get that second location or hire more team and make the extra revenue. So it’s really about just, like I said, finding like exactly what what we can do to help them and partner alongside with them.
And also too, a big thing that we do is we help them implement it. You know, it’s a lot of times they get a video done, they don’t really know what to do with it, you know? So our job is to help come in alongside of you and help you implement it. We figure out what- where can this work? How can we monitor it? How can we help you if you have questions, if you need to come back, like, it’s an ongoing thing. So it’s just, it’s cool, because I don’t want to be- I want to be focused, very hyper focused on what we’ll be working with them. And if I’m doing like 20 projects, I’m thinking, it’s hard to keep track of everything, it’s hard to make sure everyone’s getting the great service and value. So that’s kind of like how we kind of based that off is like we want to we want to go like deep, we want to help you get real results. And that’s kind of how we do it. So it’s, very intentful and very just, it’s just very intentful and how we operate.
Abby Herman: Yeah, so it sounds like really deep work with clients. So and I know that you do full service video, so you actually do some of the shooting of the video too. Does that mean you get to travel a lot? I mean, not like right now as we’re recording this, but in general, do you get to travel to go on location with clients?
Marvin Flavien: Yeah. I mean, we have clients in PA, it’s all over. I’m in New Jersey, but like it’s Yeah, traveling was supposed to be big for us this year. You know, we made a lot of connections, just out of state, you know, so it was it was supposed to be big for us this year unfortunately. But there’s always next year. Hopefully things get better. But yeah, it’s cool, you know, and that’s what makes it so fun. Because when we get on set, there’s a lot of moving parts, and I kind of take the Director Producer role in that. But like our team, we do everything you just have to show up and ready to go.
Abby Herman: Yeah, so I know when people think of video, a lot of people think of Facebook Live, YouTube, Instagram stories. To me, those are like the big three that people in my world are paying attention to. And I know that video is so much more than that. And I want to talk about that. But first I want to talk about why is video so important to businesses? And as Marvin’s answering, you guys, I want you to listen in even if you are an introvert and you think “Oh no, this isn’t for me”. Nope. Listen to why video is so important to your business because it is.
Marvin Flavien: Oh you’re speaking my language. Alright, so let’s let’s break it down. Let’s break it down. What is video? Video is this thing that kind of like exists outside of time and space, you know, people can watch it on their own time. We don’t necessarily have to be there for that to happen. So just think what the implications of that could be for a business, you know, like, I don’t necessarily have to be in this certain spot to help you achieve something, you know. So just thinking about that, like, how can you implement that type of power into your business like let’s say, and we look at video, I guess we could talk about it next but like, it’s just this powerful thing that doesn’t abide by our laws of physics like I said, time and space, it’s not here. It exists outside. It’s something outside of that. So how can we utilize that to help us in our business? And I think just that alone is just like, your brain should be going so many different places because like, oh, my goodness, this is crazy.
So and too it’s just like, it’s proof. It’s like, people can- when sometimes, let’s say, someone starts a business, right? And they say, “Oh, we do this, this, and that”, you know, it’s like, some people come with misconceptions. They kind of have their own fears, or whatever, but video’s, kind of that proof to show, like, “here, I’m gonna show you. I don’t have to tell you, I don’t have to, see you for yourself”. You know, so video is kind of like that proof and to show people so just that alone. Like I said, so think on how that can help you in your business. So that that kind of power, you know.
Abby Herman: Yeah, and if I could just interject here for a second, because I have a couple of ways that I use video that I don’t think people really think about them as like traditional ways of using video because they’re not YouTube. This is not Facebook Lives. This is not, what was the other one I said, Instagram stories. One of the ways I use video is in my course that I have. So we do q&a sessions once a week. And one of the women in the program that I’m running, she comes to all the calls, she takes all the notes, she gathers all the knowledge, and then she gives it to her assistant, and she says here do this. Well, during the q&a calls where her assistant is not present, I’m recording. And so this business owner is able to give her the recording, her assistant can take action on all of it.
So it’s like, you know, I’m capturing this information, and they’re able to run with it. Another way that I use video is, I have people in my membership program and in my course that they tell me, you know, I need help with XYZ. Well, I probably have a course or I probably have a recording of that, or some sort of masterclass that I’ve done. And so I can just give it to them. I don’t have to repeat myself. They can go through the video, go through the information on their own time, just like you said. And it just, I think it’s such a valuable way to deliver content, to deliver information. So I just wanted to mention that like, just a different way that I’ve used video that I think most people you know, may not think about.
So can you talk a little bit more since I interrupted you? Could you talk a little bit more about the importance in business in, you know, maybe the traditional sense of video and why that’s so important? Or just other ways that we can use video in our businesses?
Marvin Flavien: I think you just nailed it. Like, people only think about video when it comes to marketing. And, like you said, YouTube and Instagram, stuff like it, it’s so much more than that. Like you just said, I don’t have to repeat myself over and over and over again. You know, a video can even be the product itself. So its implications for business is huge for that and that alone, but I like to look at video in two different avenues. There’s defense and there’s offensive type of videos. A defensive type of video’s job and purpose is really, like think of football. Defense, we got to stop the ball. Can’t nobody get past, we got to stop the ball. And for video, it’s almost like people are already coming to us, right? People are looking for us, they searching for us, they go into our website, this video exists to even give them all the information they need. And so all questions they might have, all their misconceptions or things that they think that they know, but this kind of shuts that out.
What’s the alternative, if you don’t have a video? They probably don’t get the full picture, they probably have to call you, they probably have to, you know, probably waste time getting emails back and forth just to make sure you’re right. You know, and sometimes people don’t even read all the things, so it’s like, this can be- and I didn’t say anything about ads yet. I didn’t say anything about commercials and promos. It’s like, this video is on playing defense for us. You know, in our email signatures, it’s like, this is doing so much already. And we didn’t even get to the point to like use it to go out, you know, and that’s kind of the things that we’re looking at, because there’s so many. And I’ve been to a lot of like local business Chamber of Commerce things. And a lot of these business owners are kind of in the older generation, right? So they’re not on social media and everything, but another thing is, you can use video to expand and upgrade your processes. You know, like you don’t even have to, be real, like, you don’t have to go on Facebook. What if- you have your business card, right? People are going to your website.
So this opportunity there for this video to act as a defense for you and help you, you know, maybe this could be increasing conversions. This could be the thing that’s, getting people to say yes. They could say yes before they even hop on the phone. They’re like “I just need to know how to how to get this started. I saw everything I need to know in the video”. So it’s things like that that makes video such a powerful tool and I like to start the conversation there cuz, like you said, people just think like, “oh, marketing and YouTube and this”, but there’s so much more to the conversation that people kind of miss out on.
Abby Herman: Yes. Oh, so good. Yeah. So now can you address the introverts in the room and talk a little bit about why, or how, they can get out on video? Because, I don’t know. Share your tips on being an introvert and trying to get on video.
Marvin Flavien: Okay, so I think the the one thing to always remember, and I say this in a loving way, video isn’t necessarily about you. It’s about the person who you want to reach and connect with. So look at it on there and look at it from their aspect. Like, “what can I do to help them make the transformation in their mind to say yes to our product or service?” You know, when you start looking at that aspect, it’s like, okay, maybe I don’t have to, be so conscious about things like, everybody deals with issues and things like that. But when you when you look at it, from their point of view, it’s like, I’m caring about more about their transformation, than my fears, you know? And then when you start thinking about it like that, that can kind of help you get over that hump.
And also, too, people want to be able to know you, they want to be able to trust you, you know. And I’m not saying you have to tell me everything about your life and stuff, it just, put a face to a brand. They feel like they can get to know you, they feel like they know you, they feel like they can trust you, and they’re excited to work with you. There’s been countless times when people watch my video, and they wanted to work with me, because what the video represent was what I was able to show them and I didn’t really get a chance to speak with him yet, you know. So it’s like, there’s so much opportunity there. There’s probably things that you can do to help you save so much time in your business and just help you just push that and build that relationship that people- people just want to connect with with people, you know? So it’s a huge thing. And I think if you’re scared, there’s ways you can get yourself ready, or just, help you get over that hump. But I think there’s just so much opportunity there to not do it, you know?
Abby Herman: Yeah. And, you know, as an introvert, I know that. Sometimes I get people who send me an email, or they’ll send me a direct message in Instagram, or Facebook or wherever. And I feel like we have- I feel like they know me already. I probably don’t know them, really. But they might know me or feel like they know me. And so we get to skip over all that icky, small talk crap that I know I hate. And I feel like we could just skip over that a lot faster. Because of the video factor, because, you know, they’ve seen my face somewhere on video and or heard my voice on the podcast or whatever. So I feel like, yeah, we get to skip that. And I love what you said about, it’s about them. Your video is about them. It’s not about you. So I think you’re right, like if you approach it from the standpoint that you are teaching them something, you’re offering value, then it’s not as scary to put yourself out there and to put your face out there. So yes, I love that.
Marvin Flavien: Yeah, just think about how this video can reach people you might not even know. You don’t know how many people can get some help from you. Like you don’t get to see all the implications of it, you know, so it’s, yeah, right there.
Abby Herman: Yes. Can you share a little bit about- we talked a little bit about video assets, but what kind of video assets should we consider in our businesses? So let’s say most listeners here are online business owners in you know, some sort of service capacity. What kind of video assets should we be considering?
Marvin Flavien: I think, to start, is definitely build something- and I’m not saying go out, hire a big film studio. Like just figure out a way like How can people see something and be able to experience me, my service and everything I do and what I’m able to offer them you know, before they even step into our world? And kind of look, like I talked about, video being the doorway into your business into your reality, and just use that. So think about how you can bring your experience. Like how I can help to that person, you know, and add it into your process. So if they have to make a decision anywhere, use this video, put it there so they can watch it, fill out the form. So it should help. So a lot of times people are reaching out and sometimes they might be unqualified they might not be there yet. So this can help answer all the questions. And then watch that then they fill it out. It’s like Alright, so you got everything you need to know. So you’re here for good reason. So let’s get to work kind of thing. So that’s a really good way.
Also too, if there’s been a situation where you’ve got some really good results. Most people like to do testimonials, I like to call it more of a chronicle per se. So take someone’s story, take someone’s journey, and tell their story, you know, not try to market. Take their story, take their transformation and show that story. And it’s almost like, customer talking to customer kind of thing. And using that as a way to like, just show the story and just use that like “here, his, meet her meet them.” They can see themselves in this person or this situation, so they can make the decisions for themselves like, “Okay, I’m in” kind of thing.
Abby Herman: Can I ask about that really quick, because so- if I had a client who had really great results, I would ask them to, like, what? I interview them, and that would turn it into some sort of story? Or is it me telling the background of this client before we work together? During and after? What does that actually look like?
Marvin Flavien: I mean, there’s ways you can do it creatively. But I think, yeah, I would say, you kind of lead the interview to get them to tell their story, you know, and a lot of times people make testimonials a little bit about the person themselves. But make this about them, like I said, to show their story. So other customers can see themselves in the story and see themselves in theirs and like, “oh they got this transformation. I want to be a part of this” per se. So
Abby Herman: Yeah, okay, awesome. So some sort of trailer video that invites people to work with you, a video testimonial/chronicle type. What other types of videos should we be considering in our businesses?
Marvin Flavien: Anything that can help you save time. Anything that’s like-
Abby Herman: For example?
Marvin Flavien: Let’s say you are onboarding someone, let’s say you are people- There’s a process per se, like, let’s say, someone books, and you have to take them through some steps. How about we record this process? So one, they don’t have any questions. Two, they can get all the answers they need, we can do this one time. And it’s almost like we don’t have to necessarily do this over and over again, you know. Bam, helps you save some time, help them achieve the result, I think you get with that.
Abby Herman: I love that. And I feel like that might feel like a really safe place for people to start too because you’re recording something for a really small number of potential viewers. So especially if you work one on one with clients, if you invite people like, through a process or you help them through something, through videos, or you welcome them to your business to your service with a video, I feel like that’s a really safe place to start. And to really get used to the camera, hopefully. Awesome. I love that. Where do you recommend housing these videos? So where should all of these assets live? Do you have a preference?
Marvin Flavien: Well, I think for one, like it’s on your website, wherever decisions needs to be made, to help push that decision. Two email signatures is a good spot, too, as well because you know, you’re in communications with a lot of people. They can stumble upon this, or make it clear that you want them to kind of stumble upon it. But yeah, anywhere that people are set to make a decision. And also there’s places on like Facebook, like you can make the headers, the top posts they see, stuff. I think LinkedIn does that. But just areas where like, front and center, you know, we don’t want to hide this on a 32nd page. We want this front and center when people land on to help them answer all the questions that they need to help them make that decision.
Abby Herman: As far as like, hosting What does that look like? Do it Vimeo or YouTube?
Marvin Flavien: Vimeo? Yeah, I would, I would just go with YouTube because like YouTube is owned by Google. And if you optimize it correctly with the keywords and tags, like it should help in your search results when people are looking for you. So if you’re in California and you’re a dentist, put like California dentists like my business name or something like something like that. Um, but yeah, other than that, like it’s yeah.
Abby Herman: Okay, perfect. So what mistakes do you see people make when they are creating videos for their business? Is there anything that stands out that that just like, you just think, Oh my god, I wish these people knew this?
Marvin Flavien: I think people have the right idea when they think of video. Like “ooh I want to kind of get some behind the scenes and I want people to be able to see what I do”, but I think there’s something to be said of being able to see in here and kind of step into that realm. So like if you are planning on doing anything, don’t just stop at just the behind the scenes. Actually get on camera and kind of talk about it. Talk about the experience and like walk them through it. So when they see the images they can not only see it, they can hear it and kind of like almost be fully engaged into that piece. A lot of times people just, they just stop at the b roll. And it’s cool. It looks cool. But like, go the extra step and like get on camera and talk about what they’re seeing, you know, and explain it to them, break it down for them.
Abby Herman: Yes, I noticed that on your website, on the trailer that you have, I think it’s on the homepage, where you actually show behind the scenes of you working with clients, and you put your face at almost like selfie mode. Where you have it looks like you have your phone and you’re talking, you know, so it’s like- and So you use that kind of video and you’re using more professional video, you know, without you looking like you’re doing a selfie at the same time. So it’s like different forms of video within the same piece of work. But I love that you show the different sides of it too, in that trailer video. So I think that that’s a great example for anyone listening to go to Marvin’s website and take a look at that, because it’s interesting. And you can tell you’ve got different editing styles in there too, which I thought was kind of cool. Awesome. So okay, so then like, the big question is, okay, so I want to do some video, but I can’t afford the equipment. I can’t afford to buy a camera. Do you have some tips on that? And I know that you have a free guide? I didn’t actually look at it yet. But I’m wondering, I’m assuming it has different price levels, or different levels of goodies that people can buy? What can somebody do? Like, what’s the bare minimum to get started? And then what do you recommend people have?
Marvin Flavien: That’s a question. Like, yeah, I mean, I do have like, camera recommendations from a lot of different price points. But I think honestly, one thing to consider, it’s not so much about the quality of the camera, just make sure you have good audio. Step one, make sure they can hear you good, you know, and just make sure you’re decent lighting. So like, make sure there’s not a light behind you or the sun or anything like that. So you properly lit, and people can hear you good. Like make sure there’s not stuff in the background. And so it gets confusing. I think worry about those things less about too much. If the camera- if you can’t go out and hire someone to do it for you. Honestly, just be real, don’t try to set up and make it seem like “oh, I’m just, I’m trying to be this professional videographe”r, camera setup. Just use your phone, use your webcam., Embrace it, you know, don’t try to buy all the green screen stuff like into and try to, I don’t wanna say fake it, but just don’t put that off. Just use what you got, you know, and guess what’s gonna happen. You can still get that result for the people that can still come and get to see you and understand you. And that’s what it’s really about, you know, it’s not about looking flashy. It’s not about looking like a million bucks. It’s about making them feel like they’re awesome. They’re a million bucks. Thank you for coming to us, and, you know, coming to this page and seeing how we can help you. You know, so I think those are the kind of things we should focus on. Less about, like the gear and the quality and the style, all that stuff. So,
Abby Herman: Yes, gosh, that goes for everything in business, too. Nothing is ever going to be perfect. We need to stop trying to make sure that everything is perfect, because it’s not going to happen. And I honestly think that, you know, the need to be perfect is what holds so many people back in business, and what prevents them from moving forward. So yes, to all of that, thank you for saying that. Because Oh, yes, just start doing it. Just do it. I look back at- I have a YouTube channel that I have not posted a video to for years and years. But I look back at like some of my first videos and I’m horrified. But you know what, they’re there. People still watch them. I’m horrified by my hair, as well as the way that they look. But I’m also horrified by the by the way I look and the way the video looks and but who cares? You know, like, Who cares? It’s about the value that you’re delivering. It’s about the transformation. Yes, exactly.
Marvin Flavien: I was even looking at that. I was even looking at some of our old works from a few years ago. And like, we evolved as cinematographers and stylists and stuff like that. And I’m looking at him like, “oh, if I could do that better:, but I’m actually looking and listening. I’m like, Yo, this is really awesome. They got to share them, people can see exactly who they are and what they’re about. And I’m like it’s doing its job, you know, and at that time, they thought they loved it. I thought it was great too. So it’s like we’re always gonna be evolving. We’re always gonna be getting better as business owners, but just like if it’s doing its job, I think that’s the most important thing.
Abby Herman: yeah, I think about it from the terms of like so let’s say a heart surgeon. So I do not want open heart surgery from a brand new heart surgeon just out of school. I want somebody, however, that heart surgeon can do a great job. They’re just out of school, they’ve got the education behind them, they have all of that. Versus, you know, somebody who has been doing it for a while. That heart surgeon is evolving their practice, not only is their practice and their ability evolving, but so is science, and technology and all of that. So, think of yourself as a brand new heart surgeon, you know how to do the job, you can do the job really well. 10 years from now, you’re going to be able to do it even better, because technology has evolved because you have developed new practices, and you know, all of that. And so yeah, it’s just it’s all a process and you just have to do it. You’re not going to get any better. That heart surgeons not gonna get any better at all by sitting around and waiting for five years. Oh, well, I’ve been a heart surgeon for five years, I’ve done zero heart surgery. But I’ve been in this position for five years. No, do the work and practice. And yeah, I love that.
Well, thank you so much for being here. I am going to include all of the links to your social media. I’m gonna include all of those in the show notes. But if you could share with listeners, how to find you, like where are your favorite places to hang out online.
Marvin Flavien: Um, I’m one of those people just love social media and I love having fun on it. So you find me anywhere. MK Flav Video on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn. I’m going big on LinkedIn this year. I got next year, I neglected it a lot. So LinkedIn is gonna be heavy with some really good, valuable content and YouTube. So yeah, I’m all over it @ MKFlavVideo.
Abby Herman: Awesome. I will include all of those links. And I cannot wait to see what you have for us have in store for us on the summit in March. So thank you for that as well. Thank you so much for listening into today’s episode. Marvin knows his stuff when it comes to business video, right? I can’t wait to see what he shares with you at The Content Experiment Summit. Be sure to get on the waiting list at thecontentexperiment.com/summit. If you found value in what you learned here today, be sure to share it on social media. Take a screenshot of the episode on your phone and share it over on Instagram stories. tag me at Abby Herman and Marvin at MK flav video that’s MK Flav video. The more you share, the more we can get this podcast into the hands of more business owners just like you who need to hear the message that they are not alone.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
