As websites without video content begin to look increasingly archaic and the Internet continues to replace traditional advertising media, organisations across the public, private and charity sectors are falling over themselves to produce videos about what they do and who they are.

However, as the saying goes, fools rush in where angels fear to tread. That’s not to say that corporate video production isn’t important. It is. Extremely. In fact in 2010, if you want to compete (particularly online), a corporate video has become a virtual commercial necessity. But if you really want your video to be effective, it’s crucial that you get in right. 

A badly constructed corporate video with no discernable narrative, poor direction, terrible sound quality, mixed messages and amateurish production values will always reflect badly on an organisation. If the video is poor, prospective customers or clients will naturally expect the same of your products or services.

Despite what seems very obvious, from time-to-time people will tell me that they have decided to go “in-house” for their corporate video, which more-often-than-not means purchasing a cheap camcorder and a basic editing package. But good corporate video production is a craft that requires experience, knowledge and technical expertise; and in most cases is best left to professional video production companies.

Would you hand out a tatty, photocopied leaflet to promote your product or services? Or would you prefer a glossy, attractive, professional-looking document? Which one do you think is most likely to be effective? Which one would you be embarrassed to hand out?

Long gone are the days when watching video online was a frustrating, time-consuming experience. Today, consumers on the web are bombarded with information, they’re used to watching good quality video content and expect well-crafted films with decent resolution. If not, the back button, or a competitor’s website, is not very far away.

A bad corporate video isn’t just throwing away money. Much more is potentially at stake. 

You risk throwing away your reputation.

Here's the third in our series of "Mindfulness" films produced by Spectrecom for the Mental Health Foundation.

This video features US comedian Ruby Wax - a well known sufferer from depression - talk about how 'Mindfulness' helps her cool down when she is feeling pressured or anxious, describing the technique as "by far the best tool I have to calm me down and take the heat out of my thoughts and feelings". 

Click on the link for more information about Spectrecom's charity marketing work and charity fundraising videos.

It's no secret that companies, marketers and advertisers around the world are rapidly moving away from expensive television commericals and re-focusing their efforts to connect with consumers online.

Thanks the rise of the Internet, particularly the revolution of social media networks and online video marketing, consumer interaction has changed drastically over the past few years.

Here's a brilliant animation from Michael Reissinger that illustrates exactly how this relationship has changed.

Here's the 2nd in a series of 6 films produced by Spectrecom for the Mental Health Foundation.

In this video you can watch Dr Andrew McCulloch, CEO of the Mental Health Foundation, talk about the research that his Foundation has undertaken around Mindfulness as a treatment for recurrent depression and the campaign to increase availability of mindfulness treatments on the NHS. 

To find out more about the MHF's Mindfulness campaign click here: http://www.bemindful.co.uk/

Continuing our video production work with the charity sector, the Mental Health Foundation has just released a series of short films produced by Spectrecom to help promote it's "Mindfulness" campaign and raise awareness about its benefits. 

"Mindfulness" helps people change the way they think, feel and act. It helps them to break free from a downward spiral of negative thought and action, and make positive choices that support their wellbeing. It can also help with recurrent depression, anxiety disorders and addictive behaviour – and other mental and physical problems including stress and chronic pain. Anyone can learn Mindfulness. It’s simple, you can practice it anywhere and its effects can be life changing.

The full series of videos can be found here on the MHF's Mindfulness Microsite and in the video above, you can watch Professor Mark Williams talk about mindfulness meditation as an alternative treatment for depression.

I'll also be posting a video from the series right here on Spectrecom's blog everyday this week.