Writing Boots

On communication, professional and otherwise.

Video communication: promising but dreadful, dreadful but promising

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In the first of my monthly posts on McMurry's new Content Marketing Blog, I compare today's do-it-yourself video communication with the tragexciting advent of "desktop design," in the late 1980s. Back then, "artistic abominations abounded, and though some fine publications were still being done by the old pros, they were nearly snowed under by the amateurish stuff."

Similarly, today's videos—which I sampled thoroughly as program chairman of the second-annual Strategic Video Awards—suffer from inconsistency of style, sensless geegaws and an obsession with the medium that forgets the strategic intent, if there ever was one.

Have a read, and see if you agree.

How to think about video (first, get a brain)

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I'm the new editor of ContentWise, a six-times-yearly ezine that goes out to a few thousand lucky but hungry dogs like us who make a living making words and pictures and videos and stuff.

For my first issue, a special thing on video, I leaned on pal Steve Crescenzo to tell us when to use video and when only writing will do. It's not rocket science. "Problem is, too many communicators are just churning stuff and reacting to stuff," Steve says. "They just never go through that thought process." His points are illuminated by winners of the inaugural Strategic Video Awards.

Go here to see the issue, and if you like it, go here to subscribe.

Like its motorcyclist editor, ContentWise is handsome, and it's free.